Kavus Shah prepared a messenger

He ordered him to return on the way

He summoned the writer of the letter

And seated him upon a golden chair

He dictated a letter full of anger and war

With sharp words and a face like a cucumber

First, he gave praise to the Creator

The Lord of peace and battle

The Lord of Bahram and Saturn and the Moon

The Lord of good and evil and glory and rank

By His command is the revolving sky

From Him is kindness spread everywhere

May you, O youth, have health and fortune

May it always remain with your crown and throne

If my opinion has become dark in your heart

And your head has become dazzled by the sleep of youth

You heard what the enemy did to Iran

When the time of battle became victorious

Now do not foolishly seek the enemy's mercy

Do not bring disgrace upon this court

Do not let your youth deceive you

If you do not want fear from the turning sky

For I, from his deceitful words

Many times turned back from his battle

If he deceives you, it is not surprising

I must take measure of myself

He did not speak to me at all of peace

You turned your face away from my command

Even Rostam, adorned with treasures

Will not be satiated with wealth

From that manliness, the royal crown

Your head has become empty of seeking war

Seek independence with the sword

The king's honor is in the country

When the commander Tos arrives before you

He will arrange whatever is necessary, more or less, for you

The hostages that you have in heavy chains

At once, load them upon the donkeys

The attendants and whatever wealth there is

Quickly send that to the court

Prepare yourself for battle and hanging

Do not prolong the words in this matter

When you prepare for a night attack and war

You will make the river Jihun flow with black earth

The commander will not bring his head to sleep

Afrasiab will come to battle you

And if you have kindness for that demon

You will not want them to call you a covenant breaker

Send back the army of Tos

You are not a man of contention on the day of battle

You have mingled with beautiful women

You have fled from battle to the banquet

They placed the king's seal upon the letter

The messenger spurred his horse and cut off the way

When the letter reached Siavash

He saw such unpleasant words

He called the messenger and asked what had happened

He made all the words correct from him

He told what had gone with the elephant-bodied one

What had been revealed from Tos and from Kavus

When Siavash heard his words

He became sad for Rostam and turned his face away

He made his heart full of thought about his father's actions

About the Turks and the time of battle

He said, "A hundred Turkish men and riders

From the relatives of such a famous king

All well-wishers and all innocent

If I send them to the presence of the king"

He neither asks nor thinks about their deeds

At once he hangs them alive on the gallows

What excuse shall I bring before God?

Evil will come upon my head from my father's actions

And if I wage war against the innocent

So foolishly with the army of the king of Turan

The world-possessor will not approve this evil from me

The assembly will open their tongues against me

And if I return to the presence of the king

I will entrust the army to the commander Tos

From him also, evil will reach my body

I see evil on the left and right, and evil ahead

Nothing but evil comes from Sudabeh herself

I do not know what the Divine One will bring

Two people from the army, from the strong ones

Like Bahram and like Zangeh of Shaveran

He called them near to himself for that secret

He adorned the palace and seated them before him

Whose secret was shared with both of them

After Rostam departed from the assembly

He said to them thus, "From ill fortune

Much evil is reaching my body"

With that kindness of the king's heart

Like a tree full of leaves and fruit

When Sudabeh became deceitful to him

You would say that it became a consuming poison

His bedchamber became my prison

My heart became sorrowful, and my laughing fortune

Thus went the days upon my head

That with his kindness, it brought fire

I chose war for that misfortune

Perhaps I may remain far from the grasp of the whale

There was so much army in Balkh

The commander, like Garsivaz, seeking vengeance

The king was sitting in Sogdiana

Full of hatred, with a hundred thousand swordsmen

We went like a rushing wind

We did not seek time in fighting them

When they had completely conquered the country

They prepared hostages and those gifts

All the priests showed the way

That we should return from this battlefield

My action did not please him

He strives for my suffering and torment

He foolishly commands me to war

I fear that he will break his oath

And if the war is for the sake of increase

When treasure came and the country came into hand

What is the need for foolishly shedding blood?

To entangle the heart in such vengeance?

One should not turn one's head away from God

One must hear much reproach

He will take both worlds away from me

And I will remain at the pleasure of the demon's heart

I wish my mother had not given birth to me

Or if she did, death would have come upon my head

That so many calamities must be endured

From the world, one must always taste poison

With this kind of pact that I have made

To God and the oaths I have sworn

If I turn my head away from righteousness

Deficiency will come from every side

This word has spread in the world

That we have laid the foundation with the king of the Turks

Everyone will open their tongues to evil

Everywhere against me as is fitting

To return for vengeance is to cut oneself off from religion

And to turn one's head away from heaven and earth

How can the Creator approve such a thing from me?

Where will the turning of time bring forth?

I will go and seek a country in the world

So that my name may remain hidden from Kavus

For the enlightened world is in such a way

That it is by the command of the Creator of the universe

A head that has no awareness from the brain

Cannot distinguish good from evil

Qubad came and went and entrusted the world

He too must be considered gone

You, O renowned Zangeh of Shaveran

Adorn your body with heavy toil

Go to the court of Afrasiab

Do not delay and do not lay your head to sleep

The hostages and whatever wealth there is

Of dinars and of the crown and the throne of the seat

Take all of these also before him

Tell him what has befallen us

He commanded Bahram Goudarz

That this renowned army and border

I entrusted you with treasure and the elephants' drums

Stay until the commander of Tus arrives

Give him this army and the wealth

All affairs are fully arranged

Go at once and count all that exists

From the treasure, the crown, and the throne

When Bahram heard his words

His heart became twisted with concern for him

Blood rained from the helmets of the warriors

They cursed the land of Hamavaran

Both sat together, full of grief

Their souls became sorrowful from his words

They said back to him, "This is not the right opinion"

There is no place for you in the world without a father

Write a letter to the king

And ask him again for the elephant-bodied one

If he commands war, prepare for war

Do not foolishly prolong the thought of your heart

Do not make the times gloomy for us

When a great tree has come to fruition

He did not accept the advice from those two wise men

The secret of the lofty sky was different

He gave such a reply that the command of the king

I will carry out, which is higher than the sun and moon

But by the command of the brave God

There is nothing, from the straw to the elephant and lion

Whoever turns away from the command of God

Becomes bewildered and does not find himself

One must reach out for blood

To lead the bodies of the two countries to vengeance

And after that, who knows from this battle

Whom the turning of time will exalt

For the sake of gain, he will also torment him

He will bring back forgotten words

He will bring the same anger and battle

He will bring tears of sorrow to his side

If your hearts have become darkened by my action

And you turn your heads away from my words

I am myself a messenger and a guide

I will remain in this plain, the abode of the curtain

When Siavash gave such a reply

The souls of the two proud men withered

They became weeping from the fear of his separation

They became roasted as if on a sharp fire

The evil eye of the times was watching

What is in secret with the king

He will also not be seen

From that, his eye became weeping from his action

Zangeh said thus, "We are servants"

We have filled our hearts with the kindness of the commander

May our bodies and souls be sacrificed for you

May our covenant be thus until death

When he received such an answer from the well-wishers

The vigilant king said thus to Zangeh

"Go, tell the king of Turan and his army"

"What has befallen us from this deed"

"From this peace, war is better for me"

"All your sweetness is pain and poison for me"

"My head will not be emptied of your covenant"

"Even if I remain far from the glorious throne"

"The world-possessing God is my refuge"

"The earth is my throne, and the sky is my crown"

"And furthermore, without doing anything foolish"

"It is not proper to go against the king"

"Open a way so that I may pass"

"To a place where God has made my watering place"

"I will seek a country in the world"

"So that my name may remain hidden from Kavus"

"I will not hear words from his bad nature"

"I will be safe for a time from his battle"

Zangeh went with a hundred renowned riders

He took the hostages from the king's gate

When he arrived in the city of the chief of the Turks

There was a clamor, and the watchman saw him

A great renowned man came to meet him

Whose name was Jangi Turg

When Zangeh came near to the king

The commander rose from his presence

He took him tightly in his arms and caressed him

He honored him and seated him near himself

When he sat down with the king, he delivered the message

He reminded him of all the words

When Afrasiab heard, he became disturbed

His heart became full of pain, and his head full of torment

He ordered them to prepare a place

And they treated him as was fitting

When Piran came, he cleared a space

The conversation went with the renowned headman

About Kavus and his raw words

About his bad temper and opinion and battle

He was saying this, and his face was gloomy

His heart was full of sorrow because of Siavash

The sending of Zangeh of Shaveran

He remembered all of it from beginning to end

He asked, "What remedy shall we make for this?"

And what agreement shall we make in seeking a solution?"

Piran said to him, "O king"

May you be immortal as long as time exists

You are more knowledgeable than us in every matter

And you are more capable than us in necessities

My guess and heart and knowledge and opinion

Is thus, the thought in my place

That whoever in the world in goodness

Is capable, openly and secretly

They will not take back this prince

From the treasure and the suffering that comes forth

I have heard thus that in the world

There is no one like him among the great ones

In stature and appearance and gentleness

In culture and opinion and worthiness

Skill with wisdom also more than lineage

A prince like him has not been born from a mother

Seeing now is better than hearing

He is precious, a prince, and great

And if he had no other skill than this

That from the blood of a hundred renowned men with his father

He became angry and abandoned the throne and crown

He seeks such a way from you

It does not seem good from the path of wisdom

That that renowned one should pass from this country

There will be reproach for you from the elders

His head will also become heavy because of you

And furthermore, Kavus has become old

His time has passed from the throne

Siavash is young and has royal glory

The customs and the glorious throne belong to him

If the king sees with his lofty opinion

He will write a beneficial letter

Just as one caresses one's child

He will caress the wise youth

He will make a place for him in this country

He will keep him in a manner befitting him

He will give his daughter to him according to custom

He will keep him with honor and dignity

Perhaps he will remain near the king

And make the country and your land a place of peace

And if he returns to the king

You will have a better time than ever

There will be gratitude near the king of the land

The great ones of the world will give praise

Perhaps the two countries will be at peace from vengeance

If the just one brings him to us

From the justice of the Creator of the world, this is fitting

That the world may become righteous by this war

When the leader heard the words of Piran

He saw all the possibilities in the same way

Then he pondered on that for a while

He was considering good and evil

He gave such an answer to the old Piran

"That what you have said now is all pleasing to the heart"

"But I have heard a story"

"That is in agreement with this opinion"

"That when you raise a male lion cub"

"When it sharpens its teeth, you will suffer punishment"

"When it rises up with strength and claws"

"It will attack its nurturer"

Piran said to him, "In wisdom"

"One should consider the king of the strong ones"

"Whoever from his father crookedness and bad temper"

"Does not take bad temper from him, how is it fitting?"

"Do you not see that Kavus has become old?"

"When he becomes old, he must pass on"

"Siavash will take the wide world"

"Much treasure without toil and palaces and mansions"

"The two countries will be yours, and the crown and throne"

"Who can find such a thing except the fortunate?"

When Afrasiab heard this speech

He laid the foundation of an opinion with knowledge

He summoned the world-experienced scribe

He opened his mouth and scattered words

The first thing he did when he put his hand on the pen

He made the tip of the pen intoxicated with ambergris

He began praising the Creator of the world

He displayed greatness and knowledge

Who is higher than space and time

How can the thought of servitude reach Him?

He is the Lord of the soul and that wisdom

He gave and nurtured the wise man

May blessings be upon the prince from Him

The Lord of the mace, the sword, and the helmet

The Lord of modesty and the Lord of fear

Whose heart and hand are pure from injustice and crookedness

I heard the message from beginning to end

From the vigilant heart of Zangeh of Shaveran

My heart became sad because the king of the world

Has become so sharp with you in secret

But in the world, besides the crown and throne

What does a wise and fortunate man seek?

All this has been arranged for you here

Whether you are a king or have desires

The whole city of Turan will offer you prayers

I myself am in need of your kindness

You are a child, and I am like a father

A father is bound to his child's service

Know that Kavus, in his kindness towards you

Did not open his face in such a way one day

Where I will open the closed door of the treasure

And entrust to you the crown and the throne of the seat

I will keep you without hardship, like a son

In the world, you will remain a memorial of me

When you pass from my country in the world

The small and the great will reproach me

And from this, you will find it difficult to pass

Unless there is divine custom and glory

On this path, you will not see the earth

You must pass through the Sea of China

For this reason, God has made you independent

Remain here and be proud in goodness

The army and the treasure and the city are yours

You should not seek an excuse to leave

When the opinion of peace with your father comes to you

I will entrust to you the crown and the golden belt

That you should go from here to Iran with an army

I will block the way to you with compassion

The war between you and your father will not last long

His head has become old, he will become weary of war

If he sees fire after sixty-five

The fire will reach suffering from the wind of old age

Iran and treasure and army will be yours

The crown will reach from country to country

I have accepted from the pure God that I

Will strive for goodness with soul and body

I will not command, and I myself will not do evil

I will not incline my heart to evil in thought

When the king brought the letter under seal

He commanded that Zangeh, the well-wisher

Should quickly gird his loins for going

He prepared a robe of honor adorned with silver and gold

A horse with a heavy saddle on its head

Zangeh of Shaveran came rushing

When he reached near the throne of Siavash

He said what he had asked and heard and seen

Siavash became happy on one side because of that

On the other side, he became full of pain and lamentation

That the enemy must be made a friend

Where does cold wind blow from fire?

He wrote a letter to his father

He reminded him of all that was from door to door

That I, in youth, have found wisdom

And I have also hastened for good and evil

From that woman, the very brain of the king of the world

Set my heart ablaze in secret

His bedchamber became my first pain

My face had to be washed with the blood of my heart

It was necessary to pass over a mountain of fire

The deer in the plain wept bitterly for me

From that shame and humiliation, I came to war

I came striding into the grasp of the whale

The two countries became happy with this peace

The king's heart became like a steel sword

Nothing at all of my actions pleases him

Opening is the same as closing

When his eye became satiated with seeing me

They do not linger on a satiated eye

May his heart never be free from joy

I have become from sorrow in the breath of the dragon

I do not know what the heavens have in store for me from this deed

What it holds in secret of vengeance and kindness

After that, he commanded Bahram

That in the world, renew your desire

I have entrusted to you the crown and the palace

The same abundant treasure and throne and place

The banner and the riders and the elephants' drums

When the commander Tos comes here

Entrust these also to him when he has accepted them

You be vigilant in heart and in time

Yellow tears of blood poured from his eyes

The lips of the brave men were full of cold wind

From the army, he chose three hundred riders

All brave and worthy of battle

A hundred chosen horses with golden saddles

A hundred غلام (young male servants) with golden belts and attendants

He ordered them to bring before him

To count the weapons and saddles and belts

Also, so much money as was needed for him

From dinars and royal jewels

After that, he summoned the dignitaries

He spoke some necessary words

He said thus: "From near Afrasiab"

Piran has passed by this watercourse

He carries a secret message for me

That is safe for two hundred from the assembly

I am now preparing to go to meet him

You also must be here

All of you turn towards Bahram

Do not turn your hearts away from his words

The brave men of the land gave kisses

Upon that good, praiseworthy leader