English
The Reign of Nozar
When Nozar mourned his father the king, he lifted the royal crown up to the stars.
He gave audience upon Manuchehr's throne, summoned the assembly, and handed out gold.
But not much time had passed before the king turned to injustice and cruelty.
Everywhere in the world a clamor rose; under this new king the world grew old.
As he abandoned his father's ways, he grew harsh toward the priests and the nobles.
Human decency became worthless to him, and his heart became a slave to treasure and gold.
The farmers, one by one, turned into soldiers, and bold men grew fit to seize the crown.
When an uproar rose across the country, the whole world came to a boil.
The unjust king grew afraid and sent a messenger to Sam the horseman.
Sam was in Sagsar of Mazandaran, and Nozar sent word to him there.
'By the Lord of Saturn, Mars, and the sun, the Creator of both elephant and ant,
for whom nothing is hard because it is great, nor easy because it is small,
all things are one before His power, whether they be many or few,
now, by the Lord of the sun and moon, praise be upon the soul of King Manuchehr,
and upon the champion Sam let there be as many greetings as raindrops falling from a cloud,
greetings to that world-wise champion, the proud, admired, and worthy hero.
May his heart and mind be forever thriving, may his soul be free of every sorrow.
Perhaps the champion of the world knows these matters, both open and hidden,
that even as the king closed his eyes to sleep, he thought often of Sam son of Nariman.
My warmth of heart is in him too, for he is both a champion and a friend to the throne.
In the king's own time the guardian of the land is he, the wearer of the shining, blessed crown.
Now the kingdom has fallen into turmoil, and matters have passed beyond all measure.
If he does not take up his mace of vengeance, this land will be left emptied of its throne.'
When the letter reached Sam son of Nariman, he drew a cold sigh up from his heart.
At dawn, at the crowing of the rooster, the horns and war drums began to roar.
He led out an army from Gorgsar so vast the green sea seemed small beside it.
When that army neared Iran, the nobles came out on the road to meet him.
On foot they all went before brave Sam and spoke of every kind of grievance,
of the injustice of the crowned Nozar, who had recklessly lost his father's path.
The world had fallen to ruin by his deeds, and his wakeful fortune had slipped into slumber.
He had strayed from the road of wisdom, and the divine glory had departed from him.
What harm if Sam, the champion hero, were to sit upon this throne with a bright soul?
The world would flourish under his justice; Iran and its foundation stand by him.
We would be his servants and obey him, and pledge our very souls to his love.
To them Sam the horseman said this: 'When would the Creator accept such a thing from me,
that while a Nozar of the royal Kayanid line sits girded upon the throne of kings,
I should reach for the crown of kingship? It is absurd, and no one would agree to hear it.
Could anyone in the world dare say such a thing? Does anyone hold such nerve in secret?
Even if a daughter of King Manuchehr were to sit crowned upon that golden throne,
my pillow would be nothing but the dust, and my seeing eye would be content with her.
If his heart has turned away from his father's path, not much time has yet gone by;
no iron is so rust-eaten yet that it would be hard to make it shine again.
I will bring back that divine glory and make the world long for him with love.
You must repent of what has passed and renew your pledge from the start.
If you fail to find the forgiveness of the Lord of the heavens and the love of King Nozar,
in this world the king's wrath awaits you, and in the next, hellfire will be your place.'
The nobles repented of what they had done and, one by one, renewed their pledge.
When Sam the horseman came to the court, King Nozar came out to welcome him.
With the arrival of the renowned champion, the whole world grew young and fresh again.
The great men came before Nozar in apology and became his true and lowly servants, heart and soul.
Nozar shone bright upon the throne of majesty and sat there in peace, with grace restored.
The champion of the world stood on his feet before Nozar, serving him and guiding him as well.
He opened up his counsel to Nozar and spoke many wise and worthy words,
of the champion Fereydun and King Hushang, and of Manuchehr, the throne's fair adornment,
how they had ruled the world with justice and generosity, and never set their eyes on cruelty.
He turned Nozar's heart from crookedness to justice, and Nozar did just as Sam advised.
He softened the nobles' hearts toward the king, and made everything justice and gracious respect.
When all that needed saying had been said, to the proud chiefs and to the king of the flock,
Sam departed with Nozar's gifts of honor: a throne, a crown, and a ring,
servants and horses with golden harness, and two golden cups full of red jewels.
Over this, too, some turns of the sky went by, and heaven felt neither peace nor kindness toward Nozar.