The Persian Literature Volume I Part 21

As on they moved; with loud and dissonant clang; His numerous troops shut out the prospect round; No sun was visible by day; no moon, Nor stars by night. The tramp of men and steeds, And rattling drums, and shouts, were only heard, And the bright gleams of armour only seen.

Ere long the two armies met, when Pilsam, the brother of Piran, was ambitious of opposing his single arm against Rustem, upon which Afrasiyab said:--"Subdue Rustem, and thy reward shall be my daughter, and half my kingdom." Piran, however, observed that he was too young to be a fit match for the experience and valor of the Persian champion, and would have dissuaded him from the unequal contest, but the choice was his own, and he was consequently permitted by Afrasiyab to put his bravery to the test. Pilsam accordingly went forth and summoned Rustem to the fight; but Giw, hearing the call, accepted the challenge himself, and had nearly been thrown from his horse by the superior activity of his opponent. Feramurz luckily saw him at the perilous moment, and darting forward, with one stroke of his sword shattered Pilsam's javelin to pieces, and then a new strife began. Pilsam and Feramurz fought together with desperation, till both were almost exhausted, and Rustem himself was surprised to see the display of so much valor. Perceiving the wearied state of the two warriors he pushed forward Rakush, and called aloud to Pilsam:--"Am I not the person challenged?" and immediately the Turanian chief proceeded to encounter him, striking with all his might at the head of the champion; but though the sword was broken by the blow, not a hair of his head was disordered.

Then Rustem urging on his gallant steed, Fixed his long javelin in the girdle band Of his ambitious foe, and quick unhorsed him; Then dragged him on towards Afrasiyab, And, scoffing, cast him at the despot's feet.

"Here comes the glorious conqueror," he said; "Now give to him thy daughter and thy treasure, Thy kingdom and thy soldiers; has he not Done honour to thy country?--Is he not A jewel in thy crown of sovereignty?

What arrogance inspired the fruitless hope!

Think of thy treachery to Saiawush; Thy savage cruelty, and never look For aught but deadly hatred from mankind; And in the field of fight defeat and ruin."

Thus scornfully he spoke, and not a man, Though in the presence of Afrasiyab, Had soul to meet him; fear o'ercame them all Monarch and warriors, for a time. At length Shame was awakened, and the king appeared In arms against the champion. Fiercely they Hurled their sharp javelins--Rustem's struck the head Of his opponent's horse, which floundering fell, And overturned his rider. Anxious then The champion sprang to seize the royal prize; But Human rushed between, and saved his master, Who vaulted on another horse and fled.

Having thus rescued Afrasiyab, the wary chief exercised all his cunning and adroitness to escape himself, and at last succeeded. Rustem pursued him, and the Turanian troops, who had followed the example of the king; but though thousands were slain in the chase which continued for many farsangs, no further advantage was obtained on that day. Next morning, however, Rustem resumed his pursuit; and the enemy hearing of his approach, retreated into Chinese Tartary, to secure, among other advantages, the person of Kai-khosrau; leaving the kingdom of Turan at the mercy of the invader, who mounted the throne, and ruled there, it is said, about seven years, with memorable severity, proscribing and putting to death every person who mentioned the name of Afrasiyab. In the meantime he made splendid presents to Tus and Gudarz, suitable to their rank and services; and Zuara, in revenge for the monstrous outrage committed upon Saiawush, burnt and destroyed everything that came in his way; his wrath being exasperated by the sight of the places in which the young prince had resided, and recreated himself with hunting and other sports of the field. The whole realm, in fact, was delivered over to plunder and devastation; and every individual of the army was enriched by the appropriation of public and private wealth. The companions of Rustem, however, grew weary of residing in Turan, and they strongly represented to him the neglect which Kai-kaus had suffered for so many years, recommending his return to Persia, as being more honorable than the exile they endured in an ungenial climate. Rustem's abandonment of the kingdom was at length carried into effect; and he and his warriors did not fail to take away with them all the immense property that remained in jewels and gold; part of which was conveyed by the champion to Zabul and Sistan, and a goodly proportion to the king of kings in Persia.

When to Afrasiyab was known The plunder of his realm and throne, That the destroyer's reckless hand With fire and sword had scathed the land, Sorrow and anguish filled his soul, And pa.s.sion raged beyond control; And thus he to his warriors said:-- "At such a time, is valour dead?

The man who hears the mournful tale, And is not by his country's bale Urged on to vengeance, cannot be Of woman born; accursed is he!

The time will come when I shall reap The harvest of resentment deep; And till arrives that fated hour, Farewell to joy in hall or bower."

Rustem, in taking revenge for the murder of Saiawush, had not been unmindful of Kai-khosrau, and had actually sent to the remote parts of Tartary in quest of him.

It is said that Gudarz beheld in a dream the young prince, who pointed out to him his actual residence, and intimated that of all the warriors of Kaus, Giw was the only one destined to restore him to the world and his birth-right. The old man immediately requested his son Giw to go to the place where the stranger would be found. Giw readily complied, and in his progress provided himself at every stage successively with a guide, whom he afterwards slew to prevent discovery, and in this manner he proceeded till he reached the boundary of Chin, enjoying no comfort by day, or sleep by night. His only food was the flesh of the wild a.s.s, and his only covering the skin of the same animal. He went on traversing mountain and forest, enduring every privation, and often did he hesitate, often did he think of returning, but honor urged him forward in spite of the trouble and impediments with which he was continually a.s.sailed. Arriving in a desert one day, he happened to meet with several persons, who upon being interrogated, said that they were sent by Piran-wisah in search of Kai-kaus. Giw kept his own secret, saying that he was amusing himself with hunting the wild a.s.s, but took care to ascertain from them the direction in which they were going. During the night the parties separated, and in the morning Giw proceeded rapidly on his route, and after some time discovered a youth sitting by the side of a fountain, with a cup in his hand, whom he supposed to be Kai-khosrau.

The youth also spontaneously thought "This must be Giw"; and when the traveller approached him, and said, "I am sure thou art the son of Saiawush"; the youth observed, "I am equally sure that thou art Giw the son of Gudarz." At this Giw was amazed, and falling to his feet, asked how, and from what circ.u.mstance, he recognized him. The youth replied that he knew all the warriors of Kaus; Rustem, and Kishwad, and Tus, and Gudarz, and the rest, from their portraits in his father's gallery, they being deeply impressed on his mind. He then asked in what way Giw had discovered him to be Kai-khosrau, and Giw answered, "Because I perceived something kingly in thy countenance. But let me again examine thee!" The youth, at this request, removed his garments, and Giw beheld that mark on his body which was the heritage of the race of Kai-kobad. Upon this discovery he rejoiced, and congratulating himself and the young prince on the success of his mission, related to him the purpose for which he had come. Kai-khosrau was soon mounted on horseback, and Giw accompanied him respectfully on foot. They, in the first instance, pursued their way towards the abode of Ferangis, his mother. The persons sent by Piran-wisah did not arrive at the place where Kai-khosrau had been kept till long after Giw and the prince departed; and then they were told that a Persian horseman had come and carried off the youth, upon which they immediately returned, and communicated to Piran what had occurred.

Ferangis, in recovering her son, mentioned to Giw, with the fondness of a mother, the absolute necessity of going on without delay, and pointed out to him the meadow in which some of Afrasiyab's horses were to be met with, particularly one called Behzad, which once belonged to Saiawush, and which her father had kept in good condition for his own riding. Giw, therefore, went to the meadow, and throwing his kamund, secured Behzad and another horse; and all three being thus accommodated, hastily proceeded on their journey towards Iran.

Tidings of the escape of Kai-khosrau having reached Afrasiyab, he despatched Kulbad with three hundred hors.e.m.e.n after him; and so rapid were his movements that he overtook the fugitives in the vicinity of Bulgharia. Khosrau and his mother were asleep, but Giw being awake, and seeing an armed force evidently in pursuit of his party, boldly put on his armor, mounted Behzad, and before the enemy came up, advanced to the charge. He attacked the hors.e.m.e.n furiously with sword, and mace, for he had heard the prophecy, which declared that Kai-khosrau was destined to be the king of kings, and therefore he braved the direst peril with confidence, and the certainty of success. It was this feeling which enabled him to perform such a prodigy of valor, in putting Kulbad and his three hundred hors.e.m.e.n to the rout. They all fled defeated, and dispersed precipitately before him. After this surprising victory, he returned to the halting place, and told Kai-khosrau what he had done.

The prince was disappointed at not having been awakened to partic.i.p.ate in the exploit, but Giw said, "I did not wish to disturb thy sweet slumbers unnecessarily. It was thy good fortune and prosperous star, however, which made me triumph over the enemy." The three travellers then resuming their journey:

Through dreary track, and pathless waste, And wood and wild, their way they traced.

The return of the defeated Kulbad excited the greatest indignation in the breast of Piran. "What! three hundred soldiers to fly from the valor of one man! Had Giw possessed even the activity and might of Rustem and Sam, such a shameful discomfiture could scarcely have happened." Saying this, he ordered the whole force under his command to be got ready, and set off himself to overtake and intercept the fugitives, who, fatigued with the toilsome march, were only able to proceed one stage in the day.

Piran, therefore, who travelled at the rate of one hundred leagues a day, overtook them before they had pa.s.sed through Bulgharia. Ferangis, who saw the enemy's banner floating in the air, knew that it belonged to Piran, and instantly awoke the two young men from sleep. Upon this occasion, Khosrau insisted on acting his part, instead of being left ignominiously idle; but Giw was still resolute and determined to preserve him from all risk, at the peril of his own life. "Thou art destined to be the king of the world; thou art yet young, and a novice, and hast never known the toils of war; Heaven forbid that any misfortune should befall thee: indeed, whilst I live, I will never suffer thee to go into battle!" Khosrau then proposed to give him a.s.sistance; but Giw said he wanted no a.s.sistance, not even from Rustem; "for," he added, "in art and strength we are equal, having frequently tried our skill together." Rustem had given his daughter in marriage to Giw, he himself being married to Giw's sister. "Be of good cheer," resumed he, "get upon some high place, and witness the battle between us.

"Fortune will still from Heaven descend, The G.o.d of victory is my friend."

As soon as he took the field, Piran thus addressed him: "Thou hast once, singly, defeated three hundred of my soldiers; thou shalt now see what punishment awaits thee at my hands.

"For should a warrior be a rock of steel, A thousand ants, gathered on every side, In time will make him but a heap of dust."

In reply, Giw said to Piran, "I am the man who bound thy two women, and sent them from China to Persia--Rustem and I are the same in battle.

Thou knowest, when he encountered a thousand hors.e.m.e.n, what was the result, and what he accomplished! Thou wilt find me the same: is not a lion enough to overthrow a thousand kids?

"If but a man survive of thy proud host, Brand me with coward--say I'm not a warrior.

Already have I triumphed o'er Kulbad, And now I'll take thee prisoner, yea, alive!

And send thee to Kaus--there thou wilt be Slain to avenge the death of Saiawush; Turan shall perish, and Afrasiyab, And every earthly hope extinguished quite."

Hearing this awful threat, Piran turned pale And shook with terror--trembling like a reed; And saying: "Go, I will not fight with thee!"

But Giw asked fiercely: "Why?" And on he rushed Against the foe, who fled--but 'twas in vain.

The kamund round the old man's neck was thrown, And he was taken captive. Then his troops Showered their sharp arrows on triumphant Giw, To free their master, who was quickly brought Before Kai-khosrau, and the kamund placed Within his royal hands. This service done, Giw sped against the Tartars, and full soon Defeated and dispersed them.

On his return, Giw expressed his astonishment that Piran was still alive; when Ferangis interposed, and weeping, said how much she had been indebted to his interposition and the most active humanity on various occasions, and particularly in saving herself and Kai-khosrau from the wrath of Afrasiyab after the death of Saiawush. "If," said she, "after so much generosity he has committed one fault, let it be forgiven.

"Let not the man of many virtues die, For being guilty of one trifling error.

Let not the friend who n.o.bly saved my life, And more, the dearer life of Kai-khosrau, Suffer from us. O, he must never, never, Feel the sharp pang of foul ingrat.i.tude, From a true prince of the Kaianian race."

But Giw paused, and said, "I have sworn to crimson the earth with his blood, and I must not pa.s.s from my oath." Khosrau then suggested to him to pierce the lobes of Piran's ears, and drop the blood on the ground to stain it, in order that he might not depart from his word; and this humane fraud was accordingly committed. Khosrau further interceded; and instead of being sent a captive to Kaus, the good old man was set at liberty.

When the particulars of this event were described to Afrasiyab by Piran-wisah, he was exceedingly sorrowful, and lamented deeply that Kai-khosrau had so successfully effected his escape. But he had recourse to a further expedient, and sent instructions to all the ferrymen of the Jihun, with a minute description of the three travellers, to prevent their pa.s.sing that river, announcing at the same time that he himself was in pursuit of them. Not a moment was lost in preparing his army for the march, and he moved forward with the utmost expedition, night and day. At the period when Giw arrived on the banks of the Jihun, the stream was very rapid and formidable, and he requested the ferrymen to produce their certificates to show themselves equal to their duty. They pretended that their certificates were lost, but demanded for their fare the black horse upon which Giw rode. Giw replied, that he could not part with his favorite horse; and they rejoined, "Then give us the damsel who accompanies you." Giw answered, and said, "This is not a damsel, but the mother of that youth!"--"Then," observed they, "give us the youth's crown." But Giw told them that he could not comply with their demand; yet he was ready to reward them with money to any extent. The pertinacious ferrymen, who were not anxious for money, then demanded his armor, and this was also refused; and such was their independence or their effrontery, that they replied, "If not one of these four things you are disposed to grant, cross the river as best you may." Giw whispered to Kai-khosrau, and told him that there was no time for delay.

"When Kavah, the blacksmith," said he, "rescued thy great ancestor, Feridun, he pa.s.sed the stream in his armor without impediment; and why should we, in a cause of equal glory, hesitate for a moment?" Under the inspiring influence of an auspicious omen, and confiding in the protection of the Almighty, Kai-khosrau at once impelled his foaming horse into the river; his mother, Ferangis, followed with equal intrepidity, and then Giw; and notwithstanding the perilous pa.s.sage, they all successfully overcame the boiling surge, and landed in safety, to the utter amazement of the ferrymen, who of course had expected they would be drowned,

It so happened that at the moment they touched the sh.o.r.e, Afrasiyab with his army arrived, and had the mortification to see the fugitives on the other bank, beyond his reach. His wonder was equal to his disappointment.

"What spirits must they have to brave The terrors of that boiling wave-- With steed and harness, riding o'er The billows to the further sh.o.r.e."

It was a cheering sight, they say, To see how well they kept their way, How Ferangis impelled her horse Across that awful torrent's course, Guiding him with heroic hand, To reach unhurt the friendly strand.

Afrasiyab continued for some time mute with astonishment and vexation, and when he recovered, ordered the ferrymen to get ready their boats to pa.s.s him over the river; but Human dissuaded him from that measure, saying that they could only convey a few troops, and they would doubtless be received by a large force of the enemy on the other side.

At these words, Afrasiyab seemed to devour his own blood with grief and indignation, and immediately retracing his steps, returned to Turan.

As soon as Giw entered within the boundary of the Persian empire, he poured out thanksgivings to G.o.d for his protection, and sent intelligence to Kaus of the safe arrival of the party in his dominions.

The king rejoiced exceedingly, and appointed an honorary deputation under the direction of Gudarz, to meet the young prince on the road. On first seeing him, the king moved forward to receive him; and weeping affectionately, kissed his eyes and face, and had a throne prepared for him exactly like his own, upon which he seated him; and calling the n.o.bles and warriors of the land together, commanded them to obey him.

All readily promised their allegiance, excepting Tus, who left the court in disgust, and repairing forthwith to the house of Friburz, one of the sons of Kaus, told him that he would only pay homage and obedience to him, and not to the infant whom Giw had just brought out of a desert.

Next day the great men and leaders were again a.s.sembled to declare publicly by an official act their fealty to Kai-khosrau, and Tus was also invited to the banquet, which was held on the occasion, but he refused to go. Giw was deputed to repeat the invitation; and he then said, "I shall pay homage to Friburz, as the heir to the throne, and to no other.

"For is he not the son of Kai-kaus, And worthy of the regal crown and throne?

I want not any of the race of Poshang-- None of the proud Turanian dynasty-- Fruitless has been thy peril, Giw, to bring A silly child among us, to defraud The rightful prince of his inheritance!"

Giw, in reply, vindicated the character and attainments of Khosrau, but Tus was not to be appeased. He therefore returned to his father and communicated to him what had occurred. Gudarz was roused to great wrath by this resistance to the will of the king, and at once took twelve thousand men and his seventy-eight kinsmen, together with Giw, and proceeded to support his cause by force of arms. Tus, apprised of his intentions, prepared to meet him, but was reluctant to commit himself by engaging in a civil war, and said, internally:--

"If I unsheath the sword of strife, Numbers on either side will fall, I would not sacrifice the life Of one who owns my sovereign's thrall.

"My country would abhor the deed, And may I never see the hour When Persia's sons are doomed to bleed, But when opposed to foreign power.

"The cause must be both good and true, And if their blood in war must flow, Will it not seem of brighter hue, When shed to crush the Tartar foe?"

Possessing these sentiments, Tus sent an envoy to Gudarz, suggesting the suspension of any hostile proceedings until information on the subject had been first communicated to the king. Kaus was extremely displeased with Gudarz for his precipitancy and folly, and directed both him and Tus to repair immediately to court. Tus there said frankly, "I now owe honor and allegiance to king Kaus; but should he happen to lay aside the throne and the diadem, my obedience and loyalty will be due to Friburz his heir, and not to a stranger." To this, Gudarz replied, "Saiawush was the eldest son of the king, and unjustly murdered, and therefore it becomes his majesty to appease and rejoice the soul of the deceased, by putting Kai-khosrau in his place. Kai-khosrau, like Feridun, is worthy of empire; all the n.o.bles of the land are of this opinion, excepting thyself, which must arise from ignorance and vanity.

"From Nauder certainly thou are descended, Not from a stranger, not from foreign loins; But though thy ancestor was wise and mighty Art thou of equal merit? No, not thou!

Regarding Khosrau, thou hast neither shown Reason nor sense--but most surprising folly!"

To this contemptuous speech, Tus thus replied: "Ungenerous warrior! wherefore thus employ Such scornful words to me? Who art thou, pray!

Who, but the low descendant of a blacksmith?

No Khosrau claims thee for his son, no chief Of n.o.ble blood; whilst I can truly boast Kindred to princes of the highest worth, And merit not to be obscured by thee!"

To him then Gudarz: "Hear me for this once, Then shut thy ears for ever. Need I blush To be the kinsman of the glorious Kavah?

It is my humour to be proud of him.

Although he was a blacksmith--that same man, Who, when the world could still boast of valour, Tore up the name-roll of the fiend Zohak, And gave the Persians freedom from the fangs Of the devouring serpents. He it was, Who raised the banner, and proclaimed aloud, Freedom for Persia! Need I blush for him?

To him the empire owes its greatest blessing, The prosperous rule of virtuous Feridun."

Tus wrathfully rejoined: "Old man! thy arrow May pierce an anvil--mine can pierce the heart Of the Kaf mountain! If thy mace can break A rock asunder--mine can strike the sun!"

The anger of the two heroes beginning to exceed all proper bounds, Kaus commanded silence; when Gudarz came forward, and asked permission to say one word more: "Call Khosrau and Friburz before thee, and decide impartially between them which is the most worthy of sovereignty--let the wisest and the bravest only be thy successor to the throne of Persia." Kaus replied:

"The father has no choice among his children, He loves them all alike--his only care Is to prevent disunion; to preserve Brotherly kindness and respect among them."

After a pause, he requested the attendance of Friburz and Khosrau, and told them that there was a demon-fortress in the vicinity of his dominions called Bahmen, from which fire was continually issuing. "Go, each of you," said he, "against this fortress, supported by an army with which you shall each be equally provided, and the conqueror shall be the sovereign of Persia." Friburz was not sorry to hear of this probationary scheme, and only solicited to be sent first on the expedition. He and Tus looked upon the task as perfectly easy, and promised to be back triumphant in a short time.