ake refuge here on this desert mountain, and
constantly have I prayed for thy ruin that I might be released from this
miserable mode of existence, and be permitted to return to my paternal
home. My prayer has been heard at last, and God has delivered thee into
my hands. But how earnest thou hither, and by what strange vicissitudes
art thou thus placed before me?" Afrasiyab communicated to him the story
of his misfortunes, and begged of him rather to put him to death on the
spot than convey him to Kai-khosrau. But Hum was too much delighted with
having the tyrant under his feet to consider either his safety or his
feelings, and was not long in bringing him to the Persian king.
Kai-khosrau received the prisoner with exultation, and made Hum a
magnificent present. He well recollected the basin and the dagger used
in the murder of Saiawush, and commanded the presence of the treacherous
Gersiwaz, that he and Afrasiyab might suffer, in every respect, the same
fate together. The basin was brought, and the two victims were put to
death, like two goats, their heads being chopped off from their bodies.

After this sanguinary catastrophe, Kai-khosrau returned to Iran, leaving
Rustem to proceed to his own principality. Kai-kaus quitted his palace,
according to his established custom, to welcome back the conqueror. He
kissed his head and face, and showered upon him praises and blessings
for the valor he had displayed, and the deeds he had done, and
especially for having so signally revenged the cruel murder of his
father Saiawush.

THE DEATH OF KAI-KHOSRAU

Kai-khosrau at last became inspired by an insurmountable attachment to a
religious life, and thought only of devotion to God. Thus influenced by
a disposition peculiar to ascetics, he abandoned the duties of
sovereignty, and committed all state affairs to the care of his
ministers. The chiefs and warriors remonstrated respectfully against
this mode of government, and trusted that he would devote only a few
hours in the day to the transactions of the kingdom, and the remainder
to prayer and religious exercises; but this he refused, saying:--"One
heart is not equal to both duties; my affections indeed are not for this
transitory world, and I trust to be an inhabitant of the world to come."
The nobles were in great sorrow at this declaration, and anxiously
applied to Zal and Rustem, in the hopes of working some change in the
king's disposition. On their arrival the people crie