The Persian Literature Volume I Part 34

With loosened rein he rushed along the field, And through opposing numbers hewed his path, Then pierced the Kulub-gah, the centre-host, Where many a warrior brave, renowned in arms, Fell by his sword. Like sheep before a wolf The hara.s.sed Rumis fled; for none had power To cope with his strong arm. His wondrous might Alone, subdued the legions right and left; And when, unwearied, he had fought his way To where great Kaisar stood, night came, and darkness, s.h.i.+elding the trembling emperor of Rum, s.n.a.t.c.hed the expected triumph from his hands.

Rishnawad was so filled with admiration at his splendid prowess, that he now offered him the most magnificent presents; but when they were exposed to his view, a suit of armor was the only thing he would accept.

The Rumis were entirely disheartened by his valor, and they said: "We understood that the sovereign of Persia was only a woman, and that the conquest of the empire would be no difficult task; but this woman seems to be more fortunate than a warrior-king. Even her general remains inactive with the great body of his army; and a youth, with a small force, is sufficient to subdue the legions of Rum; we had, therefore, better return to our own country." The princ.i.p.al warriors entertained the same sentiments, and suggested to Kaisar the necessity of retiring from the field; but the king opposed this measure, thinking it cowardly and disgraceful, and said:--

"To-morrow we renew the fight, To-morrow we shall try our might; To-morrow, with the smiles of Heaven, To us the victory will be given."

Accordingly on the following day the armies met again, and after a sanguinary struggle, the Persians were again triumphant. Kaisar now despaired of success, sent a messenger to Rishnawad, in which he acknowledged the aggressions he had committed, and offered to pay him whatever tribute he might require. Rishnawad readily settled the terms of the peace; and the emperor was permitted to return to his own dominions.

After this event Rishnawad sent to Humai intelligence of the victories he had gained, and of the surprising valor of Darab, transmitting to her the ruby as an evidence of his birth. Humai was at once convinced that he was her son, for she well remembered the day on which he was enrolled as one of her soldiers, when her heart throbbed with instinctive affection at the sight of him; and though she had unfortunately failed to question him then, she now rejoiced that he was so near being restored to her. She immediately proceeded to the Atish-gadeh, or the Fire-altar, and made an offering on the occasion; and ordering a great fire to be lighted, gave immense sums away in charity to the poor.

Having called Darab to her presence, she went with a splendid retinue to meet him at the distance of one journey from the city; and as soon as he approached, she pressed him to her bosom, and kissed his head and eyes with the fondest affection of a mother. Upon the first day of happy omen, she relinquished in his favor the crown and the throne, after having herself reigned thirty-two years.

DaRaB AND DaRa

When Darab had ascended the throne, he conducted the affairs of the kingdom with humanity, justice, and benevolence; and by these means secured the happiness of his people. He had no sooner commenced his reign, than he sent for the washerman and his wife, and enriched them by his gifts. "But," said he, "I present to you this property on these conditions--you must not give up your occupation--you must go every day, as usual, to the river-side, and wash clothes; for perhaps in process of time you may discover another box floating down the stream, containing another infant!" With these conditions the washerman complied.

Some time afterwards the kingdom was invaded by an Arabian army, consisting of one hundred thousand men, and commanded by Shaib, a distinguished warrior. Darab was engaged with this army three days and three nights, and on the fourth morning the battle terminated, in consequence of Shaib being slain. The booty was immense, and a vast number of Arabian horses fell into the hands of the victor; which, together with the quant.i.ty of treasure captured, strengthened greatly the resources of the state. The success of this campaign enabled Darab to extend his military operations; and having put his army in order, he proceeded against Failakus (Philip of Macedon), then king of Rum, whom he defeated with great loss. Many were put to the sword, and the women and children carried into captivity. Failakus himself took refuge in the fortress of Amur, from whence he sent an amba.s.sador to Darab, saying, that if peace was only granted to him, he would willingly consent to any terms that might be demanded. When the amba.s.sador arrived, Darab said to him: "If Failakus will bestow upon me his daughter, Nahid, peace shall be instantly re-established between us--I require no other terms."

Failakus readily agreed, and sent Nahid with numerous splendid presents to the king of Persia, who espoused her, and took her with him to his own country. It so happened that Nahid had an offensive breath, which was extremely disagreeable to her husband, and in consequence he directed enquiries to be made everywhere for a remedy. No place was left unexplored; at length an herb of peculiar efficacy and fragrance was discovered, which never failed to remove the imperfection complained of; and it was accordingly administered with confident hopes of success.

Nahid was desired to wash her mouth with the infused herb, and in a few days her breath became balmy and pure. When she found she was likely to become a mother she did not communicate the circ.u.mstance, but requested permission to pay a visit to her father. The request was granted; and on her arrival in Rum she was delivered of a son. Failakus had no male offspring, and was overjoyed at this event, which he at once determined to keep unknown to Darab, publis.h.i.+ng abroad that a son had been born in his house, and causing it to be understood that the child was his own.

When the boy grew up, he was called Sikander; and, like Rustem, became highly accomplished in all the arts of diplomacy and war. Failakus placed him under Aristatalis, a sage of great renown, and he soon equalled his master in learning and science.

Darab married another wife, by whom he had another son, named Dara; and when the youth was twenty years of age, the father died. The period of Darab's reign was thirty-four years.

Dara continued the government of the empire in the same spirit as his father; claiming custom and tribute from the inferior rulers, with similar strictness and decision. After the death of Failakus, Sikander became the king of Rum; and refusing to pay the demanded tribute to Persia, went to war with Dara, whom he killed in battle; the particulars of these events will be presently shown. Failakus reigned twenty-four years.

SIKANDER

Failakus, before his death, placed the crown of sovereignty upon the head of Sikander, and appointed Aristu, who was one of the disciples of the great Aflatun, his vizir. He cautioned him to pursue the path of virtue and rect.i.tude, and to cast from his heart every feeling of vanity and pride; above all he implored him to be just and merciful, and said:--

"Think not that thou art wise, but ignorant, And ever listen to advice and counsel; We are but dust, and from the dust created; And what our lives but helplessness and sorrow!"

Sikander for a time attended faithfully to the instructions of his father, and to the counsel of Aristu, both in public and private affairs.

Upon Sikander's elevation to the throne, Dara sent an envoy to him to claim the customary tribute, but he received for answer: "The time is past when Rum acknowledged the superiority of Persia. It is now thy turn to pay tribute to Rum. If my demand be refused, I will immediately invade thy dominions; and think not that I shall be satisfied with the conquest of Persia alone, the whole world shall be mine; therefore prepare for war." Dara had no alternative, not even submission, and accordingly a.s.sembled his army, for Sikander was already in full march against him. Upon the confines of Persia the armies came in sight of each other, when Sikander, in the a.s.sumed character of an envoy, was resolved to ascertain the exact condition of the enemy. With this view he entered the Persian camp, and Dara allowing the person whom he supposed an amba.s.sador, to approach, enquired what message the king of Rum had sent to him. "Hear me!" said the pretended envoy: "Sikander has not invaded thy empire for the exclusive purpose of fighting, but to know its history, its laws, and customs, from personal inspection. His object is to travel through the whole world. Why then should he make war upon thee? Give him but a free pa.s.sage through thy kingdom, and nothing more is required. However if it be thy wish to proceed to hostilities, he apprehends nothing from the greatness of thy power." Dara was astonished at the majestic air and dignity of the envoy, never having witnessed his equal, and he anxiously said:--

"What is thy name, from whom art thou descended?

For that commanding front, that fearless eye, Bespeaks ill.u.s.trious birth. Art thou indeed Sikander, whom my fancy would believe thee, So eloquent in speech, in mien so n.o.ble?"

"No!" said the envoy, "no such rank is mine, Sikander holds among his numerous host Thousands superior to the humble slave Who stands before thee. It is not for me To put upon myself the air of kings, To ape their manners and their lofty state."

Dara could not help smiling, and ordered refreshments and wine to be brought. He filled a cup and gave it to the envoy, who drank it off, but did not, according to custom, return the empty goblet to the cup-bearer.

The cup-bearer demanded the cup, and Dara asked the envoy why he did not give it back. "It is the custom in my country," said the envoy, "when a cup is once given into an amba.s.sador's hands, never to receive it back again." Dara was still more amused by this explanation, and presented to him another cup, and successively four, which the envoy did not fail to appropriate severally in the same way. In the evening a feast was held, and Sikander partook of the delicious refreshments that had been prepared for him; but in the midst of the entertainment one of the persons present recognized him, and immediately whispered to Dara that his enemy was in his power.

Sikander's sharp and cautious eye now marked The changing scene, and up he sprang, but first s.n.a.t.c.hed the four cups, and rus.h.i.+ng from the tent, Vaulted upon his horse, and rode away.

So instantaneous was the act, amazed The a.s.sembly rose, and presently a troop Was ordered in pursuit--but night, dark night, Baffled their search, and checked their eager speed.

As soon as he reached his own army, he sent for Aristatalis and his courtiers, and exultingly displayed to them the four golden cups.

"These," said he, "have I taken from my enemy, I have taken them from his own table, and before his own eyes. His strength and numbers too I have ascertained, and my success is certain." No time was now lost in arrangements for the battle. The armies engaged, and they fought seven days without a decisive blow being struck. On the eighth, Dara was compelled to fly, and his legions, defeated and hara.s.sed, were pursued by the Rumis with great slaughter to the banks of the Euphrates.

Sikander now returned to take possession of the capital. In the meantime Dara collected his scattered forces together, and again tried his fortune, but he was again defeated. After his second success, the conqueror devoted himself so zealously to conciliate and win the affections of the people, that they soon ceased to remember their former king with any degree of attachment to his interests. Sikander said to them: "Persia indeed is my inheritance: I am no stranger to you, for I am myself descended from Darab; you may therefore safely trust to my justice and paternal care, in everything that concerns your welfare."

The result was, that legion after legion united in his cause, and consolidated his power.

When Dara was informed of the universal disaffection of his army, he said to the remaining friends who were personally devoted to him: "Alas!

my subjects have been deluded by the artful dissimulation and skill of Sikander; your next misfortune will be the captivity of your wives and children. Yes, your wives and children will be made the slaves of the conquerors." A few troops, still faithful to their unfortunate king, offered to make another effort against the enemy, and Dara was too grateful and too brave to discountenance their enthusiastic fidelity, though with such little chance of success. A fragment of an army was consequently brought into action, and the result was what had been antic.i.p.ated. Dara was again a fugitive; and after the defeat, escaped with three hundred men into the neighboring desert. Sikander captured his wife and family, but magnanimously restored them to the unfortunate monarch, who, dest.i.tute of all further hope, now asked for a place of refuge in his own dominions, and for that he offered him all the buried treasure of his ancestors. Sikander, in reply, invited him to his presence; and promised to restore him to his throne, that he might himself be enabled to pursue other conquests; but Dara refused to go, although advised by his n.o.bles to accept the invitation. "I am willing to put myself to death," said he with emotion, "but I cannot submit to this degradation. I cannot go before him, and thus personally acknowledge his authority over me." Resolved upon this point, he wrote to Faur, one of the sovereigns of Ind, to request his a.s.sistance, and Faur recommended that he should pay him a visit for the purpose of concerting what measures should be adopted. This correspondence having come to the knowledge of Sikander, he took care that his enemy should be intercepted in whatever direction he might proceed.

Dara had two ministers, named Mahiyar and Jamusipar, who, finding that according to the predictions of the astrologers their master would in a few days fall into the hands of Sikander, consulted together, and thought they had better put him to death themselves, in order that they might get into favor with Sikander. It was night, and the soldiers of the escort were dispersed at various distances, and the vizirs were stationed on each side of the king. As they travelled on, Jamusipar took an opportunity of plunging his dagger into Dara's side, and Mahiyar gave another blow, which felled the monarch to the ground. They immediately sent the tidings of this event to Sikander, who hastened to the spot, and the opening daylight presented to his view the wounded king.

Dismounting quickly, he in sorrow placed The head of Dara on his lap, and wept In bitterness of soul, to see that form Mangled with ghastly wounds.

Dara still breathed; and when he lifted up his eyes and beheld Sikander, he groaned deeply. Sikander said, "Rise up, that we may convey thee to a place of safety, and apply the proper remedies to thy wounds."--"Alas!"

replied Dara, "the time for remedies is past. I leave thee to Heaven, and may thy reign give peace and happiness to the empire."--"Never,"

said Sikander, "never did I desire to see thee thus mangled and fallen--never to witness this sight! If the Almighty should spare thy life, thou shalt again be the monarch of Persia, and I will go from hence. On my mother's word, thou and I are sons of the same father. It is this brotherly affection which now wrings my heart!" Saying this, the tears chased each other down his cheeks in such abundance that they fell upon the face of Dara. Again, he said, "Thy murderers shall meet with merited vengeance, they shall be punished to the uttermost." Dara blessed him, and said, "My end is approaching, but thy sweet discourse and consoling kindness have banished all my grief. I shall now die with a mind at rest. Weep no more--

"My course is finished, thine is scarce begun; But hear my dying wish, my last request: Preserve the honour of my family, Preserve it from disgrace. I have a daughter Dearer to me than life, her name is Roshung; Espouse her, I beseech thee--and if Heaven Should bless thee with a boy, O! let his name be Isfendiyar, that he may propagate With zeal the sacred doctrines of Zerdusht, The Zendavesta, then my soul will be Happy in Heaven; and he, at Nau-ruz tide, Will also hold the festival I love, And at the altar light the Holy Fire; Nor will he cease his labour, till the faith Of Lohurasp be everywhere accepted, And everywhere believed the true religion."

Sikander promised that he would a.s.suredly fulfil the wishes he had expressed, and then Dara placed the palm of his brother's hand on his mouth, and shortly afterwards expired. Sikander again wept bitterly, and then the body was placed on a golden couch, and he attended it in sorrow to the grave.

After the burial of Dara, the two ministers, Jamusipar and Mahiyar, were brought near the tomb, and executed upon the dar.

Just vengeance upon the guilty head, For they their generous monarch's blood had shed.

Sikander had now no rival to the throne of Persia, and he commenced his government under the most favorable auspices. He continued the same customs and ordinances which were handed down to him, and retained every one in his established rank and occupation. He gladdened the heart by his justice and liberality. Keeping in mind his promise to Dara, he now wrote to the mother of Roshung, and communicating to her the dying solicitations of the king, requested her to send Roshung to him, that he might fulfil the last wish of his brother. The wife of Dara immediately complied with the command, and sent her daughter with various presents to Sikander, and she was on her arrival married to the conqueror, acceding to the customs and laws of the empire. Sikander loved her exceedingly, and on her account remained some time in Persia, but he at length determined to proceed into Ind to conquer that country of enchanters and enchantment.

On approaching Ind he wrote to Kaid, summoning him to surrender his kingdom, and received from him the following answer: "I will certainly submit to thy authority, but I have four things which no other person in the world possesses, and which I cannot relinquish. I have a daughter, beautiful as an angel of Paradise, a wise minister, a skilful physician, and a goblet of inestimable value!" Upon receiving this extraordinary reply, Sikander again addressed a letter to him, in which he peremptorily required all these things immediately. Kaid not daring to refuse, or make any attempt at evasion, reluctantly complied with the requisition. Sikander received the minister and the physician with great politeness and attention, and in the evening held a splendid feast, at which he espoused the beautiful daughter of Kaid, and taking the goblet from her hands, drank off the wine with which it was filled. After that, Kaid himself waited upon Sikander, and personally acknowledged his authority and dominion.

Sikander then proceeded to claim the allegiance and homage of Faur, the king of Kanuj, and wrote to him to submit to his power; but Faur returned a haughty answer, saying:--

"Kaid Indi is a coward to obey thee, But I am Faur, descended from a race Of matchless warriors; and shall I submit, And to a Greek!"

Sikander was highly incensed at this bold reply. The force he had now with him amounted to eighty thousand men; that is, thirty thousand Iranians, forty thousand Rumis, and ten thousand Indis. Faur had sixty thousand hors.e.m.e.n, and two thousand elephants. The troops of Sikander were greatly terrified at the sight of so many elephants, which gave the enemy such a tremendous superiority. Aristatalis, and some other ingenious counsellors, were requested to consult together to contrive some means of counteracting the power of the war-elephants, and they suggested the construction of an iron horse, and the figure of a rider also of iron, to be placed upon wheels like a carriage, and drawn by a number of horses. A soldier, clothed in iron armor, was to follow the vehicle--his hands and face besmeared with combustible matter, and this soldier, armed with a long staff, was at an appointed signal, to pierce the belly of the horse and also of the rider, previously filled with combustibles, so that when the ignited point came in contact with them, the whole engine would make a tremendous explosion and blaze in the air.

Sikander approved of this invention, and collected all the blacksmiths and artisans in the country to construct a thousand machines of this description with the utmost expedition, and as soon as they were completed, he prepared for action. Faur too pushed forward with his two thousand elephants in advance; but when the Kanujians beheld such a formidable array they were surprised, and Faur anxiously inquired from his spies what it could be. Upon being told that it was Sikander's artillery, his troops pushed the elephants against the enemy with vigor, at which moment the combustibles were fired by the Rumis, and the machinery exploding, many elephants were burnt and destroyed, and the remainder, with the troops, fled in confusion. Sikander then encountered Faur, and after a severe contest, slew him, and became ruler of the kingdom of Kanuj.

After the conquest of Kanuj, Sikander went to Mekka, carrying thither rich presents and offerings. From thence he proceeded to another city, where he was received with great homage by the most ill.u.s.trious of the nation. He enquired of them if there was anything wonderful or extraordinary in their country, that he might go to see it, and they replied that there were two trees in the kingdom, one a male, the other a female, from which a voice proceeded. The male-tree spoke in the day, and the female-tree in the night, and whoever had a wish, went thither to have his desires accomplished. Sikander immediately repaired to the spot, and approaching it, he hoped in his heart that a considerable part of his life still remained to be enjoyed. When he came under the tree, a terrible sound arose and rung in his ears, and he asked the people present what it meant. The attendant priest said it implied that fourteen years of his life still remained. Sikander, at this interpretation of the prophetic sound, wept and the burning tears ran down his cheeks. Again he asked, "Shall I return to Rum, and see my mother and children before I die?" and the answer was, "Thou wilt die at Kashan.[51]

"Nor mother, nor thy family at home Wilt thou behold again, for thou wilt die, Closing thy course of glory at Kashan."

Sikander left the place in sorrow, and pursued his way towards Rum. In his progress he arrived at another city, and the inhabitants gave him the most honorable welcome, representing to him, however, that they were dreadfully afflicted by the presence of two demons or giants, who constantly a.s.sailed them in the night, devouring men and goats and whatever came in their way. Sikander asked their names; and they replied, Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog). He immediately ordered a barrier to be erected five hundred yards high, and three hundred yards wide, and when it was finished he went away. The giants, notwithstanding all their efforts, were unable to scale this barrier, and in consequence the inhabitants pursued their occupations without the fear of molestation.

To scenes of n.o.ble daring still he turned His ardent spirit--for he knew not fear.

Still he led on his legions--and now came To a strange place, where countless numbers met His wondering view--countless inhabitants Crowding the city streets, and neighbouring plains; And in the distance presently he saw A lofty mountain reaching to the stars.

Onward proceeding, at its foot he found A guardian-dragon, terrible in form, Ready with open jaws to crush his victim; But unappalled, Sikander him beholding With steady eye, which scorned to turn aside, Sprang forward, and at once the monster slew.

Ascending then the mountain, many a ridge, Oft resting on the way, he reached the summit, Where the dead corse of an old saint appeared Wrapt in his grave-clothes, and in gems imbedded.

In gold and precious jewels glittering round, Seeming to show what man is, mortal man!

Wealth, worldly pomp, the baubles of ambition, All left behind, himself a heap of dust!