English
Section 4
The king answered his son:
There is no path except the path of honesty.
You have done more than what you claimed in your words.
May the Maker of the world be your ally.
I see no enemy anywhere in this world,
neither out in the open nor hidden away.
Whoever hears your name does not resist you,
for to resist you is as good as to die.
You have no equal on earth,
except, perhaps, that reckless famous son of Zal.
For as long as Zabulistan has existed,
Bost, Ghazni, and Kabulistan have been his.
In manliness he seems to soar past the sky,
and he counts no one greater than himself.
He was a servant before Kavus the king,
and he outlived Kai Khosrow in this world.
When it comes to kingship he gives no weight to Goshtasp,
for he says our crown is new and his line is old.
On earth I have no match in battle,
not among Romans, Turanians, or free-born men.
Now you must set out for Sistan,
and bring to bear your strength, your cunning, and your snares.
Draw your sword and your mace bare,
and put Rostam, son of Zal, in chains.
Do the same to Zavareh and Faramarz;
leave no one able to climb into a saddle.
By the Creator of the world, who gave strength,
who makes the stars, the moon, and the sun shine,
once you carry out these tasks,
from that day on you will hear no judgment from me.
I will hand you the crown, the throne, and the diadem,
and seat you upon the throne in the place of honor.
Esfandiar gave him this reply:
O gifted and renowned king,
you are straying from the ancient custom;
you should measure your words before you speak.
Go seek war and battle with the king of China;
raise dust against those famous warriors.
Why seek combat with a single old man,
the one Kavus called the lion-hearted?
From the time of Manuchehr down to Kai Qobad,
the hearts of kings were glad because of him.
There has been no one in Iran more virtuous than he,
no one who has done so much good.
They called him lord of Rakhsh,
conqueror of the world, slayer of lions, and giver of crowns.
He is no upstart warrior in this world;
he is great and bound by the pledge of Kai Khosrow.
If the pledges of kings hold no weight,
then there is no point seeking any decree from Goshtasp.
Goshtasp answered Esfandiar:
O lion-hearted, gifted, and famous one,
anyone who turns away from the way of God,
his pledge too scatters like wind across a plain.
Surely you have heard how King Kavus,
at the command of the devil, lost his way.
He rose toward the sky on the wings of eagles,
then fell in misery and grief into the water at Sari.
He carried off a demon-born woman from Hamavaran
and handed her the royal harem.
Siavash was killed because of the pain he caused,
and the whole household was turned upside down.
Whoever breaks the pledge of a world-ruler,
you should not even pass by his door.
If you want the throne and crown from me,
take the road to Sistan and lead an army.
When you arrive there, bind Rostam's hands
and bring him with a lasso thrown around his arms.
Zavareh, Faramarz, and Dastan son of Sam,
must not be allowed to set a trap for you.
Bring him running on foot to this court,
drag him here so the whole army can see him.
After that no one will turn his head from us,
whether he seeks favor or vast treasure.
The commander frowned, his brow full of anger,
and said to the king of the world: turn back from this.
You have no real need of Dastan and Rostam;
you are only looking for an excuse against Esfandiar.
You grudge me the seat of kingship,
and you want me gone from this world.
May this throne and the crown of kings be yours;
a single corner of this world is enough for me.
Still, I am your servant,
with my head bowed to your command and your will.
Goshtasp said to him: do not be so harsh.
You will rise high, so do not sink into despair.
Choose from the army many horsemen,
veterans skilled in the ways of war.
Weapons, troops, and money are yours to command;
let despair be for the souls of your enemies.
What good to me are treasure and army without you,
or treasure, throne, army, and crown?
The hero Esfandiar answered:
An army is of no use to me at all.
If my final hour is drawing near,
no army can hold the world-ruler back from me.
He turned back from his father in bitter distress,
both over the kingship and over his father's anger.
He came into his own hall downcast,
his lips full of sighs and his heart full of grief.