Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/220

 and unjustly murdered, and therefore it becomes his majesty to appease and rejoice the soul of the deceased, by putting Kai-khosráu in his place. Kai-khosráu, like Feridún, is worthy of empire; all the nobles of the land are of this opinion, excepting thyself, which must arise from ignorance and vanity.

"From Nauder certainly thou are descended, Not from a stranger, not from foreign loins;  But though thy ancestor was wise and mighty  Art thou of equal merit? No, not thou!  Regarding Khosráu, thou hast neither shown  Reason nor sense--but most surprising folly!" To this contemptuous speech, Tús thus replied: "Ungenerous warrior! wherefore thus employ Such scornful words to me? Who art thou, pray!  Who, but the low descendant of a blacksmith?  No Khosráu claims thee for his son, no chief  Of noble blood; whilst I can truly boast  Kindred to princes of the highest worth,  And merit not to be obscured by thee!" To him then Gúdarz: "Hear me for this once, Then shut thy ears for ever. Need I blush  To be the kinsman of the glorious Kavah?  It is my humour to be proud of him.  Although he was a blacksmith--that same man,  Who, when the world could still boast of valour,  Tore up the name-roll of the fiend Zohák,  And gave the Persians freedom from the fangs  Of the devouring serpents. He it was,  Who raised the banner, and proclaimed aloud,  Freedom for Persia! Need I blush for him?  To him the empire owes its greatest blessing,  The prosperous rule of virtuous Feridún." Tús wrathfully rejoined: "Old man! thy arrow May pierce an anvil--mine can pierce the heart  Of the Káf mountain! If thy mace can break  A rock asunder--mine can strike the sun!"

The anger of the two heroes beginning to exceed all proper bounds, Káús commanded silence; when Gúdarz came forward, and asked permission to say one word more: "Call Khosráu and Fríburz before thee, and decide impartially between them which is the most worthy of sovereignty--let the wisest and the bravest only be thy successor to the throne of Persia." Káús replied:

"The father has no choice among his children, He loves them all alike--his only care