
Afrasiab's Women Come Before Khosrow
From C4.23, Khosrow Spares Afrasiab’s Family. It illustrates C4.23.27–36:
- C4.23.27The queenly matron came with daughters, bentWith grief, and burdened by their deep lament.
- C4.23.28A hundred servants walked before each maid;On every head a ruby crown was laid.
- C4.23.29Their ornaments were like the shining sun;Their robes were gold where woven splendors run.
- C4.23.30All carried golden goblets in their hands,And trembled at the king’s august commands.
- C4.23.31The women shone with musk and gold and gem,With lowered heads, shame heavy over them.
- C4.23.32One hand bore censers, one held cups; the flameOf aloes, ambergris, rose as they came.
- C4.23.33It seemed that Saturn, from the heavens’ height,Had strewn the earth with stars of brilliant light.
- C4.23.34The royal matron came before the throne,And blessed the Shah while making sorrow known.
- C4.23.35Her daughters, delicately reared and fair,Raised all their supplications through the air.
- C4.23.36Together all the women wept in pain;They lived beneath their bitter fortune’s reign.
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