English
The Freeing of Jamshid's Daughters from Zahhak's Bondage by Fereydun
The talisman Zahhak had raised, whose top reached high into the sky,
Fereydun brought it crashing down, for he knew it stood for something other than God, the world's true lord.
And as for the sorcerers within that palace, they were all notorious, fierce demons.
He crushed their heads with his heavy mace and took his seat on the throne of that idol worshipper.
He set his foot upon Zahhak's throne, claimed the royal crown, and took his place.
He brought out from Zahhak's harem those idol beauties with dark hair and faces bright as the sun.
First he ordered their heads washed clean, and washed their souls of all that darkness.
He showed them the way of the pure Judge, and cleansed them of their defilement.
For they had been raised among idol worshippers, and were dazed and reeling like drunkards.
Then those daughters of Jamshid, lord of the world, wept, giving dew from their narcissus eyes to the roses of their cheeks.
They spoke to Fereydun: May you live as long as the ancient world endures.
What was the star that made you, fortunate one? What fruit are you, and from the branch of which tree?
That you came to the lion's very pillow, a brave man striding in against the tyrant.
How much the world turned to evil for us through the deeds of this witless sorcerer.
We never saw anyone with such courage, or with skill enough to reach this height,
Who would even dream of his throne, or set his heart on his high seat.
Fereydun answered them: No throne stays with anyone forever, nor does good fortune.
I am the son of that fortunate Abtin, whom Zahhak seized in the land of Iran.
He killed him cruelly, and I, seeking vengeance, have turned my face toward Zahhak's throne.
There was also the noble cow Barmayeh, my nurse, whose splendid body adorned the earth like a jewel.
See what came upon that man of foul mind from spilling the blood of such a voiceless, dumb creature.
So I have girded my belt as a warrior, and turned from Iran toward vengeance.
With this ox-headed mace I will smash his skull; I will show neither pity nor mercy.
When Arnavaz heard these words from him, the secret of her pure heart opened to him.
She said to him: You are King Fereydun, who will destroy this sorcery and enchantment.
Zahhak's life is now in your hand; the world's deliverance rests upon your girded belt.
We two, pure and hidden daughters of the royal line, became tamed to him only out of fear of death.
He calls us the mates of a serpent, his wives. How could one endure it, O king?
Fereydun answered back: If the wheel of heaven grants me justice from on high,
I will cut the dragon's trail from the earth, and wash the world clean of the unclean.
Now you must tell me truly where that worthless, dragon-natured one is.
The lovely ones revealed the secret to him, hoping the dragon's head might be cut off with the blade.
They said: He has gone to India to shackle the sorcerers there.
He cuts off the heads of a thousand innocents; he has grown terrified of an evil turn of fate.
For a seer once told him: The earth will be emptied of you.
Someone will come to seize your throne, and see how your fortune will wither away.
His heart is aflame from that prophecy; all of life has turned bitter for him.
He spills the blood of beasts, wild animals, men, and women, and pours it into a single pool,
Hoping that by washing his head and body in blood he might overturn the astrologers' prophecy.
And also, because of those serpents on his two shoulders, he has long been left in strange, prolonged torment.
He goes from this land to another, never resting from the pain of the two black serpents.
Now the time of his return has come, for he cannot stay too long in any one place.
So that heart-wounded beauty revealed the secret, while the proud hero listened closely.