"The father has no choice among his children, He loves them all alike--his only care Is to prevent disunion; to preserve Brotherly kindness and respect among them." After a pause, he requested the attendance of Fríburz and Khosráu, and told them that there was a demon-fortress in the vicinity of his dominions called Bahmen, from which fire was continually issuing. "Go, each of you," said he, "against this fortress, supported by an army with which you shall each be equally provided, and the conqueror shall be the sovereign of Persia." Fríburz was not sorry to hear of this probationary scheme, and only solicited to be sent first on the expedition. He and Tús looked upon the task as perfectly easy, and promised to be back triumphant in a short time. But when the army reached that awful fort, The ground seemed all in flames on every side; One universal fire raged round and round, And the hot wind was like the scorching breath Which issues from red furnaces, where spirits Infernal dwell. Full many a warrior brave, And many a soldier perished in that heat, Consumed to ashes. Nearer to the fort Advancing, they beheld it in mid-air, But not a living thing--nor gate, nor door; Yet they remained one week, hoping to find Some hidden inlet, suffering cruel loss Hour after hour--but none could they descry. At length, despairing, they returned, worn out, Scorched, and half-dead with watching, care, and toil. And thus Fríburz and Tús, discomfited And sad, appeared before the Persian king.