Bahram Bahramiyan

Bahram Bahramiyan sat on the throne,
And girt himself for justice and for bounty.
They sprinkled emeralds upon his crown,
They called him Kirmanshah, and thus he said : —
" May God, the just and only God, bestow
Upon us wisdom for our portion, justice,
And counsel. This our Wayside Hostelry
Abideth not with any. Goodness help us,
Lean we and cleave thereto, and make our heart
Our witness by our justice and our bounty,
For since the good and evil that we do

Are our memorials sow thou naught but good."

When he had reigned four months the throne and

crown

Bewailed him bitterly. When certified
That death was near — that crocodile which hunteth
Rhinoceros and elephant — he gave
His son the world, and said : " Be thy reign glorious !
Array thyself, drink wine, walk delicately,
Be bountiful ; make not thy day with throne
And crown unfortunate."

Thus moments speed,

Their breaths uncounted by the man of greed !
O happy fortune ! bring red wine to me,
For now the poet's years are sixty-three.