ABSTRACT
Then from the champaign of Harát he sent Again a warrior of eloquence, A man all guileful, to Bahrám Chúbína To say : “ Thou hast not wedded heaven’s own for-
t u n e : Wilt thou not hear advice and such appeals ? Make friends with wisdom, open thine heart’s eyes. Thou hast found two whose equals in the world Have never yet been born of royal race ; They shine like suns in heaven and all the year Are clad in mail, they are so valorous. One is myself, the lawful king of earth ; The other is my high-born son Parmúda. My troops are more than leaves upon the trees, Had some the skill to number them. If I Should reckon up my men and elephants Thou wouldest smile at rain-drops from Spring-clouds. There are tents, tent-enclosures, implements Of war beyond conception ; shouldst thou count Withal my steeds and men, my wastes and moun-
tains, Thou wouldest marvel. All the other kings, If worthy of such honour, are my lieges. If seas had life1 and mountains feet to run They could not carry off my treasury, Arms, implements, and fruitage of my toils. The glorious Great, save for thy Persian lord, Throughout the world acclaim me as their king, And thy life also lieth in my hands As well I know. If I lead on my troops C. 1819
They will not let pass ant and gnat. Withal I have a thousand barded elephants “Whose scent affrayeth horsemen. Who will come To face me from Írán and from Túrán, And by such coming aggravate my toils ? From this place to the gates of Taisafún My powers extend, will stay, be amplified. Some one hath duped thee, O mine enemy ! Some one, perchance a madman, for thou lov’st not Thyself or else dissemblest since thine eye Discriminateth not ’twixt good and ill. How should such foolishness become the wise ? Cease this contention and present thyself Before me, and I will not keep thee waiting, But give to thee high office and my daughter With worship and a crown. Thou shalt receive A lordship at our hands and suffer not The ills tha t subjects bear, and when the Sháh Shall have been slain in fight, and when his crown And throne are mine, on thee will I bestow them With all his treasure, diadem, and goods. Thence will I march on Rúm and then the troops, The treasure and the land, will all be thine. Thus have I spoken for thou pleasest me, And wisely hast thou dealt with these affairs. Thou knowest the conduct and the art of war ; Thy sire and grandsire held command in chief, So what I say is not mere compliment But pity for thy sake who hast arrayed Thy puny force to fight with me to-day. Thou shalt receive no further messages If thou art retrograde to my desires.”
