English
Siyavash Crosses into Turan
When the shining sun turned its back, the sky grew dark and the earth grew harsh.
Siyavash led his army to the Oxus, and from his aching heart he wept tears of blood.
When he reached Termez, its rooftops and streets were like springtime, full of color and scent.
Every city, all the way to Chach, was so adorned you would think it was a bride wearing a crown and necklace.
At every stopping place they had prepared food, lovely dishes laid out in abundance.
He rode on like this to the mountain of Qachqar, then halted there and stayed a while.
When word of him arrived, they all came to welcome him, every proud lord marching out with drums.
Piran chose a thousand of his kin and made ready to go and receive him.
He decked out four white elephants and gave the whole army the good news at once.
On one he set a turquoise throne, a glittering litter that rose like a tree.
Its top a golden moon, its base violet, its silk banner woven through with gold.
Beside the golden throne came three more elephants, and a hundred moon-faced maidens with golden belts.
The army was so splendid you would say the heavens had adorned the face of the earth with love.
A hundred precious horses with golden saddles, all decked out in fine brocade from head to tail.
Siyavash heard the army was coming, and he too prepared to go and meet them.
When he saw the banner of the commander Piran and heard the trumpeting of elephants and the neighing of horses,
He went swiftly and took him in his arms, and asked him about the famous king.
He said to him: Commander of the army, why did you trouble your soul with this long journey?
Before anything, the thought in my heart was that my two eyes would find you in good health.
Piran kissed his head and his feet, and his beautiful, heart-pleasing face.
He said: Young king, if my soul had shown me this even in a dream,
I would praise God first of all, now that I have seen you bright and in good health.
Afrasiab will be like a father to you, and on this side of the river we will all be your servants.
Of my kin there are more than a thousand, servants ready, wearing their earrings of rank.
Do not draw a single breath without your heart's desire; every man and woman here will be your servant.
If you will accept me, old as I am, I will bind my belt to serve you.
They both went on together in joy, talking of all things, great and small.
All along the road the sound of harp and lute lifted the sleeping from their sleep.
The dust turned fragrant with musk and gold, and the Arabian horses seemed to sprout wings.
When Siyavash saw all this, tears poured from his eyes, and from his brooding thoughts he fell into grief.
He remembered the land of Zabulistan, all the way to Kabulistan, richly adorned.
He thought of the cities of Iran, and drew a cold sigh up from his heart.
His heart recalled Iran and burned; his face flared bright like fire.
He turned away from Piran and hid his face, but the commander saw his grief and pain.
He knew what had crossed the young man's mind; he grieved, and bit his lip in silence.
They came down to rest at Qachqar Bashi, sat, and caught their breath together.
Piran studied his face, his bearing, his neck and shoulders, and his words.
His eyes stayed fixed on him in wonder, and again and again he spoke the name of God.
He said to him: 'Renowned prince, you are the living memory of the kings of the world.
Three things are yours that no one born of the great ones in this world possesses.
First, that men trace their lineage back to you, as though from the line of Kai Qobad.
Second, a tongue so honest, adorned with fine and gentle speech.
Third, that from your very face love seems to rain down upon the earth.'
Siavash answered him: 'Pure and truthful old man,
famed in the world for love and loyalty, far from any evil, far from cruelty,
if you will make a pact with me, I trust you will not break your word to me.
If staying here is truly good for me, then I need not weep over this choice.
And if it is not, then let me move on; show me the road to some other land.'
Piran said: 'Do not fret about this, now that you have left the land of Iran.
Do not turn your heart from Afrasiab's affection, and do not rush at all to leave.
His name is spread through the world as evil, yet he is otherwise: a godly man.
He has wisdom, judgment, and keen sense; he does not harm anyone without cause.
I too am tied to him by blood; I am both his champion and his guide.
In this whole land, more than a hundred thousand horsemen stand under my command.
I have land and estates and flocks, and horses, weapons, bows, and lassos.
I need nothing from anyone; and I have much more still, kept hidden away.
Let all I own be sacrificed for you, if only you settle here in happiness.
By the pure God I take you as my own, with the mind and heart of the wise, I take you,
so that no harm may come to you from misfortunes, though no one knows the secret of the lofty heavens,
unless some turmoil rises through you in the city, and you mix, from afar, the antidote with the poison.'
Siyavash was calmed by those words; his face lit up and he was ready for the wine cup.
They sat down to eat together, and Siyavash became like a son, and Piran like a father.
They set out laughing and happy, never pausing anywhere along the road.
So they traveled until they reached the city of Gang, where the palace of rest was pleasant.
Afrasiab came out on foot into the street, his belt tied and hurrying down from his hall.
When Siyavash saw him on foot, he climbed down from his horse and ran toward him.
They embraced each other and kissed many times on the eyes and the head.
Then Afrasiab said this: the turning world has fallen into sleep, its strife at rest.
From now on no uproar will rise, no war; sheep and leopard will drink at the same stream.
The world was thrown into turmoil since brave Tur; now the face of the earth is weary of war.
Both lands were entirely full of tumult; the world's heart was blind to any peace.
Now, through you, the age will grow gentle and rest from war and the boiling of blood.
Now the cities of Turan are your servants, every heart filled with love for you.
All I have, along with my life, is yours; the commander is yours in soul and body.
Siyavash blessed him warmly and said: may fortune grant you what befits your noble nature.
Thanks be to God, the maker of the world, from whom come peace and strife and enmity alike.
The commander took Siyavash's hand in his and came to the royal throne and sat down.
He looked at Siyavash's face and said: no one in the world is a match for this man.
There has never been anyone like this on earth, with such a face, such stature, such glory and greatness.
Then the chief said this to Piran: Kavus is hot-tempered and short on wisdom.
How could he bear to part with such a son, one of such height and so many talents?
My eyes are dazzled by his beautiful face; my heart is amazed at all he does.
If anyone had a son like this, he would look no further in all the world.
Then he chose one of the halls and had the whole palace spread with cloth of gold.
They set before it a golden throne whose legs were all shaped like the heads of buffalo.
They adorned it with Chinese silk and called for many attendants.
Then he ordered that Siyavash go to the palace, live at his ease, and dwell in comfort.
When Siyavash reached the front of the hall, its arch rose as high as Saturn.
He came and sat upon that golden throne, but his wise soul was caught up in thought.
When the commander's feast was made ready, a messenger came and called for Siyavash.
Talk of every kind flowed at the table,
and they laid a foundation of pure joy.
When they rose from the king's banquet,
they prepared a place for drinking wine.
The lords came in with harps and minstrels,
and all sat down together to drink.
Afrasiab gave him his heart and soul;
without Siyavash he could not even sleep.
He drank wine until the world grew dark,
and the head of the drinkers was dazed with wine.
Siyavash walked happily to his palace,
and in his drunkenness forgot all about Iran.
That very night the king gave orders
to all who had been at the gathering:
Afrasiab said to Shideh,
'When Siyavash lifts his head from sleep,
you, with my warriors and my kinsmen,
whoever is greatest in the assembly,
at dawn, with gifts and slaves,
and precious horses with golden bridles,
each man from the army bringing an offering
of gold coins and royal jewels,
in this manner go before Siyavash;
go mindful, alert, and silent.'
The commander sent an abundance of gifts,
and in this way another week went by.
One night the king said to Siyavash,
'Tomorrow let us both rise early,
so we can go to the field with ball and mallet,
ride awhile and enjoy ourselves with laughter.
From everyone I have heard that at polo
no champion can match you on the field.
You are my son, worthy of the throne;
you are the crown of kings and the backbone of the army.'
Siyavash said to him, 'May you live forever;
may my soul draw its sustenance from the sight of you.
Kings seek their excellence from you;
whoever undertakes anything must pass through your judgment.
My bright day lies in seeing you;
I seek from you both the ill and the good.'
At dawn the champions went out to the field,
striding, galloping, and laughing.
Then the king of Turan said to him,
'Let us choose our sides for striking the ball.
You take that side and I this side;
let us split the players evenly between us.'
Siyavash said to him, 'O king,
how could my hand and mallet work against you?
I cannot strike the ball opposite you;
find another opponent on the field.
Since I am worthy to be your companion,
on this wide field I am your rider, on your side.'
The commander was delighted by his words,
and everyone's talk turned light and cheerful.
By the life and head of King Kavus, he said,
'You shall be my partner and teammate.
Show your skill before the riders,
so no one will say the king chose badly.
My men will praise you,
and my smiling face will bloom with joy.'
Siavash told him: the command is yours; the riders, the field, and the polo mallet are yours to arrange.
The commander chose Kolbad, along with Garsivaz, Jahn, and Pulad.
And Piran, and Nastihan the warrior, and Human, who could snatch the ball from the water itself.
As companions he sent to Siavash men like Ruyin and the renowned Shideh.
And Andariman, the bold horseman, and Arjasp, who unhorsed rivals like a fierce lion.
Siavash said: you who seek glory, which of these dares to face me and lead the play?
They are all the king's men, and I stand alone; I alone guard the mallet on my side.
If the king permits, I will bring riders from Iran onto the field.
Let them be my partners in striking the ball, as is the custom when two sides play.
When the commander heard his proposal, he agreed to it at once.
Siavash picked from the Iranians seven men, all fit for the task.
The roar of drums rose from the field; the dust rose to level with the sky.
From the clash of cymbals and the blast of the reed horns, you would think the field itself had heaved from its place.
Siavash spurred his battle-horse forward, and the ball came rolling toward him in the dust.
The moment he reached the field he struck it so hard that it vanished from sight.
Then the exalted king ordered that another ball be brought to Siavash.
Siavash kissed that ball, and the horns and kettledrums broke into a roar.
Siavash mounted a fresh horse and hurled the royal ball with his hand.
Then he worked it with his mallet so skillfully it was as if he had met the moon face to face.
The ball vanished from his mallet; you would think the heavens had lifted it away.
At that stroke Afrasiab broke into laughter, and the nobles started up as if from sleep.
They cried aloud: never have we seen a rider so glorious upon the saddle.
They cleared a place aside from the field, and the king came and took his throne.
Siavash sat beside him on the throne, and the king rejoiced greatly at the sight of him.
Then the seeker of glory said to the army: the field, the mallet, and the ball are yours now.
The two armies made ready to contend, and the dust rose until it reached the sun.
When the Turks pressed on fiercely, they meant to carry the ball away.
But the Iranians snatched the ball ahead of them, and the Turks were left astonished at their own play.
Siavash grew troubled on behalf of the Iranians and spoke in the voice of a champion.
He said: whether it is a game on the field or true battle, all turns on the turning and dealing of fate.
When the match is over, turn your faces back; hand them the ball just once.
The riders gently reined in their horses; after that they did not push their mounts to a gallop.
The Turks flung out a ball, and rode after it swift as fire.
When the commander heard the shouting of the Turks, he understood what kind of skill this was.
Then the king of the Turanian army said: a well wisher once told me,
that in all the world no one is his match, when he draws his bow and looses arrows.
When Siyavash heard the great man's words, he drew a royal bow from its case.
The commander asked to see the bow, to test it and see who could handle it as ordered.
He looked at the bow and stood astonished, and called down many royal blessings.
The prince gave it to Garsivaz the swordsman: work its frame and string it.
He struggled to string the bow, but failed, and stood there baffled and uncertain.
The king took it from him, knelt on one knee, and worked the frame of the bow with his hands.
He strung it and, laughing, the king said: now there is a bow to carry on campaign.
In my youth my own bow was like this, but now the times have changed.
In neither Turan nor Iran could anyone grip this bow in the moment of battle.
No arm, shoulder, or chest but Siyavash's could master such a bow on the field of vengeance.
They set up a target on the racing ground, and Siyavash did not measure himself against anyone.
He mounted a swift steed, fast as a demon, pressed his thighs, and a great shout went up.
He shot one arrow into the center of the target, while the proud chiefs kept their eyes on him.
Then he loosed another four feathered shaft, flying with the wind, wings spread.
In a single charge he riddled the target twice over, sieving it with his shots.
He turned the rein to the right hand and struck again, exactly where he wished.
He unstrung the bow and set it aside, then came before the exalted king.
He dismounted, and the king rose to his feet, calling down the Creator's blessings on him.
From there they went to the lofty palace, glad at heart and honored.
They set the table and arranged the wine, and seated each man according to his rank.
They drank some wine and grew merry, and drank a toast to Siyavash's name.
At the table the king prepared a robe of honor: a horse with harness, a throne, and a crown.
Also gold by the handful and uncut cloth, the like of which no one in the world had seen before.
Of gold coins and sacks of silver, of rubies and turquoise, more and less.
Many servants and a host of attendants, and a cup brimming with gleaming rubies.
He ordered the treasures counted out and all carried to Siyavash's palace.
Everyone in the land of Turan who was his own, he loved and cherished all the more.
He told his kinsmen: all of you shall serve him, gathered around him like a flock.
The king said to the young prince: come out with me one day to the hunting ground,
so we may gladden and cheer our hearts, and free our spirits from sorrow through the hunt.
He answered: whenever it pleases you, wherever your heart leads, I will go.
One day they set off to the hunting ground, the king riding out with cheetahs and hawks.
An army of every sort went with him, men of Iran and Turan speeding to the hunt.
Siyavash spotted a wild ass on the plain and shot out from the ranks like the wind.
The rein grew light, the stirrup heavy, as he galloped over rise and hollow.
He struck one beast with his sword and split it in two; his two arms were a scale, the wild ass its silver.
Neither half outweighed the other by a single grain. That royal army was quickly turned to spectators.
The whole gathering said as one: here is a true champion, a master of the sword.
They said aloud to one another: harm has come upon us from Iran.
Our leaders find themselves in a tight place; it would be fitting to make war upon the king.
Meanwhile Siyavash kept to the hunt, galloping and bringing down wild asses on the plain.
He raced through cave and mountain and open field, wielding sword and arrow and spear.
In every place he heaped up a pile of game, and gave the army its fill of the hunt.
From there, with joyful hearts, they all took the road back to the king's hall.
Whether the commander was glad or downcast, he wanted no company but Siyavash.
With Jahn and Garsivaz and all the rest, he shared no secrets and found no gladness.
But with Siyavash, day and night, his lips would part in laughter and delight.
In this way they passed a whole year, holding sorrow and joy together.
One day Siyavash and Piran sat down together and spoke of things great and small.
Piran said to him: in this land you live as though you were only a passerby.
With all the love the king bears you, he falls asleep at night with your name on his lips.
Know that you are his joyful spring, his beloved and his comfort in grief.
You are noble and the son of King Kavus, your head lifted to the moon by countless virtues.
Your father has grown old, and you are young at heart; take care you never let the crown slip from your grasp.
In both Iran and Turan you are a king, a gifted heir left behind by great rulers.
Set your heart on this land and make yourself a home, one fitting for your comfort and delight.
I would not see you tied by blood to anyone who bears you little love.
You have no brother, no sister, no wife, like a single rose stem at the edge of a meadow.
Choose a wife worthy of you, and stop putting the grief and longing for Iran before all else.
After Kavus dies, Iran is yours; the crown and throne of the brave are yours as well.
Behind the curtain of the king of the world three moon-faced daughters are hidden, adorned with jewels.
Even if the moon had eyes, it would not lift its gaze from them.
Three of them are in Garsivaz's chambers, noble on both their mother's and father's side.
Descendants of Fereydun and children of the king, holding rank, crown, and throne alike.
Yet it is more fitting for you to seek a jewel from the king's own household.
Behind my curtain there are four young girls; you should count them as your servants.
Among them Jarira is the eldest, and no beauty is her equal.
There is one graceful daughter, like a shining moon, and she has wealth of her own.
She wants no one who does not suit her; no face but a king's pleases her heart.
Of all the beauties, Jarira should be your match, your companion in bright days.
If you agree, she is a servant to you, standing before you to serve.
Siyavash said to him: I am grateful. Truly, count me as more than a son to you.
If she becomes the joy of my soul and body, I will want no one else from this gathering.
You lay upon me a debt of gratitude that, as long as I live, I will never fully repay.
Then Piran left his side and turned toward his own home.
When Piran left Siyavash's presence, he hurried swiftly to Golshahr.
He told her: Prepare Jarira for her wedding, to be honored in the glory of King Siyavash.
How could we not be happy today, when the descendant of Qobad becomes our son-in-law?
Golshahr brought her daughter and placed a crown upon her head.
With silk brocade, gold coins, pearls, and money, with perfume and color and every splendor great and small.
She adorned her like joyous spring and sent her that night to the king.
She joined her to the new king and seated her on the throne like a new moon.
No one could count the treasure of rubies and the jewel-inlaid crown she brought.
When Siyavash saw Jarira's face, he was pleased; he smiled and chose to rejoice.
Day and night he lived happily with her, and no thought of Kavus or Zal ever crossed his mind.
For a while longer the wheel of time turned on, and Siyavash's goodness only raised his standing.
In Afrasiyab's eyes, his honor, rank, and dignity grew greater with each passing moment.
One day Piran, choosing the right time, said to Siyavash: 'O renowned one,
you know that the lord of Turan's army lifts his crown above the highest heavens.
Night and day, you are the light of his soul, his heart, his mind, his strength and vigor.
If you become tied to him by blood, your standing will rise higher with every moment.
His hope in you will grow firm, that you mean to stay loyally at his side.
Though my own daughter is yours, my concern is only for your good, in matters great and small.
Farangis is the finest of his beauties; you will find no such hair and face in all the world.
In height she stands taller than a slender cypress; on her head, dark musky hair like a crown.
Her arts and wisdom pass all measure, and reason itself waits upon her like a servant.
It would be fitting if you asked Afrasiyab for her; where in Kashmir or Kabul is there an idol like her?
The noble king would become your kin, and your glory and throne would shine bright.
If you command, I will speak to him, and win you honor and standing before him.'
Siyavash looked at Piran and said: 'God's decree should not be hidden.
If this is the will of heaven, I have no power to resist the turning sky.
If I am never to reach Iran, if I am never to see Kavus's face again,
nor Zal, who raised me, nor mighty Rostam, who is my bright springtime,
nor Bahram, nor Zangeh of Shavaran, nor those other famous warriors,
if I must be cut off from seeing their faces, then I must make my home here in Turan.
Be a father to me and arrange this marriage; but speak of this to no one, keep it secret.
If fortune wishes me well, perhaps it will open the way to a bond with the king.'
He spoke, his lashes wet with tears, and a cold sigh broke from within him.
Piran said to him: 'A wise man does not wage war against fate.
You cannot escape the turning heavens, from which come peace, strife, and love alike.
If you had loved ones in Iran, you have entrusted them to God and left them behind.
Your seat and your place are now here; the throne of Iran too lies within your reach.'
He said this and rose from before him, once he understood the whole of his mind.
Joyfully he went to the king's court; he dismounted, and they opened the way for him.
Piran stood before the king for a while, and the good-hearted commander said to him:
Why do you keep standing at my side like this? What do you want in this world? What is on your mind?
My army and my treasury are yours. My gain, great or small, depends on you.
Anyone held in my prison, in my chains, to release him would be to grieve and wound me.
Yet for your sake the man was freed from my anger and my bonds, and my old grudge was scattered like the wind.
Whether much or little, just ask: a sword, my love, a throne, a crown.
The wise man answered him again: may the world never be without need of you.
I have wealth, treasure, and an army; by your fortune I have sword, crown, and throne as well.
But for Siyavash I carry a long message; let me whisper it privately in the commander's ear.
He told me: say to the king of the Turks that I have become glad at heart and seek honor here.
You raised me in your arms like a father; your good fortune has borne nothing but joy.
Now settle me into a household too; in good and bad alike I still need you.
Behind your curtains there is a daughter fit for my hall and my throne.
Her mother calls her Farangis; I would be happy if I were made worthy of her.
Afrasiyab's spirit grew troubled, and he spoke with eyes brimming with tears:
I have told this tale before, but you did not agree with what I said.
A wise man once said to me, one of keen judgment and deep knowledge:
You who nurse the cub of a lion, why toil so, when you cannot keep your own life safe?
And another thing, in the presence of the champions and the wise astrologers,
they read the reckoning of the stars before my father, casting it door to door:
that from these two bloodlines a single king would arise and take the world into his arms.
In Turan no land or living thing would remain; out of vengeance he would strike my crown down first.
Now I believe what that man said, for who knows what the turning heavens hide?
Why should I plant with my own hand a tree whose fruit is poison and whose leaves are bitter as gall?
From the seed of Kavus and Afrasiyab it will be like blazing fire or a surging wave.
I do not know whether it will lean toward Turan in love, or turn its pure face toward Iran.
Why taste poison on a mere guess? One should not foolishly kiss the breath of a snake.
Piran said to him: O king, do not let your heart grieve over this matter.
Anyone of the line of Siyavash will be wise, alert, and calm.
Do not believe the astrologer at all; take reason as your guide and set your heart on Siyavash.
From these two noble bloodlines will rise one famous man who lifts his head to the shining sun.
He will be king over both Iran and Turan, and the two lands will rest from war.
And if the heavens keep this destiny hidden, still the love and care around him will only grow.
What is meant to happen will surely happen; no caution can add to it or take from it.
See that this is a blessed matter; whatever you ask of fate, the answer is favorable.
From the seed of Fereydun and Kay Qobad no brighter line than this will ever come.
Then the king said to Piran: your counsel never turns to harm.
I have spoken by your command and judgment; go and do all that must be done, and do it well.
Piran bowed low and paid his respects, offered many blessings, and turned back.
He hurried at once to Siyavash and recounted to him all that had passed.
That night they sat together with glad hearts and washed their souls of sorrow with wine.
When the sun lifted its head from the turning sky like a golden shield,
Piran the commander girded his waist and mounted a swift steed.
He set his face toward the palace of Siyavash, praising his glory again and again.
He said to him: today prepare everything for the wedding with the king's daughter.
If you give the order, I who am fit for the task will gird myself to see it done.
Siyavash's heart was full of modesty; before Piran his cheeks were flushed with shyness.
He said to him: go and arrange whatever is needed; you know I keep no secret from you.
When Piran heard this he went home and bent his heart and soul at once to the work.
In the storeroom of uncut cloth Piran handed the key to Golshahr,
who was the mistress of the hero's household, a praised woman of a bright spirit.
From the treasury, all that was renowned: a thousand choice pieces of Chinese brocade,
trays of emerald and cups of turquoise, filled with pods of musk and raw aloewood,
two crowns set with royal jewels, two bracelets, a torque, and two earrings,
sixty camel loads of carpets and coverings, three sets of garments of woven gold,
every one worked red with gold and woven over with jewels of many kinds,
thirty camel loads of silver and gold trays, and of Persian robes,
a golden throne and four chairs, three golden slippers inlaid with emerald,
three hundred servants in golden caps, and a hundred well-wishers among close kin,
one hundred and twenty attendants, each holding a golden cup in hand.
A hundred trays of musk and a hundred of saffron they handed over, all of it, to the servants.
In gilded litters and rich brocade, the crowds set out, group after group, with all the gifts.
The lady brought, to scatter as an offering, thirty thousand gold coins along with her.
They carried the treasures to Farangis, and their tongues were full of blessings too.
On the other side, Piran and Afrasiyab were all in a hurry for Siyavash's sake.
For a whole week neither bird nor fish could sleep; not one head found rest in hiding.
The land became a garden from end to end, with joy and the sound of musicians.
They set down witnesses for the marriage bond, once the covenant and pledge were sealed.
Piran sent a message swift as smoke; he told Golshahr to tell Farangis at once
that this very night she should go to Siyavash's palace, going wise, alert, and quiet.
When the lady heard his message, she turned her face toward Farangis.
Golshahr kissed the ground and said: the sun has now been wed to Venus.
This very night you must go to the king, and adorn his throne with your moonlike face.
Farangis came, like a new moon, to the side of that crowned new king.
Another week passed in these preparations; the commander arranged a great many things.
Arabian horses and sheep, and also armor, helmets, swords, and lassos,
gold coins and sacks of silver, garments, and everything great and small.
And from this borderland to the China Sea they listed the cities and the lands,
a domain a hundred leagues in length, its breadth beyond all measuring.
They wrote a charter on fine silk, granting the whole kingdom in the custom of the ancient kings.
To Siyavash's house the king sent a golden throne and a golden crown.
After that he set out a feasting ground; whoever came, from near or far,
found wine, laden tables, and cooks; he ate, and however much he wished,
he carried some away and went to his own home, glad to be his own guest for a whole week.
He threw open the closed prisons; fortune was glad of him, and he was glad as well.
On the eighth day Siyavash came at dawn, together with Piran, to the king.
They both offered him praise: O great one, O sovereign of the earth,
may your days last forever in joy, and may your enemy's back be bent low.
From that place they returned in gladness, and remembered the Creator many times.
And so for another year the turning sky went on watchfully, in justice and in love.
A messenger came from the king, a man of good will, to Siyavash.
He said: the sovereign asks after you and speaks these words, noble lord:
Perhaps you have grown weary of me, and tired of settling in one place.
I have given you all the land from here to China. Travel it and look upon it.
In whatever city gives you rest and peace of mind, may all your wishes come true.
Live in joy, stay in comfort, and never for a moment turn your heart from happiness.
Siyavash grew glad at these words. He sounded the pipes and drums and loaded his gear.
Weapons, troops, signet ring, and crown, all were carried along the road with him.
They prepared many covered litters and adorned them with fine curtains for the women.
He seated Farangis in a litter, loaded the baggage, and set the army marching.
Brave Piran did not part from him; he loaded the gear and led the troops away.
They set off joyfully toward Khotan, and all the notables gathered there.
For commander Piran was from that city, a place untouched by any evil suspicion.
The king stayed a month as his guest; such was the pact he had in mind.
Not a day did the king rest from feasting: sometimes by the river, sometimes at the hunting ground.
At the month's end the drums rang out, just when the rooster's cry rises at dawn.
He came toward his own kingdom, the army behind him and Piran in front.
Word reached that borderland; its great ones came out to meet the king of kings.
Their hearts rose up in gladness, and a whole world was decked out in ceremony.
Such a cheer rose from that kingdom, you would think earth had risen level with the sky.
So much music and the wail of trumpets, you would think the heart itself would leap from its place.
They reached a place that was thriving, a lovely spot of blessed foundation.
On one side the sea, on the other the mountains, and across it game gathered in herds.
Many trees and running water; an old man's heart grew young there.
Siyavash opened his words to Piran: what a blessed land and soil this is!
Here I will build a fine home, a place to be my guide to joy.
I will raise a spacious city and fill it with gardens and palaces.
I will lift a throne room high as the moon, one worthy of the crown and the seat of power.
Piran said to him: fair-minded one, act on whatever your thoughts propose.
When the king commands, just as he wished, I will raise a place reaching up to the moon.
I want no homeland or treasure of my own; both my days and this soil are only a loan I hold from you.
Let me build a broad city here, filled with many halls and palaces.
Siyavash said to him: Fortunate one, you make the great tree bear its fruit.
All my wealth and good come from you; wherever I look, I see your labor first.
I will build a city in this place that will leave every heart in the gathering amazed.
When they had returned from that pleasant land, Siyavash sat lost in secret thought.
The prince asked the astrologers: If I raise a dwelling here,
will my glory and fortune stay in good order, or will the outcome be one of war and strife?
With one voice they told the chosen prince: this foundation is not a blessed one.
He grew angry at the astrologers, yet his heart filled with pain and his eyes with tears.
For they had told him long before that when the turning sky goes about its work,
and when your fortune at last comes round, destiny will teach you only bitter things.
He held the reins of his swift horse loosely, while warm tears kept spilling from his eyes.
Piran said to him: My prince, what has happened, that you have grown so full of grief?
He answered: The lofty wheel of heaven has filled my heart with pain and my soul with sorrow.
For however much wealth I gather, both treasure and a crown adorned with jewels,
in the end it all falls to the enemy, and death, that evil, comes at last upon the body.
Where are those sages and wise men, and those who spent their lives in patient toil?
Where is the crowned head of the kings of kings, where are those brave and cherished nobles?
Where are those idol-fair ones, full of grace and modesty, with lovely speech and gentle voices?
Where is the one whose lair was in the mountains, fled from comfort, from desire, and from renown?
When the world is emptied of the righteous, do not tell yourself tales of staying here forever.
We are of dust, and to dust we must return; everywhere there is fear, worry, and dread.
You will go, and the world will remain a long while; no one plainly knows its secret.
The world from end to end is a lesson and wisdom; why then is all my share of it heedlessness?
When your years reach sixty-six, seek a way out; turn your face from excess and from toil.
You clutched at the world for more and more, while many companions have passed you by.
Since the world has been emptied of those famous ones, why should you set on your head the crown of greed?
If you do not agree with these words, go once and read the ancient book.
For through those men the whole world was flourishing, back in the days when justice ruled the world.
Hear from me the tale of the fortress of Gang, and be one who agrees with this story.
For there is no place in the world like the fortress of Gang, no land so pleasing to the heart.
Siavash raised it up, and endured much hardship in building it.
A month's journey beyond the sea of China, in a place that then had no name at all.
Once you cross the sea, a desert appears; you will see a wide, waterless plain.
Pass through it, and you find a thriving city, one of many such cities to be found there.
Beyond that you see a lofty mountain, its height beyond all measure and reckoning.
The fortress of Gang lies within this mountain, so learn this, that knowledge may do you no harm.
The mountain runs a hundred leagues around, and the eye grows weary gazing at its peak.
From whatever side you approach, there is no road; all around it is one unbroken wall.
On this mountain you find a narrow pass of two leagues, walled in by stone on either side.
Along these leagues, if only five men stood guard on the road to do the work,
a hundred thousand armored horsemen in mail could not force their way past them.
Cross this and you see a spacious city, all rose gardens, orchards, halls, and palaces.
The whole city is baths, rivers, and streams; in every quarter, fire, color, and fragrance.
The mountains full of game, gazelles on the plain; once you see this city you cannot leave it.
You will find pheasants, peacocks, and mountain partridges when you have passed the hills.
Its heat is not scorching, its cold not biting; it is all a place of joy, ease, and plenty.
In that city you will see no one sick; it is nothing less than a garden of paradise.
All its waters are clear and sweet to taste; its land is forever like the spring.
Its length and breadth are thirty times thirty, if you measure it in Persian leagues.
The mountain rises a league and a half, so tall that a man grows exhausted climbing it.
And beyond it a plain comes into view, more beautiful than any place ever seen.
All rose gardens, orchards, and grand halls, halls whose towers reach up to Saturn.
The son of Kavus went and saw that place, and chose it for himself over all of Iran.
He made his own name renowned there, and built one more great wall besides.
It was of stone and plaster and some marble, and of a substance whose name we do not know.
Its height is more than two hundred cubits, and its breadth is thirty-five.
So that anyone who does not see it with their own eyes might grow angry at the one who tells of it.
No catapult stone nor arrow can reach it; you simply have to see it for yourself.
From the peak, two leagues down to the ground, the earth all around it is a deep pit.
The eye cannot reach the mountain's summit, and a man grows exhausted just from the climb.
Praise to the One who created all this, who made both the seen and the hidden.
He needed no companion and no teacher; every hard task is easy for Him.
Call none but Him the Creator of the world; know none but Him in the seen and the unseen.
We give our blessing to His Prophet, and to each of his companions the same.
The grace of the giver of good was my helper; wisdom and a wakeful fortune were with me.
In this way they built a city, and raised its heights up to the Pleiades.
Now let us set to work on this too, and adorn it with many decorations.
Why fix your heart on this fleeting inn of a world? Why reach for toil, why boast of treasure?
For someone else enjoys the fruit of your labor; why should the world seeker nurture an enemy?
When a place is made cheerful and adorned, wealth appears from every side.
I will not stay here for long; another person will sit in this place.
Neither I will be happy, nor my child, nor will anyone grow rich through my line.
My life will not be long; I will be done with palace and hall.
My throne will become Afrasiab's seat; death will hasten upon me though I am guiltless.
Such is the will of the lofty heavens: sometimes it makes you glad, sometimes wretched.
Piran said to him: O noble one, do not vainly let your thoughts run so long.
For Afrasiab is your shield against calamity, and the royal ring is on your finger.
As long as there is life in my body, I too will strive not to break my pledge to you.
I will not let even a breeze pass over you, nor a single hair be counted against you by the wind.
Siavash said to him: O man of good name, I wish for you nothing but good repute.
You hold to this pledge and your intention is honest, but the heavens have decreed otherwise.
All my secret is laid open to you: may you be clear of heart and in good health.
I have knowledge from God's grace, and I am aware of the secrets of the high heavens.
I will tell you truly what will come to pass, beginning with the hall and the palace.
So that, when you see the world unfold, you will not ask why this was hidden from Siavash.
You, brave and keen minded Piran, open your ears wide to these words.
Not much time will pass before, at the hand of the vigilant king,
I will be slain in misery, though innocent, and someone else will grace this crown and throne.
Through the words of an enemy and through bad luck, this evil falls on my head though I am innocent.
Because of a killing, life will turn grim; Iran and Turan will clash and fall into turmoil.
The whole earth will fill with suffering, and two lands will be filled with swords and hatred.
You will see many banners, red and yellow, black and purple, from both Iran and Turan.
So much looting and carrying off of wealth, and the scattering of treasures once so finely arranged.
How many lands the hooves of horses will trample, until their streams run bitter and salt.
A cry will rise from Iran and Turan; a whole world will boil over from my blood.
The Lord of the world wrote it thus upon the heavens; by his command, whatever is sown will yield its fruit.
The commander of the Turks will come to regret his own deeds and his own words.
But regret will bring him no help by then, when smoke rises from a once flourishing homeland.
So come, let us eat and give in joy; when the time comes to pass on, we will pass.
When Piran heard this and thought it over, his heart filled with pain at Siavash's words.
He said to himself: if he speaks the truth in this, then the evil comes back upon me from my own hand.
It was I who brought him to the land of Turan; I scattered the seeds of hatred across the world.
I counted all the king's warnings as empty wind, though he spoke to me of this early on.
Then he said to himself, with affection in his heart: from the turning and the secret of the wheeling sky,
what can he know? Who has unveiled such secrets to him? Surely the memory of Iran came back to him.
The thought of Kavus and the imperial throne, and of his good old days, returned to his mind.
He satisfied his heart with that explanation; he did not press for the wise man's true meaning.
All along the road they talked like this, his heart full of searching over what was to come.
When they climbed down from their horses' backs, they fell silent all at once, done with such talk.
They set out a golden table, and called for wine, music, and singers.
For a week they were merry like this, and remembered the kings of the world.
On the eighth day a letter came from the king to the commander of Turan's army.
It said: from there, march on to the Sea of China, and then cross over into the land of Makran.
Keep moving like this to the border of India, and from there cross to the Sea of Sind.
Demand the tribute of every land, one and all, and spread your army out to the borders of the Khazars.
A clamor rose from the commander's court; the earth trembled with the beating of drums.
From every side the troops gathered, and became one battle-hungry army.
Much wealth was brought to Siavash: gold coins and finely adorned horses.
At the time of farewell he stayed behind a moment, then obeyed the order, set out, and led his army on.
A swift courier came from Afrasiab, arriving like fire at the hour of sleep.
It carried a sealed letter to Siyavash, written like the turning of the great sky.
It said: since you left I have not been half glad; not for one moment am I free of worry.
Still, to honor your own wish, I have searched all Turan for a fitting place for you.
If where you are now is pleasant and bright, and your heart is content just as it should be,
then live in joy and stay in goodness; may you be happy, and your enemies drowned in grief.
Return to that kingdom, and grind the heads of your ill-wishers into the dust.
Siyavash gathered his troops and set off swiftly toward the place the commander had named.
He loaded a hundred camels with treasure and coin, and forty of them entirely with gold dinars.
A thousand red-haired Bactrian camels carried the baggage, all rich with color and fragrance.
Chosen riders from Iran and Turan, ten thousand swordsmen, marched along.
At the head of the army went the wealth: litters and lovely maidens beautifully arrayed,
with ruby and royal gems, with collars, crowns, and earrings,
with musk and camphor, aloewood and perfume, with brocade and thrones of silk,
from Egypt, China, and Persia, thirty camel-loads traveled with him.
When he reached that plain he stretched out his hand to build; he laid out a site two leagues in length and breadth.
With halls, a broad square, and a lofty palace, with gardens and a splendid rose-bower,
he raised a city like paradise, and across the meadow he planted roses, hyacinths, and tulips.
On the palace walls he painted many scenes: kings, feasting, and battle.
He painted the image of King Kavus, crowned, with his armlet, his mace, and his throne.
Below his throne, mighty Rostam, and Zal and Gudarz and all that company.
On the other side, Afrasiab and his army, along with Piran and the vengeful Garsivaz.
In every corner he built a dome, its head raised up into the clouds.
Singers and musicians sat there, the leaders of leaders reaching the stars.
They named it Siyavashgerd, and the whole region rejoiced in that fine city.
When Piran returned from India and China, word of that city and its praise reached him.
It was famed through Turan that the hero Siyavash, favored by his star, had made its founding a lucky day.
With its halls and palace, its gardens and orchards, its mountains, valleys, rivers, and plains,
he grew eager to go and see what the prince had made in that renowned place.
Whoever was skilled at any craft was welcome and fit to live in that borderland.
A thousand talented, valiant men he took with him when the time to set out came.
When he drew near that place, Siavash rode out with his army to greet him.
When Piran reached Siavash, he dismounted the moment he saw him from afar.
Siavash came down from his blue-gray horse and held him in a tight embrace.
The two of them toured that fine city, speaking of every kind of art and skill.
The gardens, the plaza, the palace, wide, splendid buildings everywhere he looked.
Commander Piran rode from side to side, showering Siavash with praise.
He said to him: if you did not carry the royal glory and majesty along with your wisdom,
how could you have founded such a place, how could a place like this have risen up?
May this monument last until the Day of Resurrection, among brave and lordly men.
May son after son of your line stay happy, ruling the world, victorious, of blessed stock.
When he had seen a good part of the joyful city, he came to Siavash's hall and garden.
He turned toward Farangis's palace, glad, triumphant, seeking the crown.
The king's daughter came out to greet him, asked after him, and scattered gold coins.
When he sat on the throne and saw that place, he found it a lovely paradise.
He offered further praise for it, and gave thanks to the Maker of the world.
After that they set to feasting: wine, laden tables, musicians, and cupbearers.
For a whole week they kept the wine flowing, sometimes cheerful and glad, sometimes drunk.
On the eighth day he brought out gifts, presents worthy of such a city.
Rubies and royal jewels, gold coins and a crown set with gems,
silk brocade and horses with leopard-skin saddles, golden bridles, and arrows of poplar wood.
For Farangis, a diadem and earrings, bracelets too, and a jeweled necklace.
He gave all this and left for Khotan, taking happy counsel with his company.
When he came home in joy to his hall, he went straight into his private chambers.
He said to Golshahr: whoever has not seen this joyful paradise cannot know what Rezvan planted in heaven.
Like the sun, on the throne of the blessed angel he sits, dignified, full of glory and wisdom.
For your pleasure, cover a little ground; go and see Siavash's city.
Its lord is finer even than the city itself; you would call him the shining light of the East.
And from there he went on toward Afrasiab, moving swift as a boat upon the water.
He came and reported all he had done, and the tribute of the land he had brought back.
He laid it all before the king, one by one, and gave him news of the whole country.
That by the king's justice the land had prospered, from the sea of China to the sea of Rome.
Then he came to the matter of Siyavash, and recalled everything he had seen.
The king asked about Siyavash's affairs, and about that city, that land, and that place.
Piran told him: it is a joyful paradise; nowhere else can you see such spring.
It is as if an angel brought the design, so beautifully was that land and region painted.
Truly they know nothing higher than that city, not even the sun, for all its proud radiance.
I saw a city on this earth the like of which no one has seen in Turan or China.
With so many gardens, halls, and running streams, you would say wisdom had merged with the soul.
When I saw Farangis's palace from afar, it was like a treasure of jewels set in a festive field.
With such splendor and grace, your son-in-law lives happily, his heart's desire fulfilled by such beauty.
One may complain of a world let loose, but you have no cause to complain of the world.
Even if an angel came down from heaven, it would not match his glory, throne, and wisdom.
And more: the two lands, from war and turmoil, have found rest, now that the noble one came to his senses.
May the hearts of the wise and the counsel of sages remain with us like this forever.
The king was gladdened by his words, for his flourishing daughter had borne fruit.
He opened this tale to Garsivaz, recalling all of Piran's words.
Then he spoke quietly to Garsivaz, unveiling all that had been hidden.
He told him: go to where Siyavash lives, and see for yourself what kind of place it is.
Siyavash has given his heart to the land of Turan, and no longer thinks of Iran at all.
It is as if he has bid farewell to the throne and crown, and to Gudarz, Bahram, and King Kavus.
With such delight, upon a thornland he is building homes, fields, and a whole city.
For Farangis he has raised lofty palaces, and holds her in high honor.
When you see it all in its beauty, describe it; look upon his face with a great man's eye.
When there is hunting and wine, plain and mountain, and men of Iran sit before you,
and when I come to mind, then, once you have feasted in joy, sit down together.
Prepare a lavish gift for him: gold coins, horses, and a golden belt,
along with jewels, a throne, brocade of China, an armband, a mace, a sword, and a signet ring,
carpets and fragrances and colored cloth: see what you can take from my treasury.
Bring gifts to Farangis as well,
and carry with you words full of praise.
If the host welcomes you kindly,
stay two weeks in that pleasant city.