English
The Reign of Jamshid
His noble son Jamshid, full of his father's counsel, tightened his belt with a single heart for the task.
He rose to that fortunate throne of his father, and in the way of kings a golden crown sat on his head.
He bound his belt with the glory of a king of kings, and the whole world became a road he walked.
The age found peace from strife; demon and bird and fairy obeyed his command.
The world grew brighter in honor through him, and the royal throne shone with his presence.
He said: I hold the divine glory; I am both king and spiritual guide.
I will cut the hand of the wicked off from evil, and lead souls toward the light.
First he turned to the tools of war, and entrusted the warriors with the quest for renown.
With his royal glory he softened iron, making helmets and mail and armor.
Coats of mail, swords, and horse-armor, all of it he brought forth with a clear mind.
In this work he labored fifty years, and from it he laid up a treasure.
For another fifty he thought about clothing, garments to wear in times of honor and battle.
From linen and silk and the wool of raw threads he made rich brocade and fine fur cloth.
He taught them spinning and twisting, and how to weave the weft into the warp.
When it was woven, he taught washing and sewing, and they learned it all from him at once.
When this was done he set out other work; the age was glad with him, and he glad too.
From every gathering he assembled craftsmen; in this too he spent fifty years.
One group you call the Katouzian; know them by the custom of worshippers.
He set them apart from the rest of the people, and made the mountains the place of the worshippers.
So that worship would be their whole work, ever bowing before their radiant Lord of the world.
On the other hand he seated another rank, and they were called the Nisarian.
These are the lion-men who wage war, the ones who make the army and the land shine.
It is through them that the royal throne stands, and through them the name of manhood endures.
Know the third group as the Basoudi, who owe thanks to no one for their bread.
They sow and toil and reap for themselves, and at mealtime they hear no reproach.
Free of anyone's command, plainly dressed, their ears at rest from any taunt.
A free body, and the world flourishing under them, untroubled by judge or dispute.
What did that free-spirited orator say? That idleness made the free man a slave.
The fourth, whom they call the Ahtukhoshi, are the artisans, workers who bow to no yoke.
Their work was a craft for them all, and their minds were always full of thought.
In this too he spent fifty years, enjoying, working, and giving away goods.
To each of these he assigned a fitting station and showed them the way.
So that everyone could see his own measure, and know what was less and what was more.
Then he ordered the impure demons to mix earth with water.
Once they recognized whatever came from clay, they swiftly shaped the mold for bricks.
With stone and plaster the demons built walls, first working out the geometry beforehand.
Bathhouses and lofty palaces, and porches that shelter from harm.
For a time he sought jewels in the hard rock, wanting light to shine from it.
Several kinds of gems came into his grasp: ruby, garnet, silver, and gold.
By his art he drew them from the granite, and became the key that unlocks what is bound.
He brought back sweet fragrances too, scents that people crave.
Like storax and camphor and pure musk, like aloeswood and ambergris and clear rosewater.
He gave medicine and the cure for every sufferer, and the way to health and the paths of harm.
He also revealed these secrets; the world had never known a seeker like him.
Then he crossed the water by ship, hastening from land to land.
Thus he toiled another fifty years, and saw nothing his wisdom could not reach through skill.
When all these deeds were accomplished, he raised his foot above the rank of greatness.
With royal glory he made a throne, and set into it a wealth of gems.
So that when he wished, the demons would lift it, raising it from the plain up to the sky.
Like the shining sun in the middle of the air, the ruling king sat upon it.
The world gathered around that throne, astonished at his fortune.
They scattered jewels over Jamshid, and named that day the New Day.
The head of the new year, the first day of spring, when the face of the earth rested from toil.
The great ones arranged a celebration; they called for wine and cups and minstrels.
Such a blessed festival from that time has remained with us, a keepsake of those kings.
For three hundred years the work went on this way, and in that age they saw no death.
They had no knowledge of suffering or evil; the demons stood belted like servants.
The people lent both ears to his command, and the world was full of the sweet sounds of joy.
So it went as that age unfolded; they saw nothing but goodness from the Creator.
The whole world became a road he walked, and the ruler sat in his glory.
One day he looked out from the throne of greatness, and in all the world he saw none but himself.
That king who once knew God turned to pride; he twisted away from God and grew ungrateful.
He summoned the nobles from his army and made many a speech before them.
He said to the aged great ones: I know no one in the world but myself.
Skill appeared in the world through me; a throne has never seen a king as renowned as I am.
I adorned the world with beauty; the world is just as I wished it.
Your food and sleep and peace come from me; your effort and your desire come from me too.
Greatness and the royal crown are mine; who dares say anyone but me is king?
All the priests bowed their heads down low; no one dared to say, why so?
When these words were spoken, God's glory turned away from him, and the world filled with murmuring.
When pride joined itself against the Creator, ruin set in and his fortune turned.
What did that eloquent, wise speaker say? When you become a king, strive at servitude to God.
Whoever turns ungrateful to God, fear creeps into his heart from every side.
The day turned dark over Jamshid, and that world-illumining glory began to wane.