May pierce an anvil--mine can pierce the heart
Of the Káf mountain! If thy mace can break
A rock asunder--mine can strike the sun!"

The anger of the two heroes beginning to exceed all proper bounds, Káús
commanded silence; when Gúdarz came forward, and asked permission to say
one word more: "Call Khosráu and Fríburz before thee, and decide
impartially between them which is the most worthy of sovereignty--let
the wisest and the bravest only be thy successor to the throne of
Persia." Káús replied:

"The father has no choice among his children,
He loves them all alike--his only care
Is to prevent disunion; to preserve
Brotherly kindness and respect among them."

After a pause, he requested the attendance of Fríburz and Khosráu, and
told them that there was a demon-fortress in the vicinity of his
dominions called Bahmen, from which fire was continually issuing. "Go,
each of you," said he, "against this fortress, supported by an army with
which you shall each be equally provided, and the conqueror shall be the
sovereign of Persia." Fríburz was not sorry to hear of this probationary
scheme, and only solicited to be sent first on the expedition. He and
Tús looked upon the task as perfectly easy, and promised to be back
triumphant in a short time.

But when the army reached that awful fort,
The ground seemed all in flames on every side;
One universal fire raged round and round,
And the hot wind was like the scorching breath