English
Kondrow Brings Zahhak News of Fereydun's Triumph
When the land was emptied of Zahhak, there was a man of substance, like a faithful servant.
He kept the treasury, the throne, and the palace, wonderfully devoted as a steward.
They called him Kondrow by name; he moved cautiously before the tyrant.
Kondrow came running into the palace and saw a new crowned king in the hall.
Seated calmly in the place of honor, tall as a cypress with a moon at his side.
On one hand the graceful cypress Shahrnaz, on the other the moon-faced Arnavaz.
The whole city was filled with his army, warriors standing in ranks at his door.
He was not bewildered, nor did he ask what was going on; he went praising and bowed low before him.
He blessed him, saying: 'O king, may you live as long as time itself lasts.'
'Blessed is your seat, crowned with glory, for you are worthy of the kingship of kings.'
'May the world of seven realms be your servant, and your head rise higher than the raining clouds.'
Fereydun ordered him to come forward and revealed to him all his secret openly.
The valiant king commanded him: 'Go and find the trappings fit for a royal throne.'
'Bring wine and call the musicians; fill the cups and set out the feast.'
'Whoever is worthy of my delight, and whose learning eases my heart,'
'bring them and gather them at my throne, as befits my fortune.'
When the steward heard these words from him, he did exactly what he was told.
He brought clear wine and musicians, and the noble lords worthy of the gathering.
Fereydun cast off sorrow and chose joy; that night he held a feast as was fitting.
When the world had grown calm, Kondrow slipped away from before the new lord.
He mounted a swift steed that knew the road and set his face toward King Zahhak.
When he reached the commander, he told him everything he had seen and heard.
He said: 'O king of the proud, the signs show your fortune has turned.'
'Three noble men with an army have come from another land.'
'Of the three, the youngest stands in the middle, tall as a cypress, with the face of the royal line.'
'Though youngest in years, his greatness is the most; he steps ahead of those elder ones.'
'He carries a mace like a boulder torn from a mountain, and it flashes in the midst of the crowd.'
'He rode on horseback into the king's hall, with two noble men beside him on the road.'
'He came and sat on the royal throne, and brought down all your bonds and sorcery.'
'Everyone who was in your hall, whether your men or your demons,'
'he cut them all down, head from foot, and mixed their brains with their blood.'
Zahhak said to him: 'That may well be; he is a guest, so one should be glad.'
The servant answered him: 'A guest with an ox-headed mace,'
'who by force sits in your seat and wipes your name from the crown and belt,'
'this ingrate imposes his own ways: if you call such a man a guest, then call him so.'
Zahhak said to him: 'Do not complain so much; a bold guest is a better omen.'
Kondrow answered him: 'Yes, I have heard that; now you hear my answer.'
'If this famous man is your guest, what business has he in your private chambers,'
'that he sits with the daughters of Jamshid the world-ruler and makes decisions great and small?'
'With one hand he holds Shahrnaz's cheek, with the other the ruby lips of Arnavaz.'
'And the dark night he makes better still for himself, laying musk beneath his head for a pillow,'
'the musk-scented tresses of your two moons, who were always your heart's desire.'
'When he is half-drunk he takes them in his arms; no guest should be handled like this.'
Zahhak flew into a rage like a rhinoceros; hearing that talk, he wished for death.
With foul curses and a harsh voice, in his wretched fortune he was strangely enraged.
He said to him: 'From now on you shall never be the keeper of my house.'
The servant answered him: 'This is my belief, O king:'
'that you will never again have a share of that fortune, so how can you give me the stewardship of the city?'
'When you have no share of the seat of majesty, how can you grant me the running of affairs?'
'Why do you not set your own affairs in order, since this trouble has never come upon you before?'
'You have slipped from the crown of greatness like a hair drawn from dough; find a remedy, my lord.'
'The enemy has come and sat upon your seat, an ox-shaped mace in his hand.'
'He has stripped all your bonds and sorcery of their power, seized your beloved, and taken your throne.'