§ 10 How Afrásiyáb put Bízhan in Ward

Afrásiyáb commanded Garsíwaz:—
“Prepare a gloomy pit and weighty bonds,
Secure with chains Bízhan's hands to a yoke
Bridge-like, as Rúmans do, from head to foot

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Chain him and make all sure with heavy rivets;
Then throw him in the pit head first—no more
Of sun and moon for him! Take elephants,
And fetch the boulder of the dív Akwán,
Which God raised from the ocean-depth and cast
Upon a wood in Chín. Thus will I be
Avenged upon Bízhan. Convey this stone,
Which covereth the dungeon of Arzhang,
Upon high-crested elephants, and cover
Bízhan's, then leave him to go mad with anguish.
Take horsemen, sack the palace of that wanton—
Manízha, who hath shamed her quality—
Deprive her of her fortune, crown, and state,
And say to her: ‘Thou wretched and accursed,
Who art unworthy of the throne and crown!
Thou hast abased my head among the kings,
And cast my diadem upon the dust.’
Then drag her naked to the pit and say:—
‘Behold him whom thou sawest on the throne
Here in this pit! Thou art his Spring, console him,
And wait upon him in his gloomy cell.’”
So Garsíwaz departed from the presence.
They carried out the monarch's evil purpose;
They haled the son of Gív back from the gallows,
And bore him to the pit's mouth in his bonds,
There fettered him from head to foot in iron,
His waist with Rúman chains, his hands with gyves,
While smiths with steel and hammers made secure
The massive rivetings, and then they flung him
Head-foremost down the pit and set the stone
Upon it. Garsíwaz thence led his troop
To where the daughter of Afrásiyáb
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Dwelt, gave up all her treasury to spoil,
And made a fresh disposal of the wealth.
Manízha was reduced to naked feet,
Bare head, and single wrap. He hustled her
Forth to the pit. Her eyes wept tears of blood;
Her cheeks were like the spring.

“Behold,” he said,

“Thy house and home! Henceforth thou art to be
This prisoner's drudge!”

He turned back, and Manízha,

The spouse of woe, roamed wailing o'er the plain.
Now when a day and night had passed she came
With lamentations to the pit, and made
A passage large enough to pass one hand.
Thereafter when the sun rose o'er the hills
She used to gather food at every door
By day-long wanderings and pass it through
The crevice to Bízhan, and weep. Thus she
Lived for a while in abject misery.