How the Lion-ape slew a Daughter of the Khán, how it was slain by Bahrám Chúbína, and how the Khán gave him a Daughter and the Kingdom of Chín

Time passed and peace was tutor night and day.
There were at that time in the hills of Chín

Wild animals past count. One was a beast
Out-bulking horses and upon its head
Were two black locks like cables. It was tawny
Of body while its ears and throat were black.
None saw it save at noon-tide and it had
Two claws resembling those of mighty lions.
Its roar rose o'er the clouds, it swallowed stones,
And turned the day of mighty men to gloom.
Folk called it “Lion-ape:”* the land was all
Confounded at the ill it wrought. The Khán
Possessed a moon-like daughter, had the moon
Two raven locks, two rubious lips, a nose
As 'twere a silvern reed, two smiling cheeks
* Of coral, and dark eyes. Her parents used
To weep for terror lest the sun should strike her.
One day she went forth to the plain and roamed
The meadows while the Khán, the world-lord, followed
The chase elsewhere. The queen was in the palace
Engaged in converse with a counsellor.
Thus went her daughter to that meadow-land
With other damsels, wine, and revellers.
The lion-ape descried her from the heights,
Descended to the plain and gulped her down:
* That fair-cheeked damsel ended in a breath.
The Khán heard and his face turned black, his queen
Tore out her hair: they mourned the maid for years,
As if they had been burning in fierce flames,
And sought to slay the monster and relieve
Chín from that stress. Now when Bahrám Chúbína
Fought with and sent the dust from Makátúra
The queen went forth to watch him and discoursed
To all about his prowess. Meeting him
One day with five score nobles of Írán,
And many men on foot preceding him,
While he rode with a counsellor, she asked:—
“Who is this with such height and Grace divine?”
A servant answered: “Thou hast much to learn,
Not knowing brave Bahrám Chúbína's name!
He once was Sháh within Írán; his crown,
Out-topped the moon. Chiefs title him ‘Bahrám
The brave,’ for he hath borne the fame of valour
From other kings, and now that he hath quitted
Írán for Chín earth quaketh 'neath his charger.
Our sovereign would have him for a chief,
So setteth on his head a royal crown.”
She thus made answer: “Since his Grace is such
Well may we nestle underneath his wings,
And well may I request a boon of him;
He will not act with slackness like the Khán,
But venge me on the monster when he heareth
The reason for my grief and malisons.”
He answered: “If the queen of upright folk
Will speak to him she will not find a trace
Left of the lion-ape except a corpse
Dragged by the feet by wolves.”

She heard and joyed:

Pain for her daughter left her. She made haste
To see the Khán and tell him all. He said:—
“Where there is horseman such as I, and where
A lion-ape hath battened on my child,
'Twere shame for us to tell it; 'twould disgrace
My stock. Bahrám Chúbína knoweth not
That that terrific monster will make budge
An iron mountian with its breath. Although
The daughter of a king be famed life too
Is dear to him.”

She said: “I want revenge

For her who was mine Eye, so speak I will,
Shame or no shame, and haply gain mine end.”
Much time thus passed away. She kept her rancour
A secret. Now the Khán chanced to prepare
A feast and summoned thereunto his chiefs.
He sent and called the brave Bahrám Chúbína,
And seated him upon the silvern throne.
Now when the queen behind her curtains heard
She entered quickly, saw the hero, praised
And blessed him much, and said to him: “May Chín
And Turkistán be prosperous through thee!
Fain would I ask a favour of my lord;
May he accord it me.”

He said: “'Tis thine

To order and to will and win thy wish.”
She said: “Near by there is a meadow-land—
The very spot for feasting—and therein
The youths of Chín keep merrymake each Spring.
A bow-shot past the wood thou mayst behold
A mount more black than pitch. Upon that mount
Of flint there is a monster, and the realm
Of Chín is in distress because of it.
A lion-ape I term it for I know not
What else to call it. By the Khán I had
A daughter whom the sun was wont to praise.
She left the palace for that feasting-place
What while the Khán was hunting with his men.
Came from the mountain that ferocious monster,
And gulped down her that was our very Eye.
Now every Spring it visiteth that meadow

In quest of prey. No youth or paladin
Of any name is left in this our city
Since through the mischief of this lion-ape
They have been slaughtered, and it hath sent up
The dust from this fair land. Our cavaliers
Of war and men of action have gone forth
In numbers to that mountain-height but when
They see afar the monster's claws and breast,
Its back, its shoulders, ears and head, it roareth
And shattereth those warriors' hearts, for what
Are lions, tigers, crocodiles thereto?
No counter of the cost will venture near.”
Bahrám Chúbína said: “At dawn to-morrow
I will go forth and view this pleasure-ground,
And by the strength and might that God hath given,
The exalted Fashioner of sun and moon,
I will relieve the pleasance of this monster
If some will guide me thither when 'tis dawn.”
Whenas the moon's disk shone forth from the sky,
And dark night shook abroad its dusky locks,
They broke up and departed on their ways,
Bemused, each to his palace. When the glory
Of golden Sol appeared and plaited up
Night's azure tresses, brave Bahrám Chúbína
Put on his gambeson and then committed
His honoured form to God. He took his lasso,
His bow, a hundred shafts and one forked dart
As used in hunting. When he neared the height
He bade his retinue turn back, and when
Hard on the lion-ape thou wouldst have said:
“The mount loured o'er him.” There mid rocks of flint
He girt himself and mounted on his saddle,
Armed with his coiled up lasso, plied his bow
And strung it, called on God who giveth good,
Sent up his battle-cry, and smote the rocks
Until they flashed again. The lion-ape
Was in a pool. It wallowed and came forth,
For when the monster's fell was soaked no shaft
Availed against it. That grim monster came
To gulp Bahrám Chúbína down. That hero
Shot and the body of the lion-ape
Had fight enough. He shot again and smote
The monster on the head; the blood poured down
Like water o'er its breast. He marked the strength
And onset of the monster, shot again,
Transfixed its claw, then loosed his lasso, leapt
Upon that lofty mountain-top and speared
The creature's loins; the flints were dyed with blood.
Then reaching for his scimitar he clave
The monster's form in twain, cut off its head,
And flung it down contemptuously, descended,
Came to the Khán, rejoicing, and proclaimed
What had befallen the ape. The Khán and queen
Set forward to the wood and made all haste
To reach the mountain-top while acclamation,
Such that thou wouldst have said: “The earth is rent”
Rose from the warriors of Chín. They praised
Bahrám Chúbína and showered gold and jewels
Abundantly upon him while the chief
Of Chín embraced him and bestowed on him
Thenceforth the style of king, and having reached
The palace chose a trusty messenger,
And sent a hundred purses full of drachms,
With slaves and robes, and bade a scribe attend.
They wrote a patent out for Chín on silk.
The Khán at that time gave Bahrám Chúbína
His daughter to secure his staying there.
As was their custom they made ready robes
Of honour, many crowns and belts. The Khán
Said to Bahrám Chúbína: “These bestow
On such Íránians as are worthy of them.”
Bahrám Chúbína took to feast and chase,
Untroubled by the passing on of time;
The noblest of the cavaliers of Chín
Were his petitioners, and all Chín said:—
“We are thy slaves and only live for thee,”
While he mid feast and largess passed his days,
And all folk too united in his praise.