English
Section 5: Homay and the Line of Sasan
He had a son as brave as a lion, whom they called Sasan, son of Ardeshir.
He also had a daughter named Homay, gifted, learned, and wise in judgment.
They also called her Chehrzad, and the whole world took joy in seeing her.
Because of her goodness, her father took her as his own, following the faith they call Pahlavi.
It happened that Homay, heart-brightening and radiant as the moon, became pregnant by the king.
When six months had passed, the king was worn with grief, and seeing this, Bahman fell ill.
When pain brought the king low, he ordered that Homay be brought before him.
He summoned the nobles and the fortunate ones, and seated them on thrones of honor.
He said: this pure-bodied Chehrzad has known little happiness in this world.
I hand over to her the crown and the high throne, the army too, and the treasury of great worth.
She is my heir in this world, along with whoever is now born hidden within her.
Whether a daughter comes to her or a son, this crown and throne of the father shall be theirs.
When Sasan heard these words he was stunned, and Bahman's speech darkened his heart.
For two days and two nights, fierce as a leopard, he fled Iran to another frontier out of shame.
Raging, he went toward the city of Nishapur, full of resentment, far from his father.
He asked for a woman of noble stock, cared for her, and treated her rightly with heart and soul.
He told no one in the world of his own lineage; he kept that truth concealed.
The pure-bodied woman bore a fine child, of Bahman's line through the noble Sasan.
The father named him Sasan then, but his own time soon came to an end.
As the child grew from childhood into manhood, he saw nothing in that house but poverty.
He took a flock from the king of Nishapur, one that grazed freely over mountain and plain.
For a time he served as the king's shepherd, across mountain, desert, and resting place.
Now I return to the story of Homay, who took the throne after Bahman's death.