The Death of Kabroy

When he sat down at dawn and called for wine, the great men of the army left in good cheer. Right then a village elder arrived, bringing him some fruit from the countryside. Camel loads of pomegranates, apples, and quinces, with bouquets of roses fit for a king. When the king saw them he treated the man kindly and gave him a place among the champions. This elder who came with fruit and fragrance had the honored name Kabroy. Before the king he drank a cup of wine, downing two heavy measures at a single draught. When the man grew merry from meeting the king, from those famous lords and that festive place, another crystal cup, brimming with wine, stirred a reckless craving in his heart. From among the nobles he reached out his hand, seized that cup of wine, and leapt to his feet. In honor of the king he took the cup and said: I am the wine drinker named Kabroy. When I drain a cup of wine before the king, I want a companion at my side. There are five measures of wine in this cup; here before the gathering I will drink seven. Then I will ride home still in my senses, and no one will hear a drunken shout from me. He drank down seven full cups of wine like that, raising a stir among the wine lovers there. With the king's leave he walked out; who could tell how the wine was working through his body? From that joyful place he set out for the open plain, as the wine burned hot inside his chest. He spurred his horse away from the crowd, galloping across the flatland toward the mountain. He dismounted at a hidden spot, let his horse loose, and slept in the mountain's shadow. A black crow came down from the mountain and plucked out both his eyes there where he slept. The group came galloping after him and found him dead at the foot of the mountain. The black crow had torn both eyes from his head, and his horse stood waiting beside the road. His servants broke into wailing over him, and the whole gathering and its wine turned bitter. When Bahram rose from his sleep, a well wisher came to him and said: a crow, in his drunkenness, plucked out Kabroy's bright eyes at the foot of the hill. The face of the world's king went pale, filled with grief at Kabroy's fate. At once a cry went up from the court: O renowned ones of glory and good sense, wine is forbidden throughout the whole world, whether you are a lowly servant or a famous lord.