English
The Quarrel of Rustam and Kavus
The champions came to the king's court, open-hearted and full of goodwill.
When they arrived and bowed low before him, he flared up and gave them no reply at all.
First he shouted at Giv, and then he washed all shame from his eyes.
Saying: Who is Rustam, to break my command and twist away from my agreement?
Seize him, drag him off, hang him alive, and speak no more of him to me.
Giv's heart was crushed by these words, that a hand should be raised against Rustam like this.
He raged at Giv and at the mighty champion; the whole assembly stood stunned and speechless.
Then the king ordered Tus: Go and hang both of them alive.
King Kavus himself rose from his seat, blazing like fire in a reed bed.
Tus went and took the hand of the mighty one, who stood there, oddly, still eager to fight.
He wanted to lead him out from before Kavus, hoping to work some spell to cool that fury.
The mighty champion flared up at the king: Do not keep so much fire in your lap.
Every act of yours is worse than the last; kingship does not suit you at all.
Go hang Sohrab alive; humble that vicious, riot-stirring enemy.
He struck one hand hard against Tus's hand, you would say a raging elephant had thundered.
Tus tumbled headlong from where he stood, and Rustam strode past him in his fury.
He went out the gate in anger and mounted Rakhsh: I am the lion-slayer and the giver of crowns, he said.
When I am roused, who is King Kavus? Why does he reach out at me, and who is Tus?
The earth is my servant, Rakhsh my throne; my seal is the mace, my crown the helmet.
I turn dark night bright with my flashing blade; on the battlefield I scatter severed heads.
The point of my spear and my sword are my only friends; my two arms and my heart are my only king.
Why does he torment me? I am no one's servant; I serve only the Creator.
If brave Sohrab comes to Iran, neither great nor small will be left standing.
Now each of you must find a way to save your own life; put your minds to work on this trouble.
You will not see me in Iran after this; the land is yours, the vulture's wing is mine.
The hearts of all the famous nobles sank, for Rustam was the shepherd and they the flock.
They said to Gudarz: This task is yours; what is broken becomes whole in your hands.
The commander listens to no one but you; your good fortune will not rest until this is settled.
Go to this mad king and raise the matter with him, one fresh argument after another.
Speak smooth, drawn-out words; perhaps you can bring back the luck we have lost.
Gudarz, the son of Keshvad, the army's chief, rose and hurried swiftly to the king.
He said to King Kavus: What has Rustam done, that today you have raised such dust over Iran?
Have you forgotten Hamavaran, and that struggle with the demons of Mazandaran?
That you say, hang him alive? Kings should not speak so recklessly.
Now a great army has marched here, with a warrior like a wolf at its head.
Whom do you have to meet him on the field, someone who could scatter dark dust upon him?
Gozhdaham has heard and seen all your champions, one and all, in great and small.
He says: Let that day never come when a rider must face him in battle.
Whoever torments a fighter like Rustam has little sense of his own.
When the king heard Gudarz's words, he knew that Gudarz spoke with reason and right.
He grew sorry for what he had said; his mind had been clouded with folly.
He told Gudarz: These words are fitting; the lips of an elder are best with counsel.
A king's heart must be wise; sharpness and temper are worth nothing.
You must go to him and tell him many gentle tales.
Empty his head of anger at me, and show him a path to a better time.
When Gudarz rose and left his presence, he set off quickly after the champion.
The chiefs of the army went with him, and they took the road toward Rustam.
When they saw the mighty, valiant one, all the famous nobles gathered around him.
They began to praise the champion: May you live forever with a bright soul.
May the whole world lie beneath your feet; may the head of the throne be always your place.
You know that Kavus has no sense; there is nothing fine in his hasty speech.
He boils over in a moment, then repents, and kindly returns to his old promise.
If the mighty one is wounded by the king, the people of Iran are not to blame.
He too has repented of those words; in remorse he bites the back of his own hand.
The mighty one answered them again: I have no need of King Kavus.
My throne is the saddle, my crown the helmet; my coat is armor, my heart set on death.
Why should I fear the anger of Kavus? To me Kavus and a handful of dust are the same.
My head has had its fill, my heart has had enough; I fear no one but the pure God.
When the assembly had heard their fill of talk, Gudarz spoke to the mighty one:
The city, the brave men, and the whole army will read this differently now.
They will whisper that this proud lord grew afraid of the Turk, murmuring such things in secret.
They will say that, just as Gozhdaham warned, we must empty every field and dwelling.
That since Rustam himself dreads him in battle, there is no place left for you or me to linger.
I saw the talk at court over the king's rage and his rash quarrel.
All the talk has turned to brave Sohrab; do not turn your back on the king of Iran like this.
Do not let this retreat hide a name so exalted throughout the world.
And besides, the enemy's army presses close; do not darken this crown and throne out of stubbornness.
He recited these lessons to Rustam, and when the mighty one heard, he stood confounded.
He said to him: If my heart were to feel fear, I would not want it, I would tear it from my body.
He turned back from this disgrace and took the road, striding briskly toward the king.
When he entered, the king rose to his feet and begged pardon for what had passed.
Saying: Hot temper is my nature and my essence; one must live as God has fashioned him.
And over this new, unexpected foe my heart grew thin and pale as a crescent moon.
I called you to find a remedy for this; when you were slow to come, my anger flared.
When you took offense, O mighty one, I repented, may my mouth be filled with dust.
Rustam said to him: The world is yours; we are all your servants, and the command is yours.
Now I have come; whatever you order, may your soul never be empty of wisdom.
Kavus said to him: Today let us choose feasting, and tomorrow we will prepare for war.
He arranged a royal hall of pleasure; the palace became like a garden in spring.
With the sound of silk strings and the cry of the flute, jasmine-cheeked ones stood before the king.
They drank wine until midnight, while the minstrels sang with parted lips.