THE SHÁH NÁMEH
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Torn from that hope to which they proudly clung,
On Gúdarz rest, to soothe with gentle sway,
The frantic King, and Rustem’s wrath allay.
With bitter grief they wail misfortune’s shock,
No shepherd now to guard the timorous flock.
Gúdarz at length, with boding cares imprest,
Thus soothed the anger in the royal breast.
“Say, what has Rustem done, that he should be
Impaled upon the ignominious tree?
Degrading thought, unworthy to be bred
Within a royal heart, a royal head.
Hast thou forgot when near the Caspian-wave,
Defeat and ruin had appalled the brave,
When mighty Rustem struck the dreadful blow,
And nobly freed thee from the savage foe?
Did Demons huge escape his flaming brand?
Their reeking limbs bestrew’d the slippery strand.
Shall he for this resign his vital breath?
What! shall the hero’s recompense be death?
But who will dare a threatening step advance,
What earthly power can bear his withering glance?
Should he to Zábul fired with wrongs return,
The plunder’d land will long in sorrow mourn!
This direful presage all our warriors feel,
For who can now oppose the invader’s steel;
Thus is it wise thy champion to offend,
To urge to this extreme thy warrior-friend?
Remember, passion ever scorns control,
And wisdom’s mild decrees should rule a Monarch’s soul.”[1]
Káús, relenting, heard with anxious ear,
And groundless wrath gave place to shame and fear;
“Go then,” he cried, “his generous aid implore,
And to your King the mighty Chief restore!”
On Gúdarz rest, to soothe with gentle sway,
The frantic King, and Rustem’s wrath allay.
With bitter grief they wail misfortune’s shock,
No shepherd now to guard the timorous flock.
Gúdarz at length, with boding cares imprest,
Thus soothed the anger in the royal breast.
“Say, what has Rustem done, that he should be
Impaled upon the ignominious tree?
Degrading thought, unworthy to be bred
Within a royal heart, a royal head.
Hast thou forgot when near the Caspian-wave,
Defeat and ruin had appalled the brave,
When mighty Rustem struck the dreadful blow,
And nobly freed thee from the savage foe?
Did Demons huge escape his flaming brand?
Their reeking limbs bestrew’d the slippery strand.
Shall he for this resign his vital breath?
What! shall the hero’s recompense be death?
But who will dare a threatening step advance,
What earthly power can bear his withering glance?
Should he to Zábul fired with wrongs return,
The plunder’d land will long in sorrow mourn!
This direful presage all our warriors feel,
For who can now oppose the invader’s steel;
Thus is it wise thy champion to offend,
To urge to this extreme thy warrior-friend?
Remember, passion ever scorns control,
And wisdom’s mild decrees should rule a Monarch’s soul.”[1]
Káús, relenting, heard with anxious ear,
And groundless wrath gave place to shame and fear;
“Go then,” he cried, “his generous aid implore,
And to your King the mighty Chief restore!”
When Gúdarz rose, and seized his courser’s rein,
A crowd of heroes followed in his train.
To Rustem, now (respectful homage paid),
The royal prayer he anxious thus conveyed.
The King, repentant, seeks thy aid again,
Grieved to the heart that he has given thee pain;
But though his anger was unjust and strong,
Thy country still is guiltless of the wrong,
And, therefore, why abandoned thus by thee?
Thy help the King himself implores through me.”
Rustem rejoined: “Unworthy the pretence,
A crowd of heroes followed in his train.
To Rustem, now (respectful homage paid),
The royal prayer he anxious thus conveyed.
The King, repentant, seeks thy aid again,
Grieved to the heart that he has given thee pain;
But though his anger was unjust and strong,
Thy country still is guiltless of the wrong,
And, therefore, why abandoned thus by thee?
Thy help the King himself implores through me.”
Rustem rejoined: “Unworthy the pretence,
- ↑ Literally, “Kings ought to be endowed with judgment and discretion; no advantage can arise from impetuosity and rage.” Gúdarz was one of the greatest generals of Persia, he conquered Judea, and took Jerusalem under the reign of Lohurásp, of the first dynasty of Persia, and sustained many wars against Afrásiyáb under the Kings of the second dynasty. He was the father of Giw, who is also celebrated for his valor in the following reigns. The opinion of this venerable and distinguished warrior appears to have had considerable weight and influence with Káús.
