In the hush of a profound night, the eyes of the master poet of Tus closed in sleep, and a mysterious vision unfolded. In his dream, he held a goblet of wine as clear and fragrant as rosewater, when suddenly the spirit of Daqiqi—the departed pioneer of verse—appeared before him. Sitting beside the luminous goblet, Daqiqi began to chant epic tales, calling out: 'Drink from this cup only after the royal fashion of Kay Kavus and the ancient Kianian kings! For you have chosen to praise a monarch whose high fortune, radiant crown, and mighty armies honor the realm—King Mahmud, conqueror of cities, who bestows joy upon all.' Daqiqi spoke of glorious days ahead, of armies reaching China, and of the sovereign's unmatched grandeur. Then he revealed the haunting dream of his unfulfilled life: 'I once embarked upon this noble quest before you, composing a thousand verses detailing the reign of Goshtasp and his war against Arjasp. Yet fate cut my life short before my song could reach its conclusion. If these verses find favor with the King of Kings, my soul shall rise from the cold earth unto the shining moon.' When the vision faded, the sage of Tus resolved to give voice to the departed poet's legacy, weaving Daqiqi's thousand verses seamlessly into his eternal tapestry of kings.