The Birth and Youth of Siyavash

Not much time had passed in those days when color returned to the joyful spring. A child was born from her, lovely as a fairy, with a face like an idol carved by Azar. They told King Kavus: you have been blessed by a moon of fortunate step. A blessed child has come into the world; now you should raise your throne up to the clouds. The world filled with talk of that beauty, for no one had ever heard of such hair and face. The king of the world named him Siyavash, and cast his fate against the turning sky. One who could read the high heavens came to know his good and bad, his how and how much. He saw the stars troubled over this child, and grew sad to find the boy's fortune asleep. He saw the sorrow of good and ill in his path, and for the child's fate he took refuge in God. So time went on in this way, until the mighty Rostam came to the king. He said: this lion-like child must be raised and nurtured in my care. Since your attendants lack the skill, no nurse in all the world serves him like me. The king pondered long over this, yet it did not sit heavy on his heart. He entrusted his heart and his eyes to Rostam, that admirable, world-seeking hero. The mighty one took him to Zabolestan and made his home there among the rose gardens. Riding, arrow, bow and lasso, rein and stirrup, and the how and how much of things. How to hold court and pour the wine, falcon and hawk and the craft of the hunt. Of justice and injustice, throne and crown, speech and battle, and how to lead an army. He taught him every skill, one by one, took great pains, and brought him to full worth. Siyavash grew so accomplished that in the world no one among the great was his equal. When some time passed and he stood tall, he went out with his lasso for the lion's neck. He said to the proud Rostam: now I feel the need to see the king. You have taken great pains and burned your heart, teaching me the arts of kings. Now my father should see in me the skills the elephant-bodied hero has taught. The lion-hearted champion arranged his affairs and sent messengers rushing off in every direction. Horses and servants, silver and gold, signet and throne, crown and belt. Garments to wear and carpets to spread, he brought worthy gifts from every side. Whatever was not in Rostam's own treasury he sent for from across the world and swiftly gathered. He sent him off on his way with such splendor that the whole army came out to gaze at Siyavash. The mighty Rostam rode along with him, so that the young prince would not feel downcast. They decked out the whole world in celebration, wishing joy on the illustrious child. They blended gold with amber and poured it down from the rooftops. The world filled with joy and abundance; every doorway and roof in the quarter was adorned. They scattered coins beneath the hooves of Arabian horses; in all Iran not one soul was downcast. From end to end, every horse's mane was smeared with musk, wine, and saffron. When word reached King Kavus that Siyavash was coming in all his splendor, he ordered Giv and Tus to march out with the army, with brazen trumpets and kettledrums. All the famous warriors gathered, men like Gorgin and Khorrad, breakers of armies. They all set out together to welcome the blessed, noble Siyavash. When the heroes saw the king's brave son, a great cheer rose and they opened the way for him. Servants stood with censers and sweet perfume, gazing at him with hands folded in respect. Three hundred stood in every corner of the gate; in their midst was the free-spirited Siyavash. They showered down much gold and jewels, and all of them called down blessings on him. When he saw Kavus on the ivory throne, a crown of glittering rubies on his head, he first gave praise and bowed low, and for a moment whispered his secrets to the earth. Then he came forward to the king, and the commander took his head in his arms. Kavus stood amazed at the sight of him and kept repeating the name of God over him. So few in years, yet with such wisdom, you would say his very soul had been nursed on it. He called down many blessings on the Creator of the world and pressed his face to the ground. He said: O Maker of the heavens, Lord of consciousness and Lord of love, every good thing in the world comes from you; I begin my thanks with this son of mine. He asked after Rustam, welcomed him warmly, and seated him on the turquoise throne. All the nobles of Iran came joyfully before the king, bearing gifts. They were struck dumb by the glory of Siyavash and called down blessings on the Just One. He ordered the Iranians to line up before him, and the warriors of the army girded their belts. Toward his palace, his garden, his field, a whole world turned its face in joy. Everywhere they held a feast, calling for wine, music, and minstrels. He ordered a banquet such as no great man in the world had ever held before him. For a whole week they rejoiced this way; on the eighth day he threw open his treasuries. The king ordered a treasure-store of everything: seals and swords, thrones and crowns. Arabian horses with leopard-skin saddles, war-armor and quilted battle coats, gold coins and bags of silver, brocade and jewels of every size, everything but the crown, for its time had not come; a crown did not yet suit so young a child. He gave all this to Siyavash and made him promises, filling him with hope of a bright future. For seven years he tested the boy this way, and in every deed he proved nothing but pure and nobly born. In the eighth year he ordered a golden crown, and a jeweled cap and belt gleaming with gems. They wrote out a royal charter on fine silk, in the manner of the great and the splendor of kings. The king gave him the highland realm, for he was worthy of greatness and the throne. Before, they had also called it by another name; you may call it the land beyond the Oxus. Some more time passed like this, until it happened that Sudabeh, adorned and beautiful, suddenly caught sight of Siyavash's face; her thoughts stirred and her heart flared up. She became like a thread on the loom, or like ice set before a fire. She sent someone to him with a secret message: tell Siyavash this in private, that in the harem of the king of the world it would be no wonder if you appeared unannounced. The messenger went and delivered the message; the good-natured youth was outraged by it. He said: I am no man of the harem; don't tempt me, for I am not one for cunning and trickery. The next day at dawn Sudabeh went, hurrying gracefully before the king of Iran. She said to him: O commander of armies, the sun and moon have never seen your equal. There is no one on earth like your son; may the world rejoice in your lineage. Send him to my quarters, to his sisters and the women of your house. Out of love, all the veiled women have hearts full of longing and faces wet with tears for him. They would bow before him and bring him gifts, and make the tree of devotion bear fruit. The king said: this is fitting talk; a hundred mothers' love is upon you toward him. The king summoned Siyavash and said: blood and kinship and love cannot be hidden. Behind my curtain you have a sister, and in Sudabeh a loving mother. God created you so pure that everyone who sees you comes to love you. Especially one bound to you by blood: how must it be when she sees you even from afar? So go visit the veiled women; stay a while and let them bless you. When Siyavash heard the king's words, he stared at him in astonishment. For a moment he pondered in his heart, striving to wash his heart clean of doubt. He suspected that his father was testing him, probing to see what was on his mind, for the boy was learned and eloquent, alert, clear sighted, and quick to sense a trap. He turned the matter over and kept it secret within himself, thinking of the end before the beginning. 'If I set foot in his private quarters, I will only draw endless gossip from Sudabeh.' So Siyavash answered: 'My king has given me command, a throne, and a crown. From the place where the high sun rises to bless the earth and make it precious, no king has worn the crown as you have, in goodness, wisdom, custom, and right conduct. So set me among the wise priests, the sages, the great men, and seasoned counselors. Teach me the spear, the mace, the arrow, and the bow, so I can hold my ground against the enemy's ranks. Teach me the ways of kings and how to hold court, and the customs of feast and battle, of wine and cupbearer. What could I learn in the king's private quarters? What guidance in knowledge would women give me there? But if this is truly the king's command, and going before her is his rule for me,' the king said to him: 'My son, be glad, and let your foundation always be wisdom. I have rarely heard words as fine as these; hearing them enriches the mind. Hold no dark thoughts in your heart. Prepare only for joy and cut away sorrow. Go and see the young ones behind the curtains, so they may find a little happiness. Behind that curtain is your sister, full of love, and Sudabeh is like a mother to you.' Siyavash answered: 'In the morning I will come and do everything he has spoken of.' There was a man named Hirbad, his heart and mind and judgment scrubbed clean of any evil, who never left the temple untended and held the key to the door of the inner chambers. The lord of Iran said to that wise man: 'When the sun draws its sword from hiding, go before Siyavash and stay watchful; listen closely to whatever he asks.' He ordered Sudabeh to bring before the boy an offering of jewels, musk, and perfume. The attendants and the sisters, too, were to scatter emeralds over saffron. When the sun lifted its head above the mountains, Siyavash came before the king. He blessed him and bowed low, and the king spoke with him in confidence. When they were alone, he summoned Hirbad and gave him fitting instructions. He told him: 'Go with Siyavash and gladden his heart with a new sight.' The two of them set off together, their spirits happy and their hearts empty of grief. When Hirbad drew the curtain from the doorway, Siyavash stood there, fearing some harm. The whole harem came out to greet him, full of joy and ready for celebration. From end to end there were only cups, brimming with musk and gold coins and saffron. They scattered silver coins beneath his feet, mixing in agate and green gemstones. The ground lay covered with Chinese silk, and lustrous pearls were spread across it. Wine, the sound of strings, and singers' voices, and every head crowned with a heavy coronet. The harem was decked out like paradise, filled with beautiful faces and lavish riches. When Siyavash reached the palace hall, he saw a golden throne shining bright, adorned with turquoise inlay, dressed in royal silk fit for a king. On that throne sat Sudabeh, moon-faced, like a paradise full of color and scent. She sat radiant as the bright star Suhail over Yemen, the curls of her hair falling in ripple after ripple. A tall crown was set upon her head, and her dark, musk-scented tresses hung down to her feet. A servant stood holding golden slippers, waiting on her feet with lowered head. When Siyavash stepped past the curtain, Sudabeh rose swiftly from her throne, came gracefully forward, bowed to him, and held him in her arms for a long while. She kissed his eyes and face for a long time, never satisfied with gazing at the prince. A hundred times she said, 'Thanks be to God; I will pray day and night at every watch, for no one has a child like you, and even the king has no equal to match him.' Siyavash understood what this affection meant, that such love did not come from a righteous path. He quickly moved toward his sisters, for that place was no fit place for him. His sisters blessed him and seated him on a golden chair. He stayed a good while with his sisters, then came gracefully back toward the throne. The whole harem filled with talk: here is a true crown-prince, a seeker of wisdom. You would say he seemed hardly human; his soul scattered pure wisdom all around. Siyavash went before his father and said, 'I have seen the hidden inner chambers. All the good of this world is your portion; you have no cause to complain to God. You surpass Jamshid, Fereydun, and King Hushang in treasure, in the sword, and in the throne.' The king rejoiced at his words and adorned his hall like joyful spring. They set out wine, the lute, and the flute, and freed their hearts from thoughts of what might come. When night appeared and the day grew dark, the renowned king went into the harem. The king spoke, questioning Sudabeh: 'You must not hide this secret from me.' Tell me of Siyavash, his learning and his mind, of his height, his face, and how he speaks. You favor him, and he is wise indeed; yet seeing is even better than hearing about him. Sudabeh said: no king's throne has ever seen the sun and moon shine as they do in him. Who in all the world compares to your son? Why must such talk be kept a secret? The king replied: when he grows into full manhood, no evil eye must fall upon him. Sudabeh said: if my proposal wins your favor and matches your wishes, I will give him a wife from my own line, not from some outsider off the street. She would bear him children in this world, worthy of his face and standing among the great. I have daughters who resemble you, sprung from your seed and your pure bond. If he chooses from the line of Kay Arash or Kay Pashin, he would gladly bless the match with joy. The king said: this is exactly what I desire; my greatest glory lies in such an outcome. At dawn Siyavash came before the king, offering his blessings on the crown and throne. Father began to share his secret with his son, keeping it hidden from all strangers. He said: from the Maker of the world I hold one wish hidden in my heart, that my name may live on through you, that from your seed a king may rise. Just as you have made me fresh with joy, so may you open your heart to seeing his face. I read the sign of your star this way, from what the astrologer priests foretold: that from your line a king shall come who will be remembered throughout the world. So now choose one among the noble houses; look to the family of Kay Pashin. In the house of Kay Arash there are also women; look on every side and reach out your hand. Siyavash said: I am the king's servant, my head bowed to his command and his will. Whomever he chooses for me is right; the ruler of the world is master over his servants. But Sudabeh must not hear of this, or she will twist it and not believe it. This talk should not go to Sudabeh; I have no business inside her women's quarters. The king laughed at what Siyavash said, unaware of the water hidden beneath the straw. He said: it is Sudabeh who should choose your wife; do not worry about her or her gathering. Her words come from affection; she stands guard over your very life. Siyavash was glad at his father's words; inwardly his mind was freed of worry. He began to praise the king of the world, bowing low in reverence before his throne. Yet secretly, over the scheming Sudabeh, he stayed twisting with unease, his heart wounded. He knew that these words too came from her, and his skin nearly split with rage upon his body.