English
The King and the Coming of Rustam
When a cypress lifts its branches in the garden, its green crown rises above the palace walls.
Every tree rejoices in its height, and the clear-hearted, fortunate one delights to see it.
It is fitting to reflect on three things: beyond these three, what else is there?
Skill goes with lineage and with inborn worth: three things, and all three are bound together.
How can there be skill without inborn worth? You have seen many of noble birth who lack any skill.
Inborn worth is that which comes from God's grace: it reaches out for no evil and heeds no evil.
Lineage is what descends from a father's seed: it is right that good fruit comes from pure stock.
As for skill, you learn it from anyone, striving and enduring much hardship for it.
Inborn worth is the true foundation of these three, for it is the beautiful robe the Creator gives.
When you have all three, you still need wisdom: you must be able to tell good from bad.
When these four come together in one person, that person is free of greed, hardship, and grief,
except for death, for there is no escape from one's own death, and nothing is worse than a cruel, monstrous fate.
The world-seeking king needed none of these four faults, for a favoring fortune shaped his path from on high.
The eloquent one spoke of this tale, and then told again from the words of old.
Now let me return to the beginning of the matter: how that king conducted himself.
When he set the crown of greatness on his head, the crown was gladdened by him, and he too was glad.
Everywhere he rebuilt what lay in ruins; he freed the hearts of the grieving from their sorrow.
The spring clouds shed their moisture, and grief's rust was wiped from the face of the earth.
The world filled with green and running water; the heads of the sorrowful sank into peaceful sleep.
The earth was adorned like a paradise, made rich through justice and open-handed giving.
Like Jamshid and Fereydun he adorned the throne, and the king never rested from justice and generosity.
The world was filled with goodness and safety; the hand of the devil was tied away from evil.
Envoys came from every direction, from every renowned man and every hero.
Then word reached the land of the south, to the world-illuminating commander,
that Khosrow had come from Turan to Iran and had taken his seat on the throne he deserved.
So Rustam prepared to go and see the king, to see whether he was worthy of the throne.
Together with Zal, son of Sam of Nariman, and all the nobles of Kabul, great and small,
an army that turned the plain black as ebony, its war drums tearing every ear with their roar,
set out on the road toward Iran: Zavareh, Faramarz, the elephants, and the host,
with Zal and his company at the front, and the purple banner behind the great warrior Rustam.
Then word reached the king that the mounted champion had come along the road,
with Zavareh, Faramarz, and Dastan son of Sam, and the great men of rank and renown.
The king's heart rejoiced at this news; he told the singer, 'May we flourish,'
for Rustam was the one who raised my father, and through him skill became known in the world.
He ordered Giv, Gudarz, and Tus to set out with brazen trumpets and war drums.
The drumbeat rose from the king's court, and all the warriors put on their helmets.
An army rose from its place and made ready to go out and meet him.
Rank upon rank they went out to welcome him, all with banners and drums.
Such champions and so great a host went forward two days' journey to meet him.
When the banner of the mighty Rustam appeared, the army's dust rose up toward the sun.
A great shout arose with the wail of horns and drums, as Giv, Gudarz, and Tus came from the army's center.
They rode forward to meet the great warrior and joyfully called down blessings upon him.
All three embraced him; the lion-slayer asked after the king.
From Rustam they turned to Zal son of Sam, coming with open hearts and glad spirits.
They turned their faces toward Faramarz and took joy in seeing him.
From there they went on toward the king, to behold his blessed crown.
When Khosrow saw the mighty warrior Rustam, tears fell from his lashes down his cheeks.
He stepped down from the throne and gave a blessing; Rustam kissed the ground before him.
He said to Rustam, 'O champion, may you always be glad and bright of soul.'
You are the wise and steadfast one in the world, the one who raised Siyavash.
Then Khosrow drew Zal's head to his breast and laid his hand upon it for his father's sake.
He seated the warriors on the royal throne and called down God's name upon them.
Rustam studied him from head to foot, his manner of sitting, his speech, and his judgment.
His face grew flushed with blood and his heart filled with pain, remembering again all that had befallen Siyavash.
He said to the king of the world, 'O sovereign, you are the world's keepsake left by your father.'
I have never seen a crowned king in all the world with such splendor and so like his father.
After that, when they rose from the throne, they set out the table and prepared the wine.
The king of the world did not sleep until half the night, retelling all that had passed.