English
Sam and Sindokht Make Their Peace
When her plan was ready she mounted up, and like a warrior she girded her waist for the task.
She set a Roman helmet on her head, with a horse beneath her swift as the wind.
She came, proud and eager, to Sam's court, giving no cry and speaking no name.
She told the watchmen to go at once and inform the great lord of the world,
that an envoy had come from Kabul to the presence of the champion of Zabol,
bearing a message from the warrior Mehrab to the world-conquering lord Sam.
The chamberlain went in to the hero Sam, spoke, and by his order the envoy was granted audience.
Sindokht dismounted and came forward, gliding swiftly toward the lord.
She kissed the ground and offered praise for the king and for the champion of the earth.
Gifts, servants, horses, and elephants stood lined up from the gate for two miles.
One by one she presented them all before Sam; the champion was astonished at the sight.
He sat lost in thought like a drunken man, his hand under his chin, his head bowed low,
thinking: since a place holds such wealth as this, what custom is it to send a woman as envoy?
If I accept all this wealth from her, the king who shepherds nations will be offended with me;
but if I turn it back from before Zal, he will spread his wings and fly off like the Simorgh.
He raised his head and said: this treasure, these slaves and richly adorned elephants,
take them and give them to Dastan's treasurer, and grant them in the name of Kabul's lord.
Fairy-faced Sindokht, standing before Sam, let her tongue speak on and her heart rejoice.
When she saw the gifts accepted, saw good fortune arrived and evil gone,
three lovely idol-faced maidens were there with her, jasmine-bodied and tall as cypresses,
each holding a cup in her hand; she ordered them, once seated in place,
to pour it out before the champion, mingling one drink with another.
When they had settled matters with the champion, they cleared the house of strangers.
Sindokht said to the champion: by your counsel an old man grows young again.
The great ones learned wisdom from you; through you dark troubles were set alight and cleared.
By your love the hand of evil is bound; by your mace the divine road is opened.
If anyone was guilty, it was Mehrab, and his eyes have been drenched from the blood of his heart.
What did the innocent people of Kabul do, that they should be swept away in the dust of war?
The whole city lives only for you; they are your servants and the dust beneath your feet.
Fear the One who created mind and might, who made shining Venus and the sun.
Such an act would not please you; do not gird yourself for shedding blood.
The hero Sam said to her: tell me the truth, and about what I ask make no excuses.
Whether you rank below Mehrab or as his equal, where did Zal ever see that daughter of his?
Tell me of her face, her hair, her manner and mind, so I may judge whether she is a fitting match.
Of her stature, her looks, and her learning, describe her one by one just as you saw her.
Sindokht said to him: champion, chief of champions and pillar of heroes,
first I want a firm oath from you, one that makes land, region, and settlement tremble:
that no harm will come from you to my life, nor to the one who is dear to me.
I have a palace and a flourishing hall, treasures too, kinsmen, and a house.
Once I feel safe, say whatever you wish; I will speak and seek, and I will keep my honor bright.
All the hidden treasure of Kabul I will strive to send to Zabolestan,
and besides that, whatever else is fitting the wise lord will receive from me.
Then Sam took her hand in his, treated her kindly, and made the pledge.
When Sindokht heard his oath, and knew his word true and his promise sound,
she kissed the ground and rose to her feet, and told the truth of what had been hidden:
I am kin to Zahhak, O champion, the wife of the warrior Mehrab of the bright soul,
and the mother of moon-faced Rudabeh, for whom Zal keeps pouring out his life.
Our whole household, before the pure God, from dark night until the day breaks open,
has kept calling down blessings upon you, and upon the world-ruling king of the earth.
Now I have come to learn what your wish is: from Kabul, who is your enemy and who your friend?
If we are guilty and of ill nature, and unworthy of this kingdom's grace,
here I stand before you, sorrowful: kill me if you will kill, bind me if you will bind.
Do not burn the hearts of Kabul's innocent, whose day has already turned to darkness.
When the champion heard her words, he saw a woman of judgment and clear spirit,
with cheeks like spring and stature like a cypress, a waist slender as a reed and the walk of a pheasant.
He answered thus: my pledge holds firm, even if my very life should break.
You and Kabul and all who are joined to you, may you remain glad of heart and sound of body.
I also agree that Zal should seek in all the world a match like Rudabeh.
Though you are of another lineage, you are still worthy of the crown and throne.
Such is the way of the world, and there is no shame in it; there is no fighting against the Maker of the world.
He creates as He wills; we pass away, and we remain here with our weeping.
One is on the heights, one in the depths; one enjoys abundance, one lives in dread.
One has a heart adorned by increase, another's heart worn thin by lack.
I wrote a letter, full of a suffering man's plea, to the lofty king.
Golden Zal went to Manuchehr, and it was as if he had sprouted wings and taken flight.
He leapt into the saddle without even glancing at it, and his horse's hooves did not seem to touch the ground.
To this the king will give Zal his answer, and once he smiles he will set his blessed judgment on it,
saying: the bird's foster child has lost his heart; from the water of his tears his feet are stuck in mud.
If the bride's love is like his, then it is right that they should both leap out of their skins with longing.
Show me too the face of that dragon's child, and take from me whatever price you ask.
Sindokht said to him: if the champion would make his servant glad and bright of spirit,
and let his horse gallop into my palace, my head would rise to the high heavens.
We would bring such a lord as you into Kabul, and all of us would lay down our lives before him.
Sam saw Sindokht's lips full of smiles, and saw every root of malice torn from his own heart.
She sent off a bold courier, swift as the wind, and gave Mehrab the good news:
do not think of any evil thoughts at all; make your heart glad and prepare for a guest.
Right behind this letter I am coming, hastening; I will not waste a moment on the road.
On the second day, when the fountain of the sun stirred and the head woke from sleep,
the noble Sindokht set her face toward the court of the crown-seeking lord.
A murmur of respect rose from Sam's court; they called her by her title, chief of ladies.
She came before Sam and made her obeisance, and spoke with him at length.
She sought leave to return home, and to go rejoicing to the lord of Kabul,
to prepare for the new guest, and to show her son-in-law the new pact.
The hero Sam told her: turn back and go; tell Mehrab all that you have seen.
They arranged a robe of honor worthy of her, choosing the most precious things from the treasury.
Then everything Sam owned in Kabul: palace and garden, planting and harvest,
along with milk-giving livestock, and carpets and clothing too,
he gave to Sindokht; he took her hand in his and made yet another pledge.
He accepted her daughter for Zal, that the two might live happily as a matched pair.
He gave her two hundred proud warriors and men, and told her: do not linger here.
Be in Kabul and live in joy; from now on, fearful of ill, fear evil no more.
That withered moon of a face blossomed again, and under a lucky star they set out on the road.