English
Rostam and Tahmineh
When part of the dark night had passed, the night bird began to sing on the turning sky.
There came whispered talk, spoken in secret, and gently the bedroom door was opened.
A servant, a perfumed candle in hand, came gliding, intoxicated, to his pillow.
Behind her, in the doorway, a moon faced girl, radiant as the sun, full of color and fragrance.
Two eyebrows like bows, two braids like lassos, her figure tall as a lofty cypress.
Her soul was pure wisdom, her body a clean spirit; you would say she had no share of common earth.
The lion hearted Rostam stared at her in wonder, and praised the world's Creator for her sake.
He asked her: 'What is your name? What do you seek in the dark night? What is your wish?'
She answered: 'I am Tahmineh; you might say sorrow has split me in two.
I am the daughter of the king of Samangan, descended from the lineage of lions and leopards.
Among all the beautiful, I have no equal on earth; under this blue sky there are few like me.
No one has seen me outside my veiled chamber, nor has anyone ever heard my voice.
Like a legend, from everyone I have heard your story told again and again,
how you fear neither lion nor demon, neither crocodile nor leopard, and are so fierce clawed,
how in the dark night you ride alone into Turan, roaming those borderlands without ever resting,
how alone you roast a wild ass for your meal, and make the very air weep with your sword.
Anyone who sees the mace in your grip, the heart of a lion and the claw of a leopard breaks in fear.
When the eagle sees your bared blade, it does not hurry to strike its prey.
The lion bears the marks of your lasso, and the cloud rains blood from dread of your spear.
When I heard these tales of you, again and again I bit my lip in longing for you.
I searched for your shoulders, your neck, your chest; and God has brought your path to this city.
Now I am yours, if you will have me; no one but the birds and fish shall ever see me again.
First, because I have become so lost in you that I have killed my reason for the sake of desire;
and second, so that perhaps through you God may set a son upon my lap,
one who might match you in manhood and strength, whom the heavens grant the fortune of Saturn and the sun.
And third, I will bring back your horse and lay all of Samangan beneath your feet.'
When Rostam saw such a fairy faced girl, and found her rich in every kind of wisdom,
and when she also gave him news of Rakhsh, he saw no outcome but blessing and good fortune.
He ordered that a skilled priest be brought to ask her hand from her father.
When the king heard this, he grew glad, standing free and tall like a cypress.
He gave his daughter to that champion, just as custom and faith required.
With his contentment, consent, and command, he beautifully arranged their marriage bond.
When he entrusted his daughter to the champion, all rejoiced, old and young alike.
In joy they scattered much gold and called down blessings upon the champion,
saying: 'May this new moon be blessed for you, and may the heads of your enemies be cut off.'
When she became his companion in secret, that dark night grew long and lingering.
When the shining sun from the high sky was about to cast down its glittering lasso,
on Rostam's arm there was a jewel, a jewel famous throughout the world.
He gave it to her and said: 'Keep this. If fate should bring you a daughter,
take it and fasten it in her hair, for good fortune and a bright destiny.'
But if the stars should bring a son, bind on his arm this token of his father.
He will be as tall as Sam, son of Nariman, with the manhood and nature of the noble.
He will bring down the soaring eagle from the clouds, and the sun will not shine harshly upon him.
That night he stayed with the moon faced girl, speaking with her of every thing.
When the shining sun rose in the sky and adorned the face of the earth with love,
in farewell he took her into his arms and gave her many kisses on her eyes and head.
The fairy faced girl turned back from him weeping, becoming a companion to grief and pain.
The noble king came to Rostam and asked him about his sleep and his lodging.
When this was said, he gave him news of Rakhsh, and the crown giving hero's heart grew glad.
He came and stroked the horse and set the saddle on; he was delighted by Rakhsh and pleased with the king.