Sahm Reads Zal's Letter

From A8.7, Zal Writes to His Father. It illustrates A8.7.42–46:

A8.7.42
The envoy came, dismounted, kissed the ground,And thanked his God before the chief renowned.
A8.7.43
Sahm welcomed him and took the letter straight,Then had him speak and tell the message’s weight.
A8.7.44
The chief unsealed it as he left the height,And read its words, his face grew pale with fright.
A8.7.45
He stood astonished, disapproving still;He had imagined Zal of sterner will.
A8.7.46
Yet in his heart another thought arose:“Raised by a fierce bird, strange his longing grows.”