Of Ferdoosee. 51 
Then do as thou shalt see fit, 
Asthy heart and guiding wisdom shall dictate. 
Mihraub writhed, and flung her from him; 
He uttered a cry like a furious elephant, 
And exclaimed :—When a daughter was born, 
I ought to have caused her immediately to be 
destroyed : 
I killed her not; I walked not in the way of 
my fathers ; 
And this now is the return which she has 
made me. 
Should the hero Saum join with Manucheher, 
And prove superior to me in war, 
The smoke will go up from Caubul to the 
sun 5 
Neither house will remain, nor stone unturned. 
Then Seendocht said,—O warrior! 
Speak not thus wildly, 
For Saum is already informed of this affair: 
Dismiss from thy mind all fear and anxiety. 
Mihraub answered,—O radiant beauty 
Speak not to me deceitfully : 
My heart would be free from pain, 
Wert thou secure from injury : 
Than Zaul there js not a man more estimable, 
Either among the nobles or the people ; 
