he mounted on
Raksh, he cried: 'What is Kaoos that he should deal with me in this
fashion? It is God who has given me strength and victory, and not he or
his army. The nobles would have given me the throne of Persia long
since, but I would not receive it; I kept the right before my eyes.
Verily, had I not done so, you, Kaoos, would not be sitting upon the
throne.' Then he turned to the Persians that stood by, and said, 'This
brave Tartar will come. Look out for yourselves how you may save your
lives. Me you shall see no more in the land of Persia.'

"The Persians were greatly troubled to hear such words; for they were
sheep, and Rustem was their shepherd. So the nobles assembled, and said
to each other: 'The king has forgotten all gratitude and decency. Does
he not remember that he owes to Rustem his throne--nay, his very life?
If the gallows be Rustem's reward, what shall become of us?'

"So the oldest among them came and stood before the king, and said: 'O
king, have you forgotten what Rustem has done for you and this land--how
he conquered Mazanieran and its king and the White Genius; how he gave
you back the sight of your eyes? And now you have commanded that he
shall be hanged alive upon a gallows. Are these fitting words for a
king?'

"The king listened to the old man, and said: 'You speak well. The words
of a king should be words of wisdom. Go now to Rustem, and speak good
words to him, and make him forget my anger.'

"So the old man rode after Rustem, and many of the nobles went with him.
When they had overtaken him, the old man said, 'You know that the king
is a wrathful man, and that in his rage he speaks hard words. But you
know also that he soon repents. But now he is ashamed of what he said.
And if he has offended, yet the Persians have done no wrong that you
should thus desert them.'

"Rustem answered, 'Who is the king that I should care for him? My saddle
is my throne and my helmet is my crown, my corselet is my robe of state.
What is the king to me but a grain of dust? Why should I fear his anger?
I delivered him from prison; I gave him back his crown. And now my
patience is at an end.'

"The old man said, 'This is well. But the king and his nobles will
think, "Rustem fears this Tartar," and they will say, "If Rustem is
afraid, what can we do but leave our country?" I pray you therefore not
to turn your back upon the king, when things are in such a plight. Is it
well that the Persians should beco