English
Section 10
Both Gudarz and Rostam the champion wore out their souls with hardship over this.
After that, wherever he went in Hamavaran, they bound his feet with heavy chains.
No one set his heart on this royal throne; none took on that grief and burden but them.
When the Iranians said to Rostam that he was worthy of the throne of kings,
He shouted at the one who spoke: 'May you be wedded to a narrow grave!'
A champion belongs beside the king; they sat in proper order, with clear conscience.
'Am I to have a golden throne and a captive king? Never such a thought, never such a crown for me!'
From Iran he chose twelve thousand world-conquering, armor-clad horsemen.
He freed Kavus from his bonds, and Giv and Gudarz and Tus as well.
When King Piruz was slain, everything turned against the Iranians.
That Khoshnavaz grew bold from this turn of events and settled at ease upon the throne of pride.
Then Sufaray, the son of Qaren, set out to bring the crown of kingship back to its place.
When word of his victory arrived, the proud chieftains came out from Iran
To hail him as king, so that a lesser man might become the ruler of the earth.
He told the Iranians: 'This is not fitting; greatness and the crown belong to the true king.'
'Though Qobad is a child, he will grow great; we will not let a wolf into the lion's thicket.'
'If you want to make one without lineage a king, you will scatter the whole royal house to the wind.'
When Qobad came of age and reached manhood, he saw Sufaray's head reaching for the crown.
On the words of evil-natured men he killed him, though he had been the backbone of his kingship.
After that they bound the feet of Qobad, a bold rider of noble race.
He handed him over to Zarmehr, a man of skill, so he might one day seek revenge for his father.
Zarmehr looked around and saw no one worthy of sitting crowned upon the royal throne.
When Zarmehr gave his love to the king, the wheeling heavens sang his praise.
He struck off his bonds, so the king might pursue his own aims and make his cause thrive.
No servant has ever sought the crown, however pure and true his lineage might be.
From among the Turks a famous Saveh-Shah came forth to seize the royal signet and crown.
The bright Creator of the world willed that he should perish in the land of Iran.
'Why did you crave the imperial throne after you had been only a servant?'
Yalan-Sineh keeps spurring his horse on, saying, 'So that I, over Bahram son of Goshasp,
May reign anew as king in the world and leave my own name as a lasting memorial.'
A wise king like Nushirvan would make even a man's old age young again through Hormoz.
The great ones of the land stand behind him, whether they are lords or lesser men.
In Iran there are three hundred thousand horsemen, all champions, all men of fame.
Every one of them is a servant to the king, their heads bowed to his command and counsel.
The King of Kings of the world chose you, as befitted the way of famous men.
He gave your ancestors this same renown, and in the end let them triumph over their enemies.
If you repay that kindness with evil, know that you do the evil to yourself.
Do not set greed as a king over reason, for the wise will not call you pure and just.
If I give advice and offer a brave man's counsel, I am many years younger than your brother.
Do not throw the work of your ancestors to the wind, or one day my advice may come back to haunt you.
The whole gathering was struck with wonder; the commander bit his lip in astonishment.
He knew she spoke the truth, that she sought nothing but the path of goodness.
Yalan Sineh said, 'Noble woman, do not speak of kings' counsel in this assembly.'
For Hormoz will not last much longer, and the commander will reap the throne of majesty.
This is the news about Hormoz: count your brother as king of Iran.
If he takes no pride in the royal crown, why then would he weave his honor from a spindle?
Enough talk of Hormoz, born of Turkish stock; may that lineage never exist in this world.
If you reckon back from Kay Qobad, this line stretches a hundred thousand years.
They who sat crowned on golden thrones, their name is finished now, so speak it no more.
Do not think anymore of Khosrow Parviz either, for remembering him is worth nothing.
The most privileged men at his court are lesser servants beneath your brother.
When Bahram gives the word to those lesser men, they will bind Khosrow's feet in heavy chains.
Gordiyeh said to him, 'You devil's tool, a demon is secretly setting a trap for you all.'
'Do not wrong our lives and our house, for from you I see only empty wind and bluster.'
'Our father was the frontier lord of Rey; you began this hunt for the throne.'
'When you stir Bahram's heart to boiling, you bring my whole family to grief.'
'The struggle of our line will turn to wind through your words, you baseborn lesser man.'
'Now go, be Bahram's guide, and fill the feast and the peace with turmoil.'
She said this and went home weeping, her heart now a stranger to her brother.
Everyone kept saying that this pure woman was eloquent, bright of heart, and wise in counsel.
You would say his words came straight from a book; in wisdom he was more famous than Jamasp.
When this did not please Bahram, he sat there miserable at his sister's words.
His dark heart, tangled in far-fetched schemes, kept showing him the royal throne in his dreams.
Then he said: this fleeting inn of a world, those who seek it find nothing but hardship.
He ordered a feast laid out, and called for wine, music, and singers.
He told a musician: today tune your lute and prepare a heroic song.
We will sing only of the tale of the Seven Trials; over that we will sip a little wine.
Of how Esfandiar took the Brass Fortress, and what feats he performed in those days.
In his memory they drank cup after cup: may the land of Ray flourish.
For from that soil rises a commander like you; may God create more men like you.
When the night grew dark they scattered; the drinkers' heads were dizzy with wine.
When the sun raised its high lance, the dark night grew faint before its banner.
The great and mighty commander Bahram summoned the chief scribe.
They wrote to the Khaqan a letter fine as a Mani painting, full of fragrance, color, and ornament.
Apologizing, he said: I am in pain, my heart full of regret and cold sighs.
From now on I will guard your land and borders for the sake of your honor.
If I become the pure lord of the world, I will be to you like a younger brother.
You must wash your heart clean of hatred, and no longer keep Iran apart from China.
When that was done he made other plans, and reopened the gathered treasure.
He gave the army silver, horses, and servants, while secretly seeking the seat of greatness.
From the army he chose a commander worthy to rule the land of Khorasan.
Full of thought, he set out from Balkh toward Ray, on the blessed day of Khordad in the month of Dey.
He kept weighing matters, more and less, then ordered a mint be built.
So they might make fresh coins and stamp the silver with the name of Khosrow.
From among the merchants he picked one of clear mind, eloquent and fit for delicate work.
He ordered those stamped coins carried in sacks to Ctesiphon.
Bring precious Roman brocade whose figures were silk and whose ground was gold.
Buy it, so those coins may be taken before the king, and he may see the seal upon them.
He called a messenger, modest and keen, brave, like a blessed angel.
He wrote a letter swiftly, with fire and breath, speaking of every matter, great and small.
About Parmuda and the army of Saveh Shah,
and the battle he had fought against the troops,
and about the robe of honor that came to him from the king,
the headscarf and the black distaff case.
After that he said: May I never in my dreams
see the king's face crowned with glory and grace.
The moment Khosrow takes the throne,
that noble, fortunate son of yours,
at his command I will make the mountains into flat plains,
and flood the desert with the enemy's blood like the Oxus.
He wanted, before the king's very eyes,
to end an innocent man's days.
He kept mentioning this within the letter,
and the messenger set out toward Ctesiphon.
He told the merchant, Mehr Deram:
When Hormozd sees this, he will writhe with grief.
Once Khosrow has no comrade or support,
he will meet with harsh days from me.
When I dash all honors to the ground,
I will tear out the roots of Sasan from their base.
God did not make the earth for that lineage;
the time has come for that blessing to be lifted away.
The messenger of good fortune came
to Baghdad along with the notables of Rey.
When the letter reached Hormozd,
his face turned pale as a wilted flower from it.
Then word came of Mehr Deram;
one by one this piled grief upon grief.
He grew troubled and suspicious of his son,
and at that moment said this to Ayin Goshasb:
That Khosrow, through his manliness, has reached a place
where he means to rise up above us.
He even sets his own seal upon the coins;
what greater sign of contempt than this?
Ayin Goshasb answered him:
May the field and the horse never see life without you.
Hormozd said to him: All at once
I will erase this insolent one from the world.
Secretly they summoned a man
and seated him with the king in the dark night.
Hormozd told him: Take up my command,
and clear Khosrow from the face of the earth.
The man answered: I will do just so;
with trickery I will drive all affection from his heart.
Now let the king order poison from the treasury,
so that when Khosrow grows drunk in the black night,
I will mix the poison into the wine cup;
what better way could I lay hands on his blood?
The chamberlain learned of this scheme,
and sleep and peace grew short for him.
He came running to Khosrow and told him,
revealing all the secrets from their hiding place.
When Khosrow heard that the king of the world
was secretly plotting to kill him,
in the dark night he slipped away from Ctesiphon;
you would say he had vanished from the world.
He did not give away that precious head for nothing;
he rode hard toward Azarbadegan.
When word reached the great lord
who was the governor and chief of that province,
That Khosrow had turned against the king in anger, and had ridden off with only a handful of horsemen.
The proud chieftains sought him out wherever a noble sign of him could be found.
Men like Badan Piruz and like Shir Zil, who were just in their rule and strong as elephants,
Like the Shirans and Vestoy the worshipper of God, from Oman a warrior like Khonj, fierce as a maddened elephant,
From Kerman a mounted hero like Bivard, from the Shirans one like Sam Esfandiar,
One by one they turned their faces toward Khosrow; both army and commander sought him as their king.
Each one said to him: Son of the king, this crown, this throne, and this diadem befit you.
From Iran and from the plains of the lancers, from the swordsmen and the warrior chiefs,
See that you fear no harm; live in joy, in peace, with a proud and easy heart.
One hour we will ride our horses to the hunt, the next we will hurry to the fire of Azar Goshasb.
By the custom of our forefathers we will pray, and offer up our souls to God.
If some three hundred thousand riders from the land of Iran mount up to defend you against harm,
We will all give our bodies to be killed before you, and count it an honor to die for you.
Khosrow said to them: I am full of fear, both of the king and of that gathering of his.
If these chiefs will come before the fire of Azar Goshasb and swear heavy oaths,
And so make me wholly secure, promising they will not break their vow to me thereafter,
Then I will stay safely in this land, and will not fear a fight with any devil.
When the heroes heard his words, they all turned their faces toward the fire.
They swore the oaths just as he wished: that they would keep their love for him true, before their very eyes.
When he was secretly reassured by the great men, he sent out scouts in every direction.
By Khosrow's command, bold riders went to the court like lions,
To learn what his father would say about the flight, in case he was devising some new scheme.
When Hormoz heard that Khosrow had gone, he at once sent someone off in haste.
He put Gostahm and Bandoy in chains and sent them, helpless, to prison,
For those two were Khosrow's uncles on his mother's side, men new to the world in their courage.
And every other kinsman of his besides these he dragged off to prison amid much talk.
Then the king said to Ayin Goshasb: We are cut off from good counsel and yoked to the wind.
Now that he is gone, what shall we do about Bahram, that petty and wicked-hearted slave?
Ayin Goshasb set about finding a remedy, seeking how to give this affair its color and scent.
He said to him: Exalted king, how long the words of Bahram have grown.
He secretly seeks to spill all my blood; I was the very first he set out to wound.
Send me to him with my feet bound in chains, perhaps that will serve your purpose.
The king replied, 'This is no task for me; such a scheme belongs to a base and demonic mind.'
'I will send an army, and you shall be its commander; in the fighting, take the upper hand.'
'First send him a guide, so you can see what plans he holds in his head.'
'If he seeks lordship, crown, and throne, then in the end fortune will turn its face from him.'
'But if he stays content in a lesser place, then in the end peace suits him better.'
'I will give him a portion of the world, and set the crown of heroes on his head.'
'Keep me informed of all his doings; waste no time, and make the matter short.'
Ayin Goshasp was arranging these affairs, laying the foundation the wise king had ordered.
There was a man imprisoned, from his own city, seeking some way out from the king's jail.
When he heard that the horseman Ayin Goshasp was setting out for battle,
he sent someone from the prison to him, saying, 'O renowned and noble lord,
'I am a prisoner from your own city; I need hardly explain, you surely know me.'
'If you would ask the king to free me, I will run beside you into this war.'
'Once I am freed from this narrow cell, I will risk my life fighting at your side.'
Then Ayin Goshasp sent a messenger, hurrying, to the king of the world,
saying, 'A man from my city lies in chains, in prison, in fear and suffering.'
'May the world-ruling king grant him to me, so he may travel now along with me.'
The king said to him, 'That wicked, worthless man, is he to make war at your side?'
'A murderer, a good-for-nothing, a thief, and you ask me for him, expecting reward.'
'But there is no help for it now in this matter; even if there were none worse than him, no monster is more fitting.'
So he handed over that vile, ill-natured man, that evil-doing, bloodthirsty demon.
Ayin Goshasp led that army out, driving his troops along the road like the wind.
In this way he reached the city of Hamadan, at a place where he made his army camp.
He asked whether in that noble city anyone had a share of astrology and fortune-telling.
They told him, 'Any astrologer who comes to you will receive your thanks.'
'There is a wealthy old woman here of whom they say she is like the very eye of the stars.'
'Whatever she says comes to pass exactly; she can foretell the summer's heat and autumn's hues.'
When Ayin Goshasp heard these words, at once he sent a man and a horse for her.
When he arrived, he asked him about the king's affairs, and why he had brought an army onto the road.
He said to him: from now on, whisper a single word into my ear, so that my mind stays alert,
even if my dark body lies helpless in bed, or if I am wounded by an enemy's dagger.
He kept telling the old woman his secret, hiding his voice from everyone.
Meanwhile, the man he had rescued from the king, and who had come along the road with him,
passed by the fortune-telling woman; he glanced at the chieftain and walked on.
The old woman said to him: who is this man, over whose blow you will have to weep?
Your very life lies in his hands; may his body have neither brain nor skin left.
When Ayin Gushasb heard these words, an old conversation came back to him,
something he had heard from the astrologers, which he had been keeping hidden from himself:
that your death will come at the hands of a neighbor, a thief, idle and worthless,
who will set out on a long road with you; you will beg, and he will spill your blood.
He wrote a letter to the king: as for this man I have taken along the road,
he should not have been freed from prison, for he is worse than the brood of a dragon.
The king had spoken these words to a servant, a servant who had no royal glory in him.
When he arrives, give the order at once to cut off this suspect man's head with a dagger.
He wrote it and pressed his own seal above it; when the ink dried, he called the neighbor before him.
He praised him greatly and gave him gifts, and heaped much blessing on his noble spirit.
He said to him: carry this letter secretly and quickly to the king of the world.
When he answers, bring the reply to me at once; take care not to linger before the king.
The young man took the letter from him, his mind full of worry about the journey.
He kept saying: I have endured prison and heavy chains, restless, unable to sleep or eat.
God delivered me from that hardship, from that heat, that grief, that misery.
Now I turn back toward Ctesiphon; my very marrow and blood boil within me.
For a while he stayed miserable on the road, then he broke the seal of the king's letter.
When he read that letter from the champion, he was left astonished at the ways of the world:
so this neighbor of a man has demanded my life; he said, this is fitting for such a great lord.
If he has now hurried to shed my blood, perhaps some bad memory came to him in his dreams.
Now he entertains the thought of spilling blood, to rest himself from struggle and toil.
With a troubled heart he turned back from the road; it was as though he had become the partner of the wind.
When that famous man drew near along the road, he found no one in that royal hall.
Ayin Gushasb sat alone in his tent, with no servant, no ally, no sword, and no horse.
His heart was full of worry about the king; he wondered what fate would bring him next.
When the newcomer entered the tent, Ayin Gushasb knew the man meant to spill his blood.
The bloodthirsty man laid his hand on his sword, while the seeker of the world begged him for mercy.
He said to him, 'You man who have lost your way, it was not I who asked that your life be taken by the king.'
The other answered, 'Even if you had wished it, what have I done that you prepare to do such evil?'
He struck the neck of the renowned chief; his feasting and his warfare both came to an end.
He carried the head out of the tent, for the man's army knew nothing of what had happened.
May no man of ambition be left alone, especially one who has turned his face toward war.
When he grew notorious for the blood of that slain man, he galloped off until he reached Bahram.
He said to him, 'Here is the head of your enemy, the one who plotted evil against your life,
who came against you with an army, unaware of your plans, great or small.'
Bahram asked, 'Who is this man, and who in the world will weep over his death?'
He answered, 'It is Ayin Gushasb the rider, who came to battle at the king's command.'
Bahram said, 'This devout man had gone at the king's bidding
to make peace between us and the king, and you took his head while he slept.'
'Now you will get your punishment from me, so that the whole assembly weeps bitterly for you.'
He ordered a gallows raised at his gate, with the army and the country looking on.
He hanged the ill-starred wretch alive, and so roused the conscience of every evildoer.
The horsemen whom Ayin Gushasb the rider had brought at the king's command,
when the fate of their commander was sealed, many of them went over to Bahram from the army.
Many also went over to Khosrow, and through their bravery became renowned in the world.
It happened as when a flock, left without a shepherd, scatters in the storm of a cold day.
When news reached the king of what had befallen the famous Ayin Gushasb,
out of distress he closed the door of granting justice; no one saw a public audience held by him again.
He gave up rest, food, and sleep, and remained with his eyes full of tears.
At the court there was much talk about the king, that he had let the curtain fall over the royal hall.
One said, 'Bahram has become a warrior and has set his face toward the throne of greatness.'
Another said, 'Khosrow, angered by the king, is leading an army toward Iran.'
The chiefs were left stunned by that turn of events, and each man now formed his own opinion.
When this dispute rose loud in Ctesiphon, the kingdom itself lost its color and its charm.
The hearts of the servants filled with pain and hatred; they chose to curse him rather than to praise.
Few soldiers remained at the palace gate, and the world grew narrow upon the king's heart.
Word reached Banduy and Gostaham that the royal glory had grown dim.
The prisoners threw off their chains, and they appointed one man to that task.
To go and find out the truth of the matter: who among the warriors still stood at the king's gate.
When they learned the state of the times, they turned from obedience and lost their way.
They broke the prison, and an uproar rose like a plain that boils over in flood.
Whoever was a soldier within the city was left helpless before that verdict.
Gostaham and Banduy went to the front, armored, with their troops and their gear.
One by one they washed all shame from their eyes; the horsemen rode hot toward the palace.
They came from the marketplace ahead of the army, bold, and made their way to the king's court.
They said: if you want to be one with us, seek not the least reverence for the king.
For Hormozd has strayed from wisdom and the right path; from now on do not call him king.
Reach out your hands to punish him; make the honor of Iran bitter to his taste.
I will be your leader in this, and we will seat a new king upon his throne.
But if you show any weakness in this, we will hand the land of Iran over to you.
We will content ourselves with one corner of the world, and step aside with our companions.
At Gostaham's words the whole army together began to curse the peace of the king.
Saying: may there never be such a crowned king who would reach out his hand to spill his own son's blood.
When his troops grew defiant at this speech, at once they set fire to his gate.
They entered the royal hall, up to that glorious throne.
When they lifted the crown from the king's head, they turned him upside down off his throne.
Then they branded the king's eyes with hot iron, and that shining candle went dark.
They left him alive just as he was, but they carried off every last thing from his treasury.
Such are the ways of the lofty wheel of fate; do not tie your heart to this passing inn.
Now we see treasure from it, now suffering; this fleeting lodging turns over on us all.
Whether one lives a hundred years or a hundred thousand, that tale is finished when the reckoning comes.
Whoever wishes to become a buyer of good will speak no word until he has heard of evil.