English
Part One: Bahman Takes the Throne
When Bahman took his grandfather's throne, he tightened his belt and opened his hand in generosity.
He gave his army coins and gold, and granted them many lands and borders.
He gathered a council of the wise, the great, and seasoned nobles.
He spoke of the fate of Esfandiar, of the good and evil turns of time.
Old and young, all of you here, everyone with a clear mind, you remember.
You know what Rostam did in his time, and Zal too, that old sorcerer.
Faramarz seeks nothing in this world, openly or in secret, but our blood.
My head is full of pain and my heart full of blood; I hold nothing in my mind but revenge.
Two warriors like Nush-Azar and Mehr-Nush, whose loss brought forth cries of grief.
And an Esfandiar, through whom the fortunes of the great in this world stayed fresh and alive.
In Zabolestan he was killed in such a way that beast and prey wandered dazed with grief for him.
Surely even the painted idol in the palace weeps bitterly over the blood of Esfandiar.
And over the blood of our famous men, our young men and our warrior riders.
Anyone born of pure lineage will not let the head of his noble line sink into the grave unavenged.
Let it be as with king Fereydun: when it turns bloody, it turns blessed.
For to avenge the blood of Jamshid he cut Zahhak down from among the world's renowned.
Manuchehr, against the mighty Salm and Tur, brought a great army out of Amol.
He marched to China and demanded vengeance for his forefather; the tale, as I tell it, is true.
When Kay Khosrow rose against Afrasiyab, he turned the world to a sea of blood.
My father came and sought vengeance for Lohrasp; with the slain he leveled the earth as high as the mountains.
And Faramarz, for the blood of his father, raised his head to the shining sun.
He went to Kabul and demanded vengeance for Rostam, and razed the whole land level with the dust.
The ground could not be told apart from the blood; they drove their horses over the corpses.
I am the one most fit for this vengeance, ready to hurl my horse against the raging lion.
If you count the famous of the world, you will see no rider like Esfandiar.
What is your view, and what answer do you give? Strive to reach a wise and fortunate decision.
When the army heard Bahman's words, everyone who wished the king well
said with one voice: We are your servants, our hearts brimming with love for you.
You know the past better than we, and you are stronger than warrior men.
Do in this world whatever suits your desire, whatever will bring you glory and a great name.
No one will turn his head from your command; who would dare break your covenant?
When he received such an answer from his army, his mind grew even keener for revenge.
They readied all of Sistan for the campaign, settled on this plan, and set out.
At dawn the war drums thundered, and the dust of the army turned the sky ebony black.
From that famous host marched a hundred thousand sword-wielding riders.