The principal episodes of this Legend, as presented by the Pahlawí Kárnámak (of which I make use of Nöldeke's excellent German translation, a tirage-à-part of 21-69 pages, whereof the Introduction occupies pp. 22-34) and the Sháhnáma (Macan's Calcutta ed., vol. iii, pp. 1365-1416) are as follows.
(1) Sásán, fifth in descent from Bahman “Diráz-dast” (Longi-
(2) Pápak adopts Ardashír as his son, and as he grows up the fame of his courage, wisdom, and knightly virtues reaches Ardawán, the last Parthian King, who summons him to his court at Ray. There he is honourably entertained, until one day out hunting he gives the lie to one of Ardawán's sons who claims a remarkable shot made in reality by him. Thereupon he is disgraced, and dismissed to serve in the Royal stables (K. 38-41; Sh. 1366).
(3) A beautiful and wise maiden who enjoys Ardawán's fullest confidence takes pity upon Ardashír, provides two swift horses, and escapes with him to Párs. Ardawán pursues them, but turns back on learning that the “Royal Splendour,” personified as a fine ram, has caught up Ardashír and rides behind him on his horse (K. 41-46; Sh. 1370).
(4) Ardashír's wars with the Parthians and others; his defeat of Ardawân and his son, and his reverse at the hands of the Kurds (K. 46-49; Sh. 1374).
(5) The episode of Haftán-bókht (Haftawád) and the monstrous
worm of Kirmán, including the war with Mithrak (Mihrak) (K. 49-
(6) How Ardawán's daughter, married to Ardashír, is by him doomed to death; how her life is saved by the chief múbad (named Abarsám by Ṭabarí); how she brings forth a son, who is named Shápúr (Sháh-puhar, “King's son”); and how the boy is recognised by his father (K. 57-63; Sh. 1392).
(7) Ardashìr, having learned from the King of India, Kayt or Kayd, that the sovereignty of Persia will be in his family or in that of his enemy Mihrak, endeavours to extirpate the latter. One of Mihrak's daughters is saved from the massacre, and brought up amongst peasants. Shápúr sees and falls in love with her, but conceals his marriage, and the birth of his son Hurmuzd in which it results, from his father Ardashír. Hurmuzd, when seven years old, is recognised by his grandfather by his boldness on the polo field (K. 64-68; Sh. 1397).
No one who has read the Kár-námak and this portion of the Sháhnáma side by side can fail to be greatly impressed by the general fidelity, even in minute details, with which the latter reproduces the former; and our opinion of Firdawsí's faithful adherence to genuine old legends is equally strengthened by a comparison of the Pahlawí legend of Zarír (Yátkár-i-Zarírán, translated into German by Geiger)* with the corresponding part of the Sháhnáma. Now it is a mere accident that we happen to be able to check these portions by the originals, and we may fairly assume that elsewhere, where we have no such means of control, the poet is equally conscientious in his adherence, even in detail, to ancient legend. Space, however, will not allow the comparison in this place of more than one or two incidents of these two versions of the Legend of Ardashír. We will begin with the account of his birth.
“After the death of Alexander the Roman there were in Írán 240 tribal princes. Ispahán, Párs, and the neighbouring lands were in the hands of the chief of them, Ardawán. Pápak was Warden of the Marches and Prince of Párs and Governor for Ardawán. Pápak dwelt in Stakhr; he had no son who might be able preserve his name. Sásán was a herdsman of Pápak and abode ever with the flocks; but he was of the race of Dárá the son of Dárá. During the evil reign of Alexander he had fled away and gone forth with Kurdish shepherds. Pápak knew not that Sásán was of the race of Dárá the son of Dárá. Now one night Pápak dreamed that the Sun from the head of Sásán illuminated the whole world. Next night he saw Sásán riding on a richly-caparisoned white elephant, while all throughout the whole Kishwar (region, clime) surrounded him, tendered him their homage, and invoked on him praises and blessings. On the third night he saw how the (sacred) Fires Frobá, Gushasp, and Mithr waxed great in the house of Sásán and gave light to the whole world. This amazed him, and so he summoned before him the wise men and interpreters of dreams and related to them what he had dreamed on all three nights. Then said the interpreters of dreams, ‘Either the man himself concerning whom thou hast dreamed this, or one of his children, will attain to the lordship of the world: for the sun and the richly-caparisoned white elephant signify Strength, Might, and Victory, while the Fire Frobá signifies men well instructed in religion, and eminent over their peers; the Fire Gushasp, warriors and captains of hosts; and the Fire Burjín-Mihr, the peasants and husbandmen of the whole world. So the kingship will accrue to this man or to his children.’ When Pápak heard this speech, he dismissed every one, summoned Sásán before him, and asked him, ‘Of what family and stock art thou? Was any one of thy fathers or forbears a ruler or sovereign?’ Then Sásán prayed Pápak for indulgence and safety [with the words] ‘Inflict not on me hurt or harm.’ Pápak agreed to this, and thereupon Sásán revealed to him his secret, and who he was. Then Pápak was glad, and said, ‘I will promote thee;’ whereupon, at his bidding, a full royal dress was brought to him and given to Sásán [and he bade him] ‘Put it on.’ Sásán did so, and at Pápak's commend, he then strengthened himself for some days with good and proper meals. Later, he gave him his daughter in marriage, and when the time (according to the predestination of fate) was in accord, the girl forthwith conceived, and from her Artakhshír was born.”
“When on the wæl-stow Dárá his doom met
From all his House her face Fortune averted.
Him did a son survive, worthy of worship,
Wary and wise in war, Sásán ycleped,
Who, when he saw his sire thus foully smitten,
Saw, too, on Persia's arms Fortune look frowning,
Fled from his foes of Greece, swift and fleet-footed,
Stayed not to stumble on snares of ill fortune.
In distant lands of Ind death overtook him,
Where he in turn a son left to succeed him.Thus in like wise for four generations
From sire to son the name Sásán descended.
Herdsman were these and hinds, tenders of cattle,
Laden each year long with heavy burdens.When now the last in birth came unto Bábak,
And on the grazing-grounds sought the head-herdsman,
‘Hast thou,’ he questioned him, ‘need for an hireling,
Who here is fain to dwell, even in hardship?’
Him the head-herdsman hired to his service,
Holding him night and day unto long labour.
So for a while the man thus did continue,
Heart-sick and woe-worn, wearied with toiling.Sunk in deep slumber Bábak one night slept,
And his bright spirit thus in his dream saw.
On a fierce elephant Sásán was seated,
Held in his hand a sharp sword-blade of India,
While those who ringed him round in adoration
Bowed down, and on him blessings invokèd.
He by right rule and wise made the earth prosper,
And from the saddened soul banished the sorrow.When on the second night Bábak to sleep sank,
*
Care of his anxious mind was the companion.
Thus in his dream he saw now, that the Fire-Priest
Held in his hand aloft three flaming censers,
Kharrád and Mihr-fires, Ádhar-Gushasp too,Brilliantly blazing like the bright heavens,
There before Sásán fiercely were flaring,
While in each blazing fire aloe-wood smouldered.Then from his slumber Bábak awaking
Felt in his anxious heart fearful forebodings.
Such as were wise to read dreamings and visions,
Such as were skilled in solving of riddles,
Straightway assembled at Bábak's palace,
Seers and Saga-men, skilful in learning.
Then unto these revealed Bábak his vision,
And all his dreamings frankly unfolded,
While the dream-readers, pondering deeply,
Lent all their ears while forming their answer.Answered the spokesman then, ‘King, highly favoured,
Look we now closely to the dream's showing.
He whom thou sawest thus in thy slumber
High o'er the sun shall lift his head in lordship.
Even though he should fail in the fulfilment,
Him will a son succeed earth to inherit.’
Blithely did Bábak lend ear to this answer,
Unto each gifts he gave after his measure.Then Bábak straightway hailed the head-herdsman;
Forth from the flocks he came through the thick fog-drifts,
Breasting the sleet and snow, wrapped in his blanket,
Fear in his bosom, frost on his fur-cloak.*
When from his audience-hall Bábak had ousted
Strangers, alike both statesman and servant,
Then by his side the shepherd he seated,
Graciously greeted him, asked him of Sásán,
Asked of his lineage and of his fore-bears,
While, with foreboding filled, Sásán sat silent.Then at length spake he, ‘Sire, to thy shepherd
If thou wilt freely grant grace and forgiveness,
All that concerns my race I will discover,
If, hand in hand,* with oath thou wilt assure meThat neither privily nor yet in public
Thou wilt attempt to wreak on me thy vengeance.’
Bábak, thus hearing, loosened his tongue in speech:
Much made he mention of the All-Giver,
Saying, ‘I swear no hurt shall befal thee,
Nay, I will hold thee honoured and noble.’Then spake the youth again freely to Bábak,
‘Know, valiant knight, that Sásán my sire is,
Who from King Ardashír's seed was descended,
(He who is called by you ‘Bahman the Long-hand’);
Of brave Isfandiyár he was the offspring,
Who of King Gushtásp's fair fame was the guardian.’*
When Bábak heard this, tear-floods he rained
From those clear eyes which gazed on the vision.
Then kingly garments brought he from out his store,
And eke a horse equipped with lordly harness.
‘Hence to the bath,’ quoth he, ‘hie thee in all haste,
And there abide till fit raiment be brought thee.’Soon a fair palace built he for Sásán;
(Thus from the herdsman did he upraise him),
And in this palace when he had placed him
Bondsmen and servants set he before him,
Gave him all gear and garb needful for lordship,
And of all goods and gifts ample endowment,
Last, his dear daughter gave him in wedlock,
Crown of his glory she, and his heart's darling.When o'er the moon-faced maid nine moons had wanèd
To her a son was born, radiant as sun-light,
Like unto Ardashír, famed in the older time,
Graceful, and growing daily in favour.
Him too his father Ardashír named,
By him his grand-sire greatly was gladdened.”
The next episode which I shall give is the flight of Ardashír from Ardawán's court at Ray to Párs, accompanied by the beautiful and wise maiden (called Gulnár by Firdawsí) who had hitherto acted as Ardawán's counsellor and adviser, but who is moved by love for Ardashír to cast in her lot with him.