English
Zahhak's Nightmare and the Prophecy of Fereydun
When only forty years of his reign remained, see what God had in store for him at the end.
One long night in the royal palace, he lay asleep beside Arnavaz.
He dreamed that suddenly, from the palace of kings, three warriors appeared.
Two were older, one younger between them, tall as cypress trees and bright with royal glory.
They came belted and striding like kings, an ox headed mace gripped in their hands.
The youngest charged at Zahhak in battle and threw a leash around his neck.
He dragged him all the way to Mount Damavand, hauling him along while a crowd ran behind.
The tyrant Zahhak writhed in terror; you would say his liver split from fright.
In his sleep he let out such a cry that the house of a hundred columns trembled.
The sun faced women leapt from their places, startled by the uproar of the famous lord.
Arnavaz said to Zahhak: 'My king, what has happened? Tell me in confidence.'
'You were sleeping peacefully in your own house, why then this terror for your very life?'
'The seven regions of the earth obey your command; beasts, birds, and men are bound by your word.'
The ruler of the world said to the sun faced women: 'Such a marvel should be kept hidden.'
'For if you hear this dream from me, you will despair of my life.'
Arnavaz said to the noble king: 'You must open this secret to us.'
'Perhaps we can find some remedy, for no calamity is without a cure.'
The commander brought the secret out of hiding and told them the whole dream, point by point.
The famous moon faced one said to him: 'Do not let this pass; seek a way out.'
'The signet of the age is your very throne; the world is bright with your renowned fortune.'
'You hold the world beneath your ring: beasts and men, birds, demons, and fairies.'
'Gather the great men from every land, the astrologers and the sorcerers.'
'Tell the priests everything, from start to finish; investigate and seek out the truth.'
'Find out in whose hands your life lies, whether among men or demons and fairies.'
'Once it is known, then make your plan; do not fear evil blindly, like a suspicious man.'
The proud king was pleased by these words, when that silver cypress had cast down her advice.
The world was dark as a raven's wing when at once the lamp of dawn rose over the mountain.
You would say the sun had spread yellow rubies across the vault of lapis blue.
Wherever there was a priest, wise in words, clear hearted and sensible,
the commander brought him from his land to his court, and the heartsick man told the dream he had seen.
He laid bare his hidden thoughts to them, about good and evil and the turning of fate:
'When will my time come to an end? Who will inherit this crown, throne, and belt?'
'Either this secret must be opened to me, or I must lay down my head in disgrace.'
The priests' lips went dry, their cheeks wet with tears, their tongues full of whispered words to one another:
'If we speak the truth of what will be, the struggle is over our own lives, and life is priceless.'
'And if he does not learn what is destined to be, we must give up our lives right now.'
Three days passed in this matter, and no one dared to speak openly.
On the fourth day the king raged at those priests who read the way of fate:
'Either you must hang, alive, upon the gallows, or you must reveal what is to come.'
All the priests bowed their heads down low, hearts full of dread, eyes full of blood.
Among those learned and famous men there was one clear sighted and keen of hearing,
wise, alert, and shrewd, named Zirak, who among those priests took the lead.
His heart tightened, yet he grew fearless, and came forward before Zahhak with an open tongue.
He said to him: 'Empty your head of vain fear, for no one was ever born of a mother except to die.'
'There have been many world rulers before you who were worthy of the throne of kings.'
'Each counted much sorrow and joy, then departed and left the world to another.'
'Even if you were a wall of iron, the turning sky would grind you down and you would not remain.'
'After this, someone will hold your throne, and bring your head and fortune down to the dust.'
'His name will be Fereydun; he will be a blessed heaven upon the earth.'
'That commander is not yet born of his mother; the time for questions has not come, so calm your fear.'
'When he is born of his gifted mother, he will grow fruitful like a tree.'
'He will reach manhood and raise his head to the moon, seeking the belt, the crown, the throne, and the diadem.'
'He will grow tall as a lofty cypress, and lift a mace of steel to his shoulder.'
'He will strike your head with the ox headed mace, seize you cruelly, and bind you in disgrace.'
The impure Zahhak said to him: 'Why will he bind me? What grudge does he hold against me?'
The bold priest replied: 'If you are wise, no one does harm without a reason.'
'His father's life will end by your hand, and from that pain his heart will fill with hatred.'
'There will be a splendid cow that becomes the nurse of that world seeker.'
'That cow too will perish by your hand, and for this revenge he will raise the ox headed mace.'
When Zahhak heard this, he opened his ears wide, then fell from his throne and lost his senses.
The noble priest turned his face away from the high throne, in fear of coming harm.
When the famous king's heart returned to its place, he set foot again upon the royal throne.
He began to search for signs of Fereydun throughout the world, openly and in secret.
He had no rest, no sleep, no food; the bright day turned dark blue before his eyes.