Rustam Arms Himself and Speaks with Zal

When Rustam came into his own great hall, he looked for a while around his court. Zavara came to him and found him worn down and pale of face. He told him: go, bring the Indian sword, a coat of mail and a famous helmet. Bring the bow, the horse armor, and the tiger cloak; bring the lasso, the heavy mace, and the battle vest. Zavara gave the order, and everything he asked for the keeper brought up from the stores. When Rustam saw the arms of war, he shook his head and drew a sigh from his heart. He said: my armor of battle, for a while you have rested from war. Now the fight is upon you, so be strong; be my shirt of good fortune wherever I go. This is a battlefield where two roaring lions, both brave, will come to fight. Now let us see what Esfandiar brings, what game he plays at the moment of combat. When Zal heard these words from Rustam, the old man's spirit filled with dread. He said to him: renowned champion, what did you say that has darkened my soul? From the day you first mounted for battle, you were nothing but a kind and noble man. Always your heart was free of grievance, your head held high in service to the kings. I fear your day is coming to its close, if your star should sink into sleep. They will tear the seed of Zal out by the roots, and cast the women and children into the dust. If by the hand of a youth like Esfandiar you should be killed in battle, no water or soil will remain in Zabulistan; its heights and homeland will become a pit. And if instead this harm should fall on him, your name too will win no glory. Everyone will tell tales of it, and split your once great name apart: they will say he killed a prince of Iran because that prince spoke harshly to him. So stand upright before him, or else give up your place right now. Go down among the lowly, to some forsaken corner, where no one in the world hears your name. This evil will darken your soul; keep clear of this young prince. Buy your life back with treasure and effort; do not raise the axe against Chinese silk. Deck out his army with robes of honor too; ransom yourself from him with gifts. When he turns back from the banks of the Hirmand, then set your foot on the tall Rakhsh. Once you are safe, serve humbly along the road, so that at last you may see the king's face. When he sees you, how could the king do evil? And when has evil ever suited a king? Rustam said to him: old man, do not take these matters so lightly. Many years have passed me in manhood; much good and ill have gone over my head. I reached the demons of Mazandaran and fought the riders of Hamavaran. And the battle of Kamus and the Khaqan of China, when the earth trembled beneath them. If I flee from Esfandiar, then you keep neither palace nor garden in Sistan. When I put on the tiger cloak on the day of battle, I bring the heads of sun and moon down into the dust. As for the pleading you spoke of, I have offered plenty; I have read to him the whole book of humility. He treats my words with contempt; he turns his head from my wisdom and my counsel. If he would bring his head down from Saturn's height, if his soul would offer me a greeting, I would not begrudge him treasure or jewels, nor horse armor, nor mace, nor sword. I have spoken so much in these many meetings, yet all our words are only wind in our hands. If tomorrow he goes to war, do not grieve your heart the least over his life. I will not turn my rein against him in the fight; he will see neither my mace nor the wound of my spear. I will not block his path on the field, nor grip his waist with all my strength. I will lift him from his horse into my arms, and grant him the kingship over Goshtasp. I will bring him and seat him on the throne of ease, and after that fling open the doors of my treasury. When he has been my guest for three days, on the fourth, when the sky's world-lighter, casts off that veil of deep blue, and rises like a cup of yellow ruby, at once I will gird my belt with him and set out from here toward Goshtasp. I will seat him on the famous ivory throne and set upon his head the heart-brightening crown. I will bind my belt before him like a servant; I will seek no parting from Esfandiar. You know what deeds of valor I did before the throne of Qobad; you hold it in memory. Zal the golden-haired laughed at his words, and for a moment his head stirred with thought. Zal said to him: my son, do not speak like this, or cut his head off at the root. For only madmen could hear such talk; no one will believe this raw, empty boast. Qobad was sitting somewhere in gloom, with no throne, no crown, no ancient treasury, while Esfandiar is one whose name the emperor of China engraves upon his signet ring. And you say you will lift him from his horse and carry him off to the house of Zal? No man of years talks like this; do not go circling the door of thanklessness. He said this, laid his head upon the ground, and began to call blessings upon the Creator. He kept saying: just Creator, turn the evil of these times away from us. In this way, until the sun rose over the mountain, his tongue never wearied of prayer.