ABSTRACT
All coveters of honour, all with crowns, All wearing torques and earrings, all with escorts And camp-equipment, all of them renowned, Of high estate and rank, all exquisite With silver, gold, and gems ; their parasols Were all of peacocks’ plumes, their elephants Had housings of brocade, their escorts glittered O’er miles with offerings for the Sháh and gifts, Such that dínárs seemed worthless in his eyes. Thus king Shangul and those seven kings withal Proceeded stage by stage, and, when they neared Írán with all their precious equipage, The Sháh, informed of their approach, arrayed A host to go to meet them while the chiefs Of every city went to welcome them. The king of kings in wisdom old, and wary Though young in years, advanced to Nahrawán. The two illustrious and exalted kings Drew near to one another, both of them Alighted from their steeds and, as they met, Both offering greetings and apologies, Embraced. Both retinues alighted too : The world was full of babble. Much talk passed On matters great and small when thus the kings Of these two kingdoms met. They both remounted, As did their worshipful and famous troops. Bahrám Gúr set him up within his halls A golden throne draped as the custom was, Set wine upon the board and furnished minstrels. The whole place rang with song. He spread a board, An arrow-flight in length, with roasted lambs1 And fowls. The eating done, he held a revel In royal wise-all colour, scent, and beauty. The handmaids and the slave-boys stood around, Throne, hall, and palace were like Paradise,
The wine-cups were all crystal, there were chargers All golden, musk, and scents. The revellers Wore jewelled crowns and shoes depict with gems. Shangul was in amazement at the palace, And as he drank he pondered : “ Is Írán A paradise or garden where one’s friends Exhale the scent of musk ? ”
