English
Zal's Counsel to Kavus
Zal the golden went in first, and behind him came the nobles with their golden belts.
When Zal, son of Sam, saw Kavus seated content upon his throne,
he folded his arms and bowed his head low, and walked to take his place.
He said: 'Master of the world, you who stand tall above the great and the small,
no throne, no crown has ever heard of one like yours, and the turning sky has known no fortune like yours.
May you be victorious and glad all year long, your mind full of wisdom, your heart full of justice.'
The renowned king welcomed him warmly and seated him on the throne beside himself.
He asked about the hardship of the long road, about the warriors and about the proud Rostam.
Zal the golden answered the king: 'May the king live sweetly and triumphant.'
They are all glad and bright under your fortune, holding their heads high because of your throne.'
Then he began to tell a tale and opened the door to words worth hearing.
He said: 'King of the world, you are worthy of the throne and the crown of the great.'
Kings before you have never once walked this road.
Many days have passed over my head, and the sky has turned above the earth many times.'
Manuchehr departed from this wide world, leaving behind him much treasure and many palaces.
So too Zav, and Nozar, and Kayqobad, and how many great ones we still remember,
with their dense armies and heavy maces, they never set out for Mazandaran,
for that is the home of sorcerer demons, all charms and firm knots of magic.
You cannot break it with the sword, nor win it with treasure or cleverness.
Nor can you open it with trickery. Do not throw away your effort, your gold, and your coin to the wind.
No one thinks it lucky to go there, nor to even form the plan of going.
You should not lead the army that way. No king ever conceived such a plan.
Though these famous men are your subjects, they are servants of a just and righteous Lord.
Do not plant a tree from the blood of so many great heads just to gain a little more.'
Its fruit and its height would only bring a curse; that was never the way of the kings of old.'
Kavus answered: 'I am not without need of your good counsel,
yet I surpass even Fereydun and Jamshid in manhood, in glory, and in wealth,
and I surpass Manuchehr and Kayqobad, who never even spoke of Mazandaran.'
My army, my courage, and my treasure are greater; the world lies beneath my sharp sword.
Now that the world lies open to my knowledge, why should we leave any land hidden by iron?'
I will bring them all into line, one by one, if I bring the ways of the sword and battle to bear.'
Whether I leave no one alive in Mazandaran, or lay a heavy tribute and tax upon them,
they are so wretched and lowly in my eyes, whether sorcerers or demons, that whole company.
The news will reach your own ears that the face of that land has been emptied of them.
You, with Rostam, stay here and rule; be the guardian of Iran and stay watchful.
The Creator of the world is my ally; the heads of the fierce demons are my prey.
But if you will not stand with me in battle, then do not command us to delay at this gate.'
When Zal heard these words from the king, he could see no sense in them at all, head or tail.
He said to him: 'You are king and we are your servants; we speak to you out of care and love.'
Whether you command justice or command wrong, for your sake we must walk and breathe.'
I have cleared my heart of worry; I have set out every word I knew.
No one can push death away from his own body, and no one can sew shut the eye of the world with a needle.
By caution alone no one has escaped his fate; the world seeker finds no way out of these three.
May the world always be blessed for you, and may you never have cause to remember my advice.
May you never regret what you have done; may your heart, your faith, and your creed stay bright.'
Quickly Zal bade the king farewell, his heart filled with smoke at his departure.
He left the presence of King Kavus, and the sun and moon went dark before his eyes.
The brave nobles went out with him, men like Tus and Gudarz and Roham and Giv.
Then Giv said to Zal: 'From God I ask only that He be our guide.
In a place beyond the reach of Kavus, I hold no one equal to him.'
May greed and the eye of need stay far from you; may no enemy's hand reach out against you.
Wherever we go and whatever we enter, we will hear no words of praise but yours.'
After the Creator who made the world, the land of Iran places its hope in you.'
For the sake of the warriors you bore the hardship and traveled such a difficult road.'
Then they took him in their arms, and the journey to Sistan was made ready.