intentions, prepared to meet him, but was reluctant to commit himself by
engaging in a civil war, and said, internally:--

"If I unsheath the sword of strife,
Numbers on either side will fall,
I would not sacrifice the life
Of one who owns my sovereign's thrall.

"My country would abhor the deed,
And may I never see the hour
When Persia's sons are doomed to bleed,
But when opposed to foreign power.

"The cause must be both good and true,
And if their blood in war must flow,
Will it not seem of brighter hue,
When shed to crush the Tartar foe?"

Possessing these sentiments, Tús sent an envoy to Gúdarz, suggesting the
suspension of any hostile proceedings until information on the subject
had been first communicated to the king. Káús was extremely displeased
with Gúdarz for his precipitancy and folly, and directed both him and
Tús to repair immediately to court. Tús there said frankly, "I now owe
honor and allegiance to king Káús; but should he happen to lay aside the
throne and the diadem, my obedience and loyalty will be due to Fríburz
his heir, and not to a stranger." To this, Gúdarz replied, "Saiáwush was
the eldest son of the king, 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