English
The Beast of Fasequn
There was a Roman lord named Merin, proud and wise, rich and blessed with all he wished.
He sent a message to the Caesar: I am a man of high standing, of treasure and fame.
Give me your daughter, who comforts the heart; through me, renew your name and your crown.
The Caesar answered: from this day on I will not seek a marriage tie in this way.
Katayun and that unworthy man held me back from doing such a thing.
Now, whoever seeks kinship with me, or lifts his head hoping to rise near me,
must perform one great deed, one the mighty nobles here will speak of.
Only then would I have such a famous champion in the world, a helper on this earth.
He must go to the edge of the forest of Fasequn and wash his heart, his hands, and his mind in blood.
He will see a wolf the color of indigo, with the body of a dragon and the strength of an elephant.
It has horns and tusks like a boar; no elephant dares to come near it.
No fierce lion passes through that forest, no elephant, no bold and bloodthirsty man.
Whoever tears its hide will be my friend, my son in law, my ally.
Merin said: by this native land, by the Creator who founded Rome,
our ancestors never fought the great except with a heavy mace.
Now the Caesar makes demands of me and speaks to me with the tone of a grudge.
I will find a remedy for this now, and think of every clean and clever plan.
When the worthy man returned to his hall, he recalled all sorts of schemes.
He brought out his writings and set before him his star chart, his horoscope, his omen.
He saw that at a certain time a famed hero would come from Iran.
By his hand three great deeds would be done, feats the Roman lords would recount.
One: he would become the Caesar's son in law, and the Caesar's crown would rest upon his head.
Two beasts would appear across the land, and everyone struck by their evil would meet ruin.
Both would perish by his hand; no strong man could make him afraid.
He knew of Katayun's affair, that she was joined with brave Goshtasp,
and of Hishuy and that fame seeking lord, that all three would turn their faces toward this.
He came swiftly to Hishuy and told him, from beginning to end, all that had passed,
and of the star the Roman philosophers foretold, the wonder that would come to that borderland.
Hishuy said to him: today, stay glad with us, in friendship and justice.
For this man you described is a famous one among the proud.
His mind is set on hunting; he gives no thought to the throne of the eastern king.
There was not a single day he failed to come to me, and my darkened soul grew bright.
He will come now from the hunting ground; his path surely leads to us.
He brought wine and lute, with scent and color, and they sat down, golden cups in hand.
Just as the fourth round of wine went by, a rider raised dust across the plain.
When Hishuy and Merin saw the dust, they went out to meet him on the field.
When Merin saw him, he said to Hishuy: this man has no equal in the world.
With such a build, such a neck, such a strong grip, he must be a hero of noble stock.
His talents surpass even his appearance: his modesty, his sense of shame, his wisdom.
When Goshtasp drew near, both men dismounted from their warhorses.
A fresh seat was arranged by the water, and a new table quickly set.
Wine was brought with new drinking companions, a new gathering and new friends.
When cheeks turned ruby red with ruby wine, Hishuy said to Goshtasp: O great one,
you call me your friend on this earth, and know no one but me.
Now Merin has taken refuge with me; he is a famous man of high position,
a scribe, learned and honored, who reckons the courses of the lofty sky,
who speaks of the philosophers of Rome, of every land, its ruins and its bloom.
He descends from the line of Salm; father to father he keeps the names in memory.
He holds the sword of Salm, which stayed all these years under Salm's keeping.
He is a rider who unhorses foes and takes lions, who can bring an eagle down from the sky with an arrow.
He too wants to rise higher by becoming kin to the Caesar of Rome.
He spoke to the Caesar and heard the reply, and that answer set his heart ablaze.
For the Caesar said: in the forest of Fasequn there is a wolf as huge as a camel.
If that wolf is slain by your hand, you will be a great and honored guest in Rome.
You will be a world ruler and my son in law; fate will grant me my due in fine fashion.
Now if you take this task in hand, I am your servant, and this proud man is yours.
Goshtasp said: this deed is well and good, but what do they say, and where is this forest now?
What kind of beast can there be in the world that both low and high men fear?
Hishuy said: this old wolf is larger than a mighty camel.
Its two fangs are like an elephant's tusks; its eyes drip blood, its hide is like indigo.
Its horns are like beams of ebony; when it grows angry it charges over two horses at once.
Many famous Caesars set out from here with heavy maces.
They came back from that forest defeated, full of shame, their bodies in torment.
Goshtasp said: bring the sword of Salm and the swift, proud horse of Merin.
I call this a dragon, not a wolf; do not think it a mere wolf, but a great camel of a beast.
When Merin heard this, he left the place and rode swiftly home.
From his stable he chose a black horse, a precious coat of mail, and a Roman helmet,
and that valuable diamond bright sword, which Salm had tempered in poison and blood.
He picked out many gifts from his treasury: rubies and jewels, all in fives.
When the sun tore off its pitch black shirt and came out from behind the veil,
the world seeking Merin left his hall and came swiftly to Hishuy.
Goshtasp turned that way from the hunt; Hishuy looked and caught sight of him.
They marveled at the horse and the sword; as he came closer, they went out to greet him.
When Goshtasp looked over those gifts, he chose the horse and the sword from among them.
He gave the rest to Hishuy, and it lifted the spirit of the world seeker.
Goshtasp put on the coat of mail like dust and mounted the warhorse beneath him.
Bow strung, lasso on his arm, a proud rider on a tall horse,
Hishuy went along the road with him, and the world seeking Merin, who had cried for help.
So they went, twisting and turning, hearts full of blood, until they reached the edge of the forest of Fasequn.