ABSTRACT
Thus he spake but none Replied ; they simply held their tongues, but those Aggrieved and angry looked at the high priest, Who seeing this rose to his feet and thus Addressed Khusrau Parwíz : “ O righteous judge ! Thou hast in youth’s day come to be the king, Hast seen from fortune much of good and ill, And heard how in the world no stint thereof C. 2002 Ariseth from the deeds of those in power ; How when a noble race hath been defiled Defiled too are the mighty sprung therefrom. Know this, that never hath a noble son Laid hands upon his father’s life1 unless His mother had befouled the seed and smirched Her offspring. Thus Zahhák, the Arab, slew His sire and brought ill on Jamshíd’s head, thus Sikandar, who poured out Dárá’s blood, brought So great a fire of feud upon ourselves Although his father called Dárá his brother, While Failakús was wont to call him son.2 When sire is pure and mother virtueless Know that no holy son will come to birth. None seeketh for uprightness in perverseness If he is fain to fill his sleeves with right. Our hearts are sad because a potent dív Is now the great king's mate, for had there been No other woman in Írán e’en then How could Khusrau Parwíz thus honour her ? If but Shírín were absent from his bower
His face would be resplendent everywhere. Thine ancestors, those wise and upright men, Ne’er would have thought of this.”
