Afrásiyáb said to his troops: “Our fortune
That was awake is sleeping. Ye are feeble,
And I must to the field. Be leopard-like
In resolution if but for to-day,
Attack from every quarter and fight on.
Lay ambuscades on all sides for the foe,
And bring the sun down with your spears.”
He quitted
The centre of his host, heart-seared, revengeful,
Charged Tús and slaughtered many of Írán
Till Tús, whose heart misgave him, showed his back.
One came for aid to Rustam saying thus:—
“The matter goeth ill with us to-day:
Our whole right is a sea of blood, the banner
Of our Íránian horsemen hath gone down.”
Came elephantine Rustam from the centre
With Farámarz and troops. Confronting them
Allies and kinsmen of Afrásiyáb,
Swift in revenge, of whom the matchless one
Slew many, backed by Tús and Farámarz.
Afrásiyáb, when he beheld the flag
Of violet and Káwa's standard, knew:—
“'Tis Rustam of the elephantine form,
The noble chieftain sprung from Narímán,”
And raging as it were a warrior-leopard,
Sat tight and went up to encounter him.
As soon as Rustam saw the sable flag
He bounded like a lion in its rage,
Then full of fury gave fleet Rakhsh the reins
And, with blood streaming from his lance's point,
Encountered proud Afrásiyáb. One shaft
Of poplar, pointed like a willow-leaf,
Pinned to his head the Turkman's helm, while he
Speared warlike Rustam full upon the breast,
The point went through the leather of his belt
But failed against the tiger-skin cuirass;
Then matchless Rustam, bent upon revenge,
Speared his opponent's charger through the chest.
The speedy steed fell prone in agony
And threw the rider, whom the hero strove
To seize around the waist and make an end.
Húmán apart caught sight of him and, raising
His massive mace upon his shoulder, smote
The shoulder-blade of elephantine Rustam,
While both the armies shouted. Rustam turned
And looked behind him, thus the king escaped
His grasp, and mounted on a speedy steed,
While by a hundred shifts Húmán, the son
Of Wísa, saved him from that Dragon's clutch.
Húmán in furious haste but caught him not,
His time had not yet come. Shouts rose to heaven,
And massive maces whirled. There came to Rustam
Some of the army of Írán lest harm
Might fall upon him, and the noble Tús
Made question of him: “Felt the Elephant
The impact of the Onager's assault?”
He answered: “Neither heart of stone nor anvil
Can bear the buffets of a massive mace
When wielded by a man with chest and arms;
As for that mace wherewith Húmán struck me—
Call it not iron; it was merely wax.”
When Rustam's foeman turned and fled the troops
All gave a shout and raised their spearheads cloudward.
If slain and wounded covered not the ground
It was a field of tulips and of saffron;
The horses trampled blood, the elephants
Had feet incarnadined. The Turkmans fled,
Swift as the wind, because the arm of Rustam
Did execution on them. For three leagues
That matchless hero like a raging dragon
Pursued the foe. Then he returned to camp,
And thou hadst said that heaven befriended him;
The soldiers came back satiate with spoil;
And iron, gold, and silver, weapon, rein,
Spearhead, and girdle covered all the plain.
Now when the sun rose o'er the mountain-tops,
And scattered jewels on night's pitchy back,
A shout rose and the din of clarions
As matchless Rustam led his army forth.
All tearful for the death of Siyáwush.
The king, on hearing that a host pursued him,
Led by the matchless chief intent on vengeance,
Marched his own forces to the sea of Chín;
The broad expanse of earth was narrowed to him.
He went across the sea to where he would,
And thus addressed Pírán: “Advise me well
What should be done about this wretched boy;
Because if Rustam take and carry him
Off to Írán, they will enthrone and crown
This dív-begotten as Sháh. Convey him hither,
Bestir thyself, and slight not my command.”
Pírán replied: “We must not rashly slay him,
But I will take such order that the king
Shall praise his faithful slave. Fetch we the youth,
And fix his residence within Khutan.
We must not give occasion to ill-doers
Eternally to blame our sovereign.”
The king replied: “O master of wise rede!
Thou art my guide to good. Use all dispatch;
'Tis not a matter that will brook delay.”
Pírán at once sent off a prudent man
Of noble birth to fetch the prince. The envoy
Made haste and sped like smoke, for so the chieftain
Had bidden. When he came before Khusrau,
And saw the young man's Grace and majesty,
He gave unstinted praise, did reverence,
And tarried long delivering his message
In fitting language fittingly received.
“Afrásiyáb hath sent and summoned me
Down to the sea! What shall we do? Perchance
We yet may make a shift to save our lives.”
They talked together and discussed it much,
But found no remedy. They had to go,
And set off, though unwillingly, in haste.
They mourned and wept and cursed Afrásiyáb
Until they reached Pírán, who, when he saw
Khusrau, descended from his throne, inquired
About the tedious journey courteously,
And full of praises set the prince beside him.
As for those things whereof Khusrau had need,
Provisions, raiment, carpetings, pavilions,
Tents, steeds, Pírán provided him with all,
Then went to king Afrásiyáb and said:—
“O king of wisdom, Grace, and glory! I
Have brought the little boy that hath the Grace;
What further orders hast thou for me now?”
The king said: “Send him from the sea of Chín
So that the chiefs may find no trace of him.”
Pírán performed his task without delay,
And sent like smoke the youth upon his way.357
The chief, the elephantine hero, marched
Toward the realm of Chín, and with his sword-arm
Of Chín, and took the throne of him whose fortune
Had come to dust. This saw spake Rustam first:—
“The man of worth will seek the enemy;
'Tis good to slay him if he countereth thee,
And good too if he shun the fight?? and flee.”
He searched the palace for its hoards; the people
Disclosed them all. The slaves, both boys and girls
Famed for their beauty, steeds, and treasuries
Of gold, crowns, robes, brocade, and ivory throne,
Fell into Rustam's hand, with many a jewel
Out of the hoards at Gang, and all the soldiers
Were rich in armlets, torques, and coronets.
He gave torques, armlets, and the ivory throne
To Tús, besides the government of Chách,
And said: “If anybody shall revolt,
Or even call Afrásiyáb to mind,
Cut off his head and make him food for vultures;
But like a father keep from want and travail
The wise and peaceful, shunners of the Faith
Of Áhriman. Offend not the offenceless,
And practise all humanity and justice,
For this world is a lodging not a home.
None ever had more Grace than had Jamshíd,
Yet still high heaven trod him under foot,
And found the world a monarch in his stead.”
Next, to the worthy, pious paladin
Gúdarz he gave a crown of royal gems,
With earrings, torque, and throne, and made him
lord
Of Sughd and Sipanjáb; he added counsel
With commendations and felicitations,
And feast and fight remind us still of thee;
But worth is better than high lineage,
Though lineage assisteth men of worth.
Since thou hast worth and lineage and wisdom,
And mak'st thy soul a concourse of sweet sounds,
It is but right that thou shouldst hear my rede,
Who art thyself a teacher of the great,
From Sipanjáb to the Gulzaryún
Be thy word law.”
To Faríburz he sent
A crown of gold beside dínárs and gems,
And said: “Thou art a prince and potentate,
And brother unto Siyáwush; avenge him!
Ne'er loose thy lasso from the saddle-straps,
Cease not from vengeance on Afrásiyáb,
And take no thought of food, repose, and sleep.
Be just in all thy doings here below,
For justice never ruined any one.”
The tidings spread through Chín that Rustam sat
Enthroned as over-lord. Then all the folk
Brought handsel of dínárs and royal gems,
And said: “We are thy servants and thy slaves;
We only tread the earth to do thy bidding.”
The chieftain gave them quarter for their lives,
Perceiving that they had discerning minds,
And occupied himself for many a day
With hawk and cheetah. Passed a while away.
Now as it chanced one day Zawára went
To hunt the onager. He rode apace
Conducted by a Turkman. On the open
He saw a forest, “which,” thou wouldest say,
“One cannot pass, it fresheneth the soul,”
The Turkman told Zawára thoughtlessly:—
“This was the hunting-ground of Siyáwush,
This was his favourite spot in all Túrán,
Where was he wont to be both glad and merry,
But elsewhere sad.”
The Turkman's talk recalled
Old recollections to Zawára's mind.
A hawk was on his hand; he let it go;
The lashes of his eyes ran tears of blood.
His comrades of the host approached, observed him
In grief and tears; then they began to curse
The Turkman guide and felled him to the ground.
With gall-drops streaming from his eyes Zawára
Swore a great oath: “I will not hunt or sleep,
Or cease from vengeance on Afrásiyáb.
I will not give a moment's rest to Rustam:
All must prepare for fight.”
He sought his brother.
“Did we come hither to revenge or bless?”
He said. “The Giver of all good hath given
Thee strength and made the circle of the sun
Thy star. Why should this realm be populous,
Or any soul live joyfully therein?
Forget not to avenge that prince, whose peer
Thou wilt not look upon for many a year.”
Roused by Zawára's words the matchless Rustam
Till all the land showed signs of misery,
And from Túrán up to Sakláb and Rúm
Folk saw no cultured tract. The Íránians
Beheaded all the men, both young and old,
And made the women and the children slaves.
Thus o'er a thousand leagues and more the reek
Of burning rose. Then all of noble race
Came with the dust upon their heads protesting:—
“We are aweary of Afrásiyáb,
And would not see him even in a dream.
As for the guiltless blood that he hath shed,
We had not any voice or part therein,
And now, although we are a scattered people,
Yet are we all thy slaves. As thou art mighty
Shed not, provoking God, more guiltless blood.
None knoweth where our king is, or if he
Is well or blasted by the dragon's breath.”
The prudent Rustam's heart was grieved thereat,
He summoned all the chieftains of the host,
And marched the army to Káchár Báshí.
The wise, the great men, and the veteran chiefs
Flocked to his presence, and one said: “Káús,
Who hath not Grace, and cannot soar or stand,
Is seated on the throne without a guide,
And if Afrásiyáb should suddenly
Come with an army to invade Írán,
And conquer old Káús, our joy and peace
Would be destroyed. We all have won both honour
And vengeance, and have burned up every city.
Now let us go back to the agéd king;
When feasts begin we shall be all new men.
For six years we have had not one glad day;
Our slaves, our states, our signets, and our crowns
Heart sated is soul bated! If thou settest
Thy heart upon this ancient dwelling-place
'Twill flatter thee but cozen thee withal;
So, if thy heart be not with Áhriman,
Abstain from greed which is the enemy.
Array thyself and lavish, drink and eat,
Such is thy portion of this fleeting show.”
The matchless Rustam yielded his assent
To what the noble archimage had urged.
That jocund counsellor went on to say:—
“Choose pleasure in this Wayside Inn. Reflect
That in the dust there is no brotherhood,
And how thou wilt deplore this present good!”
The matchless Rustam heard the words with shame,
And felt an ardent longing to depart.
He gathered horses out of all the herds
That wandered o'er the deserts of Túrán,
Together with ten thousand boys and girls—
Slaves fit to serve a king—with bags of musk,
With skins of marten, ermine, and grey squirrel,
Of minever and weasel. On the backs
Of elephants were furs, perfumes, dínárs,
Gold, tapestries, and havings great and small,
Stuffs for apparel, treasures, drachms, and swords,
As well as other weapons, crowns, and thrones.
They packed the loads, set forward to Írán,
And, going from Túrán toward Zábul,
Drew near to glorious Zál, while Tús, Gúdarz,
And Gív, those famous chiefs, went to the Sháh
At Párs.
When news reached base Afrásiyáb
That Tús and Rustam were across the river
With vengeance in his heart intent on war.
He found the country all turned upside down,
The nobles slaughtered and the folk enslaved;
No horses, treasures, crowns, or thrones were there,
There was no verdant leafage on the trees;
The world had been consumed with fire, and all
The palaces had been o'erthrown and burned.
The king wept tears of blood and thus harangued
The captains of the host: “A man must lose
His reason to forget these outrages!
Fill all your hearts with vengeance, make your shields
Your beds, your helmets pillows, let us fight
Till heaven itself shall fall in our revenge;
For country's sake, for treasure, child, and kin,
We will tread down the cities of Írán
In striving after vengeance; 'tis not well
To be thus downcast just because the wind
Was in their favour in a single fight.
From all sides will we gather arms and troops,
And make a new departure.”
He assembled
Without delay a host equipped for war,
And led his warriors and lion-men
Against Írán. His plan was to attack
From every side. No respite was afforded,
He burned up all the settlements and trees,
And brought the Íránians to a parlous case.
For seven years there was a rainless sky,
The favour changed, conditions were reversed,
Much time elapsed with matters in this stay
While at Zábul the mighty Rustam lay,
And Turkman sworders in the world held sway.
Gúdarz one night dreamed that a watery cloud363
Rose o'er Írán, and on it sat Surúsh,
Who thus addressed him: “Give to me thine ear
As thou wouldst be released from this distress,
From this injurious Turkman dragon-fierce.
There is a youthful prince now in Túrán,
Sháh Kai Khusrau by name. He is a prince,
The offspring of the loins of Siyáwush,
A man of worship and of noble race,
Illustrious, of the stock of Kai Kubád,
And sprung from Túr upon the mother's side.
Whenas his glorious feet shall reach Írán
Heaven will accord to him his full desire.
Then will he gird him to avenge his father,
Will overturn the sovereignty of Túr,
Will make the waters of the Red Sea boil,
Pause not in vengeance on Afrásiyáb,
But live in his cuirass the whole year through,
And pass his days and nights upon the saddle.
Among the chiefs and warriors of Írán
None will discover him excepting Gív:
Such is the outcome destined by the sky.
On Gív the Judge hath rightly lavished love.”
Gúdarz awoke and, with his hoary beard
Upon the ground, gave thanks to God: his heart
Was hopeful of a Sháh to rule the world.
Now when the sun appeared above the dales,
Ascending as it were a shining lamp,
The chieftain sat upon his ivory throne,
And furnished forth the hall with seats of teak.
And told him of the dream in many words,
Thus saying: “Glorious are thy feet and days,
And glorious is thy world-illuming star;
Since thy blest mother bare thee earth hath been
Fulfilled with blessings. Blest Surúsh appeared
Last night to me in sleep by God's command.
He sat upon a cloud mid wind and rain,
And purged the world of woe. He looked at me
And said: ‘Why all this grief? Why is the world
Thus filled with warfare and thus parched with drought?
Because Káús hath neither Grace nor might,
And heedeth not the precedents of Sháhs.
When Kai Khusrau arriveth from Túrán
He will bring war and trouble on the foe;
But none of all the valiant chiefs can find him
Save Gív, the famous offspring of Gúdarz.’
Thus heaven hath ordained thee to remove
Our sorrow, toil, and bondage. Thou hast sought
For fame in war, and now eternal fame
Is in thy reach, for, while the world hath men
And words, thy good name will continue fresh.
'Twill be a toil, but one with fame and treasure,
A toil which surely will exalt thy fame;
And, since thou wilt not tarry here for ever,
That fame is better than this Wayside Inn,
For thou wilt bring a monarch to the world,
And cause the tree of fealty to fruit.”
Gív answered: “Father! I am but a slave;
For thy sake will I labour while I live.
If this may be I will accomplish it:
By thy great name I swear it, O my guide!”
He went home and prepared for setting forth,
Lost in amazement at his father's dream.
The well-loved daughter of the hero Rustam—
Bánúgashasp. News reached her that Gív's steed
Was being saddled for his expedition.
She went to him and said: “Aspiring chief!
I hear that thou art going to Túrán
To seek both far and near for Kai Khusrau;
So, if the paladin will give me leave,
I will betake me joyfully to Rustam,
Because I long to look upon his face,
And through not seeing him my soul is sad.
Farewell to thee, O chief of paladins!
Mayst thou for ever be our heroes' stay.”
The chieftain having given his consent,
Toward Sístán with speed the lady went.
At sunrise, when the earth resembled flowers
Of fenugreek, the gallant Gív approached
With girded loins, upon a steed with feet
As swift as wind. Gúdarz inquired of him:—
“What comrade hast thou? Who will fare with thee?”
He thus replied: “O chief of paladins,
Brave, ardent, and exalted! I have need
Of no companions save my horse and lasso.
Suspicion will be roused if I take men,
And I shall bring a quarrel on myself.
A lasso in the straps, a rapid steed,
A sword and Indian vesture are enough,
Unless perhaps a guide to lead the way.
My home a while will be the plain and mountain,
I may not pass through cities, for the folk
Will recognise me and I shall repent it.
I shall return rejoicing, bright of soul,
Through thy good fortune, chief of paladins!
Tend heedfully my little son Bízhan366
And guard him carefully against mischance,
He need learn nothing but to feast and fight;
Young as he is I note his manliness
With satisfaction. Fare well. Think of me
Without anxiety. I cannot tell
If we shall meet again. The secret things
Of God who knoweth? When thy cheeks are bathed
For prayer entreat the Lord on mine account,
For He is higher than all height; the mighty
Are but His slaves. This day revolveth not
Without His will; there is no food or sleep
Save at His word. He made both time and space,
The mighty and the weak. He is our hope
And fear, the Lord of all the elements,
And oh! may He vouchsafe to be my Helper,
And guide me to illustrious Khusrau.”
The father hoary-headed, while the youth
Fierce as a lion girded up his loins,
Knew not if he should see his son again,
And was distracted at his setting out.
The gallant Gív dismounted from his steed,
And kissed the hand of that exalted Lion,
Who clasped him tightly in a fond embrace,
And kissed him oft upon the face and head.
That ancient man cried unto God: “Just Judge!
Be Thou my Helper. To Thy care I leave
Him who is sense and soul and life to me—
My son so noble and so young—that haply
The realm may be delivered from this stress.
Restore him to me safely, O my King!”
Those in the world who toil laboriously,
And win applause because their aims are high,
That is their bane, and antidote is none.
Thy sojourn here, thou knowest, is soon sped,
Why set the crown of greed upon thy head?
Canst thou still wear it after thou art dead?
In this world ample pleasure thou canst take,
Why art thou toiling for another's sake?
Thou toilest and another will consume
At ease, unmindful of thy bier and tomb,
But for him also pleasure hath its bound,
And his head too must pass beneath the ground.
Think then upon the day when thou must go,
And make it thine to serve God here below,
Incline to good and do to no man scath,
For, in a word, this is Salvation's path.
Upon this world that whirleth set no store,
It will not last with thee for evermore.
Long though thou stayest thou wilt reach the bourne
And, having reached it, there is no return.
So now thou sage, whose heart is wakeful! cease
From doubt, and from the mire thy foot release.
'Tis God Almighty that sustaineth thee,
His servant thou and thy Creator He.
Although thou weighest down thy neck with thought,
Of His existence ask and question naught,
And if by any it be not confest
With such thou shalt not eat or sleep or rest,
Because their heads are witless, their hearts blind,
And wise men count not such among mankind.
Both earth and water of God's being tell,
Let not thy knowledge prove thy way to Hell,
For His are power and knowledge and control,
The Artist He of wisdom and the soul.
“Above all people will I lift my head,”
And slew a youth so royal, then was he
Confronted by his evil destiny.
Howbeit from his loins God caused to shoot
A Tree368
of noble height and yielding fruit,
A Tree that dealing with him as was just
Sent both his wits and palace up in dust.
The Lord of Saturn, Sun, and Moon is He
That giveth victory and mastery;
The Lord of being and of righteousness,
'Tis He that giveth us our more and less.
There is one path—His will—and only one—
A knowledge hidden from the moon and sun.
At His command Gív girded up his loins,
And like a savage lion sallied forth;
He took no comrade with him, but resigned
To God his body used to luxury;
If, when he reached the marches of Túrán,
He found a man alone Gív questioned him
In Turkman as to Kai Khusrau. When such
Replied: “I wot not of that prince,” Gív used
To slay him, hitch him in the lasso's noose,
Drag him aside, and cover him with dust,
That no one might discover his own secret,
Or hear his name or any news of him.
He had awhile a countryman as guide
From whom he hid the object of his quest.
At length he said: “I fain would ask a question
In confidence. If thou shalt wisely purge
Thy heart of craft and answer truthfully
And not deny thee o'e?? my soul and body.”
“There is no lack of knowledge,” said the guide,
“But then it is dispersed 'mongst all the folk.
If I have any knowledge of the matter
Thou wilt not find me speechless.”
“Where,” said Gív,
“Is Kai Khusrau? Thou must declare the truth.”
The guide thus answered: “I have never heard
Or asked concerning one so named.”
And so
Gív smote him with the sword and laid him low.
Gív like a madman roamed about to find
Some traces of the prince. While seven years passed
His loins were galled by sword and leathern girdle.
He fed on onagers and wore their skins,
At times had brackish water and green herbs,
And went about the desert and the mountains
In travail and in hardship far from men.
Now at the time when Rustam led his host
Across the river to the Íránian side
Afrásiyáb returned to Gang, Túrán
Came to his hand again, and then he bade
Pírán: “Bring hither ill-starred Kai Khusrau
Back from Máchín and give him to his mother,
But have the roads well watched.”
Pírán dispatched
A messenger upon a noble camel,
And had the son of Siyáwush brought back—
A prudent and a life-inspiring youth—
And gave him to his mother. Passed a while.
As gallant Gív was roaming o'er Túrán
In melancholy case, it so fell out
Within the precincts of a famous wood,
And wandered woe-begone along the mead;
The world was jocund but his heart was sad.
He saw the earth all verdant, brooks a-brim,
And all the scene right apt for rest and sleep.
Dismounting from his horse he turned it loose,
And laid him down but with an anxious heart.
He said: “The foul Dív verily possessed
The paladin when he beheld that dream.
I find no traces here of Kai Khusrau:
What do I gain by all my wanderings?
Now while my comrades are engaged in war,
And while my friends are sitting at the feast,
These seeking pleasure, those in quest of fame,
My lot is throwing walnuts on a dome!
I do but spend my soul in vain, 'tis like
A bended bow; Khusrau hath not been born
At all, or fate hath flung him to the winds.
I get but toil and hardship by my quest:
Blest is the man that perisheth by poison.”
With heart all sorrowful he roamed about
Those meadows in his search, and spied afar
Beside a sparkling stream a beauteous youth
Of cypress-height, a wine-cup in his hand,
And on his head a bright, sweet wreath. His mien
Betokened Grace and wisdom. Thou hadst said:—
“'Tis Siyáwush upon his ivory throne,
And turquoise-crowned; his looks exhale the scent
Of love itself, his locks adorn the crown.”
Gív thought: “This is none other than the prince!
Naught but a throne befitteth such a mien.”
On foot and, as he drew anear, the bolts
Were loosened on the portal of his travail,
And all his splendid treasure came in sight.
When Kai Khusrau looked from beside the stream
He smiled, while gladness made his heart to throb,
And thought: “This warrior is none else but Gív:
This land hath not a chief of such a stamp.
He is engaged in making quest for me
To bear me to Írán to make me Sháh.”
As that redoubted warrior approached,
Khusrau the prince moved forward from his place,
And said to him: “O Gív! thou art well come;
Thy coming here is wisdom's fitting gift.
How didst thou make thy passage to this land?
What tidings hast thou touching Tús, Gúdarz,
And Sháh Káús? Are they in happiness,
And do they in their hearts think of Khusrau?
How is it with the elephantine Rustam,
The aspiring one, with Zál, and all the rest?”
Gív heard the words amazed, invoked the name
Of God, and answered: “O exalted chief!
All yearn for thee. Methinketh that thou art
The son of Siyáwush, of royal race,
And wise; but say, thou head of upright men!
Who told thee of Gúdarz, Gív, and Kishwád?
May Grace and happiness be thine.”
He answered:—
“O lion-man! my mother told me this—
That when my father by the Grace of God
Entrusted unto her his last commands,
Still in the end will Kai Khusrau appear,
And bring a key to open all the locks.
When he hath grown a noble warrior
The doughty Gív will come forth from Írán,
And bear him to the throne among the nobles
And lion-men. His valour will restore
The world, and execute revenge for me.”
Gív said: “O head of all the chiefs! what mark
Hast thou to indicate the Grace of kingship?
The mark of Siyáwush was manifest
As 'twere a drop of pitch upon a rose-bed,
Uncover then and show to me thine arm,
Because thy mark is known to every one.”
The prince made bare his arm and Gív perceived
The black mark on it. Now this mark had been
A birth-mark from the time of Kai Kubád—
A clear distinction of the Kaian race.
When Gív beheld that mark he did obeisance,
And weeping told his errand. Kai Khusrau
Embraced him, giving thanks with joy, and asked
About Írán, the imperial throne, Gúdarz,
And Rustam, lover of the fray. Gív said:—
“O royal world-lord, noble, fortunate,
And wise! were God, who knoweth good and ill,
To give to me the whole of Paradise,
The seven climes and sovereign sway withal,
The seat of greatness and the crown of might,
My heart would not exult therein so much
As in beholding thy face in Túrán.
Who knoweth in Írán if I am living,
Or if I have been laid in dust or burned,
Or have encountered Siyáwush alive,
And questioned him about his care and travail?
This irksome toil in happiness and joy.”
Together they departed from the wood
While Kai Khusrau asked after Sháh Káús,
About Gív's seven years of grief and pain,
His lodging, sleep, and food. Gív answered all,
And spake about the purpose of the Lord,
The vision of Gúdarz, his own long toil,
His victuals, clothes, and rest, his pains and pleasures;
How years had spent the Grace of Kai Káús,
And how he was distracted for his son;
How all was dark and scentless in his palace,
And how the desolation was complete.
The heart of Kai Khusrau burned at these woes,
His two checks flamed like fire. He said to Gív:—
“Fate giveth thee for travail rest and ease;
Be as my sire, but say not anything
To any one, and note what time will bring.”
The chieftain mounted on the steed of Gív,
And that brave warrior preceded him
With Indian sword in hand. If any met them
Gív, ever on the watch, struck off his head,
And covered up the corpse with earth and dust.
They made their journey to Siyáwushgird,
And, when they both recovered heart and wit,
They made a confidant of Farangís,
And privily agreed to quit the place,
Unnoticed by the troops. “We shall but straiten
The world to us if we delay,” said she.
“Afrásiyáb will hear, will neither eat
Nor sleep, but like the White Dív follow us,
Will make our hearts despair of pleasant life,
Alive. The world is full of enemies,
Our whole land is the abode of Áhriman.
Hear mine advice, my son endowed with Grace!
There is a meadow near out of the track
Of Turkman cavaliers; be there at dawn,
And have this saddle and black bridle with thee.
Thou wilt behold a mountain whereupon
Clouds fret their faces. Having sealed the height
Thou wilt behold the mead like jocund spring,
All rivulets and purling streams: the soul
Reviveth at the sight. When it is noon,
And thou art eager for repose, the herds
At pasture there will water at the streams.
Show to Bihzád the saddle and the bridle,
And, if he proveth tractable, advance,
Go quickly to him, let him see thy face,
Caress him with thy hand and speak to him.
When Siyáwush had given up all hope
Of this world, and his day was turned to night,
He spake thus to Bihzád his sable steed:—
‘Be thou henceforth free as the wind itself.
Remain upon the mountains and the meadows,
And when Khusrau shall come in quest of thee
Be thou his charger, tramp the whole world thro',
And sweep the earth of foemen with thy shoe.’”
The valiant chieftain mounted on his steed
With Gív in front on foot. They set their faces
Toward the heights as men who seek for safety.
And having drunk their fill turned to depart,
Illustrious Khusrau went hastily
Toward the stream and, to attain his wish,
Showed to Bihzád the saddle and the reins.
The steed looked at him, recognised a master,
And stirred not from the stream, but gazed with sighs
Upon the pard-skin seat of Siyáwush,
The lengthy stirrups, and the poplar saddle.
This Kai Khusrau observed and hurried up.
Meanwhile the noble black stood still and wept.
Moreover Kai Khusrau and Gív wept too,
As though they had been burning in fierce flame,
And while they shed tears from their eyes their tongues
Were full of curses on Afrásiyáb.
Khusrau caressed the horse's eyes and face,
Stroked down his chest and shoulders, scratched his
hide,
Put o'er his head the bridle, saddled him,
And spake the while with grief of Siyáwush,
Then mounting gripped his legs; the mighty beast
Sped like a blast out of the sight of Gív,
Who troubled and amazed invoked God's name.
“This,” he exclaimed, “is subtle Ahriman
Appearing in the likeness of a horse!
The prince's life is lost and my toil too,
My toil—the only treasure that I had!”
When Kai Khusrau had traversed half the mountain
He drew his black reins and remained till Gív
O'ertook him, then the shrewd and valiant prince
Exclaimed: “Shall I inform the paladin
What I perceived was passing in his thoughts?”
Gív said to him: “O most exalted prince!
All secrets should be open unto thee:
Canst penetrate a hair and see within it.”
He said: “Thou didst mistrust this noble steed,
And think: ‘Now Áhriman hath got the youth,
Who hath gone off and turned my toil to wind.
My spirit mourneth and the dívs rejoice.’”
The veteran Gív dismounted from his horse,
Invoking blessing on the warrior-prince.
And said: “May day and night be fortunate
To thee, thy foemen's hearts be rooted out,
Since God hath given to thee worth and birth,
With throne and stature, state and Grace divine.”
They left the heights, and set off toward the palace
With brains absorbed in thought and scheming minds:
On reaching Farangís they much discussed
The toilsome journey, and the way to keep
The project secret. When she saw Bihzád
Her face was hidden by a flood of tears,
She laid her cheek against his mane and chest,
And called upon the soul of Siyáwush.
When she had wept she hurried to her hoards,
For in the palace was a secret treasure—
Known but to her—of jewels and dínárs,
Of iron maces and horse-furniture,
As well as daggers, swords, and massive sparths.
With cheeks that ran with tears of blood, and liver
Pierced by her grief, she showed her son the treasure,
And said to Gív: “O veteran in toil!
Choose what thou pleasest from this treasury—
Dínárs and jewels fit for kings to wear,
And crowns with patterns wrought in precious stones.
We are the keepers and the hoard is thine;
Thine are the toil and risk.”
And said: “O chief of dames! thou makest earth
A Spring in Paradise, and, as thou willest,
The sky apportioneth both good and ill.
Be all the world a slave before thy son,
And be the heads of all thy foes wrung off.”
When Gív's eye fell upon those precious things
He chose the mail of valiant Siyáwush.
They then selected all the choicest gems,
And bare away as much as they could carry
As well as helms, rich armour for the steeds,
And weapons suited to a paladin,
Then having locked the hoard the prince in haste
Made ready for the journey through the waste.
This done they put the saddles on their steeds,
Those fleet and famous steeds, while Farangís
Assumed the helmet, and all three departed
Like wind and eagerly toward Írán,
But secretly and taking all precautions.
The thing, however, could not be concealed
A moment; one approached Pírán and said:—
“Illustrious Gív came from Írán to seek
The brave and shrewd Khusrau, and hath gone back
With him and Farangís.”
Pírán was grieved,
And trembled like the branches of a tree.
He thought: “The king's foreboding hath proved true!
What shall I say to him? My lustre now
Is darkness in his eyes!”
He chose Kulbád
And Nastíhan—a man of steel—and bade
Three hundred Turkman horse to muster dight
For war, and thus addressed them: “Hence with you,
Of Gív upon a spear, hide Farangís
In dust, and bind accurséd Kai Khusrau—
The ill-starred lackland. If the miscreant
Shall cross the river what will not befall
Our land and chiefs!”
Thus went the brave young band
Commanded by two wary paladins.
The persecuted prince and Farangís,
Worn out with journeying and nights of toil,
Had laid them down to sleep, and while they slept
Gív stood on guard with angry eyes intent
Upon the road by which the band approached.
He wore his habergeon; his helm was on;
His heart was full; he was prepared to die;
And, like a valiant chief, he had his steed
Accoutred by his side in case of need.
Gív saw afar the dust raised by the troops,
And having drawn his sword sent up a shout
Like thunder, such a shout as would have dazed
A lion's brain and spirit, then he rushed
Like dust among the troop and made earth dark
By combat. With his sword and mace he showered
Down iron from above, till by the blows
The heads of all the chiefs grew sick of strife,
While to his eyes, such were his pain and rage,
A river seemed a rill. Anon they hemmed him—
A raging Lion in a host of men.
The field became a reed-bed with their spears,
Both sun and moon were hid, the Lion raged,
And made a winefat of the bed of reeds
With blood, o'erthrowing many of his foes:
Those valiant cavaliers were all astound,
“This is a rock of flint with neck and arms!
See here the Grace of Kai Khusrau and not
The mace of Gív! I know not what will come
Upon our fields and fells, for who can traverse
The will of God? Astrologers presage
Disaster to Túrán and to her lords.”
They made a charge at Gív with all their troops
Like lions, giving and receiving blows:
The battle-shouts and blast of clarions
Went up and shook the mountains to their cores,
The valleys and the plains were filled with slain,
And earth became like cercis-bloom with blood.
The whole host turned away in flight from Gív—
That noble chief, the refuge of the troops—
And made their way all wounded and fordone
To proud Pírán, while gallant Gív returned,
With breast and hands all bloody, like a lion
To Kai Khusrau, and said: “O prince! rejoice!
May health be thine, and wisdom thy companion!
Kulbád and Nastíhan the deft of hand
Have been pursuing us with hostile troops,
And those that still survive have gone back home
With necks and chests in case to ask our tears.
I know not any horseman in Írán
Save Rustam able to encounter me.”
Khusrau, pure in the Faith, rejoiced o'er Gív,
Called blessings down on him, and praised him greatly;
They took some food, such as came first to hand,
And hasted on toward the trackless waste.
Now when the Turkman troops came to Pírán
So stricken, heated, and discomfited,
He spake in anger to Kulbád, and said:—
“This is a marvel which must not be hidden!
What have ye done to Gív? Where is Khusrau?
How went the matter? Tell me honestly.”
Kulbád said: “If I tell, O paladin!
What gallant Gív did to our warriors,
Thou wouldst no more of battles. Thou hast seen me
Yet when I charged him, thinking: ‘Now shall I
Behold his overthrow,’ in sooth he bore
Above a thousand buffets of mine ax.
Thou wouldst have said: ‘His head is but an anvil,
His chest and arms are solid ivory!’
Oft have I gazed on Rustam in the fight,
And hearkened tales of mighty warriors,
But never knew one so endure the blows,
The rush, and whirl of war. Though we had borne
Wax maces, and our horsemen pard-skin lances,
No wonder had his shoulders, arms, and breast
Been pounded small. He kept his dash and keenness
Throughout, and bellowed like an elephant.
The plain was heaped with slain, our warriors
Were routed by one man!”
Pírán was wroth;
“Enough,” he said, “'tis shame to tell the tale;
Such words as these are not for cavaliers.
Attempt no more to strive with men of war.
Thou wentest forth with noble Nastíhan,
And troops like lions; now thou makest Gív
A maddened elephant; thy fame is sped
With mighty men; Afrásiyáb at hearing
Will fling away from him the imperial crown,
Because two paladins, two gallant horsemen,
Accompanied by soldiers dight for war,
Turned tail before a single cavalier,
Who slaughtered many! Mocking and disgrace
Are thine, not standard, kettledrum, and mace.”
Pírán chose from his troops six thousand horse—
“Your fleet steeds' reins, like savage lions go
By day and night, no girdle must be loosed,
For if Khusrau and Gív shall reach Írán
The women there will be as lionesses,
And neither earth nor water will remain
Within Túrán. Afrásiyáb, heart-seared,
Will lay the blame of this escape on me,
Not on the process of sun, moon, and stars.”
Thereat they raised their heads and hurried on
By day and night, till seattered and disordered
They reached a narrow river, where the stream
Was deep and difficult for men to cross,
That river which was called Gulzaryún,
And was in springtide like a stream of blood.
Upon the further bank the prince and Gív
Were sleeping: Farangís was keeping watch,
The banner of the leader of Túrán!
She ran to Gív, gave the alarm, and roused
The sleepers, crying: “Man of toil! arise!
'Tis time to flee, a host pursueth us.
Our time, I fear, is come. If they shall take thee
They will not leave thee living and will rack
Our hearts for thee. Me and my son in tears
Pírán will bear bound to Afrásiyáb,
And after that I know not what may chance;
None wotteth of the secrets of high heaven.”
Gív said: “O Moon of dames! why vex thy soul
Herein? Ascend yon mountain with the prince;
Fear nothing from Pírán or from his host.
The conquering Lord of earth is mine ally,
The star of fortune lieth on my breast.
By help of God, the Author of our lives,
I will not leave a rider in the saddle.”
Then said Khusrau: “O warrior! my cause
Is wearisome to thee. I have been spared
The net of bale. Seek not the Dragon's breath
So oft. Be mine to go upon the plain,
And spurt blood heavenward with my scimitar.”
Of thee to wear its crown. My sire and I
Are paladins whose loins are ever girt
To serve the Sháhs; three score and eighteen brothers
Have I; the world will perish with thy name,
For paladins are many, Sháhs are few.
Few? I see none! If I am slain, another
Will take my place, the royal head and crown
Will still survive; but if afar from here
Thou perish382
I see none fit for the crown
And throne. The winds will take my seven years' toil,
My race will be disgraced. Choose then the heights,
And mark yon host. The World-lord is mine aid.
Earth is beneath thy shadowing wings; if I
Succeed thy Grace will give the victory.”
Gív donned his mail and came forth like a lion,
His steed as 'twere a mountain under him.
The chief was on this side, the host on that;
Between the river flowed and barred the way.
Gív roared out like a thunderclap in spring,
Inquiring for the captain of the host.
Pírán was wroth, upbraided Gív, and said:—
“Thou miscreant by nature and descent!
Com'st thou alone so hardily to face
An army? Thou shalt taste two-headed javelins,
While falcons' talons shall provide thy bier.
Thou art a single horseman, iron mountain
Although thou be. A thousand will surround thee
Like ants, will smash the armour on thy breast,
And drag thy carrion-carcase in the dust.
The mighty lion springing spake this saw:—
‘Whene'er the stag hath reached its destined day
Till it shall cross a lion on the way.’
So fortune now hath brought thee in my path
Here in the presence of this famous host.”
Brave Gív, that chief of mighty paladins,
Replied in thunder-tones: “Thou miscreant Turkman
Of dívs begotten! perish chiefs like thee!
Thou sawest my revenge for Siyáwush,
And hadst good reason to admire my prowess,
For many chieftains of Túrán and Chín
Fell by my hand in battle. I it was
Who ravaged all thy home and wrecked thy life.
Thy two chief dames were in the company
That I dragged off in bondage from Khutan,
Thy sister one, the other was thy spouse,
Who ever tendered thee both soul and body.
When I beheld those wretched Turkman dames
I gave them to the meanest of my slaves,
While thou didst show thy back as women would,
And run away with shrieks and doleful howls.
For thee mankind should fight like womankind;
Brag not of bravery to warriors,
For chiefs shall sing hereafter to thy shame
How Gív unaided carried off Khusrau,
And all shall hold your names to be disgraced.
Again, while all the princes of the earth—
Faghfúr and Cæsar and the Khán of Chín,
The nobles and the kin of Shah Káús,
Brave men and warriors with golden casques—
Sought Rustam's daughter eagerly in marriage,
And Tús too sent to ask her, matchless Rustam
Met him with scorn, and put their offer by
Because they were unworthy. Afterward,
He gave his favourite daughter to myself—
A daughter whom he prized above his crown.
That high exalted and most noble prince
Gave me the horsewoman Bánúgashasp,
His eldest daughter, chose me of all lords,
And raised my head to heaven. I gave my sister,
That Moon of ladies—Shahr-Bánú-Iram—
To him. Excepting elephantine Rustam,
The lion-man, I do not know my match,
And when I come with him to take revenge
Ye must make ready to bewail your dead.
Now with this steel-blue falchion will I turn
The world before your eyes as black as pitch,
And if I leave one of your host alive
Give to me never more the name of man.
Íránward bear I royal Kai Khusrau
To bring him to the monarch of the brave,
To seat him on the famous ivory throne,
And place upon his head the glorious crown.
Then will I don again this precious mail,
And make Túrán the lair of mighty lions.
Son am I to Gúdarz son of Kishwád;
The noble Gív am I, the prince of chiefs,
Thou luckless Turkman, thou accursed Pírán!
May no crown, throne, or realm be ever thine.
I will behead thee with mine Indian sword,
Thy mail and helmet shall weep over thee;
Death from my twisted lasso shalt thou meet,
Thy mail and helm shall be thy winding-sheet.”
Then gripping with his legs urged on his steed,
And, with his massive mace upon his shoulder,
Launched forth like boat on stream, invoking Him
That giveth every good. Gív bode his time
Until the chief had crossed, and then, declining,
Brave leader though he was, as if through fear
The combat, fled. His foe approached, the world
Grew night-dark. Gív, when he had drawn Pírán
Afar from stream and host, flung mace on saddle
And charged “like dragon raging,” thou hadst said.
Pírán the Lion fled pursued by Gív,
Who unobserved took from the straps his lasso,
Then whirling round his arm discharged the coil,
Drave him afoot disgraced far from the stream,
Then threw him on the ground, secured his hands,
And donned his mail. When this was done Gív took
His prisoner's flag and rode up to the bank.
The Turkmans seeing their commander's flag
Advanced to meet him as a thing of course.
There rose a shout with din of clarions,
Of pipes, and Indian bells. Perceiving this
Gív strove as 'twere a boat against the waves,
And laid his massive mace upon his shoulder,
While all the troops looked at him wondering.
Soon with reins lightly held and stirrups pressed
He filled the haughty Turkmans' heads with fear,
And with his sword, his stirrups, arms, and onset
Laid them in dust. The plain was like a mountain
Of dead, one man discomfited the host.
The chieftains turned their backs, the Lion charged
The Flock, that great host fled from Gív, who crossed
The stream again so fresh that thou hadst said:—
“He hath not dreamed of foes.” He hurried back
To cut Pírán's head off, but drave him first
Afoot, scorned, hustled, and beside himself,
In anguish, wan, and wretched to Khusrau.
Gív then dismounted, drew an??ar the prince,
And, having kissed the ground and homaged him,
Exclaimed: “This miscreant and faithless man
Is now a captive in the Dragon's jaws,
Like Siyáwush, who hearkened to his words.”
Pírán too did obeisance to the prince,
Cried with a loud voice, kissed the ground, and said:—
“O prince that seekest after understanding,
And art a shining sun among the people!
Thou knowest mine affliction, my distress,
And struggle with the king on thine account.
Prince Siyáwush had lived if I thy slave
Had been at court. By rede and artifice
I saved thee and thy mother from the Dív.
So by thy Grace and fortune grant that I
Have from this Dragon's clutch my liberty.”
Gív looked for orders at Khusrau and saw
The tearful eyes of Farangís, whose tongue
Was fraught with curses on Afrásiyáb.
She said to Giv: “O chief, who hast endured
Such wanderings! this hoary paladin
Is both a wise and understanding prince;
And know that next to God—our Judge and Guide—
He was the means of saving us from death.
He with his love screened us from injury,
And seeketh now for quarter in return;
So grant him to us, O thou noble one!
For he hath never led the way to ill.”
Gív said to her: “O chief of ladies! live
For ever bright in mind and joyfully.
I swore a mighty oath by moon and crown,
And by the great Sháh's throne: ‘If I shall get
The best of him in battle I will make
Earth with his blood like cereis-bloom.’”
Khusrau
Said: “Keep thine oath to God, thou lion-like!
Through with thy dagger, and as blood-drops fall
Thence to the ground think of both love and ven-
geance.”
Gív saw the prince's heart warm to Pírán,
Perceived the prince's cheeks all tears and ruth,
So went and pierced Pírán's ear with his dagger,
And slept in peace because his oath was kept.
Pírán said to Khusrau: “I cannot go
Back to the host afoot; bid him restore
My steed; then thou hast given me life and means.”
The valiant prince requested Gív: “Bestow
On me his charger, O thou mighty Lion!”
Gív spake thus to Pírán: “Brave warrior!
Why hast thou grown so feeble on the field
Of fight? If thou wouldst have thy wind-foot steed,
First will I bind thy hands, then thou shalt gain
Thy liberty upon a mighty oath
That none shall loose thy bonds except Gulshahr,
Because she is the chief among thy dames,
And knoweth thee completely—skin and marrow.”
And charger, swearing: “None shall loose my bonds
Upon the way. Gulshahr alone shall do it.”
Gív bound him, brought the horse, and bade him
mount.
Then Farangís and goodly Kai Khusrau
Embraced him tenderly; he took his leave
With many blessings on Khusrau and Gív.
The sun turned dark before Afrásiyáb
When news came from the host; he sounded trump
And tymbal, called to horse and went like fire.
In haste he made two stages into one,
And sped forth like an arrow from the bow.
Arriving at the place whereat Kulbád
Had fought he saw troops scattered o'er the land,
While everywhere lay bodies of the fallen.
He asked: “How came this paladin with troops
Here from Írán? None of our warriors
Knew of a mighty army coming thence.
Who told those sons of dívs that Siyáwush
Had offspring here? If dust had been his tutor
Mine eyes had never seen a day like this.”
“Thou mayst be easy,” Sipahram replied,
“So far as thy concern is for an army.
No other cavalier with him. One man
Discomfited our troops in fight, and so
Gív and the prince and Farangís escaped.”
On hearing this the monarch's cheeks turned pale:
His heart was full of pain at this reverse;
He answered: “This is as the sages said.
When God bestoweth fortune on a man
He cometh to the throne without an effort.”
While they conversed a host appeared in sight
Led by Pírán besmirched with dust and blood.
The king imagined: “He hath captured Gív,
And come on first with news of victory,”
But, nearer, saw that he was wounded sore
And bound fast as a rock upon the saddle,
With both hands pinioned tightly at his back.
The king amazed and pained asked what it meant.
Then said Pírán: “No ravening wolf or tiger,
Or savage lion, is like Gív in battle,
Although alone. The fear of fighting him
Would make a crocodile burn under water.
He first attacked us with a massive mace,
And dealt us blows as with a blacksmith's hammer.
By dint of steed and dexterous horsemanship
He overthrew, smote down our eavaliers,
And slaughtered them at will, yet cloud ne'er rained
More drops than sword-strokes fell upon his head!
In sooth his saddle was no bed of roses;
Thou wouldst have said: ‘He is a mountain's match.’
At last our troops all turned and I alone
Remained to fight with him. He fled from me,
Was taken in its coils. I lost my head,
And fell with all my weight upon the ground.
He lighted from his charger, bound my hands.
And then remounting drave me on before him.389
He carried me in shame to Kai Khusrau,
And would have had my head, but Farangís
Came to mine aid; he spared my life but pierced
Mine ear, and in a fury bound my hands,
Then by the Sháh's own life and head, by sun
And moon, by God Almighty, crown and throne,
Proposed to me a mighty oath, and I,
Since I saw fortune hostile, duly swore
That nobody should loose me but my wife,
Gulshahr. Thus did he bind me head and foot
With lassos and, when that was done, by oaths.
I know not why the sky hath ceased to love me.”
Afrásiyáb on hearing wept for rage,
And lifting up his voice drave forth Pírán,
Who writhing as he was made no reply.
Then blustering and cursing swore the king:—
“Though Gív and that Dív's child were thunder-clouds
Or storm-winds I would make them fall from heaven.
With this,” he drew his sword, “this iron-piercer,
Will I in vengeance rob them both of breath,
And as for Farangís will make the world
Both strait and dark to her when I shall catch her,
And fling her to the fish to tear in pieces.
Khusran is fain to seek Írán, but why
Should Farangís thus bear him company?”
Pírán departed sadly toward Khutan:
Meanwhile Afrásiyáb pursued his march
Toward Jíhún, and in his anger trailed
His skirt in blood. He bade Húmán: “Haste on,
And draw rein at the river. If Khusrau
And Gív get over, any pains of ours
Are but a desert-blast. I was forewarned
Of this by what a sage said long ago:—
“The seed of Túr and Kai Kubád combined
Will raise a monarch of illustrious mind
To make Túrán a brake of thorns again,
And leave no city on its wide champaign.
Írán will have his love, Túrán will know
The vengeful face that looketh on a foe.”
When Gív and Kai Khusrau had reached the
stream
In haste to cross they wrangled with the toll-man.
Gív said: “What swift and well appointed boat
Fit for the use of Kai Khusrau is here?”
The man replied: “What hath a stream to do
With king or slave? If thou hast need to cross
It is incumbent to bespeak a boat.”
Gív said to him: “Demand whate'er thou wilt,
But let us cross because a host approacheth.”
The officer, on hearing this from Gív,
Became extortionate, and said: “I ask
No little toll, but one of four—thy mail,
Thy black steed, handmaid, or thy moon-like page.”
Do words like these become a man like thee?
Were he a subject of the king of kings
Thou wouldst receive thy portion from the world;
But what art thou to ask the Sháh himself?
Art thou so hasty, miscrable wretch?
And then his mother is thy next demand!
Thou wouldest have the moon's crown as thy toll!
Or thirdly thou requirest black Bihzád
Who when he hasteth overtaketh wind!
Or fourthly in thy folly thou wouldst take
My mail, when mail is indispensable,
And this is steel which water will not wet,
And such as fire and Indian scimitars,
Or spears or arrows, have no power to harm!
Thou wouldst have toll: then take it in the river!
The stream for us, the ferry-boat for thee;
'Twill not be easy to collect thy fee!”
Gív told the prince: “If thou art Kai Khusrau
The stream will favour thee. When Farídún
Crossed the Arwand392
it led him to the throne,
And all the world became the slave of him
Who had the Grace and glory. Tarry not
If thou art Sháh, the shelter of the Lions
And warriors. The stream will give thee passage,
Who hast the mien and Grace to deck a throne.
If I. or if thy mother should be drowned,
Grieve not. For thee I lived because the throne
Of king of kings was naught. My mother too
Bare me for thee. Pause not or else, I doubt not,
Afrásiyáb will reach the river-bank
Alive, and fling thyself and Farangís
To feed the fish or tread you under hoof.”
Then Kai Khusrau replied: “So be it. Enough.
My refuge is with God the Succourer.”
He lighted, groaned, fell prostrate in the dust,
And said: “Thou art my refuge and support;
Thou showest justice and Thou art my way.
Thy Grace for good or ill sufficeth me;
The shadow of Thy wing is wisdom's soul.”
He spake, and radiant as the morning star
Bestrode his sable steed, took to the water,
Reached like a boat the toll-house opposite,
And issued from the bed of the Jíhún
With gallant Gív and Farangís behind him.
Thus all three safely gained the other side,
Where Kai Khusrau, his head and body bathed,
Thanked and adored the Maker of the world.
As they went o'er the master of the boats
Astound said to his mates: “Behold a wonder!
This passeth all! Springtide! Jíhún in spate!
Three steeds and riders mailed! No sage would deem
Him man who went across in such a case.”
He saw his plight, regretted his rash words,
Supplied his boat with such things as he had,
When he arrived upon the farther shore
He brought his offerings before Khusrau,
He brought a bow, a lasso, and a casque,
But Gív thus answered him: “Insensate dog!
Thou saidst: ‘The stream will sweep a man away,’
And when so great and puissant a prince
Requireth thee to furnish him a boat
Refusest! Perish all thine offerings!
A day will come when thou wilt think of this.”
The river-warden went off in chagrin,
Despairing of his life. On his return
The army from Túrán was at the toll-house.
Afrásiyáb, not seeing man or boat
Upon the stream, cried fiercely to the toll-man:—
“How found that dív his way across the water?”
The man replied: “O king! my father took
The toll as I do, yet I never saw
Or beard of one who made the water land.
In springtime when the waves are running high
If thou dost enter there is no escape,
Yet those three riders crossed! Thou wouldst have
said:—
‘The air supported them upon its breast,’
Or, ‘They are children of the rushing wind—
The messengers dispatched by God to man.’”
Afrásiyáb on hearing this turned pale,
And sighing deeply bade the man: “Launch forth
A boat upon the river with all speed.
See if thou canst discern the fugitives,
Upon the road or stopping for repose,
That I may take them prisoners. Make dispatch,
Out with the boat, and get thee gone at once.”
Then said Húmán to him: “O king! consider,
And kindle not a fire within thy breast.
Wilt thou essay Írán with these few horsemen,
Essay the breath and clutches of the Lions,
Tús and Gurgín the shatterer of hosts?
Thou must be weary of the throne indeed
If thou wilt go thus to the Lions' claws.
Hence all is thine to Chín and to Máchín;
Sun, Saturn, Moon, and Pleiades are thine.
Guard thou Túrán and thine own lofty throne:
We need not now fear mischief from Írán.”
With that they turned them in chagrin away,
And matters long continued in this stay.
When Kai Khusrau and Gív arrived at Zam
Most men rejoiced but certain were displeased.
Gív sent out messengers to every part,
And wrote thus of the valiant prince: “The chieftain
Head of the race of noble Kai Kubád—
The exalted, blesséd Kai Khusrau, to whom
The waters of Jíhún were as a throne—
Hath come rejoicing from Túrán.”
He chose
Among the chiefs of Zam a messenger,
A valiant cavalier, wise, shrewd, and prudent,
Informed him of the case, and said to him:—
“Depart hence unto Ispahán—the land
Of Sháhs, the habitation of the mighty—
And tell Gúdarz: ‘O chief of paladins!
Thy mind was not asleep when thou didst dream.’
Then add this: ‘Kai Khusrau hath come to Zam,
And not a blast hath done him injury.’”
He wrote a letter unto Sháh Káús.
The messenger arose and went his way.
The wind-foot camels with their lips afoam
Rushed onward fire-like. First he sought Gúdarz,
The letter, which the paladin in chief
Placed to his head with tears for Siyáwush
And maledictions on Afrásiyáb.
The messenger went on to Kai Káús
While drops of sweat fell from the camels' necks.
When he approached the palace-gate a shout
Of gladness rose, the monarch gave him audience,
And sprinkled jewels over Gív's dispatch.
They decked the whole world in their happiness,
They called for minstrels everywhere, while Rustam,
When tidings of Gív's triumph reached Nímrúz,
Gave gold in largess to the mendicants
Because that Lion had received no hurt;
And afterward dispatched Bánúgashasp,
Like lightning, bearing treasures, and with her
Twelve hundred mighty men of name with gifts
Of thrones and heavy crowns, three hundred damsels,
And six score youths, all bearing golden goblets.
The lady left her sire and went to Gív
As swiftly as a bird upon the wing,
While news spread everywhere: “The monarch's son,
The young prince Kai Khusrau, is on his way.”
As for the men of leading in the world
They all resorted unto Ispahán.
Gúdarz prepared his stately residence,
And draped it with imperial brocade,
Prepared a throne with gold and jewelry,
Such as must needs be worthy of the Sháh,
And armlets, torques, and earrings with a crown
Prepared the Ground, and mounted on his steed.
The illustrious chiefs arose and, all being ready.
Went forward seventy leagues to meet the prince
Upon the road according to their custom.
As soon as Gív appeared with Kai Khusrau
The valiant cavaliers advanced on foot.
Gúdarz the chieftain when he saw the prince,
Accompanied by Gív upon the road,
Shed tears of gall and in his deep distress
Spake much in memory of Siyáwush.
The paladin then lighted from his steed,
And clasped the youthful monarch to his breast,
Paid him high compliments, did reverence,
And said to him: “O monarch of the earth!
Be bright in fortune and be bright in heart;
I would not lose thee for a realm or throne.
Far from thee be thy foeman's evil eye,
And may the soul of Siyáwush be bright.
God is my witness that to see thee lengtheneth
My life. If I saw Siyáwush alive
I should not laugh so from the heart as now.”
He kissed the head and eyes of Gív and said:—
“Thou hast revealed a very heaven to us.
Thou art no sluggard but a warrior;
Yet on occasion thou canst bide thy time.”
Then all the mighty warriors of Írán
Bent down their faces to the ground before him,
And as they turned back on their way rejoicing
The fortunes of those haughty men grew bright.
They reached the palace of the paladin,
All reached it full of joy and happiness.
There for one sennight in the festal hall
They tarried wine in hand, but toward the city
Of Sháh Káús upon the ensuing day
With joyful hearts set forward on their way.
The world was filled with colour, seent, and beauty,
And everywhere in festal trim. The doors,
The roofs, and walls were full of precious things,
While minstrels had been stationed in all quarters,
And there were wine, rose-water, musk, and saffron.
The horses' manes were drenched with musk and wine,
While sweets and drachms were scattered under foot.
The tears coursed down the cheeks of Kai Káús
When he beheld the visage of Khusrau.
He came down from his throne, approached the prince,
And with his face caressed the prince's head
And eyes. The youthful atheling did homage,
And then they paced back to the throne together.
The Shah inquired at large about the Turkmans,
And how the ruler of that people fared.
The prince replied: “That man of little wit
Still walketh on the face of earth for ill.
Why doth the Sháh inquire about that wretch?
May pleasure, crown, and throne be never his!
He slew my father vilely, shamefully,
And beat my mother with harsh blows that I
Might perish in the womb! May he ne'er scape
From woe! As soon as my pure mother bare me
That miscreant dispatched me to the mountains.
Among the cattle, goats, and buffaloes,
I reckoned by the sun my nights and days.
At length Pírán arrived, and from the heights
Conducted me to that vindictive king.
I trembled at his rage and savagery,
Afraid of what might come. He asked me questions,
While I concealed what wit and worth I had.
If he inquired of heads I spake of feet,
If he inquired of food I talked of place.
God took away his sense and intellect,
And so the dullard took me for a fool,
And sent me to my mother with a curse.”
Káús said: “Noble youth! the world desireth
That thou shouldst wear the crown, for thou'rt a prince,
And, like the king of kings, both wise and worthy.”
Khusrau said: “Monarch of this ancient throne!
If I should give thee an account of Gív,
And what hath been accomplished by his hands,
The Sháh would wonder, and no marvel too,
Because it passeth bounds. Full many a hardship
Did he endure, and sought me in Túrán
With strivings, yet he bore not toils so great
As those which followed in my company,
For then two noble paladins with troops
Came after us like fire upon the road.
Idolater of Hindústán beholdeth
No maddened elephant do what I saw
Gív do. Methought: ‘No crocodile will come
Forth from the streams to fight thus!’ That great host,
And those two paladins, were seized with panic—
Both old and young alike—and afterward,
What time Pírán came boldly with girt loins
Upon a wind-foot steed, Gív flung his lasso
And caught the paladin. I interceded,
O king! for him, else Gív had ruthlessly
Struck off his head. Know that Pírán had suffered
Through anguish for my sire, had never spoken
Aught ill of me, and saved me and withal
My mother from the fierce, grim Lion's claws,
Who else had ta'en my head just like my father's.
Thus till we reached the banks of the Jíhún
Gív with his ox-head mace ceased not from combat.
A paladin like him should keep his youth
For ever.”
When Káús had heard Khusrau
His cheeks bloomed like a rose. He clasped Gív's head,
And kissed his face and bosom many times,
Then gave him presents such as in the world
None, whether great or small, had seen before.
They wrote a patent out on painted silk
For Khurásán. Rai, Kum, and Ispahán.
The prince, whose Grace divine was as Jamshíd's,
Gave these to Gív, whose head rose to the sun.
“Thou hast,” the Sháh said, “undergone much toil,
So now, O toiler! take thy fill of treasure.”
Gúdarz and all his sons with faces laid
Upon the ground called blessings down on him.
He had a golden pleasure-house prepared
For Farangís with earrings and a torque,
Set golden seats within the halls thereof,
Embellished the interior with brocade
Of Chín, and said to her: “O chief of dames!
May'st thou ne'er weep for sorrow. Thou hast left
Both land and kin, and borne much on the way.
Írán is now thy home, thy rede my guide.”
Kishwád possessed a palace at Istakhr—
The glory of the nobles. Thither went,
Their audience with the monarch being closed,
Gúdarz with Kai Khusrau. When they had reached
That pleasance with its arabesques of gold
They placed the prince upon a golden throne,
And called down blessings on him as their Sháh.
The warriors of Írán all did him service
Save Tús, son of Naudar, who turned away:
'T was he that had the drums, the golden shoes,
And charge of Káwa's standard. Much displeased
Gúdarz dispatched a friendly embassage
By brave, ambitious Gív, the man that had
The clutch of heroes and the leap of lions.
Gúdarz said: “Say to Tús, son of Naudar:—
Seek for no pretexts at this time of joy.
The nobles and the Lions of Írán
Have all invoked a blessing on the prince.
Why dost thou draw back at the Dív's command,
And quit the way of Him who ruleth earth?
If thou refusest to obey Khusrau
There will be strife and vengeance 'twixt us twain.
The messenger is Gív, the words are mine,
And sanctioned by the nobles here assembled.”
Gív left the presence of his sire with words
Of anger in his heart. On reaching Tús
Tús hearing that replied: “It is not good
To play off tricks on me, for in Írán,
Save elephantine Rustam, I am first
Among the chieftains that command the host,
And grandson of the valiant Minúchihr,
The Sháh who with his sword subdued the world.
Naudar my father was the king of earth,
I represent the race of Farídún.
Whenever I engage myself in fight
I rend the lion's heart and leopard's hide.
Ye have, without my counsel and consent,
Established a new monarch in the world:
I will not be a party to this thing,
So talk not in my presence of Khusrau.
If from the offspring of Afrásiyáb
We make a king, then will our fortunes sleep.
We want no Sháh descended from Pashang;
A flock is ill entrusted to a leopard.
This is the fruitage of these toils of thine,
For Kai Khusrau is young and violent,
While he that ruleth earth should have high lineage,
Worth, Faith, and Grace. Now Faríburz, the son
Of Sháh Káús, is worthier of crown
And throne, not sprung from foes on either side,
But having Grace and glory, fame and right.”
Then Gív arose in dudgeon, doubting both
The wisdom and the honesty of Tús,
And said: “O Tús, illustrious warrior!
Withdraw not when the drums sound. When thou
seest
The spear-heads of the kindred of Gúdarz
The gain that thou expectest will prove loss.
The many toils that we have borne together
Thou throwest to the winds. Hadst thou the Grace
And counsel we had sought not from Alburz
A monarch; and thy head hath not the crown
Because thou lackest brains and royal rede:
On one who hath the Grace, mien, sense, and counsel.”
He spake thus wrathfully and showed his back
In anger; thence returning to Gúdarz
He said: “Tús is no mate for rede and wisdom.
Thou wouldest say: ‘His eyes are blind.’ His choice
Is Faríburz, although no sovereign
On golden saddle is our prince's peer,
Nor have we such another cavalier.”
Gúdarz was full of wrath and said: “May Tús
Cease from among the nobles of the world.
Now will we let him see to whom belong
The Grace, the sovereign sway, throne, state, and
fortune.”
His sons and grandsons numbered seventy-eight.
He beat the drums and marched forth from the palace
Out to the open with twelve thousand men
Of his own kin, brave troops on barded steeds,
Led by himself, that shatterer of hosts.
Upon the other side came Tús, the chieftain,
And bound the drums upon the elephants,
While many warriors girded up their loins,
And Káwá's standard led the central host.
Tús saw Gúdarz with such a multitude
As dazed the eyes of sun and moon, he saw
A mighty elephant which bore a throne
Of turquoise as resplendent as the Nile.
Upon it sat the aspiring Kai Khusrau,
With loins girt up and crown upon his head,
Thou wouldst have said: “The world hath not a Sháh
Save him.” Khusrau shone moonlike on the throne,
With earrings, torque, and armlets, on his head
A crown of glittering gems, and in his hand
An oxhead mace. Tús thought with saddened heart:—
“If I shall fight to-day there will be slain
A multitude of warriors in both hosts.
This feud shall not arise within Írán,
For naught would better please Afrásiyáb,
The fortune of the Turkmans would awake,
The throne of empiry pass to Túrán,
And our prosperity be at an end.”
He sent a man of wisdom and resource
To Sháh Káús to say: “If any here
Among us lay a shaft of poplar wood
Upon his bow there will arise a fight
Whereof Afrásiyáb will dream all night.”
Káús, on hearing these wise words, dispatched
A messenger to summon both the chiefs.
He went before the captain of each host,
And mildly said: “Experienced veteran!
Put not fell poison in a cup of milk,
Replace thy sword, and loose thy girdlestead;
This gain of ours must not be turned to loss.
Let both the captains of the hosts appear
Before me and without a retinue.”
They went before the Sháh and Tús spake thus:—
“If now the Sháh is weary of the crown
And throne, his son should have the world, the might,
The diadem, and throne of majesty.
Put on the crown and sit upon the throne?
Now Faríburz hath Grace and royal mien,
And girdeth him as 'twere a savage lion.”
Gúdarz replied: “O thou of little wit!
No sage would reekon thee to be a man.
None in the world hath equalled Siyáwush
Or been so great, discreet, and reticent.
Now this aspirant is a son of his,
‘The same,’ thou wouldest say, ‘in face and form.’
If on his mother's side he is from Túr
The grandson of the Sháh must still prove just.
There is not in Írán or in Túrán
One like him: to what end is thy crude talk?
Thine eyes have never even seen his face,
His lofty mien, and lovingkindliness.
He crossed Jíhún and needed not a boat,
Such were his royal Grace and steadfast purpose.
As with Sháh Farídún, who crossed the Arwand
Without a boat, his courage and God's Grace
Preserved him from the hand and eye of ill.
Moreover, to avenge his father's blood,
He like a savage lion girdeth him
To banish toil and trouble from Írán,
And over-reach astute Afrásiyáb.
Surúsh the glorious said to me in sleep:—
‘His Grace will still the war-cry in Írán,
And when he shall adorn the crown and throne
Of chiefs, the world will cease from toil and hardship.’
Thou art no alien; thou art from Naudar:
Thy father was perverse and thou art mad.
Had I my weapons I would drench thy neck
And breast in blood, would slay thee with my sword,
Among the Kaians for thy selfish ends.
The king of kings acknowledgeth Khusrau,
And will bestow the throne on whom he will.
Tús said: “O ancient chief! what rancorous words!
Though thou art from Kishwád yet I am Tús,
Son of Naudar, a Sháh and a Sháh's son,
And if thy sword will penetrate an anvil
My spear will rend the centre of Mount Káf.
The king of kings doth know who is the chief.”
Gúdarz replied to him: “Talk not so much;
I see not that thy glory is so great.”
Then said he to Káús: “Experienced Sháh!
Turn not from rule and custom, call before thee
The noble youths, and let thy clear mind judge;
Discern between them which is worthier
As having royal mien and Grace divine,
And give to him the crown and throne if thou
Art weary of the crown and host thyself.”
Káús replied to him: “This is not well,
For both alike are dear; when I have chosen
One then the other will seek vengeance on me.
I will take means that this may not betide
Among our folk. Let both, each with a host,
Go to the entering in of Ardabíl—
And Áhriman is ever making war
On those that worship fire. No archimages
Dare settle there. I will give up the throne
Of kings to him who captureth that fortress.”
Gúdarz and Tús, contented with the plan
Of their clear-sighted chief, proposed no better,
But set their hearts on its accomplishment,
And from the monarch's presence forth they went.
Now when Sol rose in Leo, and the night
Was turned beneath, came Faríburz and Tús
In haste before the Sháh, and Tús spake thus:—
“Now will I take the drums, host, elephants,
With Káwa's flag, and turn the ruddy cheeks
Of foemen pale. The Grace of Faríburz,
And royal might, shall gird me royally.”
The Sháh replied: “When men go forth to war
Their number more or less importeth not,
But by the purpose of the Lord of sun
And moon they may have triumph and success:
So if it seemeth good to Faríburz,
Array thine army and be diligent.”
Went forth with Káwa's standard. Faríburz,
Son of Káús, was at the army's centre,
While Tús went first with troops and elephants.
When he drew near the castle of Bahman
The ground seemed breathing fire, the lances' points
Flamed in the heat, the men of war were scorched
Beneath their mail. Thou hadst said: “Earth is
burning,
Air is a net of rebel Áhriman's!”
The ramparts rose to heaven: none knew a way
To battle there. Tús said to Faríburz:—
“A man of mettle going into fight
With lasso, falchion, and artillery.
Will strive to wreck his foes, but to this castle
Is no approach, at least we know it not.
Our loins are scorching underneath our mail,
The bodies of our beasts of burden burn.
Have no anxiety within thy heart:
Thou hast not ta'en, and none can take, this hold.”
They went about the castle seven days,
And found no entrance, then turned back again
Despairing; their long journey proved in vain.
When tidings reached the chiefs and old Gúdarz,
The offspring of Kishwád: “Tús hath returned
With Faríburz, prepare thyself to go,”
Khusrau came forth. They set a golden throne,
Inlaid with emeralds, on an elephant;
Around the prince were warlike cavaliers
With flags of violet, with golden boots,
With crowns of amber, and with torques of gold
Adorned with divers gems. Gúdarz thus spake:—
“This is the first of days, for Kai Khusrau,
The atheling, accedeth to the throne.”
The atheling sat on the golden seat,
Crowned and with mace in hand; he with Gúdarz,
Gív, and a numerous host went toward the castle.
When near the hold he girded up his loins,
Put on his mail, and, mounted on his charger,
Dictated to a scribe in lofty terms
A letter, which they wrote in royal style
With ambergris, and in the olden tongue:—
“This letter cometh from the Almighty's slave—
From noble Kai Khusrau the atheling,
Who, freed from wicked Áhriman's constraint,
Hath cleansed his hands from ill by help of God,
Who is eternally the Lord most high,
The Giver of our daily bread, our Guide,
The Lord of Mars, of Saturn, and the Sun,
The Lord of Grace, the Lord of puissance,
Who gave the throne and Grace of kings to me,
Fierce lion's claws and elephantine bulk.
The whole world is my kingdom; all is mine
From Pisces downward to the Bull's head. Now
If this hold be of Áhriman's domain,
The enemy of Him who made the world,
Wilt cast it headlong from the clouds to dust;
And if it is a hold of sorcerers
I can dispose of them without a host,
For when I have looped up my leathern lasso
I take the heads of sorcerers in the noose;
While if the blest Surúsh himself is there
The host is one at the command of God.
I am not of the seed of Áhriman;
My soul hath Grace, my body lofty stature;
By God's command I will reduce the castle,
Such are the orders of the king of kings.”
Khusrau then took a lengthy lance and fixed
Thereto the haughty letter banner-wise;
He asked for naught on earth but royal Grace,
And ordered Gív to hasten with the spear
Up to the lofty ramparts, saying thus:—
“Take thou this letter of admonishment,
And bear it to yon lofty castle's wall;
Plant there the spear, call on the name of God,
Then quickly turn thy rein and hurry back.”
That worshipper of God, that glorious chief,
Gív, took the spear in hand and went his way.
He set the letter by the wall, delivered
The message of Khusrau, pronounced the name
Of God who giveth good, and fled like wind.
That noble letter vanished with a crash,
Dust flew, and by command of Holy God
The rampart of the stronghold split asunder;
Thou wouldst have said: “It thundereth as in spring.”
A shout went up from plain and mountain-top,
The earth became black as a negro's face,
Sun, Moon, and Pleiades were lost to sight,
And thou hadst said: “A murky cloud ariseth,
The air is like a mighty lion's maw.”
Then Kai Khusrau urged on his sable steed,
And shouted to the captains of the host:—
And let your bows be like a cloud in spring.”
Immediately a cloud rose charged with hail,
Hail charged with death; full many a dív was slain
And many venom-stricken fell to earth.
At length a brilliant light began to shine,
And all the heavy darkness cleared away;
A glorious breeze sprang up; the heaven above,
And all the face of earth, began to smile;
The world became as 'twere the shining moon
By God's name and the prince's Grace, the dívs
Went at his bidding, and the gate was seen.
The monarch of the free made entry there
With old Gúdarz, the offspring of Kishwád,
And saw a mighty city in the hold,
All gardens, spaces, halls, and palaces.
Upon the spot where darkness cleared and light
First shone Khusrau commanded to erect
A dome ascending to the darksome clouds.
It was ten lassos long and broad, its circuit
Was half a rapid Arab charger's course,
And round it there were lofty cupolas,
He brought and stablished there Ázargashasp,
And round it settled the astrologers.
The archmages, and the men of lore. He tarried
Till that Fire-fane attained to good repute,
And, when a year had passed, led forth his force,
Made up the baggage-train, and called to horse.
When news of Kai Khusrau, of his success,
And of God's Grace upon him, reached Írán
Had won that Grace and greatness; all the chiefs
Went forth with joy and brought him offerings.
Prince Faríburz approached him with a band
Of warriors from Írán as 'twere a mountain,
And seeing him gat off his rose-red steed,410
Whilst brave Khusrau alighted from his black.
The uncle kissed the nephew on the face,
And, having set for him a throne of gold
Inlaid with turquoise, seated him thereon,
And joyfully saluted him as Sháh.
Then Tús approached him, bringing Káwa's flag,
The drums, and golden boots, and, having kissed
The ground, surrendered them to Kai Khusrau,
And said: “See who deserveth in the host
The drums, gold boots, and Káwa's glorious flag.
Give them to him: I merit them no more:
Mine errors cannot hope for aught but life.”
Thus he apologised, abandoning
His foolish enterprise. The conquering prince
Received him well, placed him upon the throne,
And said: “For Káwa's standard, for the post
Of paladin, and for the golden boots,
I see none fitter in the host than thee,
Thine is the office and the rank is thine;
I have no wrath against thee in my heart,
Thou needest not to tender an excuse;
Thou didst not wish to have an alien Sháh.”
The atheling both shrewd and fortunate
Departed thence upon his way to Párs,
And Kai Káús, when he received the news:—
“The youth of lucky steps hath come,” went forth
With cheeks like cercis-bloom to welcome him:
The old man's heart grew young with happiness.
And smiled; his heart was throbbing with delight;
He went afoot and offered reverence.
His grandsire, fain to look on him, embraced him
With smiles and praises well deserved, and said:—
“The Lion hath returned victorious,
Confounding his opponents' hearts and eyes.”
They sought the palace and the world-lord's throne—
His who had made the diadem his own.
When they arrived they lighted from their steeds
With heartfelt, joyful greetings on their tongues.
Khusrau advancing kissed his grandsire's hand,
And laid his cheek against the throne. Káús
Took the young prince's hand, right joyfully
Set him upon the Sháh's own seat, and bade
The treasurer bring forth the royal crown.
He kissed Khusrau and, having crowned him, quitted
The splendid ivory throne and sat below.
He brought an offering of emeralds
With many royal jewels from his treasures,
Invoking blessings oft on Siyáwush,
The chiefs, the leaders, and great men assembled,
They called down blessings on him as their Sháh
And sprinkled gold and jewels over him.
The use and fashion of this world it is
To take with that hand and to give with this;
We are aggrieved because of its caprice,
And alternate 'twixt summit and abyss.
If then thy heart alloweth thee be glad,
Ensue but pleasure while it may be had,
Provide thee well and give the rest away,
And suffer not one moment to be sad.
Enjoy thy wealth and be not niggardly,
But share not earnings with thine enemy;
God gave to thee and will give to thy child—
That sucker springing from the parent tree.
Perceivest not how fully earth is stored
With wealth and furnished with good things? The Lord
Abateth nothing in His bounteousness:
Abstain from sorrow and let joy be toward.
ABBREVIATIONS, list of, 5
Abú Raihán Muhammad. See
Albírúní
Aden, 79
Afrásiyáb, ruler of Túrán, v seq.,
11, 13, 14, 16 seq., 20, 79,
81, 92, 98 seq., 118, 127,
129, 149, 184, 189, 242 seq.,
257 seq., 283, 286, 288, 296
seq., 312 seq., 335, 347 seq.,
360 seq., 369, 373, 380, 381,
386, 392 seq., 401 seq.
fights the Arabs for I'rán and
takes it, 92
king of Túrán and Chín, 99
expelled from I'rán by Kai
Káús and Rustam, 101
fights with the Seven War-
riors, 111 seq.
nearly taken prisoner by
Rustam, 14, 116, 354
his plot against Suhráb and
Rustam, 129
his gifts to Suhráb, 130
identical with Astyages in
legend, 191
sends host to invade I'rán,
224 seq.
determines to sue for peace
and sends hostages, 235 seq.
receives Zanga and consults
Pírán, 253 seq.
sends Pírán to welcome
Siyáwush, 258
plays at polo with Siyáwush,
264
Afrásiyáb, marries Farangís to
Siyáwush, 275
recalls Siyáwush from Gang-
dizh, 285
sends Garsíwaz to Siyáwush-
gird, 289
is deceived by Garsíwaz re-
specting Siyáwush, 296 seq.
sends Garsíwaz to summon
Siyáwush and Farangís to
court, 300 seq.
attacks, takes, and has Siyá-
wush executed, 314 seq.
appealed to by Farangís, 317
his treatment of Farangís,
320, 322
appealed to by Pírán, 324
spares Farangís, 325
and her son Kai Khusrau,
327
sees and questions Kai
Khusrau, 332
sends Surkha against the
I'ránians, 344
marches to avenge Surkha,
348
fights with Tús, 353
is rescued from Rustam by
Húmán, 354
crosses the sea of Chín, 356
consults Pírán about Kai
Khusrau, 356
returns, 362
his vengeance on I'rán, 363
pursues Kai Khusrau, 388
seq.
disgraces Pírán, 390
turns back at the Jíhún, 394
Áfrígh, king of Kharazm, 190
Age, old, Firdausí's lament over
his, 336
Agni, 25
Áhriman, the Evil Principle, 34,
42, 43, 51, 53, 56, 78, 160, 208,
214, 217, 250, 260, 303, 315,
324, 358, 361, 374 seq., 405 seq.
Ahura, Mazda (Urmuzd), 25
Airán-végó, region (I'rán-vej), 189
Albírúní, Abú Raihán Muham-
mad, 189
his account of Alfír (Gang-
dizh?), 190
Alburz, mountain, 11, 23, 27, 79,
96, 144, 336, 401
Káús' buildings on, 81
Alexander, the Great (Sikandar),
8 seq.
era of, 190
Alfír, fortress (Gang-dizh?), 190
'Alí, Khalífa, 337 and note
Alkús, Túránian hero, 114
Alp-Arselan, Sultán, 219 note
A'mul, city, 18, 104
Andaríman, Túránian hero, 264
Angra Mainyu (Áhriman), 28
Antiochus, Sidetes, 80, 81
Arabia, 100
Arabs, 79, 81, 99
rebel against Kai Káús, 83
fight with Afrásiyáb for I'rán
and are defeated, 92
Ard, day of, 287
Ardabíl, city, 336, 405??
Ardshír Pápakán, Sháh, 10
Arjásp, ruler of Túrán, 9, 29
Arjásp. Túránian hero, 264
Arnold, Matthew, his “Sohrab
and Rustum,” 118
Artang, the, 19 and note
Arwand, river (the Tigris), 392, 404
Arzhang, a dív, vi, 41, 43, 44, 56
seq., 63, 64
Asfandiyár, I'ránian hero, 29
Asp, as Persian termination, 9
Astyages, king of the Medes
(Manda), 190, 191
Astyages, identical with Afrási-
yáb in legend, 191
Athenæus, 10
A'zar (A'zarbáiján), 195
A'zarbáiján, province, 336
A'zargashasp, spirit of the light-
ning, 57, 294, 345
Azi, Dahaka (Zahhak), 81
BABYLON, 80
Babylonia, 80, 81
Badar, battle of, 337 note
Bahar, fire-temple, 286
Bahman, Sháh, 9
Bahman, castle of, x, 336, 405
seq.
Bahrám, I'ránian hero, viii, 33,
35, 38, 58, 62, 85, 127, 138,
144, 158, 249, 257, 258, 271,
290, 318, 338, 340
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
accompanies Siyáwush
against Afrásiyáb, 226
put in command by Siyá-
wush, 250
Bahrám, moralist, quoted by Fir-
dausí, 186
Balkh, city, 9, 101, 228, 229, 231,
242, 246, 249
Balúch, Balúchistán (Makrán), 80,
226
Bánúgashasp, daughter of Rus-
tam and wife of Gív, 365
stays with Rustam while Gív
seeks Kai Khusrau, 365
her suitors, 383, 384
rejoins Gív, 395
Barbar, Barbaristán, country, vi,
79, 82 seq., 90, 93, 98 seq.
identification of, 79
king of, 83, 94, 95
taken prisoner by
Guráza, 97
Bármán, Túránian hero, vii, 18,
119, 129, 130, 150, 349
Bármán, his death and revival in
legend, 119
marches on I'rán, 228
defeated by Siyáwush, 229
Barzín, I'ránian hero, 12, 22, 73
Barzín, fire-temple, 107
Berbera, trading-station, 79
Bíd, a dív, 44, 54, 55, 64, 93
Bihzád, the horse of Siyáwush,
ix, 312, 374 seq. 391
Birth-mark of the Kaian race, 372
Bístún, mountain, 128
Bízhan, I'ránian hero, 366 and note
Black Stone, the, 163 and note
Bukhárá, city, 241
Bull, Bull-fish, mythological, 128,
407
Bundahish, Pahlaví treatise, 3
note, 11, 26, 81, 118, 189
Buzgúsh, name of a tribe, 55 and
note
CÆSAR, 383
Cambyses, father of Cyrus, 190
identical with Siyáwush in
legend, 191
Canopus, star, 203
of Yaman, 203
Carnelians, of Yaman, 123
Caspian, sea, 189, 336
Castle, White, I'ránian strong-
hold, vii, 118, 131, 138
evacuated by Gazhdaham, 137
Castle of Bahman, x, 336, 405, 406
Central clime, the, 27
Chách, city of Túrán famous for
its bows (Táshkand), 241,
258, 358
Chares, of Mytilene, 10
Chevy Chase, 82
Chín country (often = Túrán), 77,
82, 111, 143, 154, 156, 237
277, 286, 287, 289, 297
305, 307, 357, 359, 383, 394
sea of, 12, 256, 276, 285, 356,
357
Chín, brocade of, 39, 203, 262, 290
king of Túrán and (Afrásiyáb),
99
helm of, 132
ornaments of, 232
cloth of gold from, 275
Khán of, 383
Clime, the central, 27
Climes, the seven, 15 note, 372
“Cloud,” name given by Rustam
to himself, 53
Cloud, of bale (Afrásiyáb), 13
Contents, table of, v
Courses, the Seven, of Rustam,
v, 29, 44 seq
Ctesias, 9
Ctesiphon, city, 80
Cyrus, the Great, 9, 190, 191
identical with Kai Khusrau
in legend, 191
DAÉVAS (dívs), 28
Daghwí, desert, 193
Dakíkí, 3 note, 8
Dámaghán, city, 15
Dámúr, Túránian hero, 296, 319
overthrown by Síyáwush, 295
advocates execution of Siyá-
wush, 317
Dárá, Sháh, 9
Dáráb, Sháh, 9, 11
Darband, pass of, 336
Darmesteter, Professor, on Fir-
dausí's geography, 79, 80
Death, early, Firdausí's justifica-
tion of, 119
Deipnosophistae, 10
Díná-í Maínóg-í Khirad, Pahlaví
treatise, 189
Dínkard, Pahlaví treatise, 26, 81
Dív, denion (Daéva), 27, 33, 34,
38, 41 seq., 57 seq., 68, 73,
101, 102, 144
title of honour, 29
=A'hriman, 46, 324, 342,
370, 386, 400
Dív, Black, the, 53
White, the, vi, 27, 39 seq.,
43, 44, 54, 55, 58 seq.,
66, 93, 163, 373
defeats Káús, 40
his blood cures blinduess,
58, 62
song of a, 31
Dívs, white, 27
Dragon, slain by Rustam and
Rakhsh, 48 seq.
Drought and famine, in I'rán, 363
Duncker, Professor, his views as
to date of the Zandavasta, 9
Dynasty, Kaian, Kaiánian, 7 seq.
Pishdádian, 9, 336
Sásánian, 10
EGYPT (Misi), 80
Ekbatana, city (Hamadán), 191
Elburz, mountain. See Alburz
Elephantine, the (Rustam), 65, 67
Elixir, vii, 177, 178
Euphrates, river, 80
Euxine, sea, 191, 336
Eyes, metaphor for children, 297,
328
FAGHFÚR, dynastic title of the
princes of Chín and Máchín,
383
Famine and drought, in I'rán, 363
Farámarz, son of Rustam, ix, 319,
341 seq., 349, 351, 354
takes Surkha prisoner, 345
Farangís, daughter of Afrásiyáb,
wife of Siyáwush, mother
of Kai Khusrau, viii seq.,
188, 288 seq., 299, 306, 373,
376 seq., 381, 386 seq.
identical with Mandane in
legend, 191
marries Siyáwush, 270 seq.
summoned to court by Afrá-
siyáb, 300 seq.
Farangís, confided in by Siyáwush,
307 seq.
appeals to Afrásiyáb, 317 seq.
imprisoned, 320
sentenced, 322
saved and taken charge of
by Pírán, 324 seq.
gives birth to Kai Khusrau,
326
dwells at Siyáwushgird, 333
instructs Kai Khusrau how
to find Bihzád, 374
gives Gív the mail of Siyá-
wush, 376
crosses the Jíhún, 392
provided for by Kai Káús, 399
Farhád, chieftain, 63 seq., 73, 85,
138, 316, 338, 340
goes as envoy to the king of
Mázandarán, 63
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 111
Faríburz, son of Kai Káús, x, 62,
199, 316, 335, 336, 340, 358,
405 seq., 409
his encampment described,
155
his claims to the throne sup-
ported by Tús, 401
recognises Kai Khusrau as
Sháh, 410
Farídún, Sháh, 11, 17, 19, 21, 29,
33, 36, 37, 99, 193, 195, 204,
237, 274, 318, 327, 392, 400,
404
saying of, 219 and note
Farshídward, Túránian hero, 323,
summons Pírán to save
Farangís, 322
Farúd, son of Siyáwush, viii, 291
Fight of the Seven Warriors, vi,
82
Firdausí, ix, 9, 10, 82, 119
his geography, 28, 79, 80
Professor Darmesteter
on, 79, 80
proud of his version of the
Story of Siyáwush, 188, 191
Fire, ordeal by, vii, 218 seq.
Firúzi Kuh, mountain and pass,
28
Fish, mythological, 15, 299
Flying-machine of Kai Káús, 103
Frangrasyan (Afrásiyáb), 81, 189
Frásyáv (Afrásiyáb), 81
Fravashí, immortal principle, 82
GANG, stronghold, 241, 261, 309,
344, 357, 369
sea of, 362
Gang-dizh, stronghold, viii, 189,
190
possible identification of, 189
meaning of, 190
building and description of,
279 seq.
Gang-i-Siyáwush. See Gang-dizh
Garsíwaz, brother of Afrásiyáb,
viii, 188, 189, 193, 195, 228,
231 seq., 249, 253, 264, 268,
269, 286, 289 seq., 313 seq.
defeated by Siyáwush, 229
seq.
sues for peace to Siyáwush,
237 seq.
fails to string the bow of
Siyáwush, 266
visits Siyáwush, 289 seq.
envies Siyáwush, 292 seq.
challenges Siyáwush, 294
slanders Siyáwush, 296 seq.
betrays Siyáwush, 301 seq.
compasses the death of Siyá-
wush, 315 seq.
charged with the execution
of Farangís, 322
Garshasp, Sháh, 336
Gáthas, 8
Gazhdaham, I'ránian hero, vii, 131,
132, 134, 138, 139, 145, 146
his description of Suhráb, 136
evacuates White Castle, 137
Genealogical tables, 3, 4
Geography, Firdausí's, 28
Geography, Firdausí's, Professor
Darmesteter on, 79, 80
Ghundí, a dív, 44, 54, 55, 93
Ghúr, district, 101
Gílán, district, 226, 293
Girdúni, Sirdarra, pass, 28
Sawachi, pass, 28
Gív, I'ránian hero, ix, x, 25, 33,
35, 38, 39, 58, 62, 70, 73,
85, 91, 127, 138 seq., 148,
151, 158, 160, 188, 193, 197,
271, 318, 319, 335, 338, 340,
349, 351, 362, 388 seq.
harries Mázandarán, 39
taken prisoner in Mázan-
darán, 40
released by Rustam, 58
taken prisoner in Hámá-
varán, 90
released by Rustam, 97
goes in search of Kai Káús, 104
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
bears letter from Káús to
Rustam, 139
his encámpment described,
155
son-in-law of Rustam, 155
helps to saddle Rakhsh for
the fight with Suhráb, 160
his account of Suhráb, 166
quarrels with Tús over the
future mother of Siyáwush,
194
meaning of, 335
sent by Gúdarz to seek Kai
Khusrau, 364 seq.
finds Kai Khusrau, 370 seq.
receives the mail of Siyá-
wush, 377
his exploits in defence of Kai
Khusrau, 378 seq.
tells how he captured Pírán's
wife and sister, 383
his wife, 384
his sister, 384
overthrows Pírán and his
host, 385
Gív, releases Pírán, 387
at the Jíhún, 391 seq.
announces Kai Khusrau's
arrival in I'rán, 394
accompanies Kai Khusrau to
Ispahán, 396
rewarded by Kai Káús, 399
goes on an embassy to Tús,
400
bears Kai Khusrau's letter to
the castle of Bahman, 408
Gívgán, I'ránian hero, 109, 155
Glory, the divine. See Grace
Grace, or Glory, the divine, 81,
82, 90, 99, 101, 102, 106, 207,
209, 265, 283, 289, 302, 327,
356, 358, 361, 364, 371, 373
seq., 382, 386, 392, 399, 401
seq., 407 seq.
Greek history and legend in
relation to Persian history
and legend, 9
Gúdarz, I'ránian hero, ix, x, 33,
35, 38, 62, 70, 73, 83, 90, 91,
127, 138, 142, 157, 177, 178,
193, 250, 286, 290, 316, 318,
335, 338, 340, 349, 371 seq.,
384, 388, 394, 406
taken prisoner in Mázan-
darán, 40
released by Rustam, 58
receives Ispahán from Kai
Káús, 78
taken prisoner in Hámávarán,
9??
released by Rustam, 97
censures Kai Káús, 105
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
mediates between Kai Káús
and Rustam, 144 seq.
his encampment described,
153
his sons, 158
consoles Siyáwush for his
mother's death, 199
Gúdarz, appointed ruler of Sughd
and Sipanjáb, 358
returns to I'rán, 362
sees Surúsh in a dream, 363
sends Gív to seek for Kai
Khusrau, 364
hears of Kai Khusrau's arri-
val in I'rán, 395
welcomes Kai Khusrau and
Gív, 396
accompanies them to Istakhr,
399
his dispute with Tús, 400 seq.
goes with Kai Khusrau to
the castle of Bahman, 407
Gulshahr, wife of Pirán, 269, 275,
276, 288, 326, 387, 390
Gulzaryún, river (the Jaxartes?),
358, 381
Guráza, I'ránian hero, 73, 340
takes king of Barbar prisoner,
97
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
his encampment described,
155
Gurdáfríd, daughter of Gazhda-
ham, vii, 119, 131 seq., 138
beguiles Suhráb, 133
Gurdya, sister of Bahrám Chu-
bina, 119
Gurgín, I'ránian hero, 33, 35, 62,
70, 73, 85, 90, 127, 138, 144,
310, 340, 394
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
Gurwí, Túránian hero, ix, 296,
314, 319, 338, 340
challenges and is overthrown
by Siyáwush, 295
advocates the execution of
Siyáwush, 317
carries out the execution of
Siyáwush, 320
Gustaham, son of Gazhdaham,418
12, 58, 177
Gustaham, takes part in the
Fight of the Seven War-
riors, 107 seq.
Gustaham, son of Naudar, 127,
336
Gushtásp, Sháh, 9
in Rúm, story of, 10
HAFT Khán, 29
Khwán, 29
Mán, 29
Hajír, I'ránian hero, vii, 131, 134,
136, 140, 349
taken prisoner by Suhráb, 131
misleads Suhráb, 152 seq.
his life attempted by Rustam,
176
Hámávarán, country (Yaman), vi,
25, 78 seq., 93, 94, 96 seq.,
139, 143 seq., 213, 215, 218,
250
king of, vi, 85 seq., 93, 207 and
note
asks quarter of Rustam,
97
releases Kai Káús, 97
Handgrip, as test of strength, 64,
66, 67
Harát, city, 101
desert of, 228
Harpagus, 190
identical with Pírán in
legend, 191
Haug, his theory of the origin of
Zoroastrianism, 8
Herodotus, 9
his account of the youth of
Cyrus the Great, 190
Himyar=Hámávarán (Yaman),79
Hind, Hindústán, 92, 228, 287, 289
Hindu Kush, 80
Hírbad, keeper of the women's
house of Kai Káús, 202, 206
Horses, of Persian royalty, how
distinguished, 410 note
Humái, Sháh, 9, 10
Húmán, Túránian hero, vii, 129,
130, 132, 148, 150, 165, 264,
390
his account of Rustam, 165,
169
reproaches Suhráb for sparing
Rustam, 171
throws the blame for Suhráb's
death on Hajír, 176
withdraws from I'rán under
safe conduct, 176, 181, 182,
184
rescues Afrásiyáb from
Rustam, 354, 355
persuades Afrásiyáb to aban-
don the pursuit of Kai
Khusrau, 394
Húshang, Sháh, 204
Hyreania, country (Mázandarán),
27
IBLÍS, the Muhammadan Devil,
vi
occasional substitution of for
Áhriman, 82, 110
Ighríras, brother of Afrásiyáb, 18,
20, 303, 304
Indra, god, 25
Indus, river, 21
Íraj, youngest son of Farídún, 8,
16, 19, 20, 237, 297, 302
Iram, garden of, 78
I'rán, vi, ix, 17 seq., 33, 35, 39, 76,
78 and passim
Shahr, 81
fought for by Afrásiyáb and
the Arabs, 92
invaded by Suhráb, 130
I'ránians, the, 9, 20, 27, 42 and
passim
Ispahán, city, x, 394, 399
given to Gúdarz, 78
arrival of Kai Khusrau at,
396
Ispurúz, mountain, 38, 56, 57
Istakhr, city, v, 11, 22, 28, 399
JAHN, son of Afrásiyáb, 264, 268
Jámásp, chief minister of Sháh
Gushtásp, 9
Jam??d, Sháh, 33, 37, 168, 204,
358, 399
Jaríra, daughter of Pírán, wife of
Siyáwush, mother of Farúd,
188, 269
marries Siyáwush, 268 seq.
birth of her son Farúd, 291
Jíhún, river (the Oxus), x, 15, 19
seq., 99, 229, 237, 248, 258,
311, 340, 390, 394, 399, 404
Jupiter, planet, 115
Juyá, a dív, 71
slain by Rustam, 72
KABÁB, small pieces of meat
skewered together for roast-
ing, 103
Kábul, Kábulistáu, city and
country, 12, 18, 21, 92, 228,
260, 271, 341
Káchár Báshí, city in Túrán, 258,
260, 361
Káf, mountain, 83, 404
Kai, meaning of, 8
Kaian, Kaians, race and dynasty,
8, 9, 22, 404
birth-mark, 372
stature, 375
Kaiániau, Kaiánians, race and
dynasty, v, 7 seq.
Kai A'rash, son of Kai Kubád, 23,
204, 205
Kai Armin, son of Kai Kubád, 23
Kai Káús, Sháh, v seq., 8, 10, 11,
23 seq., 33 seq., 54 seq., 61
seq., 109, 110, 117, 127, 129,
130, 233, 243 seq., 264, 269
seq., 273, 284, 286, 290, 296,
301, 316, 318, 319, 335, 347,
361, 364, 371, 373, 383, 401
tempted by dívs, 30 seq., 81,
102
Kai Káús, goes to Mount Káf, 83
defeats Afrásiyáb and regains
I'rán, 100
makes Rustam paladin of
paladins, 101
his buildings on Mount
Alburz, 81, 101
his ??ying machine, 103
his fall from the sky, 104
his repentance, 105
hears of Suhráb and summons
his chiefs, 136 seq.
bids Tús hang Rustam and
Gív, 143
his apology to Rustam, 147
his encampment described,
153
his camp-enclosure over-
thrown by Suhráb, 160
refuses to cure Suhráb, 178
attempts to console Rustam,
181
marries the future mother of
Siyáwush, 194
receives Siyáwush at court, 198
bestows Kuhistán upon him,
199
his conduct in the case of Siyá-
wush and Súdába, 200 seq.
sends Siyáwush to fight
Afrásiyáb, 225
rejects terms of peace and
quarrels with Rustam,
244 seq.
hears of the defection of
Siyáwush, 258
his grief at the death of
Siyáwush, 337
hears of Kai Khusrau's arrival
in I'rán, 395
receives him, 397
rewards Gív, 399
provides for Farangís, 399
arbitrates between Tús and
Gúdarz, 403 seq.
welcomes Kai Khusrau on his
return from the castle of
Bahman, 410
Kai Khusrau, Sháh, ix, x, 9, 25,
104, 189, 190, 310 seq., 334
seq., 386 seq.
fravashi of, 82
identical with Cyrus the
Great ?? legend, 191
prophecies respecting, 310,
372, 390
birth of, 325 seq.
account of his youth, 328 seq.
questioned by Afrásiyáb, 332
dwells at Siyáwushgird, 333
is sent to Khutan, 356
Máchín, 357 note
described by Surúsh, 363
Gúdarz sends Gív to seek,
364 seq.
recalled, 370
found by Gív, 370
shows his birth-mark to Gív,
372
saves Pírán's life, 387
at the Jíhún, 391 seq.
arrives at Zam, 394
visits Gúdarz at Ispahán, 396
tells his story to Kai Káús, 397
praises Gív to Kai Káús, 398
goes to Istakhr, 399
enthroned as Sháh, 400, 411
supported by Gúdarz and
opposed by Tús, 400 seq.
his letter to the defenders of
the castle of Bahman, 407
establishes Fire-worship at
the castle of Bahman, 409
pardons Tús, 410
Kai Kubád, Sháh, v, 8, 11, 12, 14,
16, 18 seq., 26, 33, 34, 36, 37,
87, 143, 144, 249, 260, 270,
274, 327, 336, 363, 390, 394
his origin, 11 and note
makes peace with Afrásiyáb,
20
his gifts to Zál and Rustam, 21
Kai Pashín, son of Kai Kubád,
23, 204, 205
Kaláhúr, a dív, 67
Kalát-i-Nádirí, a stronghold, 189
Kalúr, mountain, 328
Kangdez (Gang-dizh), 189, 190
Kaugha, country (Kharazm), 189,
190
Káran, I'ránian hero, 11 seq., 18,
22, 119
Kargasárs, tribe, 98
Karímán, I'ránian hero, father of
Narímán, 125
Kashmír, country, 271, 338
Káús. See Kai Káús
Kavi (Kai), 8, 25
Usa, 25
Kávyan (Kaian), 8
Ushaná, 25
Káwa, flag of, 12, 227, 341, 349,
354, 400, 402, 405, 406, 410
Keresavasda (Garsíwaz), 189
Kharazm, country (Khiva), 189,
190
Kharazmians, people, 190
Kharrád, I'ránian hero, 11, 22, 33,
73, 340
Kharzarwán, Túránian hero, 18
Kha??á, region in Túrán, 357
Khazar, region, 285
Khíva, country (Kharazm), 190
Khshathró - saoka, stronghold
(Gang-dizh), 189, 190
Khurásán, province of I'rán, 399
Khusrau. See Kai Khusrau
Khutan, region in Túrán, ix, 277,
288, 325, 357, 383
Kishwád, I'ránian hero, 11, 12, 18,
22, 33, 70, 73, 107, 112, 138,
318, 384, 399, 404, 409
Kubád, Sháh. See Kai Kubád
Kúch, region, 226
Kuhistán, Transoxania (Má wara
'u'n-Nahr), 199
Kuhram, Túránian hero, 349
Kulbád, Túránian hero, ix, 18,
264, 388
his death and revival in
legend, 119
pursues Kai Khusrau, 377 seq.
Kum, city in I'rán, 399
Kumár, cape, 103 and note
LAHHÁK, Túránian hero, 323 note
summons Pírán to save Far-
angís, 322
Leo, constellation, 405
Luhrásp, Sháh, 9
MÁCHÍN (China), 357 note, 370,
394
Machine, flying, of Kai Káús, 103
Magi, priests of the Medes, 190
advocates of next-of-kin
marriage, 189
Makrán, country (Balúchistán),
80, 82
Malcolm, Sir John, his version of
Suhráb, 118
Man, of Sigz (Rustam), 100 and
note
Manda, empire of the,=empire of
the Medes, 191
Mandane, daughter of Astyages,
190
identical with Farangís in
legend, 191
Mání, heresiarch, 19 note
Manicheism, 19 note
Mark, birth, of the Kaian race,
372
Marriage, next-of-kin (Khvaitúk-
das), 189
Mars, planet, 247, 407
Marv, city, 101
Marvrád, river, 228
Mashad, city, 189
Má wa?? 'n'n-Nahr (Kuhistán,
Transoxanía), 19, 199
Máz??na (Mázandarán), 28
Mázandarán, country (Hyr??ania),
v, vi, 25 seq., 33, 34, 36 seq.,
45, 55, 60 seq., 66 seq., 75, 76,
78, 81, 93, 105, 139, 143 seq.,
293
Mázandarán, approach to from
I'rán, 28
description of, 27
king of, vi, 39, 43, 54, 62 seq.
his interview with Rustam, 67
his fight with Rustam, 73
turns himself into a rock, 74
death of, 75
Mazda, Ahura (Urmuzd), 81
Medes, empire of the,=empire of
the Manda, 191
Median, empire, 9
Mihráb, king of Kábul, 12, 14,
18, 21
Minúchihr, Sháh, 19, 29, 33, 36,
37, 302, 318, 400
Misr (Egypt), 79, 80, 84, 94, 96,
143, 286
king of, 94, 95, 98
Mithridates L, 80
Muhammad, the Prophet, 337 note
Mytilene, Chares of, 10
NARIMÁN, I'ránian hero, father
of Sám, 49, 115, 119, 125, 126,
162, 354
Narmp?? name of a tribe, 55 and
note, 63, 64
Nárwan, forest of, 341
Nastíhan, Túránian hero, ix, 264
pursues Kai Khusrau, 377 seq.
Naudar, Sháh, 20, 36, 70, 153,
336, 400, 404
Nawand, place, 107
Néryósang, 82
Nile, river, 96, 153, 217, 310, 402
Nímrúz, country,422
21, 34, 69, 77,
80, 84, 338, 395
Níshípúr, city, 101
OBD??AL by ?? 218 seq.
Os of Kai Káús, 2??
Osus, river (Jíhún), 190
PAHLAV, district, 77, 102
Pahlaví, texts, 27
Párs, country, v, 23, 28, 76, 101,
226, 275, 286, 362, 410
Parthian kingdom, 80
Pashang, ruler of Túrán, v, 11,
13, 18, 20, 21, 297, 401
Paurúshasp, 9
Persia, 191
Persian, empire, 9
history and legend in rela-
tion to Greek history and
legend, 9
Persians, 190
Phosphor, morning star, 123
Phraates ??., 80, 81
Pílsam, Túránian hero, vi, ix,
112 seq., 320, 323 note, 350
seq.
pleads for Siyáwush, 315
summons Pírán to save
Farangís, 322
Pírán, Túránian hero, viii seq.,
112, 188, 257 seq., 264, 277,
278, 282 seq., 291, 311, 315,
316, 322 seq., 335, 350, 370,
377, 379 seq., 397, 398
identical with Harpagus in
legend, 191
advises Afrásiyáb to receive
Siyáwush, 253 note and seq.
goes to welcome Siyáwush,
258 seq.
arranges marriages for Siyá-
wush, 268 seq.
entertains Siyáwush, 278
offers to help Siyáwush to
build Gang dizh, 278
the prophecy of Siyáwush to,
282 seq.
goes to collect tribute, 285
visits Siyáwush, 287
Afrásiyáb, 288
summoned to save Farangís,
322 seq.
pleads for Farangís, 321
Pírán, takes charge of Farangís, 325
his dream of Siyáwush, 325
protects the infant Kai
Khusrau, 326
advises Afrásiyáb respecting
Kai Khusrau, 356
sends Kulbád and Nastíhan
to pursue Kai Khusrau, 377
overthrown with his host by
Gív, 385
appeals to Kai Khusrau, 386
released, 387
describes Gív's prowess to
Afrásiyáb, 389
disgraced, 390
retires to Khutan, 390
Pisces, constellation, 407
Pishdádian dynasty, 9, 336
Pleiads, Pleiades, 148, 282, 394, 408
Polo, game of, viii, 263 seq., 292
Pronun??iation, note on, 6
Pseudo - Callisthenes, romantic
Greek history of Alexander
the Great, 9
Púlád, Túránian hero, 264
Púlád, I'ránian hero, 22
Púlád, a dív, 44, 54, 55, 64, 93
Pun-t (Berbera), 79
RAKHSH, Rustam's steed, v, 13,
42 seq., 67, 74, 94, 97, 110,
116, 139, 143, 160, 311, 354
slays a lion, 45
encounters a dragon, 48
stolen by Turkmans, 121 seq.
sire of S??hráb's charger, 128
saddled by Giv, Ruhhám, and
Tús for the fight with
Suhráb, 160
Ral, city, 23, 399
Ram, Rustam's life saved by a, 46
Ram, constellation, 299
Red Sea, 364
Rizwán, anged, 39 and note, 288
Rúdába, the mother of Rustam,
44, 180
Ruhhám, I'ránian hero, 62, 73, 144,
158, 340
helps to saddle Rakhsh for
the fight with Suhráb, 160
Rúín, son of Afrásiyáb, 264
Rúín, son of Pírán, 323 and note
R??m, the Eastern Roman Empire,
143, 297, 307, 360
Rustam, I'ránian hero, v seq., 11
seq., 18, 21, 25, 34, 35, 42
seq., 79, 92 seq., 188, 236,
237, 271, 286, 290, 311, 316,
318, 319, 335, 344 seq., 349
seq., 371, 372, 380, 394, 400
his first campaign, 11 seq.
nearly takes Afrásiyáb
prisoner, 14, 116, 354
rewarded by Kai Kubád, 21
his life saved by a ram, 46
song of, 51
rescues Kai Káús in Mázan-
darán, 58
his handgrip, 66, 67
his encounter with Kaláhúr,
67
his audience with the king
of Mázandarán, 67 seq.
his encounter with Juyá, 71
his encounter with the king
of Mázandarán, 73
rewarded by Kai Káús, 77
entertains Kai Káús, 83
takes the king of Shám
prisoner, 97
defeats Afrásiyáb, 100
made paladin of paladins by
Kai Káús, 101
goes in search of Kai Káús,
104
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
slays Alkús, 115
and Suhráb, Story of, 118
seq.
loses Rakhsh, 121
Afrásiyáb's plot against, 129
holds a drinking-bout, 141
quarrels with Kai Káús, 142
Rustam, reconciled by Gúdarz, 144
seq.
goes in disguise to see Suhráb,
149
his adventure with Zhanda
Razm, 149 seq.
his account of Suhráb, 151,
166
his encampment described,
154
armed by Tús, Giv, and
Ruhhám for his fight with
Suhráb, 160
challenges Suhráb, 161
his charge to Zawára, 167
declines Suhráb's advances,
169
saves his life by a ruse, 170
prays that his strength may
be restored, 171
learns too late that Suhráb is
his son, 173
his grief, 173 seq.
makes a truce with Húmán,
176
tries to slay Hajír, 176
himself, 177
brings up Siyáwush, 196
marches with him against
Afrásiyáb, 225 seq.
returns and quarrels with Kai
Káús, 242 seq.
his grief and wrath at the
death of Siyáwush, 338
seq.
puts Surkha to death, 346
fights with the Túránians,
349 seq.
appoints Tús ruler of Chách,
358
appoints Gúdarz ruler of
Sughd and Sipanjáb, 358
his daughter, 383, 384
his wife, 384
hears of Kai Khusrau's arrival
in I'rán, 395
Rustum and Suhráb, Matthew
Arnold's, 118
SAGSÁR, district, 143
Sakláb, country (Slavonia), 360
Salm, eldest son of Farídún, 19,
237, 318
Sám, I'ránian hero, father of Zál,
16, 17, 33, 34, 49, 125, 126,
137, 140, 173, 182, 183
Samangán, city in Túrán, vi, 118,
121 seq., 130, 140
king of, vi, 118, 140, 184
entertains Rustam, 122
father of Zhanda Razm,
150
Samarkand, city (Sughd), 241
Sanja, a dív, 39, 40, 44, 55
Sarakhs, city, 108
Sarúch, desert, 226
Sásánian dynasty, 10
Saturn, planet, 183, 208, 215, 247,
263, 310, 319, 394, 407
Seleucia, city, on the Tigris, 80
Semiramis, 10
Seven climes, the, 15 note, 372
Seven Courses of Rustam, v, 44 seq.
Seven Warriors, Fight of the, vi,
25, 82, 107 seq.
Sháha, city in Hámávarán, 89
Shahd, river, 108
Sháhnáma, editions of, 5
Shahr-Bánú-Iram, Gív's sister
and Rustam's wife, 384
Shám (Syria), 80, 84
king of, taken prisoner by
Rustam, 97
Shamásás, Túránian hero, 12, 18
Shápúr, I'ránian hero, 271, 338, 340
Sháwarán, I'ránian hero, 73, 90,
111, 228, 249, 250, 255, 271, 318
Shepherds, Kai Khusrau brought
up by, 328 seq.
Shídúsh, I'ránian hero, 58, 85, 158,
340
Sigz, man of (Rustam), 100 and note
Sikandar (Alexander the Great),
8 seq.
Sind, river (the Indus), 285
Sipahram, Túránian hero, 228,
229, 388
Sipand, mountain (White Castle),
118
Sipanjáb, region, 241, 342, 344,
345, 358
Sístán, country,425
80, 335, 365
Siyáwush, son of Kai Káús, vii
seq., 25, 104 note, 187 seq.,
335, 338 seq., 346 seq., 363,
371, 372, 374 seq., 383, 386,
388, 396, 403, 411
his mothe vii
Story of, 188 seq.
Prelude to, 191
good example of Fir-
dausí's method, 188
identical with Cambyses, the
father of Cyrus, in legend,
191
adventure of the mother of,
193
destined to misfortune from
birth, 196
brought up by Rustam, 196
returns to court, 197
made ruler of Kuhistán, 199
mourns for his mother's
death, 199
his temptation by Súdába,
200 seq.
marches against Afrásiyáb,
225 seq.
demands hostages of Afrási-
yáb, 239 seq.
goes over to Afrásiyáb, 258
seq.
plays at polo with Afrásiyáb,
264
his archery, 266, 293
his marriage with Jaríra, 268
seq.
his marriage with Farangís,
270 seq.
entertained by Pírán, 278
builds cities, 278 seq.
Siyáwush, foretells the future to
Pirán, 282 seq.
entertains Pírán, 287
entertains Garsíwaz, 290 seq.
plays at polo with Garsíwaz,
292
challenged by Garsíwaz, 294
overthrows Gurwí and
Dámúr, 295
slandered by Garsíwaz to
Afrásiyáb, 296 seq.
summoned to court by
Afrásiyáb, 300 seq.
betrayed by Garsíwaz, 301 seq.
excuses himself from going
to court, 306
his passion, 307 seq
foretells the future to Far-
angís, 310
charges and turns loose
Bihzád, 312
attacked and taken by
Afrásiyáb, 314
his execution, 320
Blood of (plant), 321
Siyáwush, wild duck, 104 note
Siyávakhsh (Siyáwush), 82
Syávashána (Siyáwush), 189
Siyáwushgird, city, viii, ix, 301,
314, 373
building and description of,
285 seq.
becomes the home of Kai
Khusrau, 333
Sohrab and Rustum, Matthew
Arnold's, 118
Soma, 8
Song of a dív, 31
of Rustam, 51
Sorceress, Súdába and a, vii, 214
Spendyád, mountain, 118
Spentódáta, mountain, 118
Stages, the Seven, of Asfandiyár, 29
Stone, the Black, 163 and note
Strength, handgrip as test of, 64,
66, 67
Súdába, daughter of the king of
Hámávarán and wife of Kai
Káús, vi, vii, ix, 79, 86
seq., 91, 188, 189, 200 seq.,
225, 249, 257, 335, 339
description of, 86
marries Kai Káús, 88
imprisoned with him by her
father, 91
released by Rustam, 97
her temptation of Siyáwush,
200 seq.
slain by Rustam, 340
Sughd, district and city (Samar-
kand), 230, 232, 237, 241, 249,
358
Suhráb, son of Rustam and
Tahmína, vi, vii, 25
Story of, 118 seq.
purely episodic, 118
Prelude to, 119
Sir John Malcolm's ver-
sion of, 118
Matthew Arnold's ver-
sion of, 118
his lament for the loss of
Gurdáfríd, 119 note
questions his mother as to
his father, 126
his charger sired by Rakhsh,
128
Afrásiyáb's plot against, 129
gifts to, 130
invades I'rán, 130
takes Hajir prisoner, 131
beguiled by Gurdáfríd, 133
described by Gazhdaham, 136
sees from White Castle the
I'ránian host advancing,
148
seen, while feasting, by
Rustam, 150
hears of the death of Zhanda
Razm, 151
misled by Hajír, 152 seq.
overthrows the camp-enclo-
sure of Káús, 160
challenged by Rustam, 161
his account of Rustam, 154,
169
Suhráb, his advances to Rustam,
169
spares Rustam's life, 170
again encounters Rustam,
172
makes himself known to
Rustam, 173
his last requests to Rustam,
175
the mourning for, 182 seq.
Surkha, son of Afrásiyáb, ix, 344
seq.
taken prisoner by Farámarz,
345
death of, 347
Surúsh, angel, 288, 289, 364, 408
appears to Gúdarz in a
dream, 363
Syria (Shám), 80
TABLE of Contents, v
Tables, genealogical, 3, 4
Tahmásp, 11
Tahmína, mother of Suhráb, vi,
118
her precautions for her son's
safety, 127, 140, 149
her mourning for Suhráb,
184 seq.
her death, 186
Tahmúras, Sháh, 168
Tálikán, city, 228
Taráz, city and district, 123
Idols of, 123, 206
Tihrán, city, 28
Tirmid, place where the route
from Balkh to Samarkand
crosses the Oxus (Jíhún),
229, 258
Tollman, Gív and the, x, 390
Thraétaona (Farídún), 81
Túr, second son of Farídún, 8, 17,
19, 99, 237, 262, 297, 302,
303, 318, 327, 363, 390
Túrán, v, ix, 9, 18, 25, 79, 82, 101,
112, and passim
Túrán, king of Chín and (Afrá-
siyáb), 99
host of, 110
Túránians (Turkmans), the, vi, 11,
81, 265
Turkestán, 19
Turkmans (Túránians), the, 12,
14, 15, 92, 100 and passim
Tús, son of Naudar, x, 33, 35, 38,
58, 62, 70, 73, 85, 90, 91,
127, 138, 142, 143, 148, 177,
188, 193, 197, 199, 226, 257,
316, 319, 335, 338, 340, 349,
353 seq., 371, 383, 394
appointed captain of the host,
78
taken prisoner in Hámávarán,
90
released by Rustam, 97
goes in search of Kai Káús,
104
engaged in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
commanded by Káús to hang
Rustam and Gív, 143
his encampment described,
153
summons Rustam to fight
Suhráb and helps to saddle
Rakhsh, 160
quarrels with Gív over the
future mother of Siyáwush,
194
supersedes Siyáwush, 246
seq.
leads the host home, 258
intercedes for Surkha, 347
is worsted in fight by Afrá-
siyáb, 353
appointed ruler of Chách,
358
returns to I'rán, 362
his dispute with Gúdarz over
Kai Khusrau, 400 seq.
advocates the claims of Farí-
burz, 401
asks pardon of Khusrau, 410
Tuwurg, Túránian hero, 253
ÚLÁD, a dív, v, 28, 52 seq., 59, 61
made king of Mázandarán, 76
Urmuzd, the Good Principle, 82
VEDAS, 8, 11, 25
Venus, planet, 115, 275, 345
Verethraghna, the raven, 25
Vritra, demon, 25
WARÁZÁD, king of Sipanjáb, ix,
341 seq., 346
Warriors, the Seven, Story of the
Fight of, vi, 25, 82, 107 seq.
White Castle, I'ránian stronghold,
vii, 118, 131, 138
evacuated by Gazhdaham, 137
Dív. See Dív
W?? Túránian hero, 112, 354
Witeh, v, 50
YAMAN, country (Hámávarán), 80
carnelians of, 123
Canopus of, 203
ZÁBUL, Zábulistan, country,428
vii,
21, 28, 42, 61, 83, 92, 126,
138, 141, 142, 156, 168, 227,
228, 245, 260, 338, 362, 363
vintage of, 110
Zahhák, Sháh, 33, 81, 318
saying of, 171 and note
Zainigau, 81
Záínígáv, 81
Zál, father of Rustam, v, 11 seq.,
18, 19, 21, 33 seq., 49, 58,
61, 62, 69, 77, 140, 168, 169,
180, 182, 227, 228, 271, 286,
290, 318, 319, 338, 362, 371
Zam, city and river, 97, 394, 395
Zandavasta, 8, 25 seq., 81, 118,
189, 190
Zanga, I'ránian hero, viii, 73, 90,
228, 249, 271, 318
takes part in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 107 seq.
accompanies Siyáwush
against Afrásiyáb, 226
sent on embassy to Afrásiyáb,
250 seq.
Zardu??sht (Zoroaster), 8, 9
Zav, Sháh, 11, 36
Zawára, brother of Rustam, ix,
96, 228, 347, 349
engaged in the Fight of the
Seven Warriors, 110 seq.
made leader of Rustam's
host, 142
left in charge of Rustam's
host, 161
goes on embassy to Húmán,
176
safe-conducts Húmán from
I'rán, 176, 181, 182
incites Rustam to avenge
Siyáwush, 360
Zhanda Razm, maternal uncle of
Suhráb, vii, 149 seq., 160
Zinígáv, 81
Zira, Túránian hero, 295, 314
Zirih, sea or lake, 80
Zú'lfakar, 337 and note