under the direction of Gúdarz, to meet the young prince on the road. On
first seeing him, the king moved forward to receive him; and weeping
affectionately, kissed his eyes and face, and had a throne prepared for
him exactly like his own, upon which he seated him; and calling the
nobles and warriors of the land together, commanded them to obey him.
All readily promised their allegiance, excepting Tús, who left the court
in disgust, and repairing forthwith to the house of Fríburz, one of the
sons of Káús, told him that he would only pay homage and obedience to
him, and not to the infant whom Gíw had just brought out of a desert.
Next day the great men and leaders were again assembled to declare
publicly by an official act their fealty to Kai-khosráu, and Tús was
also invited to the banquet, which was held on the occasion, but he
refused to go. Gíw was deputed to repeat the invitation; and he then
said, "I shall pay homage to Fríburz, as the heir to the throne, and to
no other.

"For is he not the son of Kai-káús,
And worthy of the regal crown and throne?
I want not any of the race of Poshang--
None of the proud Túránian dynasty--
Fruitless has been thy peril, Gíw, to bring
A silly child among us, to defraud
The rightful prince of his inheritance!"

Gíw, in reply, vindicated the character and attainments of Khosráu, but
Tús was not to be appeased. He therefore returned to his father and
communicated to him what had occurred. Gúdarz was roused to great wrath
by this resistance to the will of the king, and at once took twelve
thousand men and his seventy-eight kinsmen, together with Gíw, and
proceeded to support his cause by force of arms. Tús, apprised of his