The king having agreed to this, Zaratusht at the time of evening prayer went to his house, repeated the praises of the Almighty, entreating from him the accomplishment of the king’s desires, and lay down in the act of adoration: in this state God showed him in a vision that the king’s petition was granted. At dawn of day the king was seated on his throne; Zardusht appeared in the royal presence and came to his place; in a moment after, the king’s chamberlain entering in great trepidation, said: “There are four terror-striking, awe-inspiring horsemen at the door: “Never before have I beheld horsemen of such a kind.” The king asked of Zardusht: “Who are these persons?” but he had scarcely done speaking before all the four horsemen dressed in green, completely armed, of majestic port, drew near the throne; these four cavaliers were of the number of those angels who are nearest the just God, and are of the great Amshasfands, namely, _Bahman_,[413] _Ardibahist_,[414] _Azarkhurdad_,[415] and _Azargushtásp_,[416] who thus addressed the king: “We are angels and the envoys of God. The Dispenser of justice thus declares: ‘Zardusht is my prophet, whom I have sent to all the inhabitants of the earth; attend well to him; if thou devote thyself to his way, thou art delivered from hell. Never inflict pain on him; and when thou obtainest thy desires, avert not thy head from his commands.’” King Gushtasp, although in magnanimity immovable as mount _Alburz_, yet through the majesty of the angels and their awful presence, fell senseless from his throne: on recovering himself he thus addressed the righteous Lord: “I am the lowest of all thy servants, And have girt up my loins to execute thy orders.” When the Amshásfands heard this answer, they departed; and the military, on learning this wonderful occurrence, were all assembled: the king also, trembling all over, apologized to Zardusht: “Thy command sits upon my soul; My spirit is like the son of the Lord; My body, soul, and wealth are all to thee devoted, By order of the just and glorious Creator.” The prophet of the Lord replied: “May good tidings ever attend thee! I have entreated from the Almighty the completion of thy desires, and my prayer has been granted.” Zardusht then ordered that for the purpose of the _Yashtan-i-darún_,[417] that is, “the recitation and breathing out of prayer,” they should make ready in an inner apartment wine, sweet perfumes, milk, and a pomegranate; and over these he performed _Yasht_, or “the recitation of prayers,” in a low voice, out of the _Avesta_ and _Zand_; after this ceremony they gave Gushtasp some of the hallowed wine, on the mere tasting of which he became insensible and rose not up for three days: in that interval his spirit ascended to heaven, and there beheld the celestial nymphs, their palaces, progeny, and attendants; the blessings of paradise; the different gradations of rank among the virtuous, and the grade reserved for himself.