There was a man of noble lineage,
And of the famous Cæsars' stock withal,
A man of wisdom, Bazánúsh by name,
Fraught with good counsel both in mind and tongue,
This very day the captain of the host;
The troops will be attentive to thy words:
Illume the crown and renovate the throne.”
They set for him the throne of ivory
Whereon he sat in all his glory crowned,
While all the Rúmans hailed him as the Cæsar.
He sat and mused on war and battlefield,
And, knowing that to strive in fight against
The exalted Sháh would bring disaster, chose
An envoy shrewd and modest who could speak
Wise words with gentleness—a scribe expert,
Experienced, learned, wise, and well approved—
Set him hard by, dictated subtle words,
And wrote a letter full of benisons
From God almighty on the king of earth:—
“Be thy crown ever bright and all the great
Thy slaves. Thou know'st that pillaging and bloodshed,
And harrying the innocent, are hateful
To noble men both in Írán and Rúm.
If this feud first began about Íraj
'Twas settled by the might of Minúchihr.
Now Salm is dust, and Túr is swept away,
In vengeance. If Sikandar and Dárá
Embroil us now that feud is obsolete
In Rúm; the one good fortune left, the other
Was slain by his two ministers, while Cæsar,
If he be cause, is galled within thy prison
By fetters. Rúm must not be desolate,
For never there hath been a land like Rúm.
Now, if thy purpose is to waste and slay,
The Rúmans cannot either fight or flee.
Their wives and children are thy prisoners,
Or wounded by thy swords and shafts. 'Tis time
To minish wrath and vengeance; wrath and Faith
Ne'er fare together. Be our ransom then
All our possessions, for this feud is wasting
Our lives. Be kind, burn not so many cities.
Such days must cease. The Maker of the world
Will not approve a world-lord set on wrong,
And vengeance. May He bless the Sháh, and may
The Sháh's exalted star encrown the moon.”
The scribe laid down his pen when he had written
That royal letter whereunto they set
The seal of Cæsar, and the ambassador
And tendered Cæsar's letter to Shápúr
Of glorious race, who, when they read to him
The letter, showering on him those fair words,
Was gracious, wept, and bent his warrior-brows.
He wrote at once an answer and detailed
All that had happened both for good and ill;
He said: “Who sewed his guest in ass's hide?
Who lighted up the mart of ancient feuds?
If thou art wise arise and come to me,
Thou and thy honest counsellors, for I
Have granted quarter and I will not fight.
The world is never straitened to the wise.”
The messenger returned with this reply,
And word for word discharged his embassy.
When Bazánúsh saw that reply the heart
In his pure body throbbed with joy. He bade
A hundred nobles quit fair Rúm with him.
They made up sixty asses' loads of drachms,
Of gems, and full-dress robes, and thirty thousand
Dínárs for largess gathered from all sides.
They went before the Sháh with naked feet
And heads all bare, and, as they poured dínárs,
Bestrewed the gold with gems. Shápúr received
The Rúmans graciously and seated them
In due degree. He said to Bazánúsh:—
“From Rúm no lack of curst and unjust men
Hath come. Where there were cities in Írán
Now there are thorn-brakes. I demand redress
For what hath been laid waste and made the lair
Of pard and lion.”
Bazánúsh replied:—
“Say what thou wilt and since thou gav'st us quarter
Frown not upon us.”
Said the noble Sháh:—
“If thou wouldst have full pardon for the wrong
Thou must pay tribute in dínárs of Rúm—
Two hundred thousand thrice in every year,
And further give up Nasíbín to me,
If thou wouldst end my vengeance.”
Bazánúsh
Replied: “Írán, Arabia, Nasíbín
Are thine, and I agree to this vast tribute,
For we can not withstand thy wrath and vengeance.”
Shápúr agreed by treaty not to march
In friendly wise, that Rúm might not be injured.
Then he dismissed those magnates graciously
And honourably, on their departure marched,
And thanked his Maker much. He sought Istakhr—
The world-famed glory of the land of Párs—
Rejoicing.
When the news of these events
Reached Nasíbín the people rushed to arms,
Exclaiming: “We will not let Sháh Shápúr
Take Nasíbín or bring an army hither
Because he is not Christian but observeth
The Zandavasta and the cult of Fire.
He will not hear us when he cometh hither,
And we will not accept the Zandavasta,
And ancient Faith.”
The populace prevailed,
The Faithful mounted for the war. When tidings
Reached Sháh Shápúr that Nasíbín rebelled
He was enraged against the Christian Faith,
And set a countless host upon the march.
He said: “Applaud I cannot an evangel
Whose author suffered death among the Jews.”
For one whole week they fought; the city's gate
Grew all too narrow for the combatants;
The Íránians slew a multitude of chiefs,
And placed those that survived in heavy bonds.
The citizens wrote to the Sháh for quarter,
Who pardoned them and bade his host withdraw.
He gained renown in all parts of the earth,
He gained supremacy o'er all the world.
Men used to call him “The victorious Sháh,”
And long did he possess the throne and crown.
She who had freed and given him his greatness,
Whom he named Diláfrúz-i-Farrukhpái,356
Was dearer to him than all other fair.
Moreover on the gardener he bestowed
Great treasure and dismissed him well provided;
But Cæsar stayed in prison and in bond,
In abject, evil case, and lasso-bound,
While all the treasure that he had in Rúm,
And toiled to gather in from every side,
He had conveyed and given to Shápúr.
He lived awhile with sighs upon his lips,
Within his prison-house, and there he died,
And let another have the crown of might.
Then Sháh Shápúr dispatched the corpse to Rúm,
Encrowned with musk upon a bier, and said:—
“This is our end but where we shall find rest
I know not. One is covetous and foolish,
Another wise and dowered with Grace, but life
Alone are blest.”
He mounted on the throne
Of kings and ruled the world awhile. Thereafter
He settled many folk for good or ill
Within the land of Khúzistán and built
A city for his prisoners: folk at large
Shared not therein.357
'Twas called Khurram Ábád,357a
But who were they who shared that pleasant place?
The men whose hands Shápúr had stricken off
Had this assigned to them as their abode;
They had it all, and every year a robe
Of honour. He erected too in Shám
A city which he called Pírúz Shápúr,357b
And in Ahwáz a third with palaces
And hospitals, Kinám-i-Asírán357c
They called it; prisoners there had rest and ease.
He reigned until he passed his fiftieth year
Of sovereignty; the age had not his peer.
There came from Chín a man of eloquence,
Whose peer in painting earth will not behold,
By which accomplishment he gained his ends.
He was a man of might by name Mání.
He said: “I prove my mission by my painting,
And am the greatest of evangelists.”
He came from Chín, asked audience of Shápúr,
Soliciting his help in that evangel,
And speaking with such unction that the Sháh,
Filled with misgivings and keen interest,
Convoked the archmages and held talk at large
About Mání: “This suasive man of Chín
Hath plunged me into doubts about his Faith:
Hold converse with him; ye may be converted.”
They said: “This man—a worshipper of pictures—
Is not the equal of our own high priest;
Hear what Mání saith and then call for him:
Mání will be dumfoundered in his presence.”358
The Sháh bade that Mání should come who spake
At large, discoursing with the archimages,
In presence of the Sháh, of Light and Darkness358a
Until Mání was checked in full career
By what the high priest said to him concerning
Why layest thou thy daring hand on God—
The Being that created Heaven above,
Created space and time, with light and darkness,
Therein, and is supreme of principles?
The nights and days of high, revolving heaven
Are both thy source of safety and mishap.
How canst thou take a picture for a proof,
And disregard the counsel of the Faithful,
Who say that holy God is One, and thou
Hast no alternative to serving Him?
If thou wilt give these pictures motion, then
Thou mayst appeal thereto. Thy proof, thou knowest
Is naught, and no one will esteem it valid.
Were Áhriman God's equal, darksome night
Would be like shining day, and both would be
Of equal length throughout the year, and neither
Would in their revolutions wax or wane.
The Maker of the world is compassed not
By thought, for He is higher than thought and space.
Thy words are those of lunatics. Enough!
No one will side with thee.”
He spake much else,
For he was one of knowledge and of courage.
Mání was all confounded by the words,
His favour changed, the king was wroth with him,
So that his days were straitened, bidding some
To drag him from the court disgraced, and said:—
“This worshipper of pictures is unfit
To live, so since he causeth turmoil here
Flay him from head to foot, and let his skin
Be stuffed with hay, and then, that no one else
May make pretences to like dignity,
Hang up the skin upon the city-gate,
Or on the wall outside the hospital.”
So did they. All the people blessed the Sháh,
And cast dust on the body of the slain.
The fortune of Shápúr was such that men
Saw in his garth no thorn upon the rose.
He was so just, so wise, and politic,
Brave, bounteous, active, that not anywhere
Was left a foe, or evil e'en a lair.
For he had passed his three score years and ten,
He called a scribe, the high priest, and Ardshír,
His younger brother, youthful still and crowned
With justice and with wisdom. Now the Sháh
Had but one son—an infant—named Shápúr,
Not yet matured by fortune, so the king,
In presence of the magnates and the scribes,
Said to Ardshír: “If thou wilt make a pact
With me in all good faith, and pledge thyself
To keep it, that what time my son shall come
To man's estate, and when the breath of greatness
Shall breathe on him, thou wilt resign to him
The treasure and the throne and crown, and be
His loyal minister, I will commit
To thee this crown of kingship and transfer
Withal to thee the treasure and the host.”
Ardshír agreed before the great and wise
To give up to the child when grown to manhood,
And fit for diadem and throne of might,
The kingship and intreat him lovingly.
Whereat Shápúr, in presence of the lords,
Gave the world's crown and signet to Ardshír,
Then said: “Take seriously the world's affairs.
Know, O my brother! that an unjust king
Regardeth not the interests of the realm,
But yearneth to fill up his treasuries,
Exceeding all his officers in greed.
Blest is the upright king that serveth God
Because in him his subjects' hearts delight;
He groweth rich by equity and bounty,
He leadeth every one toward the Faith,
He guardeth all his kingdom from the foe,
He lifteth to the clouds his head and crown,
He gathereth wealth by justice and in peace,
Disperseth trouble from the heart by largess,
He passeth o'er the offences of ill-doers,
And ever practiseth humanity.
He that hath sought these virtues will attain
To wisdom and right rede and watchfulness.
Kings must be wise and teach both young and old,
For subjects not instructed in God's way
He violateth justice and the Faith.
Man's heart and brain are joint kings of his body,
The other members are the soldiery.
When, then, the heart and brain have been defiled,
And lost to good advice in their despair,
The life within that body is distraught;
Will troops left chiefless live on happily?
Left in the dark they are dispersed and cast,
A corpse, to dust. So with an unjust king:
The world361
is turned by him all upside down.
He will be held accursed when he is dead,
And men will know him as ‘The impious Sháh.’
Keep both thine eye and body in the Faith,
For eye and body both belong to God.
The king who chooseth any other way
Should wash both heart and hands of this our world.
He scattereth his subjects from his realm,
His lieges from his gate, ignoring all
The sage's words which cleanse thy heart of guile.
The tyrant is accursed: haunt not the portal
Of men intent on greed. Know, O my brother!
That from a king the sage expecteth much—
First, that he be victorious, not turning
From foes in fight; again, that he entreat
His troops with equity and recognise
The greatness of the high-born: whosoever
Is fitted for the kingship will not put
The men of rank into the ranks;362
next, thirdly,
That he be upright and defeat not justice;
And fourthly, that to those who are his subjects,
And to the old retainers of his court,
He keep not tightly barred his treasury's door,
But from his branches drop a shower of fruit.
The king's gate should be not without a host,
And he should keep his treasure for his troops.
Thou wilt rejoice in treasuries increased
By justice, and thy troops will joy in thee.
Look on thy mail as thy true ornament;
Some night it may bestead thee well. Trust not
Thy guards too much; direct thine own concerns
As thou wouldst be secure though, whether thou
Shalt prove obscure or thy own age's lustre,
Death past all doubt will come to thee at last.”
The brother, hearing this, wept sore. Shápúr
Wrote his last wishes out, lived on one year,
Then passed, and left this saying in men's minds:—
“Sow not within the world the seed of greed
Because thy days will pass, and foes enjoy
The product of thy toils. Whene'er the laws
Both of Urmuzd and of Bahman362a
are kept
This palace will become a happy home.”
From jars that never need replenishing.
Why seek I, who am deaf at sixty-three,
The world's grace and observance? Now I sing
(Mark thou) the story of Ardshír, the king.
The reign of Shápúr, son of Urmuzd, was preceded, as we have seen, by those of six Sháhs, none of whom left any mark on Íránian legend, and it was followed by those of three others no less insignificant. Some of the six preceding Sháhs had been men of importance historically, but even this cannot be said of Ardshír (Artaxerxes II., A.D. 379-383) and his two successors.
Ardshír must have been either an elder brother of Shápúr or else, like him, a posthumous child. At any rate he must have been seventy years old or more at the time of his accession. Shápúr is represented elsewhere in the Sháhnáma as brotherless,363
but historically this was not the case.363a
Ardshír is credited by most authorities with a reign of four years only. Tabarí says that he was deposed by his subjects.363b
Whenas Ardshír sat in the royal seat,
And graced the throne of old Shápúr, he girt
His loins and called the Íránians, seating them
Beneath the golden throne, and thus he said:—
“I would not that the process of high heaven
Should injure any. All the world shall be
Within my peace if it obey my will;
But if this giddy world prove recusant
We will take order for it. Now my brother
Left me the world in trust because his son
Is but a child. Our blessings on his soul,
For he hath purged the earth of wicked men.
Whenas Shápúr, son of Shápúr, shall reach
To man's estate, and knoweth how to prize
The crown and throne, I will resign to him
Them and the host according to my pledge
To Sháh Shápúr. I only hold the throne
As viceroy and in memory of his sire.
Know this: what we enjoy will pass away;
At death our travail will be turned to wind.”
Through his ten years of rule he took his fill
Of joy and lavished bounty as he would.
He asked from no man tribute, toll, or tax,
But made the crown and throne a charge to none;
Men therefore called him “The Beneficent,”
For all felt safe with him.
Now when Shápúr
Was fit for crown and throne Ardshír resigned
The glorious crown, made good what he had spoken
And, like a man, maintained his pledge unbroken.
According to Tabarí, the death of this Sháh (Sapor III., A.D. 383-388) was not due to the accidental fall of a tent-pole; the tent-ropes were cut, and the tent fell and killed him.365
Most joyed but some were sorry in Irán.
He thus harangued the noble men of lore,
And veteran, adviceful archimages:—
“Know that henceforth we favour not the liar,
For lying is not policy and that
Ensureth greatness. Treat not nidderings
As friends and sow not weeds within the garden.
The man of brains should make a mock of none.
Tongues should be guarded, not imbued with bane,
For he that speaketh much in the assembly
Will minish his repute, but when a sage
Discourseth, hear, for learning ageth not.
The covetous have aching hearts, do thou
Abstain from greed and make not friends with liars,
Or men of evil rede. Four qualities
Are needful in a man: first, being modest,
Just, and accomplished; secondly, sincere
And single-hearted; thirdly, moderate
And welcoming whatever fortune bringeth;
And, fourthly, never speaking foolishly,
But using fools for profit not for sport.
The hearts of noble men obtain both worlds,
But justice pleaseth not the hearts of churls,
Who in this world possess an evil name,
And in the other win not Paradise.
The vain withal hath but a brief career
Because he dissipateth wealth in folly,
While he is lauded that doth choose the mean;
He showereth benedictions on himself.366
God aid you, be your fortune ever bright,
And may He help us, for the throne of greatness
Abideth not with any.”
Thus he said.
The nobles rose and blessed him.
And four months had passed by, the Sháh one day
Went out to hunt, the world was full of cheetahs,
Of hawks, and hounds, these flying and those coursing.
A tent was pitched to make a resting-place
Where when the Sháh had eaten he reposed;
He drank three goblets full of royal wine,
And, musing, drowsed. His comrades all dispersed
While he reclined. He slept. Then from the waste
A tempest rose, so great that none recalled
The like, and brought the wood-work of the tent
Down on the Sháh's head! He that had aspired
To win the world—the valorous Shápúr—
Died and resigned the royal crown to others.
This whirling world is evermore the same,
And constant only to the knavish one,
Who in his jugglery is void of shame
To filch from any or to foist upon.
Act, then, enjoy, disport, but fret thee not.
Why grasp at vengeance, toy with treasury?
Within this gloomy orb accept thy lot,
Seek honour, and let this world's secret be.
Discovery will make thee writhe with pain;
Then pry not, let its mystery remain.
The Oriental title of this Sháh (Varahran IV., A.D. 388-399) renders it doubtful whether he was the son of the second or third Shápúr, and the authorities differ on the point. He is supposed generally to have reigned eleven years. He was the ruler of Kirmán at the time of his accession, and to him rightly belongs the title of Kirmánsháh which Firdausí gives to Bahrám Bahrámiyán.368
A seal of his, so describing him (“Varahran Kerman Malka”) is extant.368a
Tabarí says that he built a city in Kirmán, perhaps the existent Kirmánsháhán south-east of Yazd,368b
and that he was killed by an arrow shot at him by assassins.368c
Wise, prudent Sháh Bahrám mourned for his sire
Some months. When seated on the place of power
He spake thus from the imperial throne: “This know:
The kings that justly gather freely spend.
May holy God be gracious unto us,
And may the foemen's hearts be filled with smoke.
His is all knowledge, and we are His slaves
For weal or woe. He is supremely just;
His kingdom knoweth neither gain nor loss.
One that is rich in generosity,
Discreet, intelligent, and vigilant,
Should lock not fast his treasures, least of all
If he is lord of throne and diadem,
And if a wealth of words be thine to give,
Be lavish, knowledge faileth not. Incline
To God in good and ill as thou wilt have
That all thy good and evil are from Him
Thy guerdon will be jocund Paradise;
But if thou choosest this world's vanities
Thou wilt remain unransomed in their clutch.
If God shall cease to keep thee 'neath His hand
Thou wilt abide in endless woe. I trust
To holy God that, when I lay my head
Within this darksome dust, He may account me
A conquering king, a Lustre of the world.
Is it not better then to lavish justice
Than to get wealth unjustly, for our labours
Endure here but our wealth will be past doubt
Our foe's. We leave our memory good or bad;
Forbear thine utmost to sow seed of ill.”
When this Sháh's reign had come to twice seven years
The graceful Cypress of the Orchard slept;
The Sháh was sick awhile, his subjects grieved.
He had a daughter, but no son, and likewise
A younger brother unto whom he gave
Perforce the host and treasure, crown and throne,
And royal signet, then, when he had ruled
For twice seven years, this youthful world-lord died.
Old man, whose years amount to sixty-three!
Shall wine be still the burden of thy lay?
Without a warning life may end with thee;
Think of repentance then, seek wisdom's way.
May God approve this slave. May he attain
In wisdom riches and in singing gain;For mid his song he plucketh at his hair,
Yea teareth it in his obscure estate.
No wonder, if a work—his manhood's care—
Completed in old age, he dedicate
To him who hath the sword—the king of kings,
A whole head higher than his underlings.May his throne's seat serve Luna for a crown,
The age be wholly subject to his sway,
For his is might and with him is renown.
Oh! may the crown rejoice in him, and may
He walk in knowledge and in majesty,
From all his foemen's clutches ever free!
Yazdagird succeeds his brother as Sháh and rules wickedly. His son Bahrám is born and brought up by the Arabs, to whom he returns after a visit to, and imprisonment by, his father. Yazdagird is warned of his death by the astrologers and tries to evade his fate, but is killed by a mysterious horse. The Íránians, resolved that none of his family shall succeed him, elect Khusrau. Bahrám, supported by the Arabs, claims the throne, proves his right to it by ordeal, and becomes Sháh.
The authorities are divided on the question whether Yazdagird (Isdigerd I., A.D. 399-420) was a son of Bahrám, the previous Sháh, or of Shápúr. Tabarí takes the former view,371
Mas'údí the latter,371a
which leaves it still uncertain as to which Shápúr— Shápúr, son of Urmuzd, or Shápúr, son of Shápúr—was intended.
Like Aknaton of Egypt Yazdagird seems to have been a man of remarkable character. He sought peace and ensued it, he attempted to win over furiously raging fanatics to the principles of religious toleration, failed in the attempt, tried to prevent persecutors from persecuting—an act which in those days was regarded as a kind of persecution in itself—assumed the title of “The Most Peaceful” on his coins, and acted up to it in his political relations with foreign states even when most tempting opportunities for aggrandisement presented themselves, was honoured, at least in legend, by being appointed formally by will the guardian of the son of an Eastern Roman Emperor—an office which he is said to have accepted and faithfully executed—died a mysterious death, and received from his subjects the titles of “The Sinner” and “The Harsh.” The indictment of him in Tabarí is very severe. Among his other enormities it is recorded that if any one dared to address him on behalf of another he said immediately: “How much does he pay you, for whom you ask me, or what have you received already?” on which Professor Nöldeke observes that he knew his Persians. Apparently he did, and the native chroniclers, drawn for the most part from a class that could not understand or appreciate him, have covered his memory with infamy. Against them may be placed a contemporary testimony from another source:—“The good and merciful king Yazdagird, the Christian, the blest among kings, whose memory may be a blessing and his future life still more beautiful than his former; every day he did good to the poor and wretched.”372
This perhaps was written after he had begun to punish the Magi for interfering with the Christians, and before Abdaas, bishop of Ctesiphon, had burnt down, and refused to reinstate, the great Fire-temple of that city372a
—acts that forced Yazdagird's hand and compelled him to allow the Magi to retaliate, which they did in drastic fashion.
§§ 2-5. This account agrees closely with that given in Tabarí,372b
but scarcely can be regarded as historical, being, as Professor Nöldeke says of the latter, too poetically finished.372c
§ 2. Surúsh is the name of the messenger of Urmuzd, but is used here as a rhyme-word. Hushyár, the name of the other astrologer, means “wise.” In Tabarí the astrologers advise the Sháh that Bahrám should be brought up in a foreign land.372d
Nu'mán was prince of Híra during the reign of Yazdagird and was succeeded by his son Munzir. Firdausí reverses the relationship, Munzir being the more prominent historically of the two. The poet makes him monarch of Yaman.372e
§ 6. It is highly probable that such a youth as Bahrám did not get on well with his father, and he may have been sent to Híra for a while in semi-disgrace.
The name of the Roman ambassador that pleaded for him— Tainúsh—is a form of Theodosius, the reigning Eastern Roman Emperor at the time—Yazdagird's ward according to the legend.372f
§ 7. We have here one of the legends localized in Firdausí's own neighbourhood, Sav being the spring of Tús—the poet's birth-place. Similar instances of such localization have occurred already.373
Tabarí, however, says that Yazdagird's death is supposed to have taken place in Gurgán (Hyrcania or Mázandarán), and omits the details about the presage of the astrologers and the expedition to the spring of Sav. According to Tabarí the horse was sent in answer to the prayers of Yazdagird's oppressed subjects. Professor Nöldeke thinks that conspirators took advantage of the absence of the Sháh in distant Hyrcania to murder him and then, to cover themselves, spread abroad a fiction to account for his end, and that the various stories of the death of this Sháh may be referred to a common origin—the version of the Bástán-náma made by Ibn Mukaffa.373a
§§ 8-13. This account agrees closely with that of Tabarí.373b
Historically it would appear that Yazdagird, at the time of his death, had another son living—Shápúr—whom he had made king of Armenia some years previously. Shápúr, hearing that his father was in ill-health, returned to court and after Yazdagird's death attempted to seize the throne, but there was another candidate for it whom the nobles preferred, and Shápúr was assassinated. On some of Yazdagird's coins a second name appears, which may be read either as Ardshír or Bahrám.373c
There seems no doubt that Yazdagird had made himself so unpopular with the Persian nobility and clergy that they were anxious that no son of his should succeed him. Bahrám, moreover, was considered probably to be too much under Arab influence as Tabarí expressly states.
§ 10. As soon as Jawánwí sees Bahrám he is conscious that he is in the presence of the rightful Sháh, on whom the divine Grace of kingship already had descended.373d
§ 12. The selection of a successor to Yazdagird by a process of elimination is not in Tabarí.
We had instances of the mutilation of prisoners in the reign of Shápúr, son of Urmuzd.373e
It is said too that Alexander the Great, on approaching Persepolis, was met by a band of about 4000 Greek captives whom the Persians had maltreated grievously.373f
§ 13. Bahrám is said to have been twenty years old at the time of his accession.373g
It was followed by a great persecution of the Christians and war with Rome. He had to put himself right with the Magi and also to find employment for his turbulent chiefs wearied of the political self-restraint of Yazdagird, The Most Peaceful.
When Yazdagird became the world's great king
He gathered all the soldiers of the realm,
Assumed the crown which once his brother wore,
At whose sad death he joyed, and thus harangued
Make first your benisons to God, your hearts
All jubilant and laughing through our justice.
I will let not the wicked live who strive
To compass evil. He that cometh to us
For justice shall have rest from fraud and falsehood,
I will increase his state and banish greed
And vengeance from the heart. We will consult
None but the great men and the archimages,
Wise and shrewd-hearted; but the vicious man,
Intoxicate with power, tyrannizing
The helpless, and elated with conceit
Of his own wealth, will we withstand and quell,
But multiply our favours to the poor.
The neck of him that heedeth not our wrath,
And fareth insolently in our eyes,
Is longing for an Indian sword, his body
To pillow in the dust. Scan well our bidding,
And, thus endeavouring, make your breast-plate
wisdom.”
Thereat the men of mace and scimitar
All shook like willow-trees.
Now when his power
Waxed strong his love waned as his greatness grew;
He scorned the sages and grew negligent
Of royal usages. The governors,
The paladins, the notables, and all
The learned and noble sages, were as wind
To him; his dark soul had grown tyrannous;
Both love and justice ceased within his heart;
He answered no petitions; he misprized
All men alike and paused not on their faults.
All that were at his gate as ministers—
The Lustre of his fortune and his crown—
Agreed to speak not of the land to him,
And all men writhed with fear and died of fright
Because of him. When envoys came, or subjects
That clamoured for redress, a minister,
When notified, would learn their business,
And then with warm and kindly words dismiss
The envoys shamefastly, and say: “The Sháh
Will not transact affairs; ye cannot see him.
I have acquainted him with all your case,
But in his judgments right hath little place!”
The archmages were in travail and dismay,
In Farwardín, when the eighth year began,
And showed the world the sun which they adored,
Upon Urmuzd's day there was born a child
With good stars and earth-brightening presages.
His sire forthwith gave him the name Bahrám,
Rejoicing in that little one. At court
There were astrologers, for it is well
To hearken to their words. One was a noble
With Grace and sense, an Indian chieftain named
Surúsh, another hight Hushyár, a Persian,
Who by his arts could curb the sky itself.
These prudent seekers of the Way appeared
Before the Sháh at his command. They used
Their astrolabes to take the stars and sought
To read the future with their Rúman tablets.
The stars ordained: “The child will be a king,
Lord of the seven climes, glad-hearted, holy.”
They went before the Sháh forthwith and took
Their astrolabes and tablets. Thus they said:—
“We have collected knowledge of all kinds,
And learned that heaven will love this goodly child.
The seven climes will be his realm, and he
Will be a mighty Sháh and worshipful.”
As soon as they had left the court, the chiefs,
And ministers, the holy archimages,
Sat and consulted o'er some shift whereby
The babe might favour not his sire but be
A righteous sovereign, “for if he hath
His father's temper he will wreck the realm,
The archimages and the paladins
Will not rejoice, and he will be not glad,
And bright of soul.”
Then all the archimages
Approached the Sháh with open, loyal hearts,
And said: “This sprightly babe is far beyond
Reproach and calumny. Now all the world
Is under thy command; the toil and service
Of every clime are thine. Look for some place
Where knowledge is, and its possessors make
Some statist who is lauded in that land,
And let this virtuous prince learn worth from him,
So that the world may joy in his behests.”
The Sháh, on hearing this, assembled all
The envoys of his realm and sent them forth
To Rúm, to Hind, to Chín, and other lands
Inhabited. A chief, too, went among
The Arabs to discern if they would prove
A gain or loss. To every quarter fared
A crier seeking one to educate
Bahrám, some man of eloquence and learning,
Accomplishment and knowledge; so there came
From every clime an archmage wise, advised,
And fortunate, and, as they reached the court,
Each sought for that appointment from the Sháh,
Who, after welcoming them graciously,
Assigned to each a lodging in the city.
Thus on a night Nu'mán came with Munzir,
And likewise many famous Arab spearmen.
When all these chiefs had gathered thus in Párs
They came to Yazdagird, the king, and said:—
“We are thy slaves to hear and answer thee.
Who of these nobles is so fortunate
As to embrace the world-lord's precious child,
To be his teacher, and to cause the light
To shine upon the darkness of his heart?
We out of Rúm and Hindústán and Párs,
Geometricians and astrologers,
Philosophers and men exceeding wise,
Men of affairs and rhetoricians,
Are all of us the dust upon thy feet,
And all thy guides to knowledge. See thou then
Which one among us is approved by thee,
And which of us will profit thee the most.”
Then spake Munzir on this wise: “We are slaves
Who only live in this world for the Sháh.
He knoweth all the worth of us, for he
Is as the shepherd, we are as the flock.
Bold, riders we, adept in horsemanship,
More than a match for sages. We possess
No readers of the stars in figures versed,
But we have minds devoted to the realm,
And in this matter we are strong, O Sháh!
Moreover we are slaves before thy son,
And sing the praises of his majesty.”
When Yazdagird had heard he summoned up
His spirits and his wisdom, and, perceiving
From such an outset what would be the outcome,
Consigned Bahrám, the precious, to Munzir,
For whom, for so the Sháh bade, they prepared
A robe of honour and exalted sky-ward
The charger of the monarch of Yaman.
The plain-ward from the hall of Yazdagird
Went camels, horses, litters, slaves, and nurses,
Past count, and stretched from palace to bázár.
The road through the bázárs were draped with hangings,
And all was decked from city-gate to court.
Now when Munzir approached Yaman the men
And women all went out to welcome him.
Or ever he reached home he 'gan to seek
For many women of illustrious birth,
And made his choice among the landed folk
Of Persian race, among the Arabians,
Among the wealthy, great, and eminent,
And chose four ladies—two of Arab stock
And two of royal Persian—whose high strain
Was manifest in their accomplishment,
To serve as nurses.378
Thus they tended him
Four years. When he had had his fill of suckling,
And grew apace, they weaned him, which was hard
To do, and reared him delicately. At seven
What said he to Munzir in princely fashion?
“Great chief! make me not out a babe unweaned!
Entrust me unto tutors that are learned,
My time is being wasted; scorn me not.”
Munzir replied: “Not yet, O prince! hast thou
A need for knowledge. When that time shall come,
And thou hast grown solicitous to learn,
I will not leave thee playing in the house:
But playing is the thing to make thee grow.”
Bahrám rejoined: “Make me not out to be
An idle child for, though my years are few,
And though my neck and chest are not yet those
Of warriors, I have wisdom. As for thee,
Thou hast small wisdom though thou hast the years.
I am not as thou deemest. Know'st thou not
That one in quest of opportunities
Will start with matters that concern him most?
To seek twice is to sacrifice one's prospects.
What is ill-timed is fruitless. Of man's body
The head is chief, and thou shouldst have me taught
What the great kingshould know. The first thing needful
Is knowledge since it is the head of right,
And blest is he that from the first ensueth
His proper end.”
Munzir scanned him with wonder,
Invoking God beneath his breath, and sent
Upon a dromedary to Shúrsán
A chief forthwith who found three archimages,
Accomplished men and well reputed there.
And lighten the dark places in his heart;
The second to instruct him in the use
Of hawk and cheetah for his recreation,
As well as polo, archery, swordmanship
Against the foeman, how to rein his steed,
And to exalt himself among the brave;
The third to inculcate the arts of kingship,
The style and business of administration,
And everything that he should bear in mind.379
When these archmages came before Munzir
They held much talk with him, and in their charge
He placed the prince, because Munzir himself
Was both a scholar and a warrior.
Bahrám, that seed of kings, grew so adept
That he was competent to play the man,
And when he heard of new accomplishments
He longed to learn them. When he was eighteen
The valiant warrior was like the sun;
He needed not archmages to instruct him
In erudition, how to play at polo,
In manage of the cheetah and the hawk,
To wheel a steed upon the battlefield,
And charge. Thus said he to Munzir: “O man
Of honest rede! send these professors home.”
Thereat Munzir bestowed great gifts upon them,
And they returned rejoicing. Then the prince
Said to Munzir: “Call for the spearmen's steeds,
And bid the cavaliers to wheel before me,
To couch their lances, and then name the price
Of what I fancy; I will better it.”
Munzir said: “O accomplished atheling!
The keeper of my steeds is thine to bid,
The master of the horse is all thine own;
Why should I toil and trouble for such things
If thou art forced to purchase Arab steeds?”
Bahrám replied: “O famous one! may all
Thy years be satisfied with good. I want
A steed that I may spur adown the height,
And never draw the bridle in alarm,
Then, having rendered him so sure of foot,
Cause him to vie with winds upon the course,
Because one should not press a beast untried.”
Munzir then bade Nu'mán: “Go thou and choose
A drove of our own valiant herdsmen's horses;
Go round the desert of the spearmen, see
What chargers thou canst get.”
He hurried forth,
Chose, and produced a hundred warriors' mounts.
And wheeled about upon them for a while,
But every steed, albeit fleet as wind,
Possessed no wings when ridden by Bahrám.
At length he chose a chestnut broad of breast,
With feet like wind, and, of another brand,
A bay. Thou wouldst have said: “A crocodile
Hath come forth from the deep!” His shoes flashed
fire,
And from his ruddy breast fell drops of blood.
Munzir paid for the two what they were worth
(The wood of Kúfa was their native place)
And bold Bahrám accepted the two steeds,
Bright as Ázargashasp, and guarded them,
Like some fresh apple, lest a blast should harm.
One day the young prince spake thus to Munzir:—
“O man of understanding, bright of mind!
Thou hast no pretext for thus keeping me,
Not sparing me a moment from thy sight.
There is a secret impulse in the hearts
Of all that thou beholdest. As grief paleth,
So pleasure greateneth, a man. In short
Some fair-faced damsel will increase my joy,
For woman is the solace of our pains.
In woman doth a young man find repose,
Be he a monarch or a paladin;
She is his guide to Faith and to all good.
Command to have some damsels brought to me,
Some five or six, like suns and full of charm.
Perchance, when I have chosen one or two,
My thoughts will fix on justice and the Faith.
It may be too that I shall have a child
To ease my heart, the world-lord will approve me,
And I shall have the praise of every one.”
On hearing such words from the youth, Munzir
The agéd, blessed him and then bade a man382
To make all haste to the slave-dealer's shop
Upon that quest, who brought out forty damsels
Of Rúm, all fit to please and soothe the heart,
As tall in stature as a cypress-tree,
All objects of desire, of charm, and grace.
Bahrám chose two, among those rosy-cheeked,
With rosy skins and bones of ivory.
One of these Stars could play upon the lute,
The other with her cheeks all tulip-like
Was as Canopus of Yaman, in height
A cypress, and with tresses lasso-wise.
Munzir paid for them when they were approved.
With cheeks bright as the gem of Badakhshán382a
Bahrám gave thanks with smiles upon his face,
And spent his days at polo and the chace.
Bahrám went with the lutist to the chase.
Ázáda was the Rúman damsel's name;
Her cheeks were coral-hued. Bahrám had mounted
A dromedary with the noble382b
Cypress,
Who had her lute in hand. She was his charmer,
His love; her name was ever on his lips.
For such occasions he required a camel,
And set thereon a housing of brocade,
While from it hung four stirrups. Thus he pricked
O'er hill and dale. Two stirrups were of silver,
Two were of gold, and all were set with jewels,
And furthermore he had beneath his quiver
A stone-bow; that brave youth was all-accomplished.
He came upon a pair of deer and laughing
Said to Ázáda: “O my Moon! when I
Have strung my bow and in my thumb-stall notched
The string, which shall I shoot? The doe is young,
Her mate is old.”
She said: “O lion-man!
Men do not fight with deer. Make with thine arrows
The female male, the agéd buck a doe,
Then urge the dromedary to its speed,
And, as the deer are fleeing from thy shafts,
Aim with thy cross-bow at one creature's ear
That it may lay its ear upon its neck,
And when the beast shall raise its foot to scratch
The ear that hath been tickled though not hurt,
Pin with one arrow head and ear and foot
Together if thou wouldest have me call thee
‘The Lustre of the world.’”
Bahrám Gúr383
set
The string upon his bow and caused commotion
Upon that quiet plain. Within his quiver
He had a double-headed shaft for use
While hunting on the waste and, when the deer
Sped off, he shot the buck's two horns away
Much to the girl's amaze. Forthwith the sportsman
Shot two shafts at the doe which struck her head
Just where the horns should be and furnished her
Therewith. Her breast grew red with blood. He rode
Toward her mate again, set in his stone-bow
For he had aimed thereat. The creature scratched
Its ear. Forthwith within his bow of Chách
He set an arrow and pinned head and ear
And foot together; but Ázáda's heart
Was vexed about the deer, and when the prince
Said: “When I hunt I bring them down by thousands
Thus,” she replied: “Thou art an Áhriman,
Else how canst thou shoot thus?”384
Bahrám stretched out,
Flung her from saddle headlong to the ground,
And made his dromedary trample her,
Besmearing hands and breast and lute with blood.
He said to her: “O thou lute-playing fool!
Why shouldst thou seek for my discomfiture?
If I had drawn mine arms apart in vain
My race had been dishonoured by the shot.”
When he had trampled her beneath his camel
He never more took damsels to the chase.384a
Next se'nnight with a noble troop he went
Forth to the hunting-ground with hawk and cheetah,
And near a mountain saw a lion that tore
An onager's flanks. Impetuously he strung
His bow and notched therein a shaft three-feathered,
Then pinned both preyer's back and heart of prey
That underneath the blood-stained lion lay!
Another week Nu'mán went with Munzir
To be Bahrám's companion in the chase,
And took withal some Arab men of name
As judges of his failure or success.
Munzir desired Bahrám Gúr to display
His horsemanship and strength before these men.
Anon a flock of ostriches appeared,
Each running like a dromedary loose.
On seeing them Bahrám Gúr rushed like wind.
He handled smilingly his bow and stuck
Four poplar arrows in his belt. He laid
The arrows in his bow successively
To slay those birds, and pierced in sportsman's fashion
Their plumes. No arrow by a needle's breadth
Was lower than another, none more high,
And, when the nobles went to see the outcome,
They found the horseman's shots true to a hair,
Whereat Munzir called blessings down on him,
As did the other spear-armed warriors.
As roses joy o'er springtide. May thy Moon
Ne'er wane, thy girdlestead be weakened never.”
Munzir, returning to his palace, held
Bahrám Gúr high as Saturn. Many a painter
He sought for in Yaman, and all the best
Assembled at his court. He bade them limn
On silk a picture of Bahrám Gúr shooting.
They drew with ink thereon a cavalier
To represent him, thews and all, as seated
On his tall camel, shooting wondrously;
The stone-bow, lion, deer, and onager;
His breast expanded, all his markmanship,
And strength; the ostriches, the wilderness,
And impact of the arrow. Then Munzir
Dispatched a cavalier to bear the picture
To Yazdagird, and all the host assembled
At that communication. In amaze
The chiefs all called down praises on Bahrám.
Thenceforth, whenever he did anything
Of note, they sent it pictured to the king.
The Sháh was eager to behold Bahrám—
Bahrám? Nay rather an imperious Sun!
That Lion said thus to Munzir: “Albeit
I could abide however long with thee
My father's wish inciteth me to go,
And, since I shall be safe, mine own heart urgeth.”
Munzir prepared whatever was required—
Gifts from Yaman, exceeding all compute,
As Arab steeds with golden furniture,
And other things of noted costliness,
Striped cloth, and falchions, of Yaman, and what
The mines afforded in 'Adan. Nu'mán,
Who was in favour at the Persian court,
Went with Bahrám, conversing of the Sháhs,
Until they reached Istakhr. When tidings came
About the Sháh's son and Nu'mán the Arab,
The archimages and shrewd-hearted sages
Went from the court to meet them. When the Sháh
Saw from afar Bahrám, his Grace, his limbs,
And girth, he stood amazed at seeing him
So tall, well trained, and fair to look upon,
Received him well and lodged him near at hand.
And for the prince a palace as was meet,
Supplying him with handmaids and with slaves
Befitting his degree. The son attended
His sire by night and day, and had not time
To rub his head. Nu'mán abode a month,
And then requested licence to depart.
The monarch summoned him by night, then set him
Upon the throne, and said: “Munzir hath seen
Much toil in fostering high-born Bahrám,
And I must make him a return therefor,
For your esteem is as Urmuzd to me.
I laud the weighty counsels of Munzir,
For he inclineth, as I see, to wisdom;
Still, while thou tarriest at our court, I trow
That he is looking for thee on the road.”
Then of dínárs out of the treasury
They gave him fifty thousand with king's raiment,
And from the stalls ten steeds that bore a name,
With gold and silver trappings, gave withal
Slaves, carpetings, perfumes, and coloured stuffs,
And goods of all kinds. These Mihrán produced
Out of the world-lord's treasures and bestowed them
All on Nu'mán, son of Munzir. He opened
The door of largess gladly to bestow
Upon Nu'mán's companions fitting gifts.
The Sháh then wrote a letter to Munzir,
A letter that was worthy of the state,
With thanks for his entreatment of the prince,
Whose love the monarch of Yaman had gained:—
I will endeavour to repay thy deeds;
Mine own head is exalt by such a son.”
Bahrám Gúr wrote: “My lot here is not happy.
It was not what I hoped for from the Sháh
That he should look upon his subject thus.
I am not here as either son or servant,
Or, like a younger brother, light of heart.”387
He told Nu'mán, what had been hidden from him,
The evil ways and customs of the world-lord.
Nu'mán, when he had left the royal court,
Came to renowned Munzir and gave to him
The world's king's letter which, when he had kissed,
He laid upon his head, joyed at those gifts,
And multiplied his praises. Afterward
The envoy spake in private to Munzir
At large about Bahrám Gúr. When the scribe
Had read the other letter out to him
His visage grew like gall. He wrote forthwith
An answer full of good advice: “Famed prince!
See that thou turn not from thy father's way.
Be wise and serve. When princes are submiss
Ills pass. Men's heads have need to compass wisdom,
'Tis all the doing of the circling sky,
And we are impotent. It hath a heart
All love, a heart all hate, a face all frowns.
The Master of the world hath framed it so,
And we must be disposed as He disposeth.
Henceforth I will dispatch to thee dínárs,
And royal gems, according to thy needs.
Let not thy heart be troubled, for thy trouble
Importeth more to me than heaped up treasure.
Lo! now by way of offering I send
Five hundred score dínárs and lo! withal
The handmaid that was erst thy confidant,
And thine own heart's delight behind thy curtains,
To brighten thy dark soul. When thou hast spent
All these dínárs lean not upon the king,
For I will send to thee still many more,
And things of all descriptions from this realm;
But do thy service, utter words of praise,
And serve with an increasing instancy,
For e'en in thought thou canst not separate
Ill temper and the monarch of the world.”
He sent off ten Arabian cavaliers—
Men who were loyal, shrewd, and eloquent.
They came to prince Bahrám with sacks of coin,
And with his loyal slave-girl. Wise Bahrám
Rejoiced thereat, his sorrows turned to wind,
And thenceforth, as Munzir advised was right,
He failed not in attendance day and night.
It chanced that in the banquet-hall one day
Bahrám was in attendance on the Sháh;
That night came on and he was wearied out
By standing long and could not keep awake.
His father, seeing that his eyes were closed,
Cried violently in an angry voice,
And bade an executioner: “Arrest him.
Henceforth he shall not look on crown and girdle.
Ward him within this house and then return.
He graceth not this place of fame and fight.”
Within the palace, with a broken heart,
That year he looked not on his father's face
When he drew near among the other nobles.
It happened that Tainúsh, the Rúman, came
As envoy to the Sháh with purses, slaves,
And with the tribute sent from Rúm by Cæsar.
The king of kings received him graciously,
And lodged him worthily. Bahrám dispatched
This message to him: “Shrewd and potent man!
No grievance hath the Sháh against his subject,
Yet guiltless I am banished from him thus!
Ask him to grant me pardon for thy sake,
That so my withered fortunes may revive,
And send me to my fosterers:389
Munzir
Was more to me than mother and than father.”
Tainúsh gave ear, accomplished his desire,
And made Bahrám's afflicted heart rejoice.
He was released from his degrading bonds,
Bestowed much largess on the mendicants,
And gat him ready to depart in haste.
He called his followers and, when the night
Was dark, led forth the company like wind,
Exclaiming to his friends: “Thanks be to God
For our escape and safety from distress.”
When he came near the monarch of Yaman,
Men, women, children, went to welcome him;
So did Nu'mán, so did Munzir, so did
Their honest spearmen. As Munzir drew nigh
Bahrám the day was darkened with the dust
Of troops, both chiefs dismounted, and Bahrám
Detailed his sufferings whereat Munzir
Wept much, and said: “What is the Sháh's star then,
For ne'er he walketh in the way of wisdom?
I fear that he will suffer for his deeds.”
Bahrám said: “Never may the Sháh himself
Grow conscious even of his own ill star!”
Munzir received him then and there as guest,
And heaped new benefits upon the old.
Bahrám Gúr's whole employ was banqueting,
Disporting on the riding ground, gift-giving,
And combating. Thenceforth the grief and joy
Of Yazdagird were to his son but breezes
Upon the day of Ard.390
Time passed. Bahrám
Was glad in hall and glorious on the waste.
Now Yazdagird, concerned about the realm,
Assembled archimages from all quarters,
And bade the readers of the stars discover
How he would die and darkness whelm his head,
And, when this happened, where his royal cheeks
Take thought of death, but when the royal fortune
Shall founder he will seek the spring of Sav,
Take thither with him troops with trump and drum,
And set out joyfully to visit Tús.
That is the place wherein the Sháh will die.
Of such a day as that his ear hath heard not,
And pondering such knowledge is not good;
It is a secret veiled by God Himself.”
The Sháh, on hearing this, swore by Kharrád,
And by Barzin, and by the yellow sun:—
“I will not, whether I be glad or wroth,
Behold the spring of Sav.”
Three month rolled by,
And then the Sháh's blood caused the age concern.
One day his nostrils bled, and leeches came
From every quarter to advise thereon;
They made a shift the bleeding to restrain
One week with drugs, then it began again.
An archmage said to him: “Thou hast, O king!
Departed from the ways of Providence.
Thou said'st: ‘I will escape the hand of death!’
But where is death not alway in full leaf?
The course for thee is this: by way of Shahd
Go in a litter to the spring of Sav,
There make thy prayer before all-holy God,
Go in abasement round that burning soil,
And say thus: ‘I, a feeble slave, whose oath
Hath set a snare before his soul, have come
Now to inquire how long I have to live,
O righteous Judge!’”
The Sháh approved thereof
As helpful to his anguish, had brought forth
Three hundred litters, and, thus borne, proceeded
Toward the river Shahd both night and day
Post haste, his nostrils bleeding still at whiles.
As soon as he had reached the spring of Sav
He left his litter, gazed upon the stream,
Poured somewhat of the water on his head,
And called on God, the Giver of all good.
Anon the bleeding ceased. He ate and rested
Among his counsellors, grew proud, and said:—
“This was the course! Why need I tarry longer?”
Now when the Sháh in his conceit imagined
That he had wrought the cure upon himself,
A white steed issued from the stream, with buttocks
Round like an onager's, and short of leg.
'Twas stately, black of belly, raven-eyed;
It had a trailing tail, a crest, and mane,
Black hoofs, and foamed; it was a lion-slayer.
Thus to his chiefs said Yazdagird: “Let troops
Encircle it.”
The herdsman with the help
Of ten rough-riders hemmed it in and took
A saddle and a lengthy coiled up lasso.
How could the Sháh wot of the World-lord's purpose
In bringing him that dragon of a steed?
It foiled alike the herdsman and the troops,
Whereat the monarch was exceeding wroth,
And taking up the saddle and the reins
Drew near the horse exultingly which proved
So docile that it did not stir a foot.
The monarch took the bridle from the herdsman,
And gently put the saddle on the mount.
He girthed it. That fleet Crocodile stood stirless.
He went to put the crupper on. That charger,
Flint-hooféd, neighed and kicked him on the head!
His head and crown descended to the dust.
The dust received him and the dust begot.
From yon seven heavens on high what wouldst thou
ask?
Their revolution thou escapest not;
To pay them worship is a fruitless task.
Incline to God—the Master of the sky,
Of sun, and moon—to Him for refuge fly.
The water-horse, when Yazdagird was slain,
Returned like flying dust to that blue spring,
And vanished 'neath the surface! None e'er looked
On such another marvel. Like a drum-roll
Rose from the host a shout: “O Sháh! thy fate
Led thee to Tús.”
The chieftains rent their clothes,
And flung dust on their heads. The archimages
Then oped the head and body of the Sháh,
Embalmed them both with musk and camphor, wrapped
The dry corpse in brocade, draped therewithal
His shining breast, and set upon his head
A crown of musk. Then on a bier of gold,
And on a teaken litter, he departed
Unthroned and crownless back again to Párs.
Thus is it with this Wayside Hostelry!
Will peace, though thou ensue it, come to thee?
Though meek thyself, the world is unrestrained;
So having eaten let the cup be drained.
Religion is a better thing than sin
For one that hath the power to walk therein.
And from Írán the chieftains came in tears—
Archmages, governors, and paladins,
With prudent ministers, men shrewd of heart—
All met in Párs and gathered round his charnel,
As Gustaham, who rode down elephants,
And slaughtered them, Káran the warrior,
Son of Gashasp, Mílád, Árash the marchlord,
Parwíz the horseman of Gurzbán, and others.
Withal too those in hiding in Írán—
The great men and the leaders of the world,
Whom Yazdagird was wonted to abase—
Assembled in the city, and Gashasp,
The scribe—a man of eloquence—thus spake:—
“Ye nobles young and old! since God created
The world none hath beheld a king like this,
Who knew but how to slaughter and contemn,
To cause distress and travail, and withhold
His counsel and his treasure from his subjects,
Respecting none and setting all at odds.
No man hath seen a fouler Sháh or heard
Of one among the paladins of yore.
We want no more of this race on the throne,
And cry against his very dust to God.
Illustrious Bahrám is his own son,
His very kin in purpose, heart, and brain.
His talk is all Munzir. We will not have
A tyrant on the throne.”
Then all that were
Chiefs in Írán swore mighty oaths and said:—
“We will not have another of this race
As king of kings with crown and throne of might.”
That done, they rose and sought another Sháh.
When tidings of the death of Yazdagird
Spread 'mongst the chiefs—the monarch of the Aláns,
The paladin of Párs, Bíward, Shikbán,
The warrior of the world, Bihzád who had
Barzín to sire and was of Rustam's race,
And Sám the hero sprung from Kai Kubád—
All said: “The sovereignty is mine from earth
To Pisces,” and the whole world was fulfilled
With tumult, for the head that wore the crown
Had vanished from the throne. Then in Írán
Chief, paladin, and archmage, all that were
Of ardent soul, met to debate in Párs:—
Consider who can enter on the work.
We see not any one, approved by God,
To wear the golden girdle on the throne,
And to allay the troubles of the time:
A kingless world is but a pasturage.”
There was an ancient man, by name Khusrau,
Of generous instincts, masterful, and ardent.
Moreover he was born of noble race,
And one among the wealthy of the land.395
The nobles gave to him the crown and state,
And troops from all sides gathered at his gate.
Thereafter to Bahrám Gúr tidings came:—
“Heaven hath apportioned to thy sire the grave;
Thy father, eminent midst kings, is dead,
And ta'en with him the name of sovereignty;
They have enthroned another and acclaimed him
As monarch by the title of Khusrau.
The warriors have bound themselves by oaths:—
‘We will not have a monarch of the race
Because Bahrám, the son, is like the sire,
And, skin and marrow, of his father's seed.’”
Báhrám Gúr, when he heard it, tore his cheeks,
So troubled was he at his father's death,
And for two se'nnights went up from Yaman
Wails from child, man, and woman. When Bahrám
Had sorrowed for a month he graced the throne.
Nu'mán drew near together with Munzir,
And Arabs of Yaman both great and small,
All shedding tears of sorrow with their Sháh,
While anguish wrought on them the effects of fire.
Then setting loose their tongues they counselled thus:—
“O virtuous and most exalted prince!
We came to this world to be turned to dust,
Came not in quest of any remedy.
All mother-born will die, and to God's justice
We must resign our hearts.”
Bahrám Gúr said
Thus to Munzir: “Already is the water
“Grown brackish in our stream! What time my race
Shall lose its royal title it will lose
Its Grace divine, men will send up in dust
The desert of the horsemen and convert
The country of the Arabs to a ditch.
Consider well, assist me, and deplore
My father's death.”
Munzir gave ear and answered
Right manfully: “This is my chance and this
Observe, and wear through all thy years the crown,
And bracelet.”
All the chiefs approved the course
Suggested by Nu'mán and by Munzir:
They left the presence and prepared for war.
Munzir gave orders to Nu'mán and said:—
“Go gather our brave Lions in a host—
Two thousand of Shíbán, ten of Kibtís,397
All dight for battle. I will show the Íránians
Who is the Sháh with treasure, crown, and troops!”
Nu'mán assembled him a mighty power
Of swordsmen and of spearmen, bade them raid,
And trample down the realm. To Taisafún
All the salt desert route shook with their hoofs,
The women and the children were made captive,
There was no helper, and the world was full
Of fire and harrying since the imperial throne
Was impotent. News came to Rúm and Chín,
To Turkistán, to Hind, and to Makrán:—
“The Íránian throne is void, and none is fit
To rule,” and all made ready, in despite
Of justice, to invade the land. They all
Stretched out their hands toward the Íránian throne,
And rose to claim the empire for their own.
The Íránians heard and sought a remedy.
Distracted by their woes they met, and said:—
“These Rúmans, Indians, and desert-horsemen
Have passed all bounds! We must adopt some means
To rid our hearts and souls of this distress.”
They chose a noble envoy shrewd and fluent,
A warrior hight Jawánwí, a scribe,
A man of high degree and eloquence,
To go to parley with Munzir and say:—
“O noble lord! the world doth need thy name.
And thou art everywhere the warriors' stay.
What time this throne grew void of Sháh and crown,
And when the marches of our land with blood
Were like the plumage of the francolin,
We said that thou wouldst rule our coasts, for they
Were worthy of thee. Now thou raidest us,
And sheddest blood with rapine and contention
On every side! Thou used'st not to be
An evildoer and wast wont to fear
Reproach and malison. Consider now
If this doth please thee and doth benefit
Thee with thy hoary head. There is a Judge
Besides thyself, One higher than all thought.
The envoy will narrate what he hath seen,
Or heard from persons in authority.”
Wise Jawánwí went from the chieftain's presence,
He journeyed toward the desert of the spearmen,
Spake with Munzir, and gave him the dispatch.
The Arab chief made no reply thereto,
But said to him: “Wise seeker of the way!
Repeat the matter to the king of kings,
Repeat what thou hast said to Sháh Bahrám,
And, when thou seekest for an answer, he
Will point thee out the way.”
He sent a chief
With Jawánwí who reached the monarch's gate.
That man of knowledge, when he saw Bahrám,
Invoked God's blessing on the Sháh whose breast,
Whose stature, and whose limbs astonished him,
Shrewd-hearted though he was: “Thou wouldest say
That wine distilleth from his face, the scent
Of musk exhaleth from his hair!”
That man
Of eloquence grew void of Grace and sense,
And utterly forgot his embassage!
Bahrám Gúr, noting his amaze, and how
The spectacle bedimmed his eyes and heart,
Much greeted him, showed him all courtesy,
And set him graciously upon the throne.
Now when the envoy seemed at ease the Sháh
Asked: “Wherefore hast thou toiled thus from Írán?
Hereafter thou shalt have the fruit of toil,
And well filled treasury, from us.”
He sent
A sage to take him to Munzir and say:—
“Write thou an answer and indite fair words.
See if the envoy hath a verbal message,
And, if so, hear it and reply at large.”
Came Jawánwí and spake, at whose wise speech
Munzir's cheek flushed; he heard that shrewd one out,
Prepared to make his answer to the letter,
And said to Jawánwí: “O full of wisdom!
All that do ill will smart therefor. Now I
Say thus: ‘Who was the first to cause the ill?
Who needs must seek this senseless feud? Bahrám Gúr,
The king of kings, with stature, Grace, and host,
Is with us here, and they who draw the snake
Out of its hole will trail their skirts in blood.
Albeit, were I to advise, no harm
Would come upon the Íránians.’”
Jawánwí
Had seen and hearkened to the king of kings,
Had questioned him to see if he was fit
For throne and greatness, fortune and success,
And, as he listened to Munzir, conceived
A brilliant notion, and replied: “Great sir,
Who needest not the wits of other men!
If wisdom failed the Íránians, many a chief
Among them hath been slain through that defect.
Now I, old as I am, still seek for fame,
And I will speak if thou wilt hear. Our land
We gladly yield to thee and brave Bahrám,
The king of kings. With hawk and cheetah make
A royal progress in Írán to hear
What folk will say: no harm will come of it.
Speak too whate'er is right. The sage will best
The fool. Forgo all mischievous intent,
And shrink not at reproach and calumny.”
Munzir, on hearing, gave him gifts and sent
Him home from that fair country, well content.
Munzir, Bahrám Gúr, and the counsellors
All met in privy conclave and resolved
To march upon Írán. Munzir made choice
Of thirty thousand warlike Arab spearmen,
Gave ample pay, and filled the chieftains' heads
With vapouring.400
As tidings reached Írán
Of these things Jawánwí himself returned,
And all the potentates, in deep concern,
Betook them to the Fire-fane of Barzín,
And prayed to God to change their strife to joy
And feasting.
Across the unwatered waste, and reached Jahram,
Great Sháh Bahrám Gúr pitched his camp-enclosure.
His troops surrounded it, and to Munzir
He spake thus: “From the country of Yaman
Thou hast come to Jahram, my counsellor!
Which shall it be, when host confronteth host,
A fight or parley?”
Said Munzir: “Invite
The chiefs and, on their coming, spread the board,
And speak with them. When any are provoked
So be not thou, and we shall learn whom they
Are fain to hail as monarch of the world.
That known, we will take order and avoid
Strife if soft means suffice. If they seek war,
Turn, and display the bearing of a pard,
Then will I make this desert of Jahram
As 'twere a sea,401
and turn the shining sun
To Pleiades. I wot when folk behold
Thy stature, mien, and lovingkindliness,
Thy wisdom, counsel, and initiative,
Thy gravity, thy knowledge, and thy patience,
That they will want none else to have the crown,
The throne, the fortune, and the pageantry;
But if they err, and wish to take away
The throne from thee, then will I with these horsemen,
And our sharp swords, bring Doomsday on the world;
Then shalt thou see me frown, and may my soul
And body be thy ransom. When they mark
My countless troops, the order that I take,
Our deeds of blood, that God is our ally,
And that the realm is thine inheritance
By right established through a long descent,
They will acclaim as Sháh none save thyself
As fit for crown and to adorn the throne.”
The Sháh heard smiling; his heart throbbed with
joy.
Now when the sun rose o'er the mountain-tops
The mighty men and nobles of Írán
Made ready to go forth to meet Bahrám Gúr
The sages were convoked, an ivory throne
Was set up for the prince, and he assumed
The glorious crown, and ordered all his court
According to the use of king of kings,
Because he was the monarch of the world.
On one hand sat Munzir and on the other
Nu'mán with sword in hand, while all about
The tent-enclosure there were warriors,
But none that was not on the Arab side.
Then those Íránians that were loyalists
Came to the antechamber of the Sháh,
Of those that entered called out at the door.
They came before the presence of Bahrám Gúr,
The Sháh, beheld a splendid crown and throne,
And shouted, saying: “Mayst thou live for ever;
Far from thee ever be the evil eye.”
The king of kings received them graciously,
And ranked them every one in his degree.
Bahrám said: “Princes, old, experienced chiefs!
The kingship is mine own by long descent.
Why this to-do of yours?”
“Expect us not,”
The Íránians shouted, “to endure more loss!
Not one of us will have thee as the Sháh.
Thou hast an army, but the land is ours.
Thy race hath caused us anguish, toil, and woe;
By night and day we writhe and heave cold sighs.”
Bahrám thus answered: “Yea, 'tis true, for passion
Is king of every heart. If ye reject
Me, why thus seat another in my room
Without consulting me?”
An archmage said:—
“None, whether he be prince by birth or subject,
May shun the path of justice. Join with us,
And choose a Sháh that every one will bless.”
They spent three days upon the task of choosing
A monarch from Írán, and then wrote down
A hundred nobles' names—fit Lustres all
For crown and throne and belt. Bahrám Gúr's name
Was one of them because he charmed the realm.
They cautiously and anxiously reduced
The hundred names to fifty, and of these
Bahrám's name stood the first, who, if he sought
His sire's place, sought but justice. Of the fifty
They wrote down thirty, and they were the choicest,
Most famous, and most potent of Írán.
Bahrám amongst the thirty led again
Because he was a prince—the destined Sháh.
The wise archmages brought the thirty down
To four, of whom Bahrám was leader still.
When the decisive moment was at hand
The Íránian ancients said: “We will not have
Bahrám who is too headstrong and self-willed,
Though brave.”
An outcry rose among the chiefs,
The hearts of all were darkened, and Munzir
Addressed the Íránians thus: “I fain would know,
And stricken in your souls, about the Sháh
In his untime-worn youth? In excellence
No king on earth can match him, and in looks
No moon in heaven. His poplar shafts pierce anvils;
While with his strength he can uproot a mountain.
Though still a youth he is a sage in counsel,
Well skilled, with bright heart and retentive mind.”
The chiefs, by way of answering him, sought out
Full many a stricken Persian, and assembled
Out of Írán upon that plain all those
That Yazdagird had maimed. One still survived
Lopped hand and foot but still intact of trunk;
Another had lost ears and hands and tongue,
And seemed a lifeless body, while another
Had lost both shoulders, and Nu'mán was all
Astound at those maimed forms. The eyes of one
Had been dug out with nails, and when Munzir
Beheld that sight his anger rose. Bahrám
Was sorely grieved, invoked his father's dust,
And cried: “O hapless one! why didst thou close
The eyes of thine own joy and burn thy soul
In fire?”
Munzir the aspiring said to him:—
“We cannot blink such evil. Thou hast heard
What they have had to say, now answer them,
For kings should not be at a loss.”
Bahrám
Then spake on this wise: “Chiefs and veterans!
Ye all said sooth, and this is even worse!
Well may I blame my sire since I myself
Have had a sample, for he darkened all
My fine resolves: his palace was my prison.
When God had mercy, and Tainúsh released me
Out of the clutches of my sire, his hook
Had pierced me to the soul, for which cause I
Took shelter with Munzir, because I never
Saw kindness from the Sháh. May none possess
His temper, for the man is lost that lacketh
Humanity. Now I, thanks be to God,
Have wisdom, my soul eateth of its fruits,
And to this present I have prayed to Him
To be my guide to good that I might purge
My heart and spirit of such crimes as those
Wrought by the Sháh on these men. I will live
To gratify my subjects' hearts, exist
To worship God according to the Way.
I am the shepherd and my subjects form
My flock. Let all of us seek peace and justice.
Then I have character, discretion, counsel,
And virtue, which no unjust king possesseth,
Because he needs must be unjust and froward,
And we should weep for one that is unjust.
Benevolence and wisdom. From Shápúr,
Son of Bahrám, back to Ardshír my sires,
Both old and young, were Sháhs, and are my guides
To wisdom and the Faith, while through my mother
I am the grandson of king Samírán,405
And every way have wisdom for my comrade.
I am possessed of virtue, wisdom, might,
With courage, strength of hand, and horsemanship.
I know none other fit to call a man
In feast, in battle, or in anything.
I have a secret treasury well filled,
And men of name leal to their sovereign.
My justice shall make populous the world,
And all my subjects shall abide in joy.405a
Moreover I will make a pact with you,
And pledge my tongue to God. Let us bring forth
The imperial throne of ivory, and set
The bright crown over it, then let us bring
Two savage lions of the wood and, placing
The crown between them, chain them on each side.
Then let the would be Sháh advance and take
The famed crown from the throne of ivory,
Place it upon his head and sit between
The lions as the Sháh, the crown above him,
And under him the throne, for we will have
None else, provided he be just and holy.
If ye reject what I have said then choose,
Ye all! some noble, and Munzir and I,
For Arab chieftains know not how to flee,
With mace and trenchant scimitar will send
The dust up from your king of kings, and strew
Your heads upon the moon. Now for your answer,
And speak advisedly in this contention.”
He spake, then rose and went inside his tent.
All marvelled at his words. The chiefs, archmages,
And all the people of Írán that heard
The wise Sháh's words, exclaimed: “This is the Grace
Of God, not craftiness or lack of wit!
He speaketh naught but what is just, and justice
Well may rejoice our hearts. For his proposal
About the savage lions with the throne,
The Judge will not require his blood of us;
'Tis his own plan, and if he perisheth
We are content, while if he shall achieve
The crown he will have distanced Farídún
In Grace, and we will have no other king.
In brief we give acceptance to his words.”
That night passed by; at dawn the Sháh came forth,
And sat upon the throne. He sent and summoned
The Íránians, and discoursed of yesterday
At large. The archimages cried: “O Sháh,
More knowing than the wise! how wilt thou rule
When thou hast eminence and mastery?
How wilt thou deal concerning right and justice,
So that both fraud and falsehood may abate?”
He answered thus those sages, warriors,
And chiefs: “I will be better than my words,
Will make injustice and informing cease,
And not appoint unworthy governors,
Will rule the world by counsel and by justice,
And, having pacified it, will rejoice
At what my justice hath achieved, will give
Some of my hoarded wealth withal to those
In want, admonish those that are in fault,
And bind them if they err the second time,
Will pay the army promptly and rejoice
The sages' hearts, make tax-collectors just,
And turn their souls from darkness and chicane.
If any one shall die, not having kindred,
And leave excessive wealth, I will bestow it
On mendicants, not add it to my treasures,
Or be enamoured of this Wayside Inn.
I will hold counsel with the experienced,
And take such order as will frustrate greed.
I will consult my ministers whenever
I purpose some new scheme, and not dismiss
The assembly when a man is asking me
For justice, but will give to such their due,
Will utter righteous judgment, and requite
The ill with ill as well becometh rulers.
My witness is all-holy God, and wisdom
Is master of my tongue.”
Then the high priest
And sages—well approved and veteran chiefs—
Exclaimed: “We are thy slaves and bow our heads
To thy command and will.”
Then Sháh Bahrám
Said thus: “Ye men of wisdom and our guides!
Belie my promises I will renounce
Crown, throne, and heritage, and sit thenceforth
Among the luckless.”
Hearing this the sages,
The magnates, and archmages shrewd of heart,
Repented of past words and, being in fault,
Desired to make all well again, exclaiming,
One to another: “Who is worthier
To be the Sháh than he in manliness,
Speech, counsel, birth? None purer hath been born
Within the world! God fashioned him of justice.
May mischief ne'er befall him. We shall have
All good from him, and turn us to the Faith,
And justice. If now we shall speak perversely,
And send our wits to sleep, he with such stature,
Such neck, and arms, is peerless in the world,
While at his back there is the Arab host,
Because in weal and woe Munzir will help him,
And if he win the throne that is his own
Who in the world is better than Bahrám?
What cause hereafter would he have to fear
The Íránians, for what are we but a pinch
Of dust to him?”
They said: “O prosperous one!
Our minds approve thee for our Sháh. None knew
Thy virtues, purity of person, wisdom,
And counsel, and we all of us have paid
Our homage to Khusrau, son of Pashín,408
As Sháh, we all are under oath to serve him,
And stand within his danger, so to speak.
Hereafter if he ruleth in Írán
Our borders will be desolate with war.
One party taketh pleasure in Bahrám,
Another is in favour of Khusrau.
Thine own plan is the right one, and the world
Thereafter will be under thy command:
Ordeal by the lions will suffice,
And thenceforth none will seek the sovereignty.”
Bahrám gave his assent; 'twas his proposal.
At the accession of a lawful Sháh
The high priest with three sages used to go
To him, enthrone him, and felicitate
The throne, then bring the crown of gold—the source
Of glory, right, and Grace—and, crowning him,
Would press both cheeks upon his breast in joy.
The Sháh then would bestow on suppliants
All gifts presented to him. So they put
And from the city fortunate Bahrám
Departed to the waste. Brave Gustaham
Had two fierce lions which he gave in chains
To the high priest. They dragged the savage beasts
Along, the draggers seeming mad with fright,
And to the footings of the ivory throne
Chained them, and set the crown within a nook
Upon it. All the world—spectator there
Of crown and throne—watched how the prince would fare.
Bahrám Gúr and Khusrau went on the waste,
And with full hearts approached the lions. Khusrau,
On seeing the fierce beasts with the crown between
them,
Said to the archimages: “He that seeketh
The sovereignty should be the first to try.
Moreover he is young and I am old—
Too feeble to resist fierce lions' claws—
So let him use his youth and vigour first.”
Bahrám made answer, saying: “Good, 'tis well.
We will not blink fair words.”
With that he took
An ox-head mace while the world wondered at him.
An archmage said: “O wise and holy king!
Who biddeth thee fight lions? Canst thou have
More than the sovereignty? So in its quest
Give not thy life and person to destruction
Thus wantonly. Herein no blame attacheth
To us, 'tis thine own act, the world is thine.”
Bahrám said: “O explorer of the Faith!
Thou and the other folk are not to blame.
I am the man to fight these savage lions;
'Tis my delight to battle with the brave.”
The archmage answered: “Refuge then with God,
And, if thou needs must go, first purge thy heart
Of sin.”
He did according to that word,
Repented, purged his heart, bathed in a stream,
And sought upon the plain a place of prayer.
Then as he prayed before all-holy God,
And laid his cheeks upon the dusky ground,
He said: “Almighty! let Thy servants triumph.
If I—Thy servant—justly seek to cleanse
The world of evil give my soul assurance
In this strife, let me overcome the lions.”
Upon his way, armed with the ox-head mace.
Now when the valiant lions saw him coming,
One on the instant snapped its chain and charged
The exalted king. That hero smote its head,
And dimmed its eyes, then going to the other
Smote its head whence the blood ran down its breast,
Then took his seat upon the ivory throne,
Placed on his head the heart-delighting crown,
And put his trust in God who is our Refuge,
The Guider of the lost. Khusrau drew near,
Did homage, and thus said: “Exalted Sháh!
Blest be thy sitting on the throne, and may
The heroes of the world be slaves before thee.
Thou art the Sháh, we are thy slaves and further
Thy good in everything.”
The mighty men
Showered jewels over him, invoking blessings
Upon his crown. A universal shout
Ascended from the world. That jubilance
Was on Surúsh's day in month Ázar
Whereon Bahrám assumed the sovereignty,
And won fruition of the crown and Grace.
A cloud hath risen and the moon's obscured;
From that dark cloud a shower of Milk is poured;
No river, plain, or upland can I spy,
The raven's plumes are lost against the sky;
In one unceasing stream egg-apples411
fall:
What is high heaven's purpose in it all?
No fire-wood, salted meat, or barley-grain
Are left me, naught till harvest come again!
Amid this gloom, this day of tax and fear,
When earth with snow is like an ivory sphere,
All mine affairs in overthrow will end
Unless my hand is grasped by some good friend.411a
Now will I tell to thee so strange a tale
That in the wonder wonder's self will fail.
This Index and the Table of Contents at the beginning of the volume are complementary. References to the latter are in Roman numerals.
'ABBÁSID, 327
Abbreviations, list of, 5
Abdaas, bishop, 372
Abraham, the patriarch, 65
Abú'l Kásim, Firdausí, 20, 207
Abú'l Muzaffar. See Nasr.
Abú Mansúr, 16
Accession of a Sháh, ceremony
at, 409
Achæmenids, 194, 197, 198
dynasty of, 194
Adan, seaport and territory in
southern Arabia, 386
Ægean sea, 204
Afrásiyáb, ruler of Túrán, 15, 79,
177, 240 and note
Africa, 30
Ahdnámak (Andarznámak), Pah-
laví treatise, 257
Áhriman, the Evil Principle, 106,
112, 206, 240, 281, 290, 299,
318, 384
Faith of, 281, 290
Ahwáz (Khúzistán, Susiana), 35,
199, 298, 357
Akesines (Chináb), Indian river,
31, 64
Aknaton, Pharaoh, 371
a lover of peace like Yazda-
gird, son of Shápúr, 371
Aláns (Alani), the, people, 395
monarch of, 395
Alár, place, 205
Alexander I., king of Epirus, 12;
his Italian expedition, 12
Alexander the Great (Iskandar,
Sikandar, q.v.), 11 seq.,
15 seq., 29 seq., 61 seq., 72,
74 seq., 84, 193, 194, 197,
204, 252, 253, 373
accompanied by experts to
the East, 11
origin and growth of the
romance of, 12 seq.
Syriac Christian Legend of.
See Syriac.
referred to by Muhammad in
the Kurán, 15, 77
how he became a Persian
national hero, 15
paternity of, 16, 18
founds cities, 13, 18
why so named, 19
tutored by Aristotle, 29
and Roxana (Rúshanak), 30,
32
historic and romantic ac-
counts of the first years of
his reign, 30
his flight from Darius' ban-
quet, 30
his pursuit of Darius, 31
his historical treatment of
the murderers of Darius,
32
his romantic treatment of the
murderers of Darius, 33
marries Darius' daughter, 33
Alexander the Great, and the
Fakirs, 61
and Calanus, 61
and Porus, historical account
of, 63
his device of the iron steeds,
64
his stature, 64
his visit to the camp of Porus,
64
and Cleophis, 65
his visit to the Oasis of
Ammon, 65
and Candace (Kaidáfa), 65 seq.
assumes the name of Anti-
gonus (Naitkún), 66
Life of, Plutarch's, 67
his visit to the Brahmans, 67
his letter to Aristotle, 68
mistakes the Indus for the
Nile, 68
his return march productive
of marvels, 69
his admiral (Nearchus), 69
and the Amazons, 12, 72
legend of, 72
his expedition to the Gloom
and the Fount of Life,
legend?? of, in the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 74 seq.
legend of his cook (Andreas),
76
version of, in the Kurán,
77
his barrier in the Caucasus,
78
legend of, in the Kurán,
78
his correspondence with
Aristotle about the suc-
cession, 81
his Will, 81
provisions of, 81
death of, 82
dispute over his place of
interment, 82
his corpse taken to Memphis,
82
Alexander the Great, interred at
Alexandria, 82
tomb of, 82
Mas'údí on, 82
S. Chrysostom on, 82
diagram to illustrate the
Persian Romance of, 84
wars on the death of, 197
Alexander, son of Alexander the
Great and Cleophis (?), 65
Alexandria (Iskandaríya), city,
13, 15, 17, 83, referred to,
83
the Pseudo-Callisthenes ori-
ginates at, 13
Alexander buried at, 82
his tomb at, 82
Mas'údí on, 82
S. Chrysostom on, 82
Al Hadr. See Hatra.
Al Iskandarús. See Halai.
Al Khidr (Khisr, q.v.), the Green
Prophet, 78 and note
origin of, 78
Al Mansúr, Khalífa, 254
Amazons, the, 12, 71 seq.
their disputed visit to Alex-
ander, 12, 72
origin of, 71.
described, 153 seq.
Sikandar's correspondence
with, and visit to, 153 seq.
Ambar (Pírúz Shápúr), city on
the Euphrates, 327
Ambassadors, instances of kings
and chiefs going in person
as ambassadors or spies,
325
Amen-Ra, Egyptian god, 16
personated by Nectanebus, 16
Ammon, Oasis of, 30, 65
Alexander's visit to, 30, 65
Amorium. See 'Ammúriya.
'Ammúriya. (Ancyra, Angora),
stronghold, 23 and note, 89
Failakús marches from, to
encounter Dáráb, 23
Anábdéh, 32
Ancyra. See 'Ammúriya.
Andalús (Spain), vi, 66, 121, 122,
138
queen of, 121 seq.
Andarznámak (Ahdnámak), Pah-
laví treatise, 257
Andreanticus, sea, 77
Andreas, Alexander the Great's
cook, 76 seq.
legend of, 76
in Kurán, 77
Angora. See 'Ammúriya.
Antigonus (Naitkún), name
assumed by Alexander,
66
Antiochus, Macedonian general,
76
Antipater, regent in Macedonia,
82
intrigued against by Olym-
pias, 82
Apollo and the Python, 203
Apologue, 310
Apothegms, 50, 303, 343
Apries, 16
Arab, Arabs, the, x, xi, 17, 21, 22,
66, 171, 209, 254, 321 seq.,
377, 385, 396, 398, 402, 406
their wars with the Íráníans,
17, 21
Dáráb demands tribute from,
22
cymbal, 244
their incursions into Persian
* territory, 322
steeds, 380
Arabia, 70, 72, 206, 322, 355
Shápúr son of Urmuzd's ex-
pedition to, 322
Arabian, Arabians, the, 378, 388.
Faith, 95
Arabian Nights, The, 71, 78, 250
quoted, 73
Arabic language, 147, 205
versions of Pahlaví texts,
255 seq.
Arachosia, 32
Arar tree, 19
Arash, son of Kai Kubád. See
Kai Árash.
Árash, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
Árash, Íránian warrior, 394
Arastálís (Aristotle, q.v.), vii, 35;
counsels Sikandar, 35, 179
his sentences over the coffin
of Sikandar, 185
Ard, day, 298, 390 and note
Ardawán (Bahrám, Artabanus),
the last Ashkánian (Par-
thian) king, viii, 3, 197 seq.,
201 seq., 205, 214 seq., 254
seq., 259 seq.
= Bahrám, 197, 209 (?), 210
his status in Persian tradi-
tion, 201
daughter of, 202
marries Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 202, 229
incited by her brother
Bahman to poison Ard-
shír Pápakán, 259
condemned to death, 260
saved by Ardshír Pápa-
kán's minister, 260
gives birth to Shápúr,
261
restored to favour, 265
writes to Pápak, 214
summons Ardshír Pápakán
to court, 214
receives gifts from Ardshír
Pápakán, 215
highly esteems Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 215
his sons, 215, 255, 267 note
their fate, 228, 229 and
note, 259
disgraces Ardshír Pápakán,
216
his slave-girl intrigues with
Ardshír Pápakán, 217 seq.
his eldest son made ruler of
Párs, 218 and note
consults the astrologers, 218
his vain pursuit of Ardshír
Pápakán, 221 seq.
Ardawán, returns to Rai, 223
writes to his son about Ard-
shír Pápakán, 223
Ardshír Pápakán marches
against, 227
prepares to encounter Ard-
shír Pápakán, 227
defeated, captured by Khar-
rád, and slain by Ardshír
Pápakán, 228
buried by Tabák, 229
his palace at Rai spared (?)
by Ardshír Pápakán, 229
and note
his secretary slain by Shápúr,
256
=Mihrak=Mithrak=Mádik
(?), 256
Ardshír (Bahman, q.v.), Sháh, 213,
271 and note
Ardshír, brother of Shápúr (Ar-
taxerxes II.), Sháh, x, 3,
328, 360 seq.
Shápúr arranges for the suc-
cession with, 260 seq.
his title, 364
resigns the crown, 364
Ardshír Khurra, city and district,
199, 205, 206, 229 and note,
231, 241, 245, 290 and note
Ardshír Pápakán builds a
Fire-temple in, 230
makes irrigation - works
in, 230
meaning of, 290 note
Ardshír Pápakán, Sháh (Artax-
erxes I.), viii, ix, 3, 61, 81,
193, 196, 198 seq., 209 note,
213 seq., 238 seq., 250 seq.,
294 seq., 303, 307, 315, 322,
325, 405
his rise compared with that
of Cyrus the Great, 194
legend of Cyrus the Great,
transferred to, 195
his war with the Kurds (in
Kárnámak), 196
minister of, story of, 196
Ardshír Pápakán, Sháh, Tabarí's
account of, 198
marries the daughter of Ar-
dawán, 202, 229, 259
his various defeats referred
to, 202
birth of, 213
summoned to court by Arda-
wán, 214
equipped by Pápak, 214
presents gifts to Ardawán,
215
in favour with Ardawán, 215
his prowess in the chase, 215
disgraced, 216
writes to Pápak, 216
advised by Pápak, 216
intrigues with Gulnár, Arda-
wán's slave-girl, 217 seq.
hears from Gulnár of the pre-
sage of the astrologers, 219
flees with Gulnár to Párs,
220 seq.
followed by the divine Grace
in the form of a mountain-
sheep, 221 seq.
adherents flock to, 223
addresses his supporters, 224
founds a city, 202, 224
receives promises of help, 224
joined by Tabák, 225
and Tabák defeat Bahman,
son of Ardawán, 226
marches from Párs against
Ardawán, 227
defeats and slays Ardawán,
228
gives the spoil to the troops,
229
spares (?) Ardawán's palace
at Rai, 229 and note
counselled by Tabák to marry
Ardawán's daughter, 229
returns to Párs, 229
builds Khurra-i-Ardshír, 229
and note
his irrigation-works at Khur-
ra-i-Ardshír, 230
Ardshír Pápakán, his war with
the Kurds, 230 seq.
and Haftwád, 236 seq.
message sent by arrow to, 238
worsted by Haftwád and
entertained and counselled
by two youths, 239 seq.
slays Mihrak, 241
marches to attack the Worm,
241
givesinstructions to Shahrgír,
241
his stratagem against the
Worm, 242
slays the Worm and its
attendants, 244
summons Shahrgír, 244 and
note
takes Haftwád's stronghold,
244
defeats and slays Haftwád
and Sháhwí, 245
carries off the spoil, 245
builds a Fire-temple, 245
rewards the two youths, 245
his invasion of Kirmán, 205,
245
goes to Taisafún, 245
his principles of government,
250, 273 seq., 286 seq.
his reign, 254 seq.
length of, 254
Tarbarí on, 254
and the daughter of Ardawán,
stories of, 255
coins of, 256, 257, 265
crowns Shápúr, 257
his cities, 257
his prophecy, 257
enthroned at Baghdád, 258
his title of King of kings,
193, 199, 254, 258, 273
his inaugural address, 258
Bahman's plot with his sister
to poison, 259
discovers plot against him,
260
consults his minister, 260
Ardshír Pápakán, condemns the
daughter of Ardawán to
death, 260
his minister saves her, muti-
lates himself, and makes
record of the fact, 261
his son Shápúr born, 261
hears about Shápúr from his
minister, 262
recognises and acknowledges
Shápúr, 264
restores the daughter of
Ardawán to favour, 265
rewards his minister, 265
makes a new coinage in
honour of his minister, 265
builds Jund-i-Shápúr, 266
harassed by wars, consults
Kaid, 266
wroth at Kaid's advice, 267
seeks in vain for the daughter
of Mihrak, 268
referred to, 270
discovers Urmuzd, 271
counsels Urmuzd, 280
calls and counsels Shápúr,
286 seq.
on Church and State, 286
on the duration of his
dynasty, 289
death of, 291
Ariobarzanes, the murderer of
Darius Codomanus, 32
Ariobarzaues, satrap, 32 and note
Aristobulus, Greek writer, 12
Aristotle (Arastálís, q.v.), 29, 81
Alexander's tutor, 29
letter to, 68
correspondence with,about
the succession, 81, 83
on the silkworm, 204
Armenia, 202, 203
Armenian version of the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 14
Arrian, historian, 12, 31, 64, 68, 82
his Anabasis, 12
his Indica, 12
Caspian Gates of, the, 32
Arrian, on the stature of Porus, 64
Ichthyophagi, 69 seq.
Alexander and the
Amazons, 72
the death of Alexander,
82
Arsaces, 197
Arsacid, Arsacids, the, 198, 203,
205, 255
their imperíal system, 198
some of, escape from Ardshír
Pápakán to Armenia, 203
Arsalás, 32
Arses, 29
Artabanus (Ardawán, q.v.), 201
Artaxerxes Ochus, 18 note, 29
conquers Nectanebus II., 18
note, 29
murdered, 29
Artaxerxes I. See Ardshír
Pápakán.
Artaxerxes II. (Ardshír, brother
of Shápúr), 363
Arwand (Tigris), 329
Asfandiyár (Spento-data, Span-
dat), son of Gushtásp, 15, 49,
55, 200, 213, 224, 242, 251, 271
Ashk, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
meaning of, 197
Ashkánian, Ashkánians, the, race
and dynasty, viii, 193,
194, 196, 197, 209
duration of their rule, 193
times, Firdausí's lack of
materials for, 193
surviving traditions of,
transferred to other
dynasties, 194
importance of, 194
genealogy of, 197
Asia Minor, 30
Central, 73
Astawadh. See Haftwád.
Astyages, 194
Atbara, river, 65
Atkinson, James, 250
on the Sháhnáma, 250
Atropatene, kingdom, 198
Attock, 62
Avasta. See Zandavasta.
Avidius Cassius, Roman general,
291 note
Ázáda, Rúman slave-girl, 382
goes hunting with Bahrám
Gúr, 382
tries to shame Bahrám Gúr
in his markmanship 383
slain by Bahrám Gúr, 384
and note
Ázar, month, 411
Ázarbáiján, 198, 203
Ázargashasp, the spirit of the
lightning, 381
=Gushasp, 212 and note
Ázarnarsí, son of Urmuzd, son of
Narsí, 318
BÁBAK. See Pápak.
Bábil (Babylon, q.v.), vii
Babylon (Bábil), 17, 31, 81, 83,
176, 178, 180, 181, 183
Sikandar marches towards,
176, 178
prodigious birth at, 81, 180
Sikandar sickens at, 181
dies at, 81, 183
Babylonian, 254
script, 320
Bactria, 32, 198
Badakhshán, region in northern
Afghánistán, 382
gem of, 382 and note
Bæton, Greek writer, 12
Baghdád, city, viii, 254, 290, 322,
327
Ardshír Pápakán enthroned
at, 258
Bágíz, 32
Bagoas, 29
Bahman (Vohu Manau), amesha-
spenta, 362 and note
Bahman (Ardshír), son of Asfan-
diyár, Sháh, 20 note, 34 and
note, 49, 200, 213, 270 and
note
Bahman, son of Ardawán, viii,
202, 218 and note, 225, 227,
260
made ruler of Párs, 218
referred to, 222
bidden by Ardawán to seek
out Ardshír Pápakán, 223
defeated by Ardshír and
Tabák, 226
escapes to Hind after the
defeat of Ardawán, 228
urges his sister to poison
Ardawán, 259
Bahrain, island in the Persian
Gulf, 330
Bahrám, 197, 209
=Ardawán, 197, 209 (?), 210
Bahrám, son of Urmuzd, Sháh
(Varahran I.), ix, 3, 303, 306
reign of, 307 seq., 327
Bahrám, son of Bahrám, Sháh
(Varahran II.), ix, 3, 308
reign of, 310 seq.
story told of, 310
Bahrám Bahrámiyán, Sháh,
(Varahran III.), ix, 3, 315,
316, 324, 334, 368, 405 (?)
reign of, 313
his inaugural address, 313
resigns the throne to his son,
314
Bahrám, son of Shápúr, Sháh
(Varahran IV.), xi, 3, 313,
368, 371
ruler of Kirmán, 368
his title, 368
his seal, 368
Tabarí's account of, 368
his daughter, 369
resigns the throne to his
brother, 369
dies, 369
Bahrám Chubína, 250
Bahrám Gúr, Sháh (Varahran V.),
xi, 3, 250, 325, 329 and
note, 372, 373, 394 seq.
his stay at Hira, 372
his age at accession, 373
Bahrám Gúr, his persecution of
the Christians, 373
his war with Rome, 373
birth of, 375
the magnates advise Yazda-
gird to choose a governor
for, 376
put in Munzir's charge, 378
goes with Munzir to Yaman
378
his nurses, 378
his education, 378 seq.
has his tutors dismissed,
380
makes choice of steeds, 380
slave-girls, 381
goes to the chase with a slave-
girl, 382
his marksmanship, 383 seq.
slays his slave-girl, 384 and
note
goes hunting with Nu'mán
and Munzir, 384
picture of, hunting, sent to
Yazdagird, 385
returns with Nu'mán to Yaz-
dagird, 386
complains of Yazdagird to
Munzir, 387
receives advice and his slave-
girl from Munzir, 388
falls into disgrace at court,
389
asks Tainúsh to intercede
for him, 389
released and returns to Mun-
zir, 390
welcomed by Munzir, 390
hears of his father's death
and of the election of
Khusrau, 395, 396
claims the kingship and is
supported by Munzir, 396
seq.
his interview with Jawánwí,
398
negotiates with the Íránians,
401 seq.
Bahrám Gúr, the Íránians produce
examples of Yazdagird's
cruelty to, 404
addresses the Íránians, 404
proposes to decide the ques-
tion of the kingship by or-
deal, 405
promises to rule justly, 406
agrees to be the first to face
the ordeal, 409
Baidá (Bardí), hill fort, 198 and
note, 199
Baitú'l Harám (the Kaaba), 119,
121
Balásh, king of Kirmán, 205
Balúchistán (Balochistan, Ged-
rosia, Makrán), country,
12, 70
Banák, Íránian chief, 202
Bandáwa, Sindian chief, 175
defeated by Sikandar, 175
Band-i-Kaisar, 295
Barbar, country, 114
Bardí. See Baidá.
Barrier, Alexander's (Sikandar's),
in the Caucasus, 78, 249
legend of, 78
site of, 79
described, 164
Barsaentes, satrap, 32
executed, 32
Barsine (Stateira), daughter of
Darius Codomanus, 33
marries Alexander the Great,
33
Barzín, Íránian chief, 395
Barzin, sacred Fire, 391, 400
the Íránians worship at, 400
Bástán-náma, 16, 17, 84, 373
Bazánúsh (Valerian), ix, x, 294,
297
his defeat and capture by
Shápúr, son of Ardshír,
294, 295
his single combat with Gar-
shásp, 297
builds bridge at Shúshtar,
298
Bazánúsh (Jovian), x, 324, 326,
353 seq.
elected emperor, 353
sues for peace, 353
accepts Shápúr's terms, 355
Bázrangí, dynasty of Tribal Kings,
198
Beas (Hyphasis), Indian river, 64
Berber, race, 73
Bessus, satrap, 32
executed, 32
Bhután, Indian kingdom, 81
Biháfrídh, 200
Bih-Ardshír, city, 254, 291 note
Bihzád, Íránian chief, 395
Birds, green, 160
Sikandarholdsconverse with,
vii, 160
Birka-i-Ardshír, city, 290 and note
Bíward, Íránian chief, 395
Bízhan, Íránian hero, 194
Bízhan, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
Black Stone, the, 65
Blest, Country of, 74, 76
Bombyx Mori. See Silk.
Book of Indication and Revision,
Mas'údí's, 252
quoted, 252
Bowl, the full, symbolism of, 63
Brabantio, 324
Brahmans (Gymnosophistæ), the,
vii, 61, 64, 67, 143 seq.
Palladius on, 61
Sikandar's interview with,
67, 143 seq.
country of, 143, 147
hear of Sikandar's coming
and write to him, 143
described, 144
reply to Sikandar's questions,
144 seq.
Sikandar quits, 147
Brides of the Treasure, 250
Browning, Robert, his poem of
“The Glove,” 384
Bucephala, city, 18
Bucephalus, horse of Alexander
the Great, 18, 31
Bucephalus, birth of, 18, 26
death of, 18, 64
a mare, 18 (Ethiopic version)
city built by Alexander in
memory of, 18
offered by Darius to Porus, 31
Buddhist saints, story of two, 63
Budge, Dr. E.A. Wallis, 14, 17 note
his editions of the Syriac and
Ethiopic versions of the
Pseudo - Callisthenes, 14,
17 note
Budini, race, 73
Burjak and Burjátúr. See Youtlis,
the two.
Bust, fortress and district in
Sístán, 175
CÆSAR, ix, x, 24, 26, 49, 112 seq.,
122, 124, 126, 297, 298, 324
seq., 336 seq., 341 seq., 345
seq., 389
=Failakús, 24, 26, 27
=Sikandar, 40, 42, 49, 113,
114, 118, 121, 122, 124, 128,
129, 142, 158, 161, 170, 174,
178, 183
=Valerian (Bazánúsh, q.v.),
ix, x, 326
=Jovian (Bazánúsh, q.v.), x,
353, 354
pays tribute to Shápúr, son
of Ardshír, 298
Shápúr in disguise visits, 336
entertains Shápúr, 337
discovers who Shápúr is, 337
arrests Shápúr, 337
has Shápúr sewn up in an
ass's skin and imprisoned,
338
charges his wife with the
custody of Shápúr, 338
invades and rávages Írán, 338
Shápúr prepares to attack, 346
overthrown by Shápúr at
Taisafún, 346 seq.
Cæsar, his treatment by Shápúr,
349, 357
mother of, 351
Calanus (Sphinés), Indian ascetic,
61
Onesicritus and, 61
Alexander the Great and, 61
death of, 61
derivation of, 61
identical with the sage sent
by Kaid to Sikandar, 62.
See Four Wonders, the.
Callisthenes, Greek historian, 12,
74
the Romance of Alexander
fathered on, 13
Callitris quadrivalvis, the Arar
tree, 19
Cambyses, son of Cyrus the Great,
16
Candace (Kandake, Kaidáfa, q.v.),
dynastic title of the queens
of Ethiopia, 13, 65, 72
and Alexander, 65 seq.
Canopus, star, 382
Cappadocia (Pálawína), 294
Captain of the host, x
Captives, mutilation of, 323, 334,
348, 357
settlement of, 327, 357
Carthaginians, the, 30
Alexander's legendary visit
to, 30
Casaubon, Isaac, 13
Caspian Gates, 31, 32
Cassander, son of Antipater, 82
Caucasus, the, 15, 79
Alexander's barrier in, 78
legend of, in the Kurán, 78
site of, 79
Chách (Táshkand), city in Túrán,
197
thane of, 197, 210
referred to, 229 and note
bow of, 384
Chaghwán, place, 174, 175
Sikandar arrives at, 174
quits, 175
Chahram (Jahram), city in Párs,
44
Dárá goes to, 44
Charbar, place on the coast of
Balúchistán (Makrán), 70
Chares of Mytilene, Greek writer,
61
Charogos. See Tainúsh.
Chess, 201
its introduction into Persia,
201
Chín, country (often=Túrán), vii,
80, 179, 182, 186, 268, 280,
284, 358, 376, 397
Khán of, 35
ambassadors from, come
to Dárá, 35
pen of, 57, 99
Sikandar's expedition to, 80
silk of, 85, 266
ornaments of, 102, 139
lord of=Sikandar, 113
=Faghfúr, 171
implements of, 122
robes of, 128
friuge of, 138
stuffs of, 143, 215
sea of, 149
Sikandar goes to, 169
rarities of, 171, 173
paper of, 172
coasts of, 173
brocade of, 173, 182, 184, 332
gold cloth of, 182, 334
China, 204
silk industry of, 204
Chináb (Akesines), Indian river,
31, 64
Chinese language, 147
Chosroes, king of Armenia, 202
Christ, 133, 339
Faith of, 133, 352
Christian, 342, 356
rites of marriage, 104
Faith, 356
Christianity, 138
Cilicia (Kaidáfa), 294
City of Women (Harúm), vii
Cleophis, Indian queen, 65
and Alexander the Great, 65
Climes, the seven, 179, 262, 266,
273, 280, 376
Colchians, the, 72
Contents, Table of, v
Cos, island, 204
silk industry of, 204
Country of the Blest, 74, 76
Crete, island, 323 note
Cross, the, 351, 352
the religion of, 138
Passion of, 339
Ctesias, historian, 13, 68
legend of Cyrus in, 195
Gutschmid on, 195
Ctesiphon (Taisafún, q.v.), 321,
322, 325, 372
Cup of Kaid, the. See Four
Wonders, the.
described, 94, 100
principle of, explained, 109
Cybele, goddess, 71
=Hittite Ma, 71
Cyrus the Great, 194
his rise compared to that of
Ardshír Pápakán, 194
legend of, transferred to Ard-
shír Pápakán, 195
DAI, month, 306
Daizan (Táír, q.v.), Arab chief, 322,
323
legend of, 322
daughter of, legend of, 323
Dakíkí, poet, 196
Damascus, Nicolaus of, 195
Damáwand, mountain, 202
Dandamis. See Mandanes.
Dárá, son of Dáráb, Sháh (Darius
Codomanus, q.v.), v, 17, 27,
29, 33 seq., 83 seq., 112, 113,
123, 124, 132, 137, 170, 172,
188, 325, 353
legendary son of Dáráb, 17,
27.
Dárá, appointed by Dáráb to suc-
ceed him, 27
historical account of, 29
movements of, after his final
defeat by Alexander (Si-
kandar), 31
Sikandar's correspondence
with the wife and daughter
of, 33
accession of, 34
his letter to the kings, 34
pays his troops, 35
ambassadors come to, 35
demands tribute from Sik-
andar, 36
marches against Sikandar, 37
Sikandar's visit to the camp
of, 38
invites Sikandar to a banquet,
40
his ambassador recognises
Sikandar, 40
sends horsemen in pursuit of
Sikandar, 41
defeated by Sikandar, 43
collects another army, 43
again defeated, 44
goes to Chahram, 44
goes to Istakhr, 44
takes counsel with his chiefs,
45
collects a new host, 46
marches from Istakhr, 46
is defeated, 46
withdraws to Kirmán, 46
bewails himself, 47
his letter to Sikandar, 49
his letter to Fúr, 50
marches against Sikandar, 51
abandoned by his troops and
flees, 51
murdered by his ministers, 52
his murderers arrested by
Sikandar, 53
his dying interview with
Sikandar, 53
vengeance promised him by
Sikandar, 53
Dárá, tells his last wishes to Si-
kandar, 54
bestows Rúshanak upon
Sikandar, 55, 86
dies, 55
his burial, 56
his son Sásán, 211
his kindred support Ardshír
Pápakán, 223
Dáráb, Sháh, v, 11, 16, 20 seq.,
34 and note, 49, 83, 84, 86
132, 137, 172, 188
father of Sikandar in Persian
legend, 16
legendary father of Dárá, 17
harangues the chiefs, 20
ambassadors come to, 21
employs Rúman artificers, 21
wars with the Arabs, 21
defeats and demands tribute
from them, 22
wars with Rúm, 22
defeats Failakús, 23
grants terms of peace to
Failakús, 24
marries the daughter of
Failakús, 25
returns to Párs, 25
becomes disaffected towards
his wife (Náhíd), 25
marries again, 27
Dárá is born to him, 27
fails in health, 27
appoints Dárá to succeed
him, 27
dies, 28
Dáráb, Dárábgird, city, v, 17,
198, 199
Dariel, Pass of, 79
Darius Codomanus (Dárá, q.v.),
16, 17, 29, 30
defeated at Issus, 30
Alexander escapes from the
banquet of, 30
defeated at Gaugamela, 31
asks that his family may be
restored to him, 31
writes to Porus, 31
Darius Codomanus, the historical
account of the death of, 31
his daughter marries Alex-
ander, 33
his corpse sent to Párs, 33
the punishment of his assas-
sins, 33
Darkness, Land of. See Gloom,
the.
Darmesteter, Professor, 203
on the story of the Worm, 203
Haftwád, 206
Daughter of Kaid. See Four
Wonders, the.
described, 94, 100, 102, 104
married to Sikandar, 104
Dhoulkarnain, See Zu-'l-karnain.
Diagram to illustrate the Persian
Romance of Alexander, 84
Dihkán, 95 and note
Faith of 95
Diláfrúz-i-Farrukhpái, Íránian
slave-girl, 3, 338 seq.
referred to, x
slave to Cæsar's wife, 338
has compassion on Shápúr,
339
discovers who Shápúr is, 339
frees Shápúr from the ass's
skin, 340
escapes with Shápúr from
Rúm, 340 seq.
entertained by a gardener,
342
praised by Shápúr, 346
named and honoured by
Shápúr, 356
Dílam, city in Gílán, 227
Dílamán, region, 202 and note
Dilárái, wife of Dárá and mother
of Rúshanak, v, 87 seq.
visited by Náhíd, 89
Dínawarí, historian, 16, 64, 80,
81, 256, 323
Dínkard, Pahlaví text, 252
Diognetus, Greek writer, 12
Dionysus, temple of, visited by
Sikandar, 71
Dirázdast, title, 324 and note
Dív (Daéva), demon, 135, 146,
150, 241
=Áhrímán, 349
Dragon, vii, 71, 132, 146
Sikandar's adventure with,
71, 151
=Fúr, 113
=Ardawán, 222
Drangiana (Makrán, Balúchi-
stán), 32
Dreams, Kaid's, 91 seq.
Dukhtnúsh. See Núsha.
EGYPT (Misr), 12, 13, 16, 17, 72,
81, 82
the Pseudo-Callisthenes writ-
ten in, 13
invaded by Alexander the
Great, 30
Egyptians, the, 16
falsification of history by, 16
Ekbatana (Hamadán), 31, 32
Elam, kingdom, 194, 198
Elephants, 115
Fúr's, 115
Sikandar's device to
overcome, 115
Elymais, kingdom, 198
Enótokoitai, the, 80
Epirus, country, 12
Alexander I. of, 12
his expedition to Italy,
12
Ethiopia, 18 note, 72
flight of Nectanebus to, 18
note
a western and an eastern, 68
=India, 68
Ethiopians, Ethiops, 43, 71, 80
=Indians, 13, 68
western and eastern, 68, 71
Ethiopic version of the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 17 and note,
18, 30, 33, 66, 67, 71, 74,
82, 83
Eumenes, Greek ephemerist, 12
Euphrates, river; 31, 327
Euxine sea, 72
FAGHFÚR, the, dynastic title of
the princes of Chín and
Máchín, vii, 35, 80, 113
169 seq., 325
ambassadors from, come to
Dárá, 35
Sikandar visits, as his own
ambassador, 170
gives audience to Sikandar,
170
entertains Sikandar, 171
answers Sikandar, 172
his gifts to Sikandar, 173
sends envoy with Sikandar,
173
Failakús, Philip II. of Macedon,
the father of Alexander
the Great, v, 22 seq., 57,
102, 112, 125, 130, 131, 151,
182
wars with Dáráb, 22
allied with the king of Rús,
22
marches from 'Ammúriya to
encounter Dáráb, 23
is defeated and returns to
'Ammúriya, 23
sues for peace, 23
agrees to send tribute, and
give his daughter in mar-
riage to Dáráb, 24, 25
adopts Sikandar as his heir,
27
Faith, Faiths, the four, 92, 95
of Christ, Christian, 133, 352,
356
of Áhriman, 281, 290
Fakírs, the, 61
Alexander and, 61
Onesicritus and, 61
Farát (Euphrates), 37, 42, 43, 290
Farídún, Sháh, 73, 172, 209, 406
Farwardín, month, 375
Faryán, king, father-in-law of
Kaidrúsh, vi, 66, 67, 124
seq., 171, 172
his city taken by Sikandar,
124
slain, 125
his daughter and son-in-law
taken prisoners, 125
brought before Naitkún,
126
sentenced to death, 126
pardoned, 126
Firdausí, vii, 16, 17, 31 seq., 62,
64 seq., 72, 78, 80 seq., 197,
198, 200, 202, 250, 254, 255,
294, 295, 313, 315, 321 seq.,
326, 328, 368, 372
his derivation of Iskandar
(Sikandar), 19
his praises of Mahmúd, 20,
207, 279, 292, 370
his account of Alexander's
battles with Darius, 31
invents names for Darius'
murderers, 32
introduction to the story
of Kaid, 62
his veiled attacks on Mah-
múd, 62, 92 seq., and note
his lack of subject-matter for
Ashkánian times, 193
and the Cyrus legends, 195
Kárnámak, 196, 200 seq.,
255 seq.
on Mahmúd's remission of
the land-tax, 196
his treatment of the short
reigns, 249, 301
his fondness for wine, 291,
295, 306, 309, 314, 362,
369
gives his age as sixty-three,
314, 369
refers to his work, 370
reverses the historical re-
lationship of Nu'mán and
Munzir, 372
Fire, Fires, sacred, 21
Fírúzábád. See Gúr.
Fish, the salt, legend of, 76 seq.
-eaters, See Ichthyophagi.
Folin, 73 and note
Fortifications, vitrified, 79
Fount of Life, the, 74, 158 seq.
Sikandar's expedition to, 74
seq., 158 seq.
account of, in the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 74 seq.
Sikandar hears of, 158
prepares to visit, 158
goes in search of, 159
fails to find, 160
Four Wonders, the, of Kaid, vi,
94, 97 and note, 99 seq.
Faiths, the, 91, 95
Frúbá, sacred Fire, 201, 255
Fúr (Porus, q.v.), dynasty and
Indian king, vi, 31, 50, 51,
62, 64, 110 seq., 123, 132,
135, 137, 170, 172, 175
Dárá's letter to, 50
Sikandar's war with, 67,
112 seq.
routed by Sikandar's iron
steeds, 116
his single combat with
Sikandar, 117
slain, 117
his troops submit to Sikan-
dar, 118
GABRIEL, angel, 138 note
Gaiúmart, Sháh, 208
Ganges, river, 64
Garden of the Hesperides, 74
Gardener, a, 341
entertains Shápúr, son of
Urmuzd, 341 seq.
sent by Shápúr to the high
priest, 344
describes Shápúr, 344
rewarded by Shápúr, 357
Garshásp, Íránian chief, 297
his single combat with
Bazánúsh, 297
Gashasp, Íránian warrior, 394
addresses the nobles on the
succession to the throne, 394
Garsíwaz, brother of Afrásiyáb, 325
Gaugamela, 31, 32 note
battle of, 31
Gaumata, the false Smerdis, 207
Gaza, city, 30
siege of, 30
Gedrosia (Makrán, Balúchistán),
69
Gemini, constellation, 155
Genealogies, fictitious, 199
of Pápak in Tabarí, 200
Mas'údí, 200
Genealogical table, 3
Germany, 73
Ghee, 105
Gíl (Gílán), region, 227
Girduni Sirdarra, pass, 32
Girih, 199
Gív, Íránian hero, 194
Gloom, the (Land of Darkness),
vii, 73, 74, 79
conception of, 73
Sikandar's expedition to, 74
seq.
account of, in the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 74 seq.
Sikandar hears of, 158
enters, 159 seq.
the jewels of, 162
emerges from, 162
Glory. See Grace.
Glove, The, Browning's poem of,
referred to, 384 note
Gog and Magog (Yájúj and
Májúj, q.v.), 78
legend of, in Kurán, 78
Gordyene, kingdom, 198
Grace, or Glory, the divine, 27,
47, 51, 85 and passim.
follows Ardshír Pápakán in
the form of a mountain-
sheep, 221 seq,
Granicus, river, 30
battle of the, 30, 31
Greece, 30
Greek, Greeks, the, 68, 82
their conception of India, 68
captives, mutilation of, by the
Persians, 373
Green Prophet, the. See Al Khidr.
Sea, the, 174 note
Gretna Green, 323 note
Gúdarz, Íránian hero, 194
Gúdarz, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
Gulár, place, 206
Gulnár, slave-girl of Ardawán,
217 and note
her intrigue with Ardshír
Pápakán, 217 seq.
reports the presage of the
astrologers to Ardshír Pá-
pakán, 219
flees with Ardshír Pápakán
to Párs, 220
Gund-i-Shápúr (Shápúr Gird ?),
city, 295, 327
Mání-gate of, 327
Gúr (Zúr, Fírúzábád), city, 199,
205, 229 note, 230, 245
Gurgán, region, 373
Gurzbán, a city between Balkh
and Harát (?), 394
Gushasp, sacred Fire, 201
Gúsh-bistár, 80, 177 and note
his interview with Sikandar,
177
Gushtásp, Sháh, 20, 49, 55, 200,
213, 251, 252, 258
Gustaham, Íránian warrior, 394
his lions slain by Bahrám
Gúr, 409
Gutschmid, Alfred von, 195
on the Cyrus legend in
Ctesias, 195
Gúzihr, Tribal King, 198, 199
HABASH (Ethiopia), vii, 149
people of, encountered by
Sikandar, 149
Haftánbúkht. See Haftwád.
Haftwád (Haftánbúkht, Asta-
wadh), Tribal King, viii,
199, 205 seq., 232 seq.
account of, in Tabarí, 205
daughter of, 205, 206, 233,
234
becomes guardian of the
Worm, 236
Nöldeke and Darmesteter on,
206
son of, 206, 236
helps his father against
Ardshír Pápakán, 236
story of, 232 seq.
his seven sons, 233, 235
his rise to power, 235
builds, and migrates to, a
stronghold, 235
and Ardshír Pápakán, 236
seq.
slain by Ardshír, 245
Halai (Olympias (?), Náhíd),
daughter, in legend, of
Philip II. of Macedon, 19
reason for her repudiation by
Dáráb and her naming her
son Iskandar (Sikandar),
19
Halai-Sandarús. See Halai.
Hamadán (Ekbatana), 31
Hamza, Arabic historian, 257
Harám, 65, 120 and note, 121
Baitu'l, 119, 121
Harúm, the City of Women, vii,
73, 153 seq.
visited by Sikandar, 153 seq.
Sikandar's correspondence
with the ruler of, 153 seq.
Háshimí, 362 and note
Háshish, 32
Hatra (Al Hadr), city, 321 seq.
account of, 322
besieged, 322
fall of, legend of, 322
king of, 323
Hecatæus, 13
Helenopolis, 61
Herodotus, 13, 16, 68, 72, 73
legend of Cyrus in, 195
Hesperides, Garden of the, 74
High priest, x, 343 seq.
hears of Shápúr's return, 344
informs the captain of the
host, 345
Himálaya, 74, 81
Hind, Hindústán, vi, viii, 21, 51,
80, 81, 91, 98 and passim
ambassadors from, come to
Dáráb, 21
ambassadors from, come to
Dárá, 35
ruler of=Fúr, 51
Sikandar invades, 98
silk of, 99
king of=Kaid, 103
Sikandar becomes king of,
118
people of, help the Sindians
against Sikandar, 175
Hira, city, 372
Hisham bin Muhammad, 30
Hittite, Hittites, 71
empire of, 71
Hiuen Tsiang, Chinese traveller,
63
quoted, 63, 73
Hoibaras, 195
Holy Ghost, the, 138 and note
Homer, 13, 72
quoted, 68, 73
Hormisdas I. (Urmuzd, son of
Shápúr), 301
Hormisdas (Urmuzd), son of Ur-
muzd, son of Narsí, 318,
325
Humái, Sháh, mother of Dáráb,
20, 22, 199
Huns, the, 15
Hurmuz, Ashkánian king, 197
Hurmuz (Ormus), 204
Hurmuzdagán, 193, 199
battle of, 193, 199, 202, 256
Hushyár, astrologer, 372, 375
takes Bahrám Gúr's horo-
scope, 375
Hydaspes (Jhílam), Indian river,
18, 31, 62, 63
Hydraotes (Raví), Indian river, 64
Hyperboreans, the, 74
Elysium of, 74
Hyphasis (Beas), Indian river, 64
Hyrcania (Mázandarán), 373
IBN Mukaffa, 17, 373
Ibráhím, Abraham, the patriarch,
119, 120
house of=the Kaaba, 119
Ichthyophagi, the, 69 seq., 81
Sikandar and, 69, 147
Arrian on, 69
modern accounts of, 70
their city described, 177
go to meet, and are visited
by, Sikandar, 178
hand over the treasures of
Kai Khusrau to Sikandar,
178
Imaus, mountain, 12
'Ínánian, 'Ínánians, the, Arab
tribe, 324, 330, 331, 333
India, 17, 61, 64, 81, 83, 204
Palladius on, 61
Ancient, M‘Crindle's, quoted,
68
=Ethiopia, 68
Indian, Indians, the, 81, 375, 397
=Ethiopians, 13, 68
sages, 61, 83, 91 seq., 143 seq.,
266
bells, 175
bane, 259
Indies, Greek conception of two,
13
duplicate races in, 68
Indra, Indian god, 203
and Vritra, 203
Indus, river, 62, 67, 70
mistaken for the Nile, 68
Iollas, Alexander's cup-bearer, 82
Íraj, the youngest son of Farídún,
353
Írán, v, x, 16, 17, 21, 38, 39, and
passim
monarch of=Dáráb, 21, 26
and Sháhnáma compared, 193
invaded by Munzir and
Nu'mán, 397
Íránian, Íránians, the, xi, 17, 43
seq., 51, 112, 114, ??79 and
passim
their wars with the Arabs, 17
Sikandar's proclamation to,
44
bewail themselves, 48
counsel Dárá to come to
terms with Sikandar, 48
ask quarter of Sikandar, 51
hail him as their king, 56
after Yazdagird's death meet
for counsel in Párs, 394
send Jawánwí to Munzir, 397
offer prayer at the Fire-fane
of Barzín, 400
the loyal, support Bahrám
Gúr, 402
their procedure to elect a
Sháh, 403
decide to reject Bahrám Gúr,
403
remonstrated with by Munzir.
403
their object-lesson to Munzir,
404
accept Bahrám Gúr's pro-
posal for settling the ques-
tion of the kingship by
ordeal, 406
Iron steeds, Sikandar's, vi, 115
Isdigerd I. (Yazdagird, son of
Shápúr), Sásánian king,
371
Ishmael (Ismá'íl), 65, 120, 121
Iskandar. See Sikandar.
Iskandar, herb, 26
Iskandaríya (Alexandria), vii, 185
Sikandar buried at, 185
Island, the=Meroe, 65
Islands, Male and Female, 72
origin of legend of, 72
Ismá'íl. See Ishmael.
Ispahán, 57, 86, 87, 199, 201, 202,
210
Isráfíl, archangel, 78
Sikandar's interview with,
vii, 83, 161
Issus, 30
battle of, 30, 31
Darius' family taken at, 31
Istakhr (Persepolis), 37, 57, 59,
198, 199, 202, 211, 223, 225,
231, 326, 356, 386
Dárá marches from, to en-
counter Sikandar, 37, 46
returns to, 44
Sikandar crowned Sháh at, 59
taken by Ardshír Pápakán,
227
Ardshír Pápakán marches
from, against the Kurds,
230
returns victorious to, 232
Italy, Alexander of Epirus' ex-
pedition to, 12
Alexander the Great's le-
gendary expedition to, 12,
30
Íwán-i-Kerkh, 327
JACOB of Sarúg, Syriac poet, 15,
84
Syriac Christian Legend of
Alexander versified by, 15,
74, 78, 84
his death, 15
Jádústán, 109 and note
Jahram (Charam), city in Párs,
viii, xi, 119, 202, 225, 237,
241, 268, 400, 401
desert of, 401
Jalálpúr, Indian city, 18
Jamshíd, Sháh, 45 and note, 172,
209
Jánúsiyár, minister of Dárá, 52,
88
murders Dárá, 52
Jánúsiyár, tells Sikandar of
Dárá's murder, 52
arrested by Sikandar, 53
executed, 56, 88
Jawánwí, Íránian magnate, 373,
398
goes as ambassador to Mun-
zir, 398
his interview with Munzir,
398 seq.
recognises the divine Grace
in Bahrám Gúr, 398
suggests a course of action to
Munzir, 400
returns to Írán, 400
Jaz, Mesopotamia, 337
Jerusalem, 81
Jew, Jews, the, 95, 356
Faith of, 95
Jhílam (Hydaspes), Indian river,
18, 31, 63
Johari Das, Bábu, quoted, 81
Joktan, 65
=Kahtán, 65
Joshua, 77
Jovian, Emperor, 324 seq.
confused with Valerian, 324
Judaism, 327
Judda, the port of Mecca, vi, 121
Sikandar arrives at, 121
Julian (Yánús), Emperor, 324, 325
confused with Valerian, 324
not an emperor in the Sháh-
náma, 324, 326
his expedition against Persia,
324 seq.
Julius Valerius, early Latin trans-
lator of the Pseudo-Callis-
thenes, 14, 61, 66 seq., 71,
74, 78, 79, 81
Jund-i-Shápúr, city, 256
=Rás-Shápúr, 256
Ardshír Pápakán builds, 266
Jupiter, planet, 138, 172, 292
Justinian, Emperor, 204
the silkworm introduced into
the West during his reign,
204
KAABA, the, vi, 65
Sikandar's expedition to, 67,
83, 119
Kabtún, king of Misr and the
progenitor of the Copts, 121
welcomes Sikandar, 121
praises Kaidáfa to Sikandar,
122
Kábul, Kábulistán, 207
dagger of, 320
Kádisí, Kádisíya, place, 119, 330
Kahtán, Arab chief, 65, 120
=Joktan, 65
Kaian, Kaiánian, race and dyn-
asty, v, 9 seq., 17, 34, 48, 55,
57, 59, 81, 112, 125, 141,
179, 180, 194, 199, 200, 202,
210, 223, 237 note
Kai Árash, 197, 210, 228
Kaid, Indian king, vi, viii, 61, 62,
83, 91 seq., 112, 256
identical with Mandanes
(Dandamis), 62
Sikandar and the sage of, 62,
104 seq.
consults Mihrán about his
dreams, 92 seq.
his Four Wonders, 94, 97 and
note, 99 seq.
his dreams interpreted by
Mihrán, 94 seq.
daughter of, 100
described, 100
reference in Sikandar's
will to, 182
cup of, described, 100
leech of, 101
sage of, 101
sends his Four Wonders and
other gifts to Sikandar, 103
reappearance of, 256
his prophecy, 256, 257, 267
consulted by Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 266
his advice to Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 267, 273
Kaidáfa (Cilicia), 294, 297
Kaidáfa (Kandake, Candace, q.v.),
vi, 83, 121 seq., 325
obtains Sikandar's portrait,
122
praised by Kabtún to Si-
kandar, 122
receives a letter from Si-
kandar, 123
answers Sikandar's letter,
123
welcomes Kaidrúsh on his
return from captivity, 127
receives Naitkún (Sikandar)
graciously, 128
her state described, 128, 130,
133
gives audiences to Naitkún
(Sikandar), 128 seq.
recognises Sikandar, 129 seq.
hears Sikandar's embassage,
129
her covenants with Sikandar,
132, 138
warns Sikandar against
Tainúsh, 133
chides Tainúsh, 135
takes counsel with Sikandar
about Tainúsh, 135
approves of Sikandar's
scheme, 137
takes counsel with her
nobles, 139
her gifts to Sikandar, 140
Sikandar's final message to,
143
Kaidrúsh (Kandaros, Candaules),
son of Kaidáfa (Candace),
66, 134, 135
wife of, 66
and his wife taken by Si-
kandar, 125
brought before Naitkún,
126
sentenced to death, 126
pardoned, 126
gratitude of, 127
returns to Kaidáfa, 127
Kaidrúsh, presents Naitkún (Si-
kandar) to Kaidáfa, 127
Kaihan. See Kaid.
Kai Khusrau, Sháh, 79, 177
the treasures of, found by
Sikandar, 178
Cyrus legend of, 195
Kai Kubád, Sháh, 197, 210
Kai Manush, 200
Kait. See Kaid.
Kai Ugí, 200
Kalé (Nereis), daughter of Alex-
ander in the Pseudo-Cal-
listhenes, 77
and the cook Andreas, legend
of, 77
Kand. See Kaid.
Kandake (Candace, q.v., Kaidáfa,
q.v.), 66
Kandaros. See Kaidrúsh.
Kandaules. See Kaidrúsh.
Kanír. See Tainúsh.
Kannúj, city in Hindústán, 64,
110, 207, 352
Sikandar reaches, 110
Karakh-Maishán, 199, 291 note
Káran, Íránian hero, 194
Káran, Íránian chief, 394
Karkh = Khurram Ábád (?), 327
Kárnámak-i- Ardshír-i-Pápakán,
Pahlaví text, 14 note, 61,
198, 200 seq., 205 seq., 255
seq., 301, 325
account of, 195
resembles Yátkár-i-Zarírán,
195, 196
purport of, 196
portion of Sháhnáma corre-
sponding to, 196
compared with, 200
seq., 205 seq., 255 seq.
Karnámak, and Firdausí, 196
polo episode in, 196
Karnaprávaramás, 80
Kárún, river, 199 note
dam on, 295
Kashmír, 31
king of, 31
Katíb, Arab chief, 21, 65, 120
Káwa, flag of, 347
Kázirún, 199
Kerátór. See Tainúsh.
Khán, the, 35
of Chín, 35
ambassadors from, come
to Dárá, 35
Kharazm (Khiva), 72
Kharazmians, the, 72
Kharrád, Íránian warrior, ix, 228,
284
takes Ardawán prisoner, 228
Kharrád, sacred Fire, 212 and
note, 226, 391
Khír, district, 198
Khisr (Al Khidr, q.v.), chief and
prophet, 159
goes with Sikandar to the
Gloom, 159
parts company with Sikan-
dar, 160
finds the Fount of Life, 160
Khurásán, 242, 301
Khurm, 82, 184
meaning of, 82
oracle of, consulted, 184
Khurra-i-Ardshír. See Ardshír
Khurra.
Khurram Ábád (Karkh ?), city,
327, 357 and note
Khusrau, Sháh. See Kai Khus-
rau.
Khusrau, Íránian noble, xi, 395,
408
referred to, 406
elected Sháh in succession
to Yazdagird, 395
proposes that Bahrám Gúr
should begin at the ordeal,
409
does homage to Bahrám Gúr,
410
Khuzá', Arab tribe, 65, 120
their rule ended by Sikan-
dar, 120
Khúzistán (Susiana), 290 and
note, 298, 327, 357
Kibtís, 397 and note
Kinám-i-Asírán (Shús ?), 327, 357
and note
King of kings, title of, 193, 197
meaning of, in Achæmenian
and Parthian times, 198
assumed by Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 193, 199, 254, 258, 273
Kings, Tribal, q.v.
Kirmán, region in southern Írán,
v, 31, 46, 47, 57, 59, 199,
202, 205, 245, 252
Dárá retires to, 46
etymology of, 204, 236
Ardshír Pápakán's invasion
of, 205, 245
Kirmánsháh, title, 313, 368
Kirmánsháhán, place, 368
Ktesias. See Ctesias.
Kubád, Sháh. See Kai Kubád.
Kubád, Sháh, father of Núshír-
wán, 3, 208
Kúfa, city, 381
wood of, 381
Kujárán, city and province, 205,
206, 232
Haftwád migrates from, to
stronghold, 235
Kuraish, Arab tribe, 65
Kurán, the, 15, 65, 84
references to Alexander in,
15, 78, 84
legend of Moses and the salt
fish in, 77
Gog and Magog in, 78
Kurdistán, 330
Kurd, Kurds, the, viii, 193, 203,
230 seq., 257
Árdshír Pápakán's war with,
in Kárnámak, 196, 206, 256
in Sháhnáma, 230 seq.
Kurdzád, daughter of Mihrak, q.v.
Kuria Muria Islands, 72
LAUS, Ptolemy, son of. See
Ptolemy.
Land of Darkness. See Gloom,
the.
Land-tax, Mahmúd's remission
of, 196, 208
Latin version, early, of Pseudo-
Callisthenes. See Julius
Valerius.
Leech of Kaid. See Four Won-
ders, the.
Legend, Syriac Christian, of
Alexander. See Syriac.
Leo, constellation, 172, 180
Libra, constellation, 97
Life, Fount of, q.v.
Water of, vii
of Alexander, Plutarch's, 67
Luhrásp, Sháh, 55, 200
MA, Hittite goddess, 71
= Cybele, 71
priestesses of = Amazons, 71
Macan, Turner, 250
his edition of the Sháhnáma,
60
M'Crindle, 68
his Ancient India quoted,
68, 80
Macedonia, 81, 82
Macedonian invasion of the East,
68, 69
Macrianus, Prætorian prefect,
294
his treachery to Valerian, 294
Madá, Medes, the, 194
Mádik, king of the Kurds, 203
meaning of, 203, 256
Magi, the, 372, 373
Magog (Májúj). See Cog.
Mahábhárata, Indian epic, 31, 80
Máhiyár, minister of Dárá, 52, 88
referred to, v
murders Dárá, 52
tells Sikandar of the murder,
52
arrested by Sikandar, 53
executed, 56, 88
Mahmúd, Sultán, viii, ix, 20, 193
praise of, 20, 207, 279, 292,
370
Firdausí's veiled attacks on,
62, 92 seq. and note
his remission of the land-tax,
196, 208
Maishán, 199
Májúj (Magog). See Yájúj.
Makrán (Gedrosia, Balúchistán),
69, 182, 202, 397
Alexander's return by, pro-
ductive of marvels, 69
etymology of, 69
Málika, daughter of Táír, 3, 323,
324, 330
referred to, x
legend of, 323, 330 seq.
offers to betray her father's
stronghold to Shápúr, 331
makes the garrison drunk,
333
opens the gate to Shápúr, 333
goes to Shápúr's camp, 333
Manda, the, nomad tribes, 194
Mandanes (Dandamis, Kait,
Kaihan, Kand, Kaid), 61
and Onesieritus, 61
identical with Kaid, 62
Mání, heresiarch, x, 307, 327,
358
account of, 327
-gate, 327, 359
his teaching, 328
his disputation with the high
priest, 358
executed, 359
Marco Polo, 74
Mars, planet, 212, 318
Mas'údí, historian, 62, 63, 82,
193, 257, 313, 315
his genealogies of Pápak, 200
his “Book of Indication and
Revision,” 252
his apologue of the owls, 310
on the parentage of Yazda-
gird, son of Shápúr, 371
Maundeville, Sir John, 13, 72
Mazaga, Indian city, 65
taken by Alexander, 65
Mázandarán (Hyrcania), 373
Mecca, 64, 120
Sikandar's visit to, 64, 119
seq.
account of, 64
Mede, Medes (Madá), the, 194,
203
Media, 31, 201, 203
Magna, 201, 203, 256
Median, 194, 195
empire, 194
Mediterranean, the, 294
Megara, city, 323 note
Megasthenes, 68
Memphis, city, 82
Alexander's body taken to,
82
Mercury, planet, 171, 224
Meroe, island and city of, 13, 65
Mesopotamia, Mesopotamian, 30,
294, 321
desert, 322
Mihr. See Mihr Barzín.
Mihr, month, 24, 33, 55
Mihrak, Tribal King, viii, ix, 3,
199, 237, 238, 257, 267,
268, 270, 272, 273
= Mithrak, 206
slain by Ardshír Pápakán,
241
his daughter, viii, ix, 3, 241,
256, 257, 268 seq., 272
escapes, 241, 256, 268
referred to in Kaid's pro-
phecy, 267
discovered by Shápúr,
268 seq.
informs Shápúr of her
birth, 270
marries Shápúr, 270
birth of her sou Ur-
muzd, 271
= Mithrak = Mádik = Ar-
dawán (?), 256
his importance in legend, 257,
267
Mihrán, Indian sage, vi, 91, 97
consulted by Kaid about his
dreams, 92 seq.
interprets Kaid's dreams, 94
seq.
Mihrán, treasurer to Yazdagird,
387
Mihr Barzín, sacred Fire, 201,
212 and note
Mihrgán, feast, 230 and note, 245
Mihrmas, 200
Mílád, Íránian warrior, 394
Mílád (Taxila), Indian city, 62,
98, 102, 109, 110
Sikandar approaches, 98
Minos, 323 note
Minúchihr, Sháh, 200, 353
Mírkhánd, historian, 62, 315
Miskál, measure of weight, 24
and note
Misr (Egypt), vi, 37, 114, 115,
122, 181
invaded by Sikandar, 37, 121
king of, defeated by Sikan-
dar, 37
welcomes Sikandar, 121
sea of, 120
Sikandar stays for a year in,
121
Mithrak, 206
= Mihrak, 206
= Mihrak = Mádik = Arda-
wán (?), 256
Mohl, Jules, 60
his edition of the Sháhnáma,
60
on the story of the Worm,
203
Mong, Indian city, 18
Moses, prophet, 77, 95
and the salt fish, legend of,
77
Faith of, 95
Mosul, city, 322
Muhammad, the Prophet, 15, 65,
190, 292
his reference to Alexander in
the Kurán, 15, 77
Muhammad Kásim, Arab general,
325
Muhammadans, the, 78
Mukaffa. See Ibn Mukaffa.
Mutilation, instances of, 261,
323, 334, 348, 357, 404
Munzir, prince of Hira, xi, 372,
377 seq., 384 seq., 394, 406,
408
visits Yazdagird, 377
monarch of Yaman, 378
returns to Yaman with Bah-
rám, 378
chooses nurses for Bahrám,
378
dismisses Bahrám's tutors,
380
provides Bahrám Gúr with
steeds, 380
provides Bahrám Gúr with
slave-girls, 381
goes to the chase with Bah-
ram Gúr, 384
sends a picture of Bahrám
Gúr shooting to Yazdagird,
385
sends Bahrám Gúr with
Nu'mán to Yazdagird,
386
receives a letter from Yaz-
dagird, 387
counsels and sends Bahrám
Gúr a slave-girl and pres-
ents, 388
welcomes Bahrám Gúr on
return, 390
supports Bahrám Gúr's
claim to the throne, 396
seq.
invades Írán, 397
his interview with Jawánwí,
398 seq.
refers Jawánwí to Bahrám
Gúr, 398
advises Bahrám Gúr to
negotiate with the Írán-
ians, 401, 404
Mytilene, Chares of, 61
NABARZANES, Persian general,
32
pardoned by Alexander, 32
Náhíd (Halai (?), Olympias),
daughter of Failakús, v,
24 seq. and note, 89
marries Dáráb, 25
troubled by offensive breath,
26
cured, but repudiated by
Dáráb, 26
returns to Failakús and gives
birth to Sikandar, 26
visits Dilárái and Rúshanak,
89
referred to, 187
Náhíd, the planet Venus, 214
Naitkún (Antigonus), minister of
Sikandar, 66
his name assumed by Sikan-
dar, 66, 125 seq.
personates Sikandar, 125 seq.
Kaidrúsh and his wife brought
before, 126
sentenced to death by,
126
pardoned by, 126
= Sikandar, 131, 133, 134, 141
Napata, city, 65
Naphtha, vi, 115, 116, 165
Sikandar's iron steeds filled
with, 115
Fúr's elephants and troops
routed by the use of, 116
used to vitrify Sikandar's
barrier, 165
Narmpái, the, fabulous tribe, vii,
71 and note
Sikandar and, 150
Narses (Narsí, son of Bahrám),
Sásánian king, 315
Narsí, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
Narsí, son of Bahrám, Sháh
(Narses), ix, 3, 313, 316,
325, 330, 331, 337
his reign, 315 seq.
Narsí, his title, 315
his inaugural address, 315
daughter of. See Núsha.
Nasíbín (Nisibis, q.v.), 326, 355
cession of, 355
inhabitants of, refuse to sub-
mit to Shápúr, 356
taken by Shápúr, 356
Nasr, Amír, brother of Mahmúd,
196, 207
praise of, 207
Nasr, Arab chief, 65, 120, 121
appeals to Sikandar for help,
120
made ruler at Mecca, 121
Naurúz, 33, 55, 273, 389
Nearchus, admiral of Alexander
the Great, 12, 61, 70
his account of the Ichthy-
ophagi quoted by Arrian,
69, 70
Nectanebus II., king of Egypt,
16, 18
personates Amen-Ra and be-
comes the legendary father
of Alexander the Great, 16
story of, 18 and note
Negroes, the, 73
described, 73, 157
cause frost and snow to harm
Sikandar, 156, 157
Nekht-neb-f. See Nectanebus.
Nereis. See Kalé.
Nicæa, Indian city, 18
Nicolaus of Damascus, 195
Nile, 42, 65, 169, 171, 269
the Blue, 65
mistaken for Indus, 68
Nímrúz,436
175
Sikandar marches to, 175
Niris, lake, 17
referred to, 21
Nishápúr, city, 298
Nisibis (Nasíbín, q.v.), 254
peace of, 254
cession of, 326
Nisus and Scylla, story of, 323
note
Nitetis, 16
Nöldeke, Professor, 14 and note,
198 note, 199 and note, 253,
313, 372
his treatise on the Alexander
Romance, &c., 14 and note
on the story of the Worm,
203, 205, 206
Haftwád, 206
Northmen, the, 19
found Russian empire, 19
Note on Pronunciation, 8
Nubia, 65
Nu'mán, prince of Hira, xi, 372,
396, 404
visits Yazdagird, 377
goes to the chase with Bah-
rám Gúr, 384
goes to the Persian court
with Bahrám Gúr, 386
returns to Yaman with letters
and presents, 387
welcomes Bahrám Gúr on his
revisiting Yaman, 390
invades Írán, 397
Núsha (Dukhtnúsh), daughter of
Narsí, x, 3, 323, 324, 331
carried off by the Arabs, 323,
330
Núshírwán, Sháh, 3, 201, 208
quoted, 208, 209 and note
Núshzád, father of Mihrak, 237,
241, 267, 270, 273
OASIS of Ammon, 65
Alexander's visit to, 65
Odenathus, Arab chief, 294, 322,
324 seq.
and Shápúr, son of Ardshír,
294, 325
confused with Valerian, 324
seq.
Odorico, Minorite Friar and
traveller, 13
Olympias (Halai (?), Náhíd), wife
of Philip of Macedon and
mother of Alexander the
Great, 16, 82
her legendary connexion with
Nectanebus, 16, 18
her legendary choice of a
name for her son, 19
her intrigues, 82
Omphis, Indian king, 62
Onesicritus, pilot of Alexander
the Great, 12, 61, 67
an untrustworthy writer, 12
the Fakírs and, 61
Calanus and, 61
Mandanes and, 61
Ormus (Hurmuz), city on the
Persian Gulf, 204
Osroene, kingdom, 198
Othello, play of, quoted, 324
Owls, Mas'údí's apologue of the,
310
Oxyartes, father of Roxana
(Rúshanak), wife of Alex-
ander the Great, 32
PAHLAVÁN, Pahlaváns, 194
Pahlaví, version of the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 14, 16, 84
writing and reading, con-
fusion in, 14, 62, 205, 206
language, 194
text, 195, 196, 257
Pálawína (Cappadocia), 294, 297,
298
Palestine, 30
Palladius, bishop, 61, 62
his treatise on the Brahmans,
61
interpolated into the
Pseudo - Callisthenes,
61
Palmyra, 294, 322, 324
Palus Mæotis, 73
Pápak, Tribal King, viii, 3, 194,
195, 198 seq., 211 note and
seq., 227, 252, 254, 256
and Sásán, 212
daughter of, 213
marries Sásán, 213
Ardawán's letter to, 214
equips Ardshír Pápákan for
court, 214
dies, 218
his kindred support Ardshír
Pápákan, 223 seq.
Pápakán, Ardshír. See Ardshír
Pápakán.
Paradise Lost referred to, 71
Paris, MSS. of the Pseudo-Callis-
thenes in National Library
at, 14
Párs, country, 17, 25, 32 note,
37, 45, 115, 119, 194 and
passim
the corpse of Darius sent to,
33
Ardshír Pápakán flees to, 220
marches from, against
Ardawán, 227
returns to, 229
the Íránians, after Yazda-
gird's death, meet to con-
sult in, 394
Part Kings. See Tribal Kings.
Parthian, Parthians, the, 194,
203, 256, 322
dynasty, 194, 201
uses the title of King of
kings, 197
Great king, 198
Parwíz, Íránian chief, 394
Pashín, Íránian noble, 408
Patashwárgar, region, 202 and
note
Pauravas, Indian race and dyn-
asty, 31
Persepolis (Istakhr), 31, 32 note,
373
Persia, 61, 201, 278
introduction of chess into,
201
Persian, Persians, the, 30, 44, 45,
81, 82, 143, 148, 157. 170,
201 and passim
language, 147, 205
dispute with the Rúmans
over Sikandar's burial,
184
empire, 197
monks introduce the silk-
worm into Europe, 204
sea or gulf, 204, 205
mutilation of captives, 323,
334, 348, 357, 404
Persis (Párs), 195
Pharasmanes, king, 72
Philip II. of Macedon (Failakús),
the father of Alexander
the Great, 16, 18, 19, 29
and Nectanebus, story of,
18
names his son Alexander,
19
Philon, Macedonian noble, 76
Phrygians, the, 71
Pírúz Shápúr (Ambar), city, 327,
357
Pisces, constellation, 395
Pishdádian, dynasty, 194
Planets, the seven, 206
Pleiads, Pleiades, 169, 401
Plutarch, historian, 67
Polo, 196, 329, 379, 382
episode in Kárnámak and
Sháhnáma, 196, 257, 263,
271
Porus (Fúr, q.v.), Indian king, 17,
62 seq. 66, 67, 76, 80, 83
son of, 18, 63
Darius' letter to, 31
origin of name of, 31
kingdom of, 31
and Alexander, historical
account of, 63
in the Pseudo - Callis-
thenes, 64, 67
his stature, 64
nephew of, 80
Pronunciation, Note on, 8
Pseudo-Callisthenes, the, Greek
Romance of Alexander the
Great, 13 seq., 30 seq., 62
seq., 71, 72, 74 seq., account,
and versions of, 13 seq., 17
vogue of, 17
treatise of Palladius inter-
polated in, 61
Alexander and Porus in, 64
historic elements in, 83
Egyptian, 83
Persian, 83
Arabic, 83
diagram to illustrate, 84
Ptolemy, son of Lagus, one of
Alexander's generals, king
of Egypt and historian, 12,
13, 66
Python, Apollo and the, 203
QUINTUS Curtius, historian, 65
on the Amazons, 72
RACES, duplicate in West and
East, 68
fair-haired, 73
Rai, city and district near Tihrán,
32, 201, 202, 219, 229
Ardawán's capital, 201
Rákshasas, 13
Rám, Fire-temple, 202, 226
Rám Ardshír, city, 202, 290 and
note
Rámbihisht, wife of Sásán, 198
Rám-Hurmuz, plain of, 199
Rámishn-i-Ardshír, district, 202
Rás-Shápúr, city, 255
= Gund-i-Shápúr, 256
Ratl, weight, 156 and note
Ravi (Hydraotes), Indian river,
64
Rawalpindi, 62
Rawlinson, Professor, 253
Reeds (bamboos), 71
Reeds, gigantic, seen by Sikandar,
148
used in house-building, 71,
148
Rív-Ardshír, city, 202
referred to, 224
Roman, Romans, the, 30, 254,
318, 325, 326
Alexander's legendary visit
to, 30
empire, Eastern, 253
emperors, 321, 371, 372
Romance of Alexander the Great,
the, 11 seq., 88
its incorporation in the Sháh-
náma, 16
vogue of, 17
sources of marvels in, 12, 69
diagram to illustrate, 84
Rome, 194, 197, 203, 301, 324
Shápúr son of Ardshír's wars
with, 294, 297
Bahrám Gúr's war with, 373
Roxana (Rúshanak, q.v.), 30, 33
and Alexander, 30
account of, 32
Rúdyáb, father of Pápak (in
Sháhnáma), 200, 212
Rúm, the Eastern Roman Em-
pire, v. x, 21 seq., 35 seq.,
40, 41, 45, 51, 53, 81, 94,
104, 113 seq., and passim
ambassadors from, come to
Dáráb, 21
Dáráb wars with, 22
prince of, 22
chiefs of, 23, 153
withdraw on Dáráb's
approach, 23
tribute of, to Dáráb, 24
ambassadors from, come to
Dárá, 35
brocade of, 56, 89
reed (pen) of, 85
stuffs of, 143
philosophers of, 115, 154
cavaliers of, 167
Sháh of = Sikandar, 170
Rúm, king of = Sikandar, 172
Sikandar's policy to safe-
guard, 178
Arastálís' advice to Sikandar
concerning, 179
invaded by Shápúr, 350
slave-girls of, chosen by
Bahrám Gúr, 382
Rúman, Rúmans, the, ix, x, 19,
21, 44, 45, 101 seq., 113,
114, 127, 142, 148, 168, 170,
179 seq., and passim
king of = Philip of Macedon,
19
carry out works in Írán, 21
= Sikandar, 50, 52, 154
the Íránians ask quarter of,
51
tongue, 160
dispute with the Persians as
to Sikandar's burial, 184
sages, 185
their sentences over the
coffin of Sikandar, 185
seq.
silk, 280
defeated by Shápúr, son of
Ardshír, 297
engineers build bridge at
Shúshtar, 299
astrologic tablets, 376
slave-girls, 382
Rús (Russia), 19, 22
king of, 22
Rúshanak (Roxana, q.v.), daugh-
ter of Dárá (in Sháhnáma)
and wife of Sikandar, v,
vi, 86 seq., 181, 188
account of, 32
derivation of, 33
bestowed by Dárá on Si-
kandar, 55
son of, 81, 181
visited by Náhíd, 89
married to Sikandar, 90
reference in Sikandar's Will
to, 181
Russia (Rús), 19
Russian, Russians, the, 19
empire, 19
foundation of, 19
Rustam, son of Zál, Íránian hero,
194, 325, 395
a Personification of the
Sacæ, 194
SACÆ, Scythians, the, 194
Rustam a Personification of,
194
Sada, feast of, 33, 55, 230 and
note, 245, 273, 389
Sage, sages, vi, vii, 101, 103
Indian, 62
naked (Brahmans, q.v.,
Gymnosophistæ)
of Kaid. See Calanus and
Four Wonders, the.
Sikandar and, 62, 104
seq.
described, 94, 101
explains the principle of
the Cup, 109
Sakláb, Slavonia, 179
Salm, eldest son of Farídún, 353
Salt fish, the legend of, 76 seq.
Sám, Íránian hero, 395
Samírán, 405 and note
Sandar, Sandarús, the Arar tree,
19
Sapor I. (Shápúr, son of Ardshír),
Sásánian king, 294, 321
Sapor II. (Shápúr, son of Urmuzd),
Sásánian king, 294, 321
Sapor III. (Shápúr, son of Shápúr),
365
Sarúg, Jacob of, Syriac poet.
See Jacob.
Sarv, king of Yaman, 73
Sásán, name of Dárá's son and
several of his descendants,
200, 211, 224, 255
descendants of, help Ardshír
Pápakán, 224
House of, 251, 270 and note
Sásán, father of Ardshír Pápakán,
viii, 3, 193, 198, 200, 201,
211 seq., 240
legend of, 211 seq.
marries daughter of Pápak,
213
Sásánian, Sásánians, the, viii, 81,
209, 225, 249 seq., 253, 257,
321, 327
genealogical table of, 3, 253
Tabarí's history of, 14 note
Dynasty, viii, 61, 199, 249 seq.
Tabarí on the rise of the,
198
characterised, 249 seq.
Zoroastrianism under, 251
Mas'údí on Church and
State under, 251
duration of, 257
Empire, 193, 327
fictitious genealogies of, 199,
211, 256
view of Sikandar, 15, 224 and
note, 240 and note
Saturn, planet, 97, 115, 176, 281,
318, 385
Sav, spring of, xi, 372, 373, 391,
392
legend of, 372, 391 seq.
Sawurg, Indian king, vi, 64, 118
Sayce, Professor, on the Amazons,
71
Scandinavians, 19, 73
found the Russian empire, 19
Scotland, 79
vitrified forts in, 79
Scylla, Nisus and, story of, 323
note
Seleucia, city, 254, 291 note, 322
Semiramis, queen, 66, 405 note
Seven climes, the. See Climes.
Persian nobles, the, legend
of, 207
transferred to Ardshír
Pápakán (?), 207
planets, 206
Severus, Emperor, 322
his siege of Hatra, 322
Sháh, accession of, ceremony at,
409
Sháhábád, city, 295
Shahd, river, 391, 392
Sháhnáma, 3 and note, 11, 19, 30,
31, 66 seq., 72, 79, 82 seq.,
194 seq., 200 seq., 205 seq.,
249 seq., 253, 256, 270 note,
294, 301, 307, 310, 325, 326
Greek subject-matter in, 11
derivation of Sikandar given
in, 19
historic period of, 29
and Írán, analogy between,
193
portion of, corresponding to
Kárnámak, 196
prose, 196
and Kárnámak compared,
200 seq., 255 seq.
Shahrgír, chief in Sikandar's host,
125, 126
takes Kaidáfa's son and
daughter-in-law prisoners,
125
Shahrgír, captain of the host to
Ardshír Pápakán, 241
Ardshír's instructions to, 241
goes to Ardshír's help, 244
and note
Shahrwí, archimage, 329
minister during Shápúr
son of Urmuzd's minority,
329
Sháhwí, eldest son of Haftwád,
237
referred to, 206
helps his father against
Ardshír Pápakán, 236
executed, 245
Shám (Syria), 357
Shangul, Indian king, 325
Shápúr, Ashkánian king, 197, 210
Shápúr, son of Pápak, 199
Shápúr, son of Ardshír Pápakán,
Sháh (Sapor I.), viii, ix, 3,
196, 256, 262 seq., 268 seq.,
303, 307, 313, 315, 321 seq.
Shápúr, stories of, in Kárnámak,
196, 255
in Tabarí, 255, 257
crowned in his father's life-
time, 257
secret birth of, 261
origin of name, 262 and note
recognised and acknowledged
by Ardshír Pápakán, 264
discovers the daughter of
Mihrak, 268 seq.
summoned and counselled by
Ardshír Pápakán, 286 seq.
confused with Shápúr, son of
Urmuzd, 294, 321, 324, 327
his reign, 294 seq.
its historical inaccura-
cies, 294
his wars with Rome, 294,
297
and Odenathus, 294
defeats the Rúmans, 297
receives tribute from Cæsar,
298
builds cities, 298
bids Bazánúsh build a bridge
at Shúshtar, 298
summons and counsels Ur-
muzd, 299
Shápúr, son of Urmuzd, Sháh
(Sapor II.), x, 3, 294, 295,
307, 321 seq., 371, 373,
405 (?)
referred to, 318
reign of, 321 seq.
his bridge at Taisafún, 321,
329
his places of residence, 321,
330
confused with Shápùr, son
of Ardshír, 294, 321, 324,
327
his triumphant treaty with
the Rúmans, 326, 355
his cities, 327, 357
birth of, 328
crowned as an infant, 328
his education, 329
Shápúr, son of Urmuzd, Málika
offers to betray her father's
stronghold to, 331
opens the gate to, 333
sends Málika to his camp,
333
his treatment of his Arab
captives, 323, 334
receives the title of Zú'l
Aktáf, q.v., 335
returns to Párs and receives
tribute, 335
consults the astrologers, 335
visits Cæsar in disguise, 336
entertained by Cæsar, 337
denounced by a Persian re-
sident at Cæsar's court, 337
arrested, 337
sewed up in an ass's skin
and imprisoned, 338
pitied by an Íránian slave-
girl, 339
freed from ass's skin by
slave-girl, 340
entertained by a gardener,
341 seq.
sends the gardener to the
high priest, 344
described by the high priest,
344
praises the slave-girl, 346
prepares to attack Cæsar,
346
sends spies to Taisafún, 346
sends tidings of his victory
over Cæsar to the provinces,
348
his treatment of Cæsar, 349
invades Rúm, 350
defeats Yánus, 352
bids Bazánúsh come to him,
354
dictates terms of peace, 355
returns to Istakhr, 356
takes Nasíbín, 356
names and honours the slave-
girl, 356
rewards the gardener, 357
Shápúr, keeps Cæsar captive, 357
sends Cæsar's corpse to Rúm,
357
arranges a disputation be-
tween Mání and the high
priest, 358
has Mání executed, 359
arranges for the succession
with his brother Ardshír,
360 seq.
dies, 362
Shápúr, son of Shápúr, Sháh
(Sapor III.), x, 3, 251, 360,
364 seq., 371
Ardshír, son of Urmuzd, re-
signs the throne to, 364
Tabarí on the death of, 365
death of, 366
Shápúr, son of Yazdagird, king
of Armenia, 373
Shápúr Gird (Gund-i-Shápúr ?),
city, 295, 298
Shawwál, the tenth Muham-
madan month, 208
Shem, patriarch, 65
Shíbán, 397
Shikbán, Íránian warrior, 395
Shíráz, city, 198 note, 210
Shu'íb, Arab chief, v, 21
attacks Dáráb, 21
defeated and slain, 22
Shúrsán = Súristán (Babylonia),
379
Shús = Kinám-i-Asírán (?), 327
Shúshtar, city, 199, 295 and note,
299
dam and bridge at, 298, 326
Sicily, 30
Alexander's legendary visit
to, 30
Sikandar (Iskandar, Alexander
the Great, q.v.), v seq. 11,
13, 16, 18, 19, 26, 27, 29,
30, 33, 35 seq., 193, 210,
240 and note, 325, 353
derivation of, in Tabarí, 19
in Sháhnáma, 19, 26
birth of, 18, 26
Sikandar, adopted as his heir by
Failakús, 27
counselled by Arastálís, 35
refuses tribute to Dárá, 36
prepares for war with Dárá,
37
invades, and defeats king of,
Misr, 30, 37
invades Írán, 37
his visit to the camp of Dárá,
38
invited to banquet with Dárá,
40
takes the golden cups of
Dárá, 40
recognised, 40
escapes, 41
defeats Dárá, 43, 44, 46
issues proclamation to the
Íránians, 44, 47
gives the spoil to his troops,
44, 47
marches from 'Irák against
Dárá, 46
enters Istakhr, 46
answers Dárá's letter, 50
marches from Istakhr, 51
hears of Dárá's murder, 52
arrests Dárá's murderers, 53
finds Dárá still living 53
promises to avenge Dárá, 53
promises to carry out Dárá's
last wishes, 54
Dárá bestows Rúshanak
upon, 55, 86
laments for, and buries Dárá,
55, 56
executes Dárá's murderers, 56
hailed as ruler by the Írán-
ians, 56
sends envoys to Ispahán and
to the family of Dárá, and
letters to the provinces, to
announce his accession, 57
crowned Sháh at Istakhr, 59
reign of, 60 seq.
diagram to illustrate Persian
Romance of, 84
Sikandar, his inaugural address,
85
his correspondence with the
wife and daughter of Dárá
33, 86 seq.
marries Rúshanak, 90
invades Hind, 98
and Kaid, 61, 98
approaches Mílád, 98
inquires about the Four
Wonders of Kaid, 100
the Four Wonders and other
gifts sent by Kaid to, 103
marries daughter of Kaid, 104
and the sage of Kaid, 62,
104 seq.
the principle of the cup ex-
plained to, 109
conceals his treasures, 110
and note
advances to Kannúj, 110
his troops protest, 113
remonstrates with his troops,
113
his troops ask pardon, 114
his war with Fúr (Porus), 67,
110 seq.
hears of Fúr's elephants, 115
his device to overcome,
115
challenges Fúr to single
combat, 116
slays Fúr, 117
Fúr's troops submit to, 118
becomes king of Hind, 118
bestows Hind on Sawurg, 118
his visit to Mecca and the
Kaaba, 64, 67, 119 seq.
ends the rule of the Khuzá'
in Arabia, 120
sets up Nasr instead of the
Khuzá', 120
goes to Judda, 121
marches to Misr, 121
welcomed by king of, 121
stays for a year in, 121
and Kaidáfa (Candace), 65,
121 seq.
Sikandar, his portrait obtained by
Kaidáfa, 122
Kaidáfa praised by Kabtún
to, 122
writes to Kaidáfa, 123
Kaidáfa's answer to, 123
assumes the name of Naitkún
(Antigonus), 66, 125 seq.
pleads (as Naitkún) for Kaid-
rúsh and his wife, 126
goes (as Naitkún) to Kaidáfa,
127
graciously received by Kai-
dáfa, 128
has audiences of Kaidáfa,
128 seq.
recognised by Kaidáfa, 129
seq.
delivers his message, as
envoy, to Kaidáfa, 129, 134
his covenant with Kaidáfa,
132, 138
warned by Kaidáfa against
Tainúsh, 133
insulted by Tainúsh, 134
counsels Kaidáfa about Tain-
úsh, 135
makes covenant with Tain-
úsh, 136
Kaidáfa's gifts to, 140
returns with Tainúsh, 141
welcomed by his troops, 141
reveals himself to Tainúsh,
142
entertains at a banquet, gives
gifts to, and dismisses
Tainúsh, 143
his final message to Kaidáfa,
143
the Brahmans hear of the
coming of, and write to,
143
his interview with the Brah-
mans, 67, 144 seq.
quits the Brahmans, 147
meets the Fish-eaters (Ichthy-
ophagi, q.v.), 69 seq., 147,
177
Sikandar, his adventure with a
whale, 71, 147
sees gigantic reeds (bamboos),
71, 148
attacked by snakes, scor-
pions, and boars, 148
the people of Habash, 149
the Narmpái, 160
his adventure with a dragon,
71, 151
visits the temple of Dionysus,
71, 152, 166
warned of his death, 152,
161, 166
marches toward Harúm, the
City of Women, (Amazons,
q.v.), 153 seq.
encounters snow and frost, 156
great heat, 157
the negroes, 157
reaches and inspects Harúm,
157
marches westward and finds
a fair-haired race, 73, 158
hears of the Gloom, q.v., and
of the Fount of Life, q.v.,
and prepares to visit them,
158
sets forth with Khisr as
guide, 159
and Khisr part company, 160
fails to find the Fount of
Life, 160
his interview with birds, 160
Isráfíl, 78, 161
emerges from the Gloom, 162
marches eastward, 163
hears of Yájuj and Májúj, 163
barrier of, 78, 164, 249
and the Male and Female
Tree, 79, 167 seq.
reaches “The World's End,”
168
receives gifts, 169
his expedition to Chín, 80,
169 seq.
goes as his own ambassador
to the Faghfúr, 170
Sikandar, describes himself, 171
Faghfúr's gifts to, 173
departs with Faghfúr's en-
voy, 173
his identity discovered by
the envoy, 173
dismisses the envoy with
gifts and a message to
Faghfúr, 174
arrives at Chaghwán, 174
marches to Sind, 175
defeats Bandáwa, chief of
the Sindians, 175
marches to Nímrúz, 175
receives gifts from the king
of Yaman, 175
meets Gúsh-bistar, 177
carries off the treasures of
Kai Khusrau, 178
his policy for safeguarding
Rúm after his decease, 81,
178, 197
adopts the advice of Aras-
tálís, 180
arrives at Bábil, 180
prodigious birth at, 81,
180
consults the astro-
logers on, 180
warned of his end, 180
sickens, 181
his Will, 81, 181
grief of the troops for, 183, 184
dies, 183
dispute as to where he should
be buried, 184
his body taken to Iskan-
daríya, 185
sentences of sages over, 82,
83, 185
his cities, 83, 189
the Sásánian view of, 15 and
note
Silk, account of, 204
its introduction into the
West, 204
Silk-worm. See Silk.
Sind, region and river (Indus), 113
king of, 113
chiefs of, 123
warriors of, 132, 137
Sikandar marches to, 175
Sindbad, the sailor, 71
lands on a whale, 71
Sindians, the, vii, 175
defeated by Sikandar, 175
Sístán,445
32, 198
Smerdis, the false, 207
Spain (Andalús), 66
Speaking tree, the, vii, 79, 167
seq.
Sphinés. See Calanus.
Stateira. See Barsine.
Steeds, iron, Sikandar's, vi, 115
filled with naphtha, 115
Fúr's elephants and
troops routed by, 116
Stone, the Black, 65
Strabo, geographer, 68, 81
Súfís, 59 and note
Sughdiana (Sughd), 72
Suhráb, son of Rustam, 325
Surúsh, angel, 199 note, 372
day, 411
Surúsh, astrologer, 372, 375
takes Bahrám Gúr's horo-
scope, 375
Susa, city, 31, 33, 295, 327
Alexander marries the daugh-
ter of Darius at, 33
Susiana (Khúzistán), 295, 321
Swat, river, 65
Syria, 30
Syriac, version of the Pseudo-
Callisthenes, 14, 16, 18, 30,
31 seq., 61, 63, 65, 66, 68,
71, 72, 74, 78 seq.
Christian Legend of Alex-
ander, 14, 15, 74, 78, 84
quoted, 15
metrical version of, 15,
78, 84
TABÁK, Íránian chief, viii, 202,
225
suspected by Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 225
justifies himself, 226
and Ardshír Pápakán defeat
Bahman, 226
buries Ardawán, 229
advises Ardshír Pápakán to
marry the daughter of
Ardawán, 229
Tabarí, historian, 14 note, 16, 19,
30, 198, 200, 291 note, 310,
313, 315, 321, 326
his history of the Sásánians,
14 note
places Alexander's battles
with Darius in Mesopo-
tamia, 30
on Yájúj and Májúj, 78
his account of the rise of the
Sásánian dynasty, 198
his account of Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 198, 203
genealogies of Pápak in, 200
on the story of the Worm,
205, 206
his account of Haftwád, 205,
206
on the length of Ardshír
Pápakán's reign, 254
on Ardawán's daughter, 255
on Shápúr, son of Ardshír
Pápakán, 255, 257
on the death of Shápúr, son
of Shápúr, 365
on Bahrám, son of Shápúr,
368
on Yazdagird, son of Shápúr,
371 seq.
Table of Contents, v
genealogical, 3
Tacitus, historian, 73
Tainúsh (Charogos, Kerátór,
Kanír), son of Kaidáfa, vi,
66, 67, 134 seq.
Tainúsh, Kaidáfa warns Sikandar
against, 133
Fúr's son-in-law, 133
insults Sikandar, 134
Kaidáfa chides, 135
Kaidáfa and Sikandar con-
sult about, 135
makes a covenant with Sik-
andar, 136
accompanies Sikandar on his
return, 141
Sikandar discovers himself
to, 142
asks grace of Sikandar, 142
pardoned by Sikandar, 142
entertained at a banquet,
presented with gifts, and
dismissed, by Sikandar,
143
Tainúsh (Theodosius), xi, 372,
389, 404
goes to Yazdagird as ambas-
sador, 389
asked by Bahrám Gúr to
intercede with Yazdagird
for him, 389
obtains Bahrám Gúr's release,
390, 404
Táír (Daizan, q.v.), Arab chief, x,
3, 322, 324, 330 seq.
Taisafún (Ctesiphon, q.v.), 245,
321, 330, 346 seq., 397
Ardshír Pápakán goes to, 245
Shápúr's bridge at, 321, 329
sacked by Táír, 330
Shápúr sends spies to, 346
Cæsar defeated and taken
prisoner by Shápúr at, 347
Takht-i-Bústán, 257
Sásánian inscription at, 257
Taráz, city in Turkistán and dis-
trict in Badakhshán, 268
Taurus, constellation, 151
Taxila (Mílád), Indian city, 62,
63
Tharthar, river, 322
Theodosius (Tainúsh), Roman
Emperor, 372
Thermodon, river, 72
Tigris, river, 294, 322
small, the, 199 and note
lower, 291 note
bridge over, 321
Tírí, eunuch of Gúzihr, 198
Tírúdih, village, 198
birthplace of Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 198
Trajan, Emperor, 322
his siege of Hatra, 322
Tree, the speaking, vii, 79, 167
seq.
description of, 167 seq.
Sikandar visits, 167 seq.
warns Sikandar of his death,
168, 169
Tribal, or Part, Kings, the, viii,
180, 197, 198, 201, 203, 204,
210, 225, 252, 253
origin of, 179, 181, 210
character of their rule, 197,
198
number of, 198
Ardawán the chief of, 201
Firdausí on, 210
Túr, second son of Farídún, 353
Túrán, 43, 182, 398
Turkistán, 179, 278, 280, 397
Turkman language, 147
Tús, city, 372, 391, 393
local legend of, 372, 391 seq.
Tyre, city, 30
siege of, 30
UROSCOPY, 101, 107, 108
Urmuzd, the Good Principle, 55,
362, 372, 387
day, 302 and note, 306, 375
Urmuzd, Ashkánian king, 197,
210
Urmuzd, son of Shápúr, Sháh
(Hormisdas I.), ix, 3, 257,
273, 280, 313, 327
his discovery by Ardshír
Pápakán, 257, 271
Urmuzd, birth of, 271
counselled by Ardshír Pápa-
kán, 280
Shápúr, 299
reign of, 301 seq.
his title, 301
story about, 301
Urmuzd, son of Narsí, Sháh (Hor-
misdas II.), ix, x, 3, 294, 295,
307, 315, 316, 325
reign of, 318 seq.
his sons, 318
his inaugural address, 318
a pregnant wife of, enthroned,
320
Urmuzd (Hormisdas), son of
Narsí, Persian prince, 318,
325
referred to (?), 337
Urmuzd Ardshír, city, 290 and
note
Uné, 77
Utterakuri, the, 74
VALERIAN (Bazánúsh), Emperor,
294, 295, 323 seq.
his defeat and capture by
Shápúr, son of Ardshír, 294,
295
memorials of, 295
confused with Odenathus,
Julian, and Jovian, 324 seq.
his death in captivity, 326
Varahran I. (Bahrám, son of Ur-
muzd), Sásánian king, 307
Varahran II. (Bahrám, son of Bah-
rám), Sásánian king, 310
Varahran III. (Bahrám Bahrá-
miyán), Sásánian king, 313
Varahran IV. (Bahrám, son of
Shápúr), Sásánian king, 313,
368
Venus, planet, 98, 102, 171, 190,
212, 224, 332
Vitrified fortifications, 79, 165
Vologeses, king of Kirmán, 205
Vritra and Indra, 203
Vullers-Landauer edition of the
Sháhnáma, 60
WÁLID, Khalífa, 325
Water-horse, xi, 373, 392
referred to, 373
legend of Yazdagírd and the,
392
Western sea, the, vii, 158
Whale, 71, 147
mistaken for island, 71, 147
Sikandar's adventure with a,
71, 147
Wheeler, James Talboys, quoted,
81
Will of Alexander, 81
provisions of, 81, 181
Women, city of, vii. See Harúm.
Wonders, the Four, of Kaid, vi,
94, 97, 99 seq.
Worm, the, viii, 193, 206, 238 seq.
story of, 196, 203 seq., 232 seq.
Mohl, Darmesteter, and
Nöldeke on, 203 seq.
cult of, 235
Ardshír Pápakán's stratagem
against, 242
servants of, 242 seq.
XERXES, 30
effigy of, falls, 30
YÁJÚJ and Májúj (Gog and Ma-
gog), vii, 78, 79, 163 seq., 211
note
legend of, in the Kurán, 78
Tabarí on, 78
described, 163
Ya'kúbí, historian, 61
Yaman, country, vii, x, 73, 120,
121, 175, 324, 331, 385, 386,
396, 401
onyx of, 128
striped stuff of, 175
Yaman, monarch of, 175
gives gifts to Si-
kandar, 175
= Munzir, 378, 387,
390
Bahrám Gúr goes to, 378, 390
Canopus of, 382
Yánus (Julian), brother of Cæsar,
x, 324, 326
leads a host against Shápúr,
351
defeated, 352
Yátkár-i-Zarírán, Pahlaví text, 195
resembles Kárnámak, 195, 196
Yazd, city, 368
Yazdagird, Sháh (Isdigerd I.), xi,
3, 371 seq.
referred to, 369
reign of, 371 seq.
his parentage uncertain, 371
a lover of peace like Aknaton
of Egypt, 371
his titles, 371, 372
Tabarí on, 372, 373
death of, 373
Nöldeke on, 373
coins of, 373
his evil administration, 374,
404
makes search for a governor
for his son Bahrám Gúr,
376 seq.
Nu'mán and Munzir visit, 377
puts Bahrám Gúr in Munzir's
charge, 378
receives from Munzir a picture
of Bahrám Gúr shooting, 385
Bahrám Gúr returns to, 386
gives presents to, and sends a
letter by, Nu'mán to Mun-
zir, 387
disgraces Bahrám Gúr, 389
sends Bahrám Gúr back to
Munzir, 390
consults the astrologers, 390
his death foretold, 391
attacked by bleeding of the
nose, 391
Yazdagird, his death, 393
his corpse embalmed and
taken to Párs, 393
Youths, the two, that bid Ard-
shír Pápakán not to tarry
in his flight, 201, 222
entertain and counsel
Ardshír Pápakán in
the matter of the
Worm, 207, 239 seq.
help Ardshír Pápakán to
slay the Worm, 242, 244
Yúnán, 95 and note
Faith of, 95
ZÁBULISTÁN,449
207
Zahhák, Sháh, 15, 45, 172, 209,
240 and note
Zál, son of Sám and father of
Rustam, 79
Zandavasta (Avasta), 17, 55, 226,
252, 343, 356
Zarár, 200
Zarduhsht (Zarathushtra, Zoro-
aster), 55, 252, 328, 332
Zarduhsht, religion of, under the
Sásánian empire, 251
girdle of, 332
Zarnúsh, city, 35
Zeus, Babylonian, 82
oracle of, consulted, 82
Zijának, daughter of Ardawán,
viii, 255
story of, in Kárnámak, 255
Tarbarí, 255
Sháhnáma, 259 seq.
Zoroaster. See Zarduhsht.
Zoroastrian, Zoroastrianism, 15,
196, 206, 251, 252, 327,
328
under the Sásánian empire,
251
millennia of, 252
Zú'l Aktáf, title of Shápúr, son of
Urmuzd, x, 323
meaning of, 323
Zú'l - karnain (Sikandar, Alex-
ander the Great), 15, 84
legend of, in Kurán, 78, 84
barrier of, 78
site of, 79
Zúr. See Gúr.