English
Section 3
When Shiruy heard this, he wept bitterly, and his heart grew afraid of that crown and throne.
Then that crowd rose up and left, the ones who had kept him worn down and troubled,
with ugly words and talk of his father's blood, they kept scorching the young man's heart.
Qobad stepped down from the royal throne and pressed both his dear hands to his head.
Blood dripped from his lashes onto his chest when word of the enemy reached him.
When the sun lifted its head above the dark mountain, the evildoer woke from sleep.
They all set out toward the court, and hearing this, he took his place on the royal seat.
The proud and defiant men came before him, both the strangers among his warriors and his own kin.
They sat with grim, downcast faces, and his tongue would not stir over anything, great or small.
He understood that they sat so grim, and asked why they were seated in pain and grief.
He said to them: whatever king comes from a father's line,
if he does not grieve at his father's suffering, I would call him nothing but base in body and low in birth.
No one should place hope in such a man, for he is more rotten than a rotten willow branch.
From the guilty man came this reply: anyone who says 'I serve two kings,'
call him one with a foolish, careless heart; and if he seems worthy, call him worthless still.
Shiruy answered thus: a king, when he has no treasure, his army counts for nothing.
Let us speak kindly for another month too, and say nothing that follows the harsh path.
Perhaps we can rejoice at his counsel, for this whole realm of his is a treasure.
When they heard the reply, they rose and made ready to go home.
Shiruy the king said to the cooks: nothing should be withheld from Khosrow.
Set before him every golden tray, and lay on it rich and sweet dishes.
The server would bring it, but Khosrow would not eat any of what he saw on the tray, hot or cold.
All that he ate came from Shirin's hand, though it grieved Shirin to see him eat so little.