How Súfarai went to Shíráz, how the Íránians slandered him to Kubád, and how Kubád slew him

Thus in the cup the wine was tulip-like Until Kubád was twenty-one1 years old ; Then Súfarai came in before the king For licence to go home and thereupon He gat him ready with his retinue, Struck up the drums, and started for Shíráz, Returning to his country, full of joy, As one that had obtained his whole desire. All Párs was as it were a slave before him, And, save the throne of empire, all was his. His thoughts were these : “ I have set up the Sháh, And done him homage as my sovereign, So now if any man shall slander me He will rebuke that man and banish him.”