Rustam's Return and the Feast at Court

So many camels and herds were captured that the army had more mounts than it could count. They loaded up the spoils of Turan's army: precious weapons, crown, and throne. The war horns roared and wailed; they rang the bells and beat the brazen drums. They turned their faces toward the land of Iran, an army radiant with color and pride. When word of Rustam reached the king, a joyous clamor rose from city and court. From Iran the drums thundered to the clouds: the lord of the mace and tiger-hide has come. There was such rejoicing across the world, celebrated among the humble and the great alike. The king's heart became like highest paradise, and he kept praising the Creator. He ordered the elephants brought forward, and Kaykhosrow rose up from his seat. The whole realm was decked out in splendor: wine, music, minstrels, and treasure. Drums and pipes sounded from every direction as the king of the world came forth. From end to end the elephants' backs were heaped with musk, wine, and saffron. The mahout wore an ornate crown on his head, with earrings hanging from his ears. They scattered great heaps of saffron and coins, sifting musk and amber over everything. Across the whole city the minstrels' music sounded, players seated on every side, end to end. The world was so full of joy and justice that it seemed life itself was endless and glad. When mighty Rustam saw the proud crown, he found the whole world ringing with sound. He dismounted and bowed low before the king, and Khosrow asked about his long journey. The king held him tight in his arms, and stayed that way for a long while. The king of the world kept blessing that famous sage and champion. He ordered the elephant-bodied hero to mount, and held his hand all along the way. He kept saying: Why did you stay away so long, when your absence set our hearts on fire? Tus and Faribarz, Gudarz and Giv, Rahham and Gorgin and the brave warriors, came along the road to the king's palace, to that renowned court. The king sat upon the golden throne, with famed Rustam beside him. Faribarz, Gudarz, Rahham, and Giv sat down with the noble warriors. Kaykhosrow spoke of the battlefield, of the toil and struggle against Turan's army. Gudarz said to him: O king, the tales of this war are long. First there should be wine and cups and rest; then you can ask about this matter properly. They set out the table, and the king laughed: You must have gone hungry on the road. At the table wine and minstrels were brought, and he began questioning them from end to end, about Afrasiyab and about Pouladvand, about the wrestling and the whirling lasso. Gudarz said to him: O king, no mother ever bore a rider like Rustam. Whether a demon or a dragon comes at him, none escapes his long, reaching grip. A thousand blessings on the king, and especially on this famous lionheart. He told what Rustam had done to Pouladvand: the wrestling, the tricks, the schemes and snares. How he brought down the demon and slew him, all the fighting and struggle and quest for vengeance. When the demon fell to the dust and lost consciousness, a cry rose up from the demon warriors. When that proud demon came back to his senses, a sudden howl broke from him. At once he mounted and fled, escaping from Rustam by the skin of his life. The crowned king grew so glad at that tale that it was as if he had raised his head above the palace roof. He answered thus: O champion, you are wise and clear-minded and full of light. Whoever has reason as his teacher, the turning of time will keep him safe. May the evil eye stay far from this champion; may his whole life be a feast. For a whole week he sat with wine in hand, and crown and throne rejoiced in him. To the sound of pipe and harp they sang the deeds of Rustam in a heroic song. For a whole month the mighty hero stayed near the king, cup in hand at his side. Then he said to the king: O gifted and renowned crowned one, the world-ruler is wise and good-natured, yet I long to see Zal's face. The king of the world opened his treasury of precious things he had kept hidden away: rubies, crowns, and rings, gold coins and garments of fine Shushtar cloth, servants with diadems and earrings, curly-haired ones with silver cheeks, golden trays full of musk and aloeswood, two golden slippers and a golden mace, inlaid with royal gems, as befitted a king. The king sent all this to mighty Rustam, and rode two stages of the road at his side. When Khosrow grew weary from the long road, he stopped, and Rustam bowed before him. He bade him farewell and set off from Iran, hurrying gladly toward Zabulistan. The whole world came into the king's rightful hands, and everything turned just as he wished. I have finished this battle of Kamus too; it is long, and not one bit of it is missing. If a single word of the tale were left out, my soul would be a place of mourning. My heart grew glad at the tale of Pouladvand, which added a fresh iron link to the chain of iron.