Kai Kaus I: The War with Mazandaran

If ever mortal injury befall
A fruitful tree, when it hath waxen tall,
Its leaf will fade, its root become unsound,
Its head begin to bend toward the ground ;
And when the stem is snapped off at the root
'Twill yield its station to some fresh young shoot,
Resign thereto the garden's burgeoning
And all the lamp-like lustre of the spring ;
But if, my friend ! an evil shoot should rise,
Let not the good root suffer in thine eyes.
So when a father leaveth to his son
The world, and showeth him the course to run,
If he shall flout his father's regimen
Call him no longer son but alien.
He that abandoneth his teacher's path
Deserveth every evil that he hath.
This ancient hostelry is fashioned so
That thou canst not distinguish top from toe,
And he that wotteth of its evil way
Doth well to quit it with what speed he may.

Now let the stories which an ancient sage
Of prudent mind once told thy thoughts engage. invade Mdzandardn
Kaus, succeeding to his father's throne
With all the world to serve him, looked upon
Heaped hoards of treasures manifold, and knew
That he had not his peer on earth for wealth
Of necklaces, of earrings, and of thrones,
High-crested Arab steeds, and golden crowns
Inlaid with emeralds.

Now as it chanced
He sat one day and quaffed delicious wine
Within a pleasure-palace arabesqued
With gold, and sat upon the golden throne,
Whose feet were crystal, master of the world,
Discussing many matters great and small
In converse with the Iranian paladins,
And spake on this wise : " Who is Shah but I, -
Who worthy of the throne except myself ?
I rule the world with none to say me nay."

The Shah was thus conversing in his cups,
What while the captains wondered, when a div
In minstrel's guise addressed the chamberlain.
"A native of Mazandaran am I,"
He said, " a noted bard. If I am worthy
To serve the Shah let me approach his throne."
The chamberlain walked stately to the Shah,
And said : " There is a minstrel at the gate —
A rare musician — and he hath his harp."

The Shah bade fetch the man and set him down
Among the harpers. When his harp was tuned
He sang a ditty of Mazandaran : —
"Mazandaran, my native land !

May I forget it never,
And may its fields and fells abide
As populous as ever,
"For on its heights the hyacinth
And tulip bloom, while roses
Are ever blossoming anew
Within its garden- closes.

"The landscape is fulfilled with charm,
The atmosphere is pleasant,
And there is neither heat nor cold,
But spring is ever present.

"While in each garth the nightingale
Discourseth musically,
The deer are pacing daintily
In every mountain valley
"Throughout the year without a break
Intent upon their questing,
And evermore the hues are bright,
And scents exhale unresting.

"As for the rivers thou wouldst say : —
They run rose-water surely ! '
And at the fragrance breathing thence
The soul rejoiceth purely.

"There when the year is young and when
'Tis many a month the older,
A soil all tulips and a-bloom
Saluteth the beholder.

"The livelong year the streamlet's lips
Are laughing, and the foray
Of hawk and hunter after game
Will never fail of quarry.

"The provinces are gaily dight
Throughout their whole dimensions
With golden coins and with brocade,
And goodliest inventions ;
"The handmaids there, as idols fair,
Are crowned with crowns all golden,
And there the loins of all the great
With belts of gold are holden.

"He that is not in that fair land
Of joy exceeding measure,
Delighting heart and mind alike,
What can he know of pleasure ? "

The words roused Kai Kaus, he was resolved
To lead a host against Mazandaran,
And thus harangued his warriors : " We have been
Too fond of feast. The brave but indolent
Will never tire of leisure and of home.
In fortune, Grace, and birth I pass Jamshid,
Zahhak, and Kai Kubad, and must surpass them
In prowess too : crowned heads should be ambitious."

The nobles heard and liked it not, turned pale,
And frowned, for no one wished to fight the divs,
Though daring not to say so openly.
They sadly sighed — Tus, Giv, Gudarz, Kishwad,
Kharrad, Gurgin, and brave Bahrain — and said : —
"Thy slaves are we and walk earth by thy will."

They met thereafter and spake out their minds: —
"What is this turn of fortune ? If the Shah
Remembereth the words said in his cups
'Twill be the ruin of us and of Iran,
And leave the land not even dust and water.
Jamshid possessed the crown and finger-ring,
With div and fowl and fay to do his will,
Yet spake he never of Mazandaran,
Or sought to fight against the valiant divs,
While Faridun with all his craft and wisdom
Ne'er guided us to any such desire.
Had it been something fitting to achieve
By dint of manliness, name, gems, and treasure,
Then Minuchihr would have forestalled the matter
And not repressed his wishes. We must find
Some scheme to turn this evil from Iran."

Then Tus addressed the chiefs : " Brave veterans !
One remedy there is, and let us use it,
For 'tis not hard. Send we a cameleer
In haste to Zal the son of Sam to say :-r-
If now thy head be soiled stay not to wash it,
But whet thy wits and let us see thy face.'

He may suggest some wise rede to the Shah,
And tell him : ' Ahriman hath prompted this :
The portal of the divs must ne'er be opened.'
Unless Zal can divert him from such talk
An end will come to all our ups and downs."

They talked it o'er, then sent a cameleer,
Who went apace toward Nimruz, and when
He came to Zal — the lustre of the world —
Gave thus the nobles' message : " High-born son
Of Sam ! a parlous case confronteth us,
And one that knowledge cannot estimate !
Bestir thyself or else we shall not have
Folk, field, or fell. A fancy hath arisen
Within the Shah's heart. Ahriman hath turned him
From what is right, he is not satisfied
With travail such as his forefathers had,
But would have treasure where he hath not toiled,
And so must throne it in Mazandaran !
If thou delayest but to scratch thy head
He will have gone and given to the winds
Thy travail at the first with Kai Kubad,
When thou with Rustam — that insatiate Lion —
Didst like a valiant lion gird thy loins ;
All which is now as wind to Kai Kaus,
Whose evil purposes distract his mind."

Zal when he heard grieved sorely that the leaves
Upon the royal tree were growing sere,
And said : " Kaus, that man of headstrong will,
And not approved in this world's heat and cold,
Will hearken not to what the experienced say,
And sleepeth not upon his own designs.
If one who is the monarch of the world,
Whom years and sun and moon still circle o'er,
One at the thought of whose sword everywhere
Alike the nobles and the people tremble,
Will not obey me 'tis not wonderful ;
Still it would grieve me if he hearkened not.
If I think of myself, not of the Shah,
Then God, the Shah, and all the warriors
Throughout Iran, will be displeased at me.
I will set out and offer mine advice ;
If he accepteth it so much is gained ;
If he is headstrong then our course is clear,
And Rustam now will be among the troops."

He mused all night, and when the sun displayed
Its crown on high begirt himself and journeyed,
Escorted by the chiefs, toward the Shah.
Intelligence reached Tus, Gudarz, and Giv,
Bahrain, Gurgin, and others: "Zal approacheth;
E'en now his royal standard is in sight."

The army-leaders, helmed as paladins,
Went forth to meet him and, when he was near,
Dismounted, went to him afoot, and blessed him.
Now, as they fared together to the Shah,
Tus said to Zal : " So then, O noble chief !
Thou hast endured a journey of much toil,
And for the sake of us Iranian nobles
Hast chosen travail rather than repose !
We are devoted to thee : all of us
Feel honoured by thy crown and Grace."

Zal answered :
"The maxims of the men of old recur
To one whom years have worn, and later on
The course of heaven will justify his conduct.
We must not keep our counsel from the Shah,
For he hath need thereof. If he rejecteth
The words of wisdom he will rue it sorely/'
They cried : " We are agreed and will not hear
Another's words," then sought with one accord
The crown and throne and presence of their lord.

Attended by the lords with golden girdles
Zal led the way and, when he saw Kaus
Rejoicing on the throne, approached the state
With downcast eyes and folded arms, then said :—
"O worldlord, who art mightiest of the mighty !
Throne hath not heard of, nor crown seen, thy peer,
Revolving heaven hath heard not of such fortune,
As thine. Be victor all thy years and glad
With heart all wisdom and with head all justice."

The famous Shah received Zal graciously,
And, giving him a seat upon the throne,
Asked him about the toil of that long journey,
About the chieftains and exalted Rustam.
He answered : " Ever live and conquer, Shah !
We all are blithe and brightened by thy fortune,
And have our heads exalted by thy throne."

He then began his well considered speech : —
"O monarch of the world ! thou well deservest
To have the throne and crown of mighty men.
Thou art the memory of Shah Faridun,
And may this age ne'er rob thee of its love.
Now I have heard grave tidings that the Shah
Hath some design upon Mazandaran.

None of thy mighty predecessors thought
Of such a journey. Minuchihr in dying
Left here much wealth and many palaces ;
So too did Zav, Naudar, and Kai Kubad
(How many a chief our memories recall
With massive maces and with mighty hosts !)
Yet they attempted not Mazandaran —
The home of warlock-divs and under spells
Which none hath power to loose ; so give not thou
Men, wealth, and money to the winds. That land
Can not be conquered by the scimitar,
Nor will it come to hand through wit and treasure.
To go or e'en to think of going thither
Is held unlucky ! Thou must not invade
Those parts because no Shah hath thought it good,
Who if less great than thou was still God's slave :
Then do not for the sake of covetise
Plant with the blood of such a famous head
A tree whose growth and fruit will prove a curse,
And break the precedents of former Shahs." J
Kaus replied : " I need thy views hereon,
But nathless I in courage, Grace, and treasure
Surpass Jamshid and Faridun as well
As Minuchihr and Kai Kubad, who never
Made mention of Mazandaran ; my heart
And host are greater, and the world is ""neath
My trenchant scimitar. The world was won
When thou didst brandish thine ; let it see ours.
I shall go thither, snare them all, maintaining
The credit of myself and scimitar,
Then tax them heavily or leave all dead,
So vile and wretched do I hold that crew
Of divs and sorcerers, and thou wilt hear
That earth is void of them. Do thou and Rustam
Be regents of Iran and slumber not.
God is my Helper and the prince of divs
My quarry. Since thou wilt not go with me
Bid me not dally on my throne."

Zal heard,
And baffled answered : " Thou art Shah, and we
Are slaves who speak in love and, right or wrong,
Must move and breathe according to thy will.
I have relieved my heart as knowledge prompted.
No one can root out death, sew up the eyes -
Of destiny with needles, or escape
From want by abstinence ; in this regard
E'en princes must submit. May this bright world
Prove prosperous to thee, and mayst thou never
Have reason to recall these words of mine ;
May thine own doings cause thee no remorse,
And be thy heart and Faith and rule resplendent."

Grieved that the Shah would go Zal took his leave
In haste, and as he left the monarch's presence
Both sun and moon were darkened in his eyes.
The gallant nobles — Tus, Gudarz, Bahram,
And Giv — went with him, and Giv said to Zal : —
"May God direct us ! Were Kaus not Shah
I should esteem him naught. May greed, death, want,
Be far from thee, foes' hands too short to reach thee.
Where'er we be or go we hear thy praises,
And next to God trust thee who hath so toiled
For us."

Thus Giv. Zal, clasping to his heart
The warriors, made ready to depart.

Next day arose the tymbals' din, Gudarz
And Tus led on the troops. Kaus, their lustre,
Went with them, and upon a shaded spot
Set up his throne before Mount Ispuruz
For rest and sleep, while terror everywhere
Fell on the brutish divs. Upon the heights
The Shah spread cloth of gold ; the air was fragrant
With luscious wine ; the favoured paladins
Sat by his throne and spent the night together.
At dawn they woke and entered helmed and armed
The presence of the Shah, who ordered Giv :—
"Choose from the warriors two thousand men —
Mace-wielders — to prepare for us a path
Mazandaran-ward, slaughter young and old,
Fire all the settlements, turn day to night,
And slay the warlocks ere they are aware."

Giv girt him, left the portal of the Shah,
Chose valiant warriors, and when he reached
Mazandaran showered scimitars and maces.
The women, children, and old men with staves,
Received no quarter from his sword ; he sacked
And burned the cities, scattering bane instead
Of antidote. He lighted on a spot
Like Paradise, replete with all delights,
And in each street and quarter countless slaves
With necklaces and earrings, and still more
With casques and faces like the shining moon.
In every place were treasures stored away,
Here gold, there gems. The cattle were past count.
Thou wouldst have said : " 'Tis Paradise itself! "
They told Kaus the news, who cried : " Live happy
The man who said : ' Mazandaran may match
With Paradise, and thou wouldst say that all
The country is an Idols' temple decked
With wreaths of roses and brocade of Chin ;
Its Idols come from Paradise with faces
Bathed in pomegranate-blossoms by Rizwan.' "

The Iranians plundered for one week, then ceased.
The monarch of Mazandaran received
The news ; his heart was sad, his head was heavy.
There was a div named Sanja at the court,
Who also grieved. The monarch said to him : —
"Go swift as Sol in yonder circling heaven
And tell the White Div : ' There hath come a host
Out of Iran to spoil Mazandaran ;
They have burnt up our cities and inflamed
Our vengeance by the outrage. Kai Kaus,
With many young and brave, is in command
Without thy help we shall be all destroyed.' "

When Sanja heard the message he sped forth
And carried to the div the king's appeal.
The White Div answered : " Be not in despair,
For I am coming with a mighty host
To cut the Shah's foot from Mazandaran."

He spake and like a mountain rose erect ;
His head was level with the turning sky.
Night came, a cloud involved the Iranian host,
The world grew like a negro's face for blackness,
And thou hadst said : " 'Tis like a sea of pitch,
And all its light is lost."

The White Div spread
Above their heads a tent of pitchy smoke,
Air dusked and eyes were darkened. From the sky
He showered stones and darts, the Iranian troops
Dispersed abroad, and many sought Iran,
Heart-broken at the doings of Kaus.
When day had come the ambitious Shah and most
Among his warriors were blind. The nobles
Were wroth with him, his troops were prisoners,
His treasures pillaged, and his fortunes old.
It is a ne'er to be forgotten tale,
For at such wonders wonder's self must fail !
Now when the Shah perceived his plight he said : —
"A prudent minister is more than treasure ;
Alas that I accepted not the counsel
Of Zal the worldlord but misdoubted it."

When he had passed seven days in misery
And looked on no Iranian, on the eighth
The White Div thundered at him : " O thou Shah,
As fruitless as a willow ! thou wouldst have
Complete supremacy and seize our pastures.
Like to a maddened elephant's appeared
Thy strength to thee, thou wouldst not yield to any !

Content not with the crown above thy throne
Thou hast perverted wisdom and hast wrought
Ill in Muzandanin, and slaughtered many
With massive mace. The news of mine achievements
Perchance ne'er reached thee, such a dullard thou
On thine imperial throne ! Now thou hast gained
The fitting outcome of thy heart's desire."

Then of the valiant divs that drew the sword
He chose twelve thousand, setting them to guard
The Iranians, and afflicted grievously
Those headstrong men. He gave them food enough
To keep them living on from day to day,
While all the treasures of the Shah and host,
The jewelled diadems and turquoise thrones,
All that he saw, he gave o'er to Arzhang,
The general of Mazandaran, and said : —
"Convey these to the king and say to him : —
Blame not thou Ahriman, for I have done
All that was needed, and have brought yon folk
To dust. The Shah and paladins will never
Behold the bright sun or the moon again.
I have not threatened him with death, but taught him
The ups and downs of fortune. He will grow
Wise through his troubles, and hereafter none
Will listen to such schemes.' "

Thereat Arzhang
Went to the monarch of Mazandaran,
And took with him the treasure and the troops,
The captives and the steeds caparisoned.
This done the White Div went back to his home
As glorious as the sun, while Kai Kaus
Remained within Mazandaran to moan : —
"I was to blame for this and I alone."

Kaus with stricken heart sent to Zabul
To Zal a warrior, like a bird that flew
As swift as smoke, to say : " What hap is mine !
My crown and throne have tumbled to the dust,
And heaven hath given to the divs my treasures
And troops arrayed like roses in the spring ;
The wind, thou wouldst say, rose and bore them off.
Mine eyes are blinded and my fortunes shent,
My crown and throne are both o'erturned, and I
Lie stricken in the hand of Ahriman,
Who rendeth me asunder, soul from body.
I often sigh to think on thine advice,
Which I rejected foolishly, thus causing
The present trouble. If thou dost not act
Both capital and interest will be lost."

He went as 'twere a bird as swift as smoke
And told what he had seen and heard to Zal,
Whose skin burst at the tidings, but he kept
The news from friend and foe. His shrewd heart showed him
The ills that fate would bring upon Kaus.
"The scimitar is all but out," he said
To Rustam. " We must not thus feed at ease,
But make provision for the crown itself,
Because the Shah is in the Dragon's breath :
How great a bale is on the Iranians !
Thy part is now to saddle Rakhsh and seek
For vengeance with the world-allotting sword.
God surely made thee for a time like this,
And thou art fitted for such labours now,
While I, I have outlived two centuries !
Thou wilt gain high renown and save the Shah.

Thou must not in this Ahriman's own business
Take matters leisurely or stop to breathe,
But don the tiger-skin and purge thy head
Of sleep and thought. When one hath seen thy spear
Will any say : ' His soul will rest ? ' If thou
Shouldst fight the sea 'twould turn to blood, thy voice
Will level mountains. Thou must make Arzhang,
And the White Div no less, despair of life.
As for the monarch of Mazandaran
Go smash him, neck and spine, with thy great mace."

He answered thus : " The way is long, and I ...
How shall I go to take revenge ? "

Said Zal:—
"There are two routes both hard and dangerous ;
One, which is long, was taken by Kaus ;
The other is a journey of two weeks,
The haunt of div and lion, and all gloom ;
Its murk will maze thine eyes. Choose thou the short,
And see its wonders ; God will be thine aid.
What though the way be hard ? An end will come,
The feet of glorious Rakhsh will traverse it,
And I will pray all night to see again
Thy limbs and iron mace ; while if the Worldlord
Shall let the divs' grip close upon thy life,
Who can resist His word ? Tis said and done.
None can abide here though he tarry long,
And one whose fame embraceth all the world
Is not cast down at going."

Rustam answered : —
"I gird me to obey although the great
Of yore walked not to Hell advisedly,
And only one grown sick of life will counter
The rending lion. Think of me as girt
And gone. I ask no help but God's, will give
Both soul and body for the Shah, and break
The talismans that guard those sorcerers.

All that survive among the Iranians there
Will I bring back and gird their loins again ;
I will not spare the White Div nor Arzhang,
Nor Sanja nor Pulad son of Ghundi,
Nor Bid. I swear by God, the only God,
Not to quit Rakhsh till I have bound. Arzhang
With yoke on neck and hands as firm as rocks,
Have trod the brains and headpiece of Pulad,
And shaken earth beneath the feet of Rakhsh."

He donned the tiger-skin and stretched himself,
While Zal called many blessings down on him,
Then mounted on his elephantine steed
With steadfast heart and mien. Rudaba came
With tearful cheeks while Zal too wept. She said : —
"So thou wilt go and leave me here to grieve !
How canst thou hope in God ? "

He said : " Good mother !
I did not choose my course ; 'tis destiny.
Do thou commit to God my soul and body."

The people came to him to say farewell ;
Who knew if he should look on Rustam more ?

Uncounted by the wise the moments fly,
And, when an evil day hath passed thee, try
To reckon that the world hath gained thereby.

Then Rustam, that world-brightening paladin,
Departed from his sire and, treating night
Like day, made two days' journey into one,
Not giving Rakhsh repose. Now as his body
Failed him through lack of food he reached a plain
Where onager abounded, and urged Rakhsh
To whom their speed was slow : no beast could 'scape
From Rustam's lasso and his horse's feet.
The Lion with his royal lasso caught
A gallant onager and, striking sparks
Upon an arrow's point, enkindled fire
With stubble, thorns, and wood to roast the beast.
He ate the flesh and threw away the bones ;
The onager itself was pot and tray.
He spied some pasture, slipped off Rakhsh's bridle,
Turned him out loose upon the meadow-land,
And made himself a couch within a reed-bed ;
He deemed it safe though it was fear's own door,
For in it was a lion's lair ; no elephant
Dared pluck a reed. One watch passed, then the lion
Came boldly forth and was amazed to see
An elephantine form among the reeds,
Reposing with a charger standing by.
"First," said the lion, " I must maim the steed,
Then I can take the rider when I please."

He sprang at glossy Rakhsh, who raged like fire
And lashed out at the lion's head, then fixed
His sharp teeth in its back and dashed the beast
To pieces by a shift that made it shiftless.
When Rustam, deft of hand, awoke and saw
How earth was straitened to that ravening beast
He said : " O foolish Rakhsh ! who bade thee fight
A lion ? Hadst thou perished 'neath its claws
Could I have carried to Mazandaran
My helmet, tiger-skin, bow, lasso, sword,
And massive mace ? Had my sweet sleep been broken
Thy combat with the lion had been brief."

He slept and rested long, and when the sun
Rose o'er the darksome hills awoke still drowsy ;
He rubbed down Rakhsh and saddled him, then prayed
To God, the Author of all good, for aid.
He had to face all dizzy as he was
A desert waterless, a heat intense
That dried the birds to powder ; plain and waste
Were as they had been scorched thou wouldst have said.
Rakhsh was exhausted, while his rider's tongue
Failed through the heat and drought, and Rustam, clutching
A double-headed dart, went staggering
Like one bemused, and saw no means of safety.
He looked up saying : " O all-righteous Judge !
Thou bring'st all toil and hardship on my head,
And if Thou findest pleasure in my pains
My hoard is great indeed ! I fare in hope
That God will grant deliverance to the Shah,
And that the Ruler of the world will free
The Iranians from the clutches of the Div,
Unscathed. They sinned, and Thou hast cast them out,
But still they are Thy slaves and worshippers."

This said, that elephantine form became
Weak and distraught with thirst, and fell, with tongue
All cracked and blistered, on the burning dust.
Anon a well-fed ram passed by. The hero
On seeing thought : " Where is its watering-place ?
In sooth God's mercy is extended to me ! "
Then in the Worldlord's strength rose to his feet
And followed up the ram, with scimitar
In one hand while the other grasped the reins,
Until he saw the spring, for thither went
That stately rain. Then Rustam looked toward heaven,
And said : " O Judge, that ever speakest sooth !
The ram hath left no tracks about the spring !
It is no desert- sheep of flesh and blood ! "

When hardships press on thee, in thy concern
Flee unto God, the Just One ; they who turn
Away from Him have wisdom still to learn.

He blessed that ram and said : " Ne'er may mishap
From circling heaven be thine ; green be thy pastures ;
May cheetah never mark thee for its prey ;
Snapped be the bow and dark the soul of him
That shooteth at thee who hath rescued Rustam,
Else were he thinking of his shroud ; but now
He is not in the mighty dragon's maw
As yet, or in the clutches of the wolf,
So that the fragments of his clothes and limbs
Should serve as tokens to his enemies."

His praises offered he unsaddled Rakhsh,
Washed him, and made him shining as the sun.
Then Rustam much refreshed filled up his quiver
And as he hunted dropped an onager
Huge as an elephant, removed the entrails,
The hide, and feet, lit up a blazing fire,
And having washed the carcase roasted it.
This done he feasted, breaking up the bones,
And having quenched his thirst prepared for sleep.
He said to Rakhsh : " Fight not and make no friends.
If any foe approacheth run to me,
But venture not to counter divs and lions."

He lay and slept, his lips in silence bound,
While Rakhsh till midnight grazed and strayed around.

A dragon, such an one as, thou hadst said,
No elephant could 'scape, came from the waste.
Its haunt was there ; no div dared pass thereby.
It came, beheld the atheling asleep,
A charger near him, and was wroth. It thought :—
"What do I see ? Who dareth to sleep here ? "
Because no lions, divs, or elephants
Dared pass that way or, if they did, escaped not
The clutches of that dragon fierce and fell,
It turned on glossy Rakhsh, who ran to Rustam,
Stamped with his brazen hoofs upon the ground,
Whisked with his tail, and gave a thundering neigh.
The hero woke up furious, looked about
Upon the waste, perceived not that fell dragon,
And wreaked his wrath on Rakhsh for waking him.
He slept again, again the worm approached
Out of the gloom ; Rakhsh ran to Rustam's couch,
And kicked the earth about and trampled it.
The sleeper woke, his cheeks rose-red with passion,
Looked round and, seeing nothing but the gloom,
Said to affectionate and watchful Rakhsh : —
"Thou canst not blink the darkness of the night
Yet wakest me again impatiently !
If thou disturb me more I will behead thee
With my sharp scimitar, and carry it,
My helmet, and my massive mace, on foot.
I said : ' Should any lion come at thee
I will encounter it.' I never said : —
Rush on me in the night ! ' Leave me to slumber."
Then for the third time with his tiger-skin
Upon his breast he set himself to sleep.
The fearsome dragon roared and, thou hadst said,
Breathed fire. Rakhsh left the pasturage forthwith,
But dared not to approach the paladin.
Yet was his heart distracted by his fears
For Rustam with that dragon, till at length,
O'ermastered by affection for his lord,
He rushed swift as a blast to Rustam's side
And neighed and fretted, pawed upon the ground,
And stamped the earth to pieces with his hoofs.
Then Rustam, wakened from his sweet repose,
Raged at his docile steed ; but now the Maker
Willed that the dragon should be seen, and Rustam,
Perceiving it amid the gloom, unsheathed
The keen sword at his girdle, thundered out
Like spring-clouds, and filled earth with battle-fire.
Then said he to the dragon : " Tell thy name ;
Earth is no longer thine, yet must not I
Rob thy dark form of life, thy name untold."

The laidly dragon said : " None scape th me.
For centuries this waste hath been my home,
And mine its firmament ; no eagle dareth
To fly across or star to dream thereof."
It further said : " What is thy name, for she
Will have to weep that bare thee ? "

"I am Rustam,"
He answered, " sprung from Zal — the son of Sam —
And Nariman withal. I am myself
A host, and trample earth 'neath dauntless Rakhsh.
Thou shalt behold my prowess ; I will lay
Thy head in dust."

The dragon closed with him,
And in the end escaped not though it strove
So fiercely with the elephantine hero
That thou hadst said : " He will be worsted." Rakhsh,
On seeing the dragon's might, and how it battled
With Rustam, laid his ears back, joined the fray,
Bit at the dragon's shoulders, tore its hide
As though he were a lion, and amazed
The valiant paladin, who with keen glaive
Smote off the dragon's head ; blood jetted out
In rivers, and its carcase hid the earth,
The matchless one, astonied at the sight,
Invoked God's name and bathed him in the spring.
Desiring conquest through God's strength alone
He said : " O righteous Judge ! me Thou hast given
Grace, might, and wisdom ; what care I for lion,
Div, elephant, parched desert, and blue sea ?
When I am wroth all foes are one to me."

Thanksgivings done, he harnessed rose- cheeked Rakhsh
And mounting came in time where sorcerers dwelt.
Long had he fared and saw, as Sol declined,
Trees, grass, and stream— the very spot for youth.
There was a spring as bright as pheasant's eyes ;
Beside it were a golden bowl of wine,
A roasted mountain-sheep with bread thereon,
And salts and sweetmeats. Rustam thanked the Lord
For showing him a place so opportune,
Dismounted from his steed, took off the saddle,
And marvelled at the loaves and venison.
It was a sorcerers' meal, and when he came
His voice had caused those divs to disappear.
He sat beside the rushy stream and brimmed
A jewelled cup with wine. A dainty lute
Was there, the desert seemed a banquet-hall !
He took the lute up, touched the chords, and sang : —
"Oh ! Rustam is an outcast still
And hath no days of pleasure,
Marked out for every kind of ill
And not a moment's leisure.

"Be where he may it is his plight
With battle still to harden,
And wilderness and mountain-height
Must serve him for a garden.

"His combatings are never done
And there is no assuagement,
Tis dragon, div, and desert — one
Perpetual engagement !

"The wine and cup, the scented rose,
And where lush herbage groweth —
Such things are not at his dispose,
These fortune ne'er bestoweth
"On one that with the crocodile
Is still engaged in fighting,
Save when the leopard for a while
The combat is inviting."

The sound of music reached a witch's ears ;
She made her cheeks like spring, although by rights
She was not fair, and then, perfumed and decked,
Approached, saluted, and sat down by Rustam,
Who gave God thanks at finding in the desert
Board, wine, and lute, and youthful boon-companion.
Not knowing that she was a wicked witch,
An Ahriman beneath her bravery,
He handed her a cup of wine, invoking
The Giver of all good. Now when he named
The Lord of love her favour changed ; no soul
Had she for gratitude, no tongue for praise,
But blackened at God's name, while Rustam, flinging
His lasso quicker than the wind, ensnared,
And questioned her : " What art thou ? Speak and show
Thy proper favour."
In the tasso's coils
There was a fetid hag all guile and wrinkle,
Calamitous. He clave her with his blade
And made the hearts of sorcerers afraid.

He journeyed on and reached a place of gloom
Black as a negro's face — a murky night
Without a star or moon ; thou wouldst have said : —
"The sun is captive and the stars are lassoed ! "
He gave the rein to Rakhsh and journeyed on,
Not seeing height or river for the murk.
When he emerged to light he saw a land,
Like painted silk with crops, where all was verdure
And streams ; the old world had renewed its youth.
His clothes were drenched, and longing for repose
He took off his cuirass of tiger-skin,
And dripping helm, to dry them in the sun,
Unbridled Rakhsh, and loosed him in the corn,
Then, donning his dried helmet and his breastplate,
Couched like a mighty lion in the grass,
His shield his pillow and his hand on hilt.
The watchman of the plain, on seeing Rakhsh
Among the crops, ran up with hue and cry ;
He smote the hero smartly with a stick
Upon the foot and said, as Rustam woke : —
"O Ahriman ! why didst thou loose thy steed
Among the corn to eat where others toiled ? "
But Rustam, angered, seized the watchman's ears,
Wrung them and tore them off without a word.
The watchman howled and snatched them up, aghast
At Rustam. Now Ulad was marchlord there —
A brave and famous youth. To him the watchman
Went howling with his hands and head all bloody,
And ears wrung off, and said : " There is a man,
Like the Black Div, with leopard-skin cuirass
And iron casque, a perfect Ahriman,
Or else a dragon was asleep in mail !
I went to drive his charger from the corn,
He would not suffer it but, when he saw me,
Rose without word, wrung off mine ears, and slept ! "

Ulad was hunting there with other nobles,
But when he heard the watchman and beheld
The Lion's track in his preserves, they rode
Toward where the peerless Rustam had been seen
To find out who he was, and why he served
The watchman of the plain so scurvily.
Ulad in threatening wise drew near to Rustam,
Who mounted Rakhsh, unsheathed his trenchant sword,
And then came onward like a thunder-cloud.
As they drew near they questioned one another.
"What is thy name ? " Ulad cried. " Who art thou ?
Who is thy king and who is backing thee ?
Hence is no passage to the warrior-divs.
Why didst thou tear away the watchman's ears
And turn thy charger loose among the corn ?
Just so will I make black the world to thee
And lay thy helm in dust."

"My name is ' f:oud,' "
Said Rustam, " if a cloud hath lion's claws,
With swords and maces only for its fruit,
And beareth on its lap the heads of chieftains.
My real name, should it reach thine ears, would freeze
Thy life's breath and heart's blood. Hast thou not heard
Of the elephantine warrior's bow and lasso
In every company ? We call the mothers
Of sons like thee shroud-stitchers, wailing- women.
Thou comest thus against me with a troop,
But only throwest walnuts on a dome."

With that he drew his baleful Crocodile,
Hung his coiled lasso to the saddle-bow,
Came like a lion midst a flock, and slew
All that were in his reach. At every stroke
He sheared two chieftains' heads and strewed the dust
Beneath his feet therewith. The troops thus broken
Fled in dismay, and wilderness and dale
Were filled with dust-clouds by the cavaliers
As they dispersed among the rocks and hollows.
Then Rustam, like an elephant enraged,
With sixty coils of lasso on his arm,
Pressed forward and, when Rakhsh was near Ulad,
Whose day was darkened, flung his mighty lasso,
Ensnared that chieftain's head, and then alighting
Made fast his hands, drave him in front and, mounting,
Said : " If thou speak the truth, and if I find
No guile at all in thee from first to last,
If thou wilt show me where the White Div dwelleth,
Where dwell Pulad son of Ghundi and Bid,
And where Kaus, who caused these ills, is bound ;
If thou dost show this truly and art faithful,
Then from the monarch of Mazandaran
Will I take crown and throne and massive mace,
And thou shalt be the ruler of the land ;
But if thy T rds prove guileful I will make
Thine eyes run blood." Ulad said : " Be not wroth,
But gracious just for once and slay me not
In wantonness, and I will answer thee.
I will point out to thee the roads and city
Wherein Kaus is bound, the White Div's dwelling
And Bid's, since thou hast reassured my heart.
Know, O thou worshipful div-hearted hero !
That God hath fashioned thee of noble clay !
There are between us now and Kai Kaus
A hundred leagues, O thou of gracious feet !
Whence to the White Div is another hundred.
The road is bad and dangerous, through a gorge —
A fearful spot o'er which no eagle flieth.
There is a cavern midst two hundred others,
A wondrous place beyond all measurement,
And there twelve thousand warriors, all divs,
Keep watch by night upon the mountain-top ;
Their captain is Pulad son of Ghundi,
While Bid and Sanja are their outpost-guards.
Of all the divs the White Div is the chief ;
At him the mountains shake like willow-leaves,
And thou wilt find his person mountain-tall,
With shoulders, breast, and neck ten cords across.
E'en with such arms and hands and reins as thine,
And though thou brandishest sword, mace, and spear,
And hast such stature, mien, and energy,
It is not well for thee to fight that div.
Beyond are rocks that no gazelle could pass,
And then a river two leagues wide and more
Watched by the div in charge of all that province
With all the other divs at his command.
Call it three hundred leagues to the Narmpai
From the Buzgush, whence to Mazandaran
The journey is a foul and tedious one.

A myriad of cavaliers at least
Are posted through the realm, so armed and paid
That thou wilt not see one dissatisfied.
There are twelve hundred elephants of war ;
The city cannot hold them. Thou'rt but one,
Though iron, and but gratest on the file
Of Ahriman."

The words made Rustam laugh. If thou wilt be my comrade," he replied,
"Thou shalt see how one elephantine chief
Will treat yon famous band by help of God,
The Prosperer, and fortune, arms, and prowess.
When they behold my might of breast and neck,
And mace-blows in the fight, their feet and hides
Will burst in sheer dismay, they will not know
A stirrup from a rein ; so point me out
Kaus, where'er he be, and step along."

This said, he sprang on Rakhsh, while swift as wind
Ulad ran on beside him, day or night
Not resting till he reached Mount Ispuruz,
Where divs and warlocks had o'erthrown Kaus.
At midnight shoutings went up from the plain,
The folk lit watch-fires in Mazandaran
And torches everywhere. Then matchless Rustam
Asked of "Olad : " What is the cause that fires
Are springing up to right and left of us ? "

"It is the entrance to Mazandaran,"
Ulad replied. " The more part of each night
None dareth sleep ; the div Arzhang is there
And he is ever noisy."

Rustam slept
Till dawn, then took Iliad, bound him in anguish
Against a tree, and, hanging on the saddle
The mace his grandsire had been wont to use,
Departed confident and full of ruse.

In royal helm and sweat-soaked tiger-skin
He sought, intent on fight, the chief Arzhang,
And shouted in the middle of the host ;
Thou wouldst have said : " The hills and seas are rent ! "

The div Arzhang came leaping from the camp
At that tremendous shout, while Rustam spurring
Came on him like Azargashasp, grasped boldly
His head and ears and neck, then lion-like
Tore off his head and flung it at his troops.
The divs' hearts burst in terror at the sight
Of Rustam's iron mace, and son and sire,
Forgetting land and crops, went off pell mell,
While Rustam drew his vengeful scimitar
And cleared the neighbourhood. At set of sun
He made all speed back to Mount Ispuruz,
Untied "Clad, and, as they sat beneath
The lofty tree, asked how to reach the city
Where Shah Kaus was, and then hurried on
Led by Ulad afoot. When he arrived
Rakhsh gave a thundering neigh, which Kai Kaus,
Who heard it, understood and told the Iranians : —
"Our evil days are all but over now ;
I heard the neigh of Rakhsh ; it made niy heart
And spirit young. Thus neighed he in the wars
Of Kai Kubad against the Turkman king."

The soldiers said : " His mind hath gone through hardship,
And he hath lost his wisdom, sense, and Grace !
Thou wouldest say: 'He talketh in his sleep/
But in these grievous bonds we can do naught ;
In good sooth fortune hath abandoned us."

Anon that ardent lover of the fray,
The elephantine chief, approached Kaus,
And all the noble paladins — Gudarz,
Tus, gallant Giv, Bahrain the Lion, Shidush,
And Gustaham — flocked round while Rustam wept
Right sorely, did obeisance to the Shah,
And asked about his longsome toils. Kaus,
Embracing him, inquired concerning Zal,
And all his travail, then said privily : —
"Let not these sorcerers get sight of Rakhsh,
For when the White Div is apprised : ' Arzhang
Is dead and Rustam is with Kai Kaus ! '
The valiant divs will gather, earth will teem
With them, and then thy toils will bear no fruit.
Seek the White Div's abode, exert thyself
With sword and arrow ; holy God may aid thee
In bringing to the dust these sorcerers' heads.
O'er seven mountains must thou pass, and troops
Of divs throng everywhere. At length a cavern
Of frightful aspect will appear before thee,
A fearsome place, as I have heard : the approach
Is held by warrior-divs equipped like pards
For fight. That cavern is the White Div's home :
He is the hope and terror of his troops.
May'st thou have strength to put an end to him
Because he is that army's chief and stay.
My soldiers' eyes are blinded by their griefs ;
I am in darkness too. Our leeches trust
To blood extracted from the White Div's vitals,
In which regard a wise physician said :—
Let three drops of his blood descend like tears
Upon the eyes and it will banish blindness.' "

He made him ready, and in setting forth
Spake thus to the Iranians : " Be alert,
For 'tis the White Div that I go against—
That Elephant of war, full of resource,
And compassed by a host of warriors.
If he shall catch my body with his noose
A shameful sorry plight will long be yours,
But if the Lord and my good star shall aid me
Our country and our throne will we restore,
And this our royal Tree shall fruit once more."

He went girt up — all battle and revenge ;
He took Ulad and made Kakhsh go like wind.
As soon as Rakhsh had reached the seven mountains,
With all their troops of valiant divs, the chieftain
Drew near the abysmal cave, saw them on guard,
And spake thus to Ulad : " Thou hast been faithful,
So now that we must act point out the way."

"Clad made answer : "When the sun is hot
The divs will sleep and thou wilt overcome them ;
So bide thy time and thou wilt see no divs,
Except some few on duty, and may'st triumph
If He that giveth victory shall aid thee."

So Rustam paused till noon, then, having bound
Ulad fast with the lasso, mounted Rakhsh,
Unsheathed his warlike Crocodile, and shouted
His name like thunder, came like flying dust
Among the troops, and parted heads from trunks.
None sought for glory by withstanding him.
Thence radiant as the sun he went to seek
The White Div, found a pit like Hell, but saw not
The sorcerer for the murk. There sword in hand
He paused ; no room was there for fight or flight.

He rubbed his eyelids, bathed his eyes, and searched
The cave till in the gloom he saw a Mountain
That blotted all within, with sable face
And hair like lion's mane — a world to see !
Now Rustam hasted not to slay the div
Asleep, but roused him with a leopard's roar.
He charged at Rustam, like a gloomy mountain
With iron helm and brassards, seized a millstone
And drave at him like smoke. The hero quailed,
And thought : " Mine end is come ! " Yet like a lion
Enraged he struck full at the div and lopped
From that enormous bulk a hand and foot,
So mighty was he with his trenchant sword !
As 'twere some lofty-crested elephant
And lion in its wrath the maimed div closed
With Rustam, and one-footed wrecked the cave.
They wrestled, tearing out each other's flesh,
Till all the ground was puddled with their blood,
And Rustam thought : " If I survive this day
I ne'er shall die."

The White Div also thought :—
"Life hath no hopes for me, for, should I scape
This Dragon's claws, maimed as I am and torn,
None great or small within Mazandaran
Will look at me."

Such was his wretched comfort !
But still they wrestled, streaming blood and sweat,
While elephantine Rustam in God's strength
Strove mightily in anguish and revenge,
Till sore bestead, bold Lion that he was,
He reached out, clutched the div, raised him neck-high,
And dashed the life-breath from him on the ground,
Then with a dagger stabbed him to the heart
And plucked the liver from his swarthy form :
The carcase filled the cave, and all the world
Was like a sea of blood. Then Rustam freed
Ulad, put back the lasso in the straps,
And, giving him the liver of the div
To carry, went back to Shah Kai Kaus.
"O Lion ! " said Ulad, " thou hast subdued
The world beneath thy sword, and I myself
On my bruised body bears thy tasso's marks,
So now I hope that thou wilt keep thy promise,
For lion-fierceness and a royal mien
Sort not with broken faith."
"I give thee all
Mazandaran," he answered. " I have yet
Long toils before me, many ups and downs,
For I must hale its monarch from his throne
And fling him in a ditch, behead a myriad
Of sorcerer-divs with my relentless sword,
And then, it may be, tread the ground again,
But if not I will still keep faith with thee."

He reached Kaus while all in gladness cried : —
"The chief of ardent spirit hath returned ! "
And ran to him with thanks and praise past count.
He said : " O Shah, thou seeker after knowledge !
Rejoice, thy foe is slain. I have ripped out
The White Div's liver, and his king hath naught
To hope from him. What would my lord the Shah ? "

Kaus blessed Rustam. " Ne'er may crown and host
Lack thee," he said. " The mother of such offspring-
Must not be mentioned but in terms of praise.
Now may a thousand blessings be on Zal,
And on the country of Zabulistan,
Because they have produced so brave a chief.
In sooth the age hath not beheld thy like,
But brighter still is my lot since I have
For liege this lion-slaying Elephant."

When he had made an end of praise he said : —
"O warrior of blessed steps ! now put
The White Div's blood upon mine eyes and those
Of all my folk ; God willing, we may see
Thy face again."

They anointed his dim eyes,
Which grew as bright as Sol, and forthwith Rustam
Anointed all the others with the blood.
Their eyes grew bright, and all the world to them
A rosary. They hung the crown and set
Kaus beneath it on an ivory throne
As monarch of Mazandaran, with Rustam,
Tus, Fariburz, Gudarz, Ruhham, and Giv,
Gurgin, and brave Bahrain. One week he revelled,
The eighth day mounted with his chiefs and troops,
Who spread themselves like fire among dry reeds
Throughout the land and plied the massive mace
According to the bidding of the Shah.
They scorched the realm with their keen scimitars,
And of the warlocks slew so many that blood
Flowed in a river. When night fell the warriors
All rested and Kaus proclaimed : " The wrong
Hath been avenged, the divs have their deserts,
'Tis time to cease from slaughter. Now we need
A man of weight and sense, with sense to wait
Yet prompt, to work upon and overawe
The monarch of Mazandaran."

The son
Of Zal and all the other chiefs agreed
On this that such a letter should be sent
To give his darkened mind enlightenment.

How Kaus wrote to the King of Mdzandardn
A skilled scribe wrote upon white silk a letter
Both kind and harsh, inspiring hope and fear,
First praising God, the Source of every good,
"Who gave man wisdom, made the turning sky,
Revealing hardship, cruelty, and love,
Who gave to us to compass good and ill,
And ruleth o'er the circling sun and moon. . . .
If thou art upright and thy Faith is pure
All men will praise thee, but the curse of heaven
Will fall on thee if ill-disposed and hurtful.
If God is just why should His laws be broken ?
Observe how He in punishment for sin
Is sending dust from div and sorcerer !
So now if news hath reached thee of their fate,
And mind and wisdom are thy monitors,
Quit thou thy throne and from Mazandaran
Come, like our other subjects, to our court,
And, as thou canst not strive with Rustam, pay
Such tax and tribute as we may demand.
Thus haply thou mayst still retain thy throne ;
But if thou wilt not pay despair of life,
E'en as the White Div and Arzhang despaired."
The letter done, the Shah affixed his seal
Of musk and spicery, and called Farhad —
Him of the mace of steel, a favourite
Among the nobles of the land, and one
Who had not shared the warfare and the toil —
To whom he said : " Convey to yonder div
Escaped from bonds this letter of advice."
He kissed the ground, bare the Shah's letter forth,
And reached the valiant horsemen, the Narmpai.
The people there with leathern feet appear,
Hence their nickname Narmpai for many a year.
There lived among his chiefs and men of war
The monarch of Mazandaran of yore.
Farhad sent on a man to tell the king
Of his approach and business, who on hearing : —
"A prudent envoy cometh from the Shah,"
Sent forward to receive him a great host,
Selected by the king to show his power,
To whom he said : "We must make known to-day
How great the difference is 'twixt man and div,
So act the pard and get these sages' leader
Within your clutches that he may repent
Himself in terror at the sight of you."

They went forth frowning but their purpose failed.
On coming to Farhad one of the chiefs —
A mighty man — took hold upon his hand,
Wrung it, and pained him, yet he did not blench,
Or Hush. They carried him before the king,
Who asked about Kaus and that long journey,
Then set the document before a scribe,
And sprinkled wine and musk upon the silk.
He read the letter to the king who writhed ;
But when he heard of Rustam and the div
Blood filled his eyes, his heart throbbed, and he thought : —
"Tis sunset and night cometh, 'tis the time
For rest, but Rustam will not let earth rest,
His name will always be in evidence."

He mourned Arzhang and the White Div, the slaying
Of Bid and of Pulad son of Ghundi,
Then entertained the envoy for three days
Among the warriors and men of name,
And on the fourth said : " Go back to the Shah,
That witless youth, and bear to him this answer : —
Is wine unmingled in the cup of fortune ?

A.m I such that thou sayest : " Quit thy land,
Thy throne and country, and attend my court ? "
My court is more exalted than thine own,
Mine are a thousand thousand troops and more,
And wheresoe'er they turn them in the fight
They leave not stone or colour or perfume.
Prepare thyself forthwith ; I shall be ready ;
I will lead forth an army lion-like
And rouse those heads of yours from their sweet slumbers.

I have twelve hundred elephants of war,
While thou hast none, and I will send dark dust
Up from ran till hills and vales seem one.' "

Farhad, perceiving his defiance, pride,
And arrogance, was much concerned to get
An answer to the letter, hastened back,
And told the Shah what he had seen and heard : —
"The king is higher than heaven and his purpose
Is not less high. He would not listen to me ;
The world is nothing worth in his regard."

Thereat Kaus called Rustam and repeated
Farhad's report. The Elephantine said : —
"I will relieve our nation from disgrace ;
Let me bear back this answer : ' I will draw
My trenchant sword.' We need a trenchant letter,
A message like a thundering cloud. Myself
Will go to him as envoy ; at my words y
The rivers shall run blood."

The Shah replied :—
"The signet and the crown gain light from thee,
Who art at once ambassador, bold Tiger,
And haughty Lion of the battlefield."

With that he called a scribe, whose pen he made
An arrowhead, and wrote : " Such talk is futile
And cometh ill from one of sober sense.
If thou canst purge thy head of arrogance
Do as thou art commanded like a slave.

Thou wilt not wreck thy realm but pay me tribute
Unvexed by war, enjoy Mazandaran,
And 'scape with life from Rustam ; but if thou
Refusest I will march upon thee, stretch
My host from sea to sea, and then the soul
Of thy malevolent White Div will bring
The vultures to enjoy thy brains, O king !"

The letter sealed, aspiring Rustam flung
His mace upon the saddle and approached
Mazandaran, whose monarch heard : " Kaus
Hath sent another letter and an envoy —
One like a savage lion — with a lasso
Of sixty coils within the straps. Beneath him
There is a speedy charger ; one would say : —
It bulketh like a mighty elephant.' "

On hearing this the king selected chiefs
And bade them go to meet this savage Lion.
As Rustam saw them he beheld beside
The road a spreading tree, seized on two branches,
And twisting round the tree with might and main
Uprooted it, himself unscathed the while,
Then poised it like a dart, while all the troops
Looked on astound. As they came up he hurled
The tree, whose boughs hid many cavaliers.
One of the chiefest of Mazandaran
Seized Rustam's hand and squeezed it to assay
His fortitude in pain, but Rustam laughed
While all the company looked on in wonder,
And as he laughed he crushed the other's hand.
That strength-assayer lost all strength himself,
Paled, and fell off his steed. One went before
And told the monarch of Mazandaran
That which had chanced. There was a cavalier
Hight Kaldhur, whose fame rang through the land,
And who, like some fierce pard, loved fighting only.
The king, who mightily esteemed his valour,
Called him and sent him forth to counter Rustam,
Thus saying : " Meet the envoy, give fresh proofs
Of prowess, shame him, make him weep hot tears."

So Kalahur came lion-like to Rustam
With louring looks and with a leopard's greeting,
Then took and squeezed the Elephantine's hand
Till it turned blue with pain, who bore it lightly,
As holding manhood's patent from the sun,
And stoutly wrung the hand of Kalahur,
Whose nails fell off like leaves. He went and showed
The king his mangled hand. " I cannot hide,"
He said, " the anguish that I feel. Enjoy
Thyself in peace ; thou canst not fight this hero.
If he is willing let us pay the tribute,
Submitting to preserve Mazandaran,
And portion out the tax to great and small
To make this heavy travail light ; 'tis better
Than quaking for our lives."

The matchless Rustam
That moment came like some fierce elephant
Before the king who, seeing him, assigned him
A place of honour, asked about Kaus,
The host, the travail of the longsome road,
Its ups and downs, and then said : " Thou art Rustam ;
Thy breast and arm befit a paladin."

He said : " I am a slave if fit to serve.
Where Rustam, that brave paladin, is present
There I am useless. Since God made the world
A chief so eminent hath not appeared.
In fight he is a mountain. What and how
Am I to speak about his mace and Rakhsh ?

What army can withstand him when he warreth ?
He maketh mountains seas, and seas like mountains.
What lion, elephant, or div will raise
The battle-cry against him when he fighteth ?
He is a noble army in himself
And not a messenger ; 'twas he that sent me
To say : ' If thou are prudent sow not seed
Of evil. Thou hast sown it in abundance,
And lightly left the path of manliness.
How hast thou used the monarch of Iran,
His troops, and paladins in thy revenge ?
Thou hast not heard perchance of Rustam's name,
Who hath the welkin for his meanest thrall ;
But if I had permission from the Shah
To come to this thy folk I would not leave
One of thy host alive, and thine own head
Should be upon a spear.' "

He gave the letter —
A message from ambition to self-will —
And said : " The scimitar is bearing fruit,
It beareth on its lap the heads of nobles."

The king when he had heard the embassage,
And read the letter, was displeased and marvelled.
He spake to Rustam, saying : " To what end
Are all these frivolous demands of thine ?
Say to Kaus : ' Thou art indeed the Shah,
But, though thou hast the heart and claws of lions,
Still I am monarch of Mazandaran,
Possess a host, sit on the golden throne,
And wear the crown. To summon me absurdly
Before thee thus is neither right nor royal.
Think, and ambition not the thrones of kings,
For in the quest dishonour will befall thee.
Ride thou Iranward or a lance's point
Shall end thy days. If I lead forth my host
Thou'lt know not head from foot. 'Tis thy conceit ;
Be wise and cast away thy bow, for when
We meet thy talk and violence will cease.'
Say too for me to Rustam : ' Famous chief!
Whatever Kai Kaus may give to thee
I will bestow a hundred to his one,
Will make thee chief of chiefs, rich past desire,
Exalt thy head above the sun and moon,
And give to thee command of all my troops.' "

But Rustam, with his shrewd mind contemplating
Throne, host, and court, esteemed the king's speech brainless.

Such insults angered him, and he replied : —
"O witless king ! good sooth thy fortunes lour !
Hath Rustam, that exalted paladin,
Need of thy treasury and of thy troops ?
The son of Zal is monarch of Nimruz
And hath no peer ; so cease to wag thy tongue
Or he will pluck it out. "

The king was wroth ;
His evil nature turned his thoughts to bloodshed
He cried : " Arrest the envoy in my presence,
Disseat him and behead him."

Instantly
An executioner approached the throne
To seize his wrists and hale him from his seat,
But Rustam, roaring like a lion, caught
The executioner's wrists and dragged him close,
Then flung him down and, holding one foot fast,
Set his own foot upon the other one
And rent the man asunder ! None e'er saw
A sight like that ! Then noble Rustam cried : —
"If I had but permission from the Shah
To war against thine army I would put thee
This instant into pitiable plight."

He spake and went forth from the court, his eyes
Like bowls of blood, while quaking at his words
And might the king made ready royal gifts
Of raiment, steeds, and gold, and proffered them
To Rustam, but he would accept of naught,
Because such presents would involve disgrace,
And left the country of Mazandaran,
Concerned at these grave doings. Full of vengeance,
And in hot blood, he came before the Shah,
Told his experience in Mazandaran,
And said to him : " Be not concerned one whit,
Show courage and prepare to fight the divs.
I do not value them a single grain
Of dust, and I will make this mace their bane."

When Rustam left, the king of sorcerers
Prepared for war, brought out his tent-enclosure,
And led the whole host forth upon the waste ;
Their dust hid sun and desert, plain and mountain,
While earth reeled 'neath the tramp of elephants.
He marched like rushing wind. Kaus on hearing,
"The divs' host is in sight," first ordered Rustam
To arm for fight and then to Tus, Gudarz,
Son of Kishwad, and to Gurgin and Giv,
Those men of noble lineage, he gave
The arraying of the host, the ordering
Of spear and shield. They pitched the camp-enclosures
Upon the deserts of Mazandaran.
Upon the right was Tus, son of Naudar,
Whose clarion-blasts thrilled to the mountains' hearts ;
Gudarz was on the left wing with Kishwad,
And clad the heights in iron ; Kai Kaus,
In chief command, was posted at the centre.
The troops drew up while elephantine Rustam,
Who never saw disaster, led them on.

Juya, a noble of Mazandaran,
A fame-ensuer, a mace-brandisher,
And bragger likewise, by his monarch's leave
Confronted Kai Kaus. The warrior's mail
Shone brilliantly, his falchion seared the ground ;
He passed along the Iranian line with shouts
That plain and mountain echoed : " He must send
Dust up from water who would fight with me."

Not one came out against him, thou wouldst say :—
"Their veins pulsed not with blood." Then cried
Kaus :—
"Why hath this div's voice, valiant warriors !
Thus dazed your hearts and made your faces dark ? "

They answered not a word, and thou hadst said : —
"The host is withered up before Juya."
Then Rustam took the reins and shouldering
His shining spear said : " Will the Shah permit me
To face this caitiff div ? "

Kaus replied : —
"Be thine the task, for none will seek it else.
Go ! May the Maker aid thee, be all divs
And sorcerers thy quarry."

Rustam urged
His gallant Rakhsh and grasped his weighty spear,
Came on the scene like some mad elephant,
A Pard beneath him and in hand a Dragon,
Sent dust-clouds flying as he wheeled about,
And shouting shook the battle-field. " O knave ! "
He cried, " thy name is cancelled 'mong the great.
This is no time of peace and ease for thee,
But pity ; she shall weep who bare thee, nurtured,
And chastened thee."

"Be not too sure," he answered
"About Juya and his head -reaping sword ;
Thy mother's liver shall be split anon,
And she shall wash thy mail and casque with tears."

When Rustam heard he raised his battle-cry,
Proclaimed his name, and as he charged appeared
A moving mountain, while his foe dismayed
Wheeled round unwilling to contend with him,
But Rustam following, swift as dust, and aiming
The spearpoint straight against the girdlestead,
So speared the mail that straps and buckles burst,
Unseated him, raised him aloft, and turned him
Like bird on spit, then flung him down dust-choked,
With shivered mail. The warriors of the foe
Looked on astound, faint-hearted, pale of face,
And babble filled the field. Their king commanded
The whole host, saying : " Lift your heads and fight
Like leopards in this strife."

The warriors heard
His warlike words, and of that countless host
A vengeful throng advanced. The Shah perceived it
And came on too in orderly array.
Both armies drew their swords and closed amid
The din of trump and drum, the sky was ebon,
Earth indigo, while swords and maces gleamed
Like lightning flashing from a murky cloud.
The air was crimson, black, and violet,
With spears and flags. The shouting of the divs,
The clouds of dust, the roar of kettledrums,
And neigh of steeds, rent earth and shook the mountains ;
None e'er saw such a fight. Arose the din
Of arrow, mace, and sword, the plain became
A pool of heroes' blood, earth like a sea
Of pitch whose waves were maces, swords, and arrows.
Swift steeds sped on like ships upon the deep.
And thou hadst said of them : " They founder fast ! "
While maces rained upon the casques and helms
As autumn-blasts shower leaves from willow-trees.
Thus for a week those glory-seeking hosts
Encountered, on the eighth day Shah Kaus
Took from his head the royal casque and stood
Before the Judge and Guide of this world, weeping,
Then falling prostrate he exclaimed : " O Judge
Whose word is truth, who madest sea and land !
Give me to quell these divs who fear not Thee,
And grace for me the throne of king of kings,"
He donned his helm and joined his famous troops.
There rose a shout and trumpet-blare, the host
Moved like a mountain. He commanded Giv
And Tis to bring the tymbals to the front.
Gudarz with Zanga son of Shawaran,
Ruhham, Gurgin, all eager for the fray,
Guraza like a wild boar, with a flag
Eight cubits high, Farhad, Kharrad, Barzin,
Rushed on the field to seek revenge anew.
First, matchless Rustam charging on the centre
Bathed earth with warriors' blood. Upon the right
Gudarz fetched with Kishwad arms, drums, troops, baggage,
While from the right wing to the left Giv fared —
A wolf among the sheep. From dawn till sunset
Blood ran in streams, all looks were fierce and grim,
And thou hadst said : " The sky is raining maces."
The slain were heaped on every side, the grass
Was smirched with human brains. The drums and trumpets
Were like a thunder-clap, an ebon veil
Concealed the sun. Then elephantine Rustam
Charged with a mighty power against the quarter
Where stood the monarch of Mazandaran,
Who with his divs and elephants of war
Awhile maintained his ground. Then Rustam gave
His pointed lance to one to hold, invoked
The name of God, raised high his mace, and raged ;
His voice filled all the air, the divs became
Dispirited, the elephants confounded ;
Their trunks were scattered over all the plain,
And naught but corpses could be seen for miles.
Then calling for a spear he charged the king ;
Both roared like thunder. When the king beheld
The spear of Rustam wrath and courage failed,
While Rustam, seething with revenge, sent up
A mighty lion's roar, struck the king's girdle,
And pierced him through the mail. The sorcerer
Turned to a boulder by his magic arts
Before the Iranian host, while matchless Rustam
Stood in amaze, then shouldered his sharp lance.
The Shah came up with drums and elephants,
With standards and with troops, and said to Rustam :-
"Why tarry here so long, exalted chief ! "

He answered : " When victorious fortune showed
Amid the stress the monarch seeing rne
Took up his massive mace, I gave to Rakhsh
The rein and speared the monarch through the mail.
Methought : ' Now will he tumble from his saddle.'
He turned to stone before me, as thou seest,
And recketh not of aught that I can do,
But I will carry him to camp, perchance
He will resume his shape."

The Shah bade some
To bear and set the stone before his tent.
Then all the strongest of the host essayed
In vain to move the mass, howbeit Rustam
Raised it unaided to the troops' amaze,
Then shouldering the rock walked off therewith
With all the people shouting at his back.
They praised the Almighty, scattering gems and gold
O'er Rustam as he bare the stone and threw it
Before the tent-enclosure of the Shah.

He set a guard and said : t: Quit these black arts
And sorceries to take thy proper shape,
Or else with this sharp steel and battle-ax
Will I break up the stone."

The sorcerer heard,
The stone dissolved like mist, the king was seen
In helmet and cuirass, and Rustam seizing
His hand turned laughing to the Shah and said : —
"Permit me to present this piece of rock,
Which feared mine ax and quaketh in my grasp."

The Shah on looking saw him not the man
For crown and throne ; he had a loathly face,
A lanky shape and boar's head, neck, and tushes.
Kaus recalled the past with pain and sighs,
Then bade a headsman hew the div in pieces,
Whom matchless Rustam taking by the beard
Haled from the presence of Kaus. They hewed
The div to pieces as the great king bade.
They gathered all the booty from the camp,
And put together thrones and crowns and girdles,
Steeds, jewelry, and arms. The troops attended,
And each received according to his meed.
The impious divs, whom all beheld with horror,
Were then beheaded by the Shah's command
And flung beside the way. He said in prayer : —
"O righteous Judge ! Thou hast not left a wish
Of mine unsatisfied, hast made me conquer
These sorcerers, and revived my hoary fortune."

He spent a week before the Lord in prayer,
Upon the eighth day oped the treasury-door,
And gave to all that lacked ; another week
So passed while every man received his meed.
The third week still within Mazandaran
He called for amber cups and ruby cups,
And spent a night in revel. Thus rethroned
He said to Rustam : " Chief of paladins !

Thou hast displayed thy prowess everywhere,
And now I have received my throne from thee.
Bright be thy heart, thy Faith, and thine allegiance."

Then Rustam answered: "All men have their uses.
Whate'er I did was owing to "Clad,
My faithful guide, who hopeth now to rule
Mazandaran, for so I promised him
If he did well. Perchance the king of kings,
Who tendereth lieges, will exalt him thus ?
First let the Shah grant him investiture
By solemn covenant and under seal
As monarch of Mazandaran, and then
Let all the other chieftains do him homage.
He will approve himself thy faithful liege
And send to thee the tribute that is due."

The Shah, on hearing what his servant said,
Assented, summoned from Mazandaran
The chiefs, and said in speaking of Clad : —
"Do as he counselleth and bear no grudge."

He gave Clad a special robe of honour,
And said : " Good worketh constantly unseen,"
Bestowed on him the royal crown, and then
Set his own face to go to Pars again.

Now when Kaus was entering Iran,
And when the army's dust concealed the world,
The excitement reached the sun, and men and women
Met him with loud acclaim ; they decked the land
And called for wine and harp and minstrelsy.
The world grew young through him, and there arose
A New Moon from Iran. Glad and triumphant
He sat enthroned, unlocked his ancient hoards,
And summoned almoners. A shout went up
Before the gate of elephantine Rustam,
And all the captains of the host assembled
Rejoicing in the presence of the Shah.
Then matchless Rustam, casque on head, drew near
And seated by the Shah asked leave to go
To Zal. The worldlord gave him costly gifts,
Such as he merited — a throne with rams' heads
All jewelled in turquoise, a royal crown
Of gems, a robe of gold worn by the Shah,
A splendid torque and armlet, and withal
A hundred moon-faced boys with golden girdles,
A hundred lovely damsels musky-haired,
A hundred noble steeds in golden harness,
A hundred black-haired mules with golden bridles
All laden with brocade of royal fashion
From Rum, Pahlav, and Chin, a hundred purses
Filled with dinars, bright stuffs, perfumes, and trinkets,
A ruby goblet full of purest musk,
Another of turquoise filled with rose-water,
And therewithal a patent writ on silk
With ink of musk, wine, ambergris, and aloes.
Upon that chief — the Light of earth — the Shah
Bestowed anew the whole realm of Nimruz,
So that thenceforth none else should have the throne,
And blessed him, saying: "May none see sun and moon
Without thee, be the chiefs' hearts warm to thee,
And be thy soul fulfilled with love and kindness."
Then Rustam leaped down, kissed the throne, made ready
For his departure, and bound on the baggage.
The din of kettledrums rose from the city,
And all partook his joy. They put up garlands
While bells and clarions sounded. Rustam went,
The Shah remained, illumining the world
With laws and usages. When thus returned
He portioned out the earth among his chieftains,
Appointing Tus the captain of the host.
"Avert," he said, " disaster from Iran,"
While Ispahan bestowed he on Gudarz,
Gave him the throne and lordship of that march,
And then disposed himself for mirth and wine,
Displayed his majesty and smote the neck
Of sorrow with the scimitar of justice.
None thought of death, the earth grew full of verdure-
A garden of Iram — with streams and dew,
And rich by justice and security;
The hand of Ahriman was stayed from ill,
And day and night the fruits and foliage
Invoked a blessing on the crown and throne : —
"A hundred thousand blessings every hour
From the Creator be upon the Shah,
Who by his justice civilizeth earth
And in his justice mindeth bounteousness."
'Twas noised abroad : " Kaus the Shah hath taken
The crown and throne out of Mazandaran."
All wondered that he should achieve such greatness,
The loyal with their gifts and offerings
Drew up in rank before the monarch's door,
And all the world was decked like Paradise,
Fulfilled with wealth and justice. Thou hast heard
About the warfare with Mazandaran,
Now hear the contest with Hamavaran.