English
Kay Khosrow's Vow of Vengeance
When the sun drew its blade above the horizon, the dark night vanished from the world.
The drums thundered from the king's court, and the warriors set their helmets on their heads.
Men like Tus, Gudarz, and the brave Giv, like Gorgin, Gostaham, and Bahram the lion.
The noble ones came before the king, gathering at that renowned court.
The lord of the world set out to hunt, together with Rostam, the famous champion.
The free-born nobles rode out from the army, men like Giv and Gudarz, son of Kashvad.
An army so vast it darkened sun and moon, the king rode out with hunting leopards and hawks.
He traveled across all the land of Iran, passing through both flourishing and ruined places.
Wherever a region or district was not thriving, it had been laid waste and ruined by injustice.
He gave out coin and rebuilt it from his treasury; giving and generosity brought him no burden.
In every city he sat and set up his throne, just as a fortunate king should do.
He would call for gold, goblets, and wine, and adorn the world with dinars.
Then he moved on to another city, still carrying his wine, throne, and crown.
He journeyed on to Azarbaijan, with the great and the noble beside him.
Sometimes he drank wine, sometimes he raced his horse; then he came to the shrine of Azargoshasp.
He began to praise the Maker of the world, offering prayers within the fire temple.
He came stepping gracefully from that place, and they set out toward King Kavus.
The two sat together in joy; for a while there was nothing but gladness.
When their heads were full from cups of bright rosewater wine, they hurried off to rest and sleep.
When the shining day tore open its seam and scattered rubies over the dark earth,
the world-ruler sat down, and Kay Kavus too, two proud kings, both of good fortune.
With brave Rostam and Dastan at his side, Kavus spoke of every matter, great and small.
He began first with Afrasiab, and washed his cheeks with the blood of his own eyes.
He told what that man had done to Siavash, raising dust and ruin over all of Iran.
How many champions had lost their lives, how women and little children writhed in grief.
You will see many an Iranian city in ruins, laid waste by the cruelty of Afrasiab.
God has given you all you need, in stature, in wisdom, and in strength of hand.
In perfect glory and good fortune, you surpass all kings in every way.
Now I want one oath from you: you must not swerve even slightly from justice,
that you will fill your heart with hatred for Afrasiab, and never quench that fire with water for a moment.
that you will not trust him for your mother's kinship, will not waver, and will pay no heed to anyone's plea.
that no treasure or riches will deceive you, whether you rise high or sink low,
that not for crown, throne, signet, or diadem, and not for his words, will you leave the true path.
Let me tell you what an oath is founded upon, and what counsel is for wisdom and your soul.
You will swear by the Maker of sun and moon, by the sword, by love, by throne and crown,
by glory and by God-given good fortune, that you will never turn toward evil,
that you will seek no mediator but sword and mace, you who bear a lofty spirit and a towering frame.
When the young king heard this from him, he turned his face and soul toward the sacred fire.
He swore by the Sustaining Creator, by the white day and the lapis-blue night,
by sun and moon, by throne and crown, by love, by sword, and by the royal diadem,
that he would never turn toward friendship with him, nor even see his face in a dream.
He wrote a document in Pahlavi, with fragrant ink upon a royal scroll.
Dastan and Rostam stood as witnesses to this, and so did all the great ones of the army.
In trust he placed into Rostam's hands that writ, that oath, and all its custom and law.
After that they called for feast and wine, and arranged gatherings of every kind.
For a week the nobles stayed with music and wine in the hall of Kay Kavus.
On the eighth day the world-ruler washed his head and body, rested, and sought a place for prayer.
Before the Lord of the turning heavens he went, and unveiled his face in praise.
From the dark night until the sun rose, he stayed crying out, his eyes full of tears.
He said: O just and only God, ruler of the world, giver of daily bread, and guide,
in the days of my youth you set me free, alone and without an army, from the dragon's jaws.
You know that the commander of Turan's army knows neither restraint nor shame for his sins.
His curse falls on ruin and prosperity alike; his heart is filled with hatred for the innocent.
In injustice he shed the blood of Siavash, and made fire rain down upon this land.
The hearts of kings are full of dread of him; his throne and crown are a plague upon the earth.
To avenge my father, take this servant's hand, and have mercy on the soul of old Kavus.
You know that his very nature is evil, that he is of vile stock and a sorcerer.
He pressed his face to the ground again and again, calling down blessings upon the Creator.
Then he returned from there to his throne, before his proud, high-necked champions.
He said: O my renowned ones, world-conquerors and wielders of my daggers,
I have crossed this land of Iran on horseback, from this border to the shrine of Azargoshasp.
I found no one whose heart was glad, no one who was prosperous, no district that was flourishing.
All are wounded by Afrasiab, every heart full of blood and every eye full of tears.
The first with a torn heart because of him am I, for my soul and body are full of pain from him.
Next is my grandfather, that noble, free-born king, who draws cold sighs from the depths of his heart.
In Iran, man and woman cry out because of him, from all the killing, plunder, war, and turmoil.
Now if you are all truly my allies, if in your hearts you are entirely my friends,
I will gird myself to avenge my father, and drive this evil from the people of Iran.
If you all set your minds on war, then strive and take on the ways of the leopard.
This resolve of mine will come to pass; through the battle of heroes, mountains will be leveled to plains.
Whatever blood is shed in this vengeance, the guilty one will hang for it.
And if anyone of this army is slain, his dwelling will be the highest heaven.
What do you say, and how do you answer this? All of you, set your minds on a blessed course.
Know that he was the first to do evil, and one must not sit idle before repaying evil.
The great ones prepared their answer, and with aching hearts rose from their places.
They said: O renowned lord of the world, rejoice; may you always be free of grief and pain.
Our bodies and souls, all of them, are at your service; our sorrow and joy rise and fall with you.
From our mothers we were all born for death; we are all your servants, though we are free-born.
When the elephant-bodied hero, and Tus and Gudarz and the whole assembly gave such an answer,
the king's face bloomed like the redbud flower, for the fortune was young and the king was young.
He blessed them again and again, saying: may the earth flourish because of these heroes.