English
Part 6
From that place the two turned back in joy, the admirable Darab together with Roshnavad.
On the way they reached that ruined arch where they had once seen Darab asleep.
The washerman, his wife, and the jewel were all there, and the two of them were sick with dread of disgrace.
Because of the one who called them out from their place, they took refuge in God and came forward.
When Roshnavad saw that man and his wife, he questioned them in every way, and they told their story.
They told him everything that had happened, of the chest and the untouched jewel,
of their hardship, of raising the nursing child, of their worry and the turning of the days.
Then Roshnavad said to the husband and wife: May you always be victorious and glad.
For no one in the world has seen such a wonder, nor ever heard it from an old priest.
At once the man of pure mind wrote a letter to Homay.
About Darab, about the sleep, about the resting place, and about his fighting on that battlefield;
and how, the moment he set foot in the stirrup, the arch collapsed from its place;
about the voice that reached his ears, and the panic that made Roshnavad cry out;
and everything he had heard from the washerman: of the chest, the little child, and the treasure.
He set it all down, from start to finish, in the letter, then sent out a courier swift as dust.
He gave him the same red jewel and said: You must race as if paired with the wind.
The messenger came galloping from his place and brought the ruby to Homay.
He gave the letter to the queen who ruled the world and told her what he had heard from Roshnavad's own lips.
When she read that letter and saw the ruby, tears streamed from her lashes down her cheeks.
She knew this was the day, and when it came she ordered him brought before the army so she could see.
She saw a young man full of majesty, his face like spring, his stature tall.
He could be no other than her own pure son, her precious, fruit-bearing branch.
Weeping, Homay said to the messenger: A master has come to the world.
My mind was never empty of anxious thought; I was full of pain over this kingship.
My heart was full of fear before the Creator of the world, for I had shown myself ungrateful to him,
and for what became of that innocent child: what would befall one cast toward the sea?
For God gave me a son and I did not recognize the gift; I threw him into the waters of the Euphrates.
I tied this one jewel to his arm, thinking a son becomes worthless once his father dies.
Now God has given him back to me, victorious in name and at Roshnavad's side.
They poured out a treasury of gold coins, and mingled wine, musk, and jewels together.
She gave to everyone in need; the next week she opened a treasury of silver coins.
Wherever she knew there was a fire temple, or the sacred texts and the festival of Sadeh,
she gave a treasury in the same way there too, scattering gifts in every land.
On the tenth day, early in the morning, the commander came before the queen.
The nobles and Darab came with him, and no one said a word, great or small.