National Epics Part 33

The armies met and the great battle began. Sohrab asked to have Rustem pointed out to him, but the soldiers on his side were all instructed to keep him in ignorance. By some strange mischance the two men whom his mother had sent to enlighten him, were both slain. Rustem was moved at the sight of the brave young warrior, but remembering that Tahmineh's offspring was a daughter, thought nothing more of the thrill he felt at sight of him. At last Sohrab and Rustem met in single combat. Sohrab was moved with tenderness for his unknown opponent, and besought him to tell him if he was Rustem, but Rustem declared that he was only a servant of that chief. For three days they fought bitterly, and on the fourth day Rustem overthrew his son. When Sohrab felt that the end had come he threatened his unknown opponent. "Whoever thou art, know that I came not out for empty glory but to find my father, and that though I have found him not, when he hears that thou hast slain his son he will search thee out and avenge me, no matter where thou hidest thyself. For my father is the great Rustem."

Rustem fell down in agony when he heard his son's words, and realized that his guile had prevented him from being made known the day before. He examined the onyx bracelet on Sohrab's arm; it was the same he had given Tahmineh. Bethinking himself of a magic ointment possessed by Kai-Kaus, he sent for it that he might heal his dying son; but the foolish king, jealous of his prowess, refused to send it, and Sohrab expired in the arms of his father.

Rustem's heart was broken. He heaped up his armor, his tent, his trappings, his treasures, and flung them into a great fire. The house of Zal was filled with mourning, and when the news was conveyed to Samengan, he tore his garments, and his daughter grieved herself to death before a year had pa.s.sed away.

To Kai-Kaus and a wife of the race of Feridoun was born a son called Saiawush, who was beautiful, n.o.ble, and virtuous. But his foolish father allowed himself to be prejudiced against the youth by slanderous tongues, so that Saiawush fled from the court and sought shelter with Afrasiyab in Turan. There he speedily became popular, and took unto himself for a wife the daughter of Afrasiyab. But when he and Ferandis his wife built a beautiful city, the hatred and jealousy of Gersiwaz was aroused, so that he lied to Afrasiyab and said that Saiawush was puffed up with pride, and at last induced Afrasiyab to slay his son-in-law.

Saiawush had a son, Kai-Khosrau, who was saved by Piran, a kind-hearted n.o.bleman, and given into the care of a goatherd. When Afrasiyab learned of his existence he summoned him to his presence, but the youth, instructed by Piran, a.s.sumed the manners of an imbecile, and was accordingly freed by Afrasiyab, who feared no harm from him.

When the news of the death of Saiawush was conveyed to Iran there was great mourning, and war was immediately declared against Turan. For seven years the contest was carried on, always without success, and at the end of that time Gudarz dreamed that a son of Saiawush was living called Kai-Khosrau, and that until he was sought out and placed at the head of the army, deliverance could not come to Iran. Kai-Khosrau was discovered, and led the armies on to victory; and when Kai-Kaus found that his grandson was not only a great warrior, skilled in magic, but also possessed wisdom beyond his years, he resigned the throne and made Kai-Khosrau ruler over Iran.

Kai-Khosrau ruled many long years, in which time he brought peace and happiness to his kingdom, avenged the murder of his father, and compa.s.sed the death of the wicked Afrasiyab. Then, fearing that he might become puffed up with pride like Jemschid, he longed to depart from this world, and prayed Ormuzd to take him to his bosom.

The king; after many prayers to Ormuzd, dreamed that his wish would be granted if he set the affairs of his kingdom in order and appointed his successor. Rejoiced, he called his n.o.bles together, divided his treasure among them, and appointed his successor, Lohurasp, whom he commanded to be the woof and warp of justice. Accompanied by a few of his faithful friends, he set out on the long journey to the crest of the mountains. At his entreaties, some of his friends turned back; those who stayed over night, in spite of his warnings, found on waking that they were covered by a heavy fall of snow, and were soon frozen. Afterwards their bodies were found and received a royal burial.

Lohurasp had a son Gushtasp who greatly desired to rule, and was a just monarch, when he succeeded to the throne. Gushtasp, however, was jealous of his son, Isfendiyar, who was a great warrior. When Gushtasp was about to be overcome by the forces of Turan, he promised Isfendiyar the throne, if he would destroy the enemy; but when the hosts were scattered, and Isfendiyar reminded his father of his promise, he was cast into a dungeon, there to remain until his services were again needed. When he had again gained a victory, he was told that the throne should be his when he had rescued his sisters from the brazen fortress of Arjasp, where they had been carried and imprisoned.

On his way to this tower Isfendiyar met with as many terrible foes as Rustem had encountered on his way to the White Deev, and as successfully overcame them. Wolves, lions, enchantresses, and dragons barred the way to the impregnable fortress, which rose three farsangs high and forty wide, and was constructed entirely of bra.s.s and iron. But Isfendiyar, a.s.suming the guise of a merchant and concealing his warriors in chests, won his way into the castle, gained the favor of its inmates, and made them drunk with wine. This done, he freed his sisters, slew the guards, and struck down Arjasp.

Instead of keeping his promise, Gushtasp hastened to set his son another task. Rustem was his Pehliva, but it pleased him to send forth Isfendiyar against him, commanding him to bring home the mighty warrior in chains.

Isfendiyar pleaded in vain with his father. Then he explained the situation to Rustem, and begged that he would accompany him home in peace to gratify his father. Rustem refused to go in chains, so the two heroes reluctantly began the hardest battle of their lives.

At the end of the first day, Rustem and Rakush were severely wounded, and on his return home Rustem happened to think of the Simurgh. Called by the burning of the feather, the kind bird healed the wounds of the hero and of Rakush, and instructed Rustem how to slay his foe. "Seek thou the tamarisk tree, and make thereof an arrow. Aim at his eye, and there thou canst blind and slay him."

Rustem followed the directions, and laid low the gallant youth. Isfendiyar died exclaiming, "My father has slain me, not thou, Rustem. I die, the victim of my father's hate; do thou keep for me and rear my son!"

Rustem, who had lived so long and accomplished such great deeds, died at last by the hand of his half-brother. This brother, Shugdad, stirred up the king of Kabul, in whose court he was reared, to slay Rustem because he exacted tribute from Kabul.

Rustem was called into Kabul by Shugdad, who claimed that the king mistreated him. When he arrived, the matter was settled amicably, and the brothers set out for a hunt with the king. The hunters were led to a spot where the false king had caused pits to be dug lined with sharp weapons.

Rustem, pleased with his kind reception and suspecting no harm, beat Rakush severely when he paused and would go no further. Stung by the blows, the gallant horse sprang forward, and fell into the pit. As he rose from this, he fell into another, until, clambering from the seventh pit, he and Rustem fell swooning with pain.

"False brother!" cried Rustem; "what hast thou done? Was it for thee to slay thy father's son? Exult now; but thou wilt yet suffer for this crime!" Then altering his tone, he said gently: "But give me, I pray thee, my bow and arrows, that I may have it by my side to slay any wild beast that may try to devour me."

Shugdad gave him the bow; and when he saw the gleam in Rustem's eyes, concealed himself behind a tree. But the angry Rustem, grasping the bow with something of his former strength, sent the arrow through tree and man, transfixing both. Then thanking his Creator that he had been given the opportunity to slay his murderer, he breathed his last.

SELECTIONS FROM THE SHAH-NAMEH.

THE RAJA OF INDIA SENDS A CHESSBOARD TO NUs.h.i.+RVAN.

"This account of the game of chess, written by Ferdusi more than eight hundred years ago, is curious as showing the antiquity of the game, its resemblance to it as now played, and the tradition that it was invented in India, and came originally from that country."

A Mubid related, how one day the king Suspended his crown over the ivory throne, All aloes-wood and ivory, and all ivory and aloes; Every pavilion a court, and every court a royal one; All the Hall of Audience crowned with soldiers; Every pavilion filled with Mubids and Wardens of the Marches, From Balkh, and Bokhara, and from every frontier-- For the King of the world had received advices From his vigilant and active emissaries, That an Amba.s.sador had arrived from a King of India, With the parasol, and elephants, and cavalry of Sind, And, accompanied by a thousand laden camels, Was on his way to visit the Great King.

When the circ.u.mspect Monarch heard this news, Immediately he despatched an escort to receive him.

And when the ill.u.s.trious and dignified Amba.s.sador Came into the presence of the Great King, According to the manner of the great, he p.r.o.nounced a benediction, And uttered the praise of the Creator of the world.

Then he scattered before him abundance of jewels, And presented the parasol, the elephants, and the ear-rings; The Indian parasol embroidered with gold, And inwoven with all kinds of precious stones.

Then he opened the packages in the midst of the court, And displayed each one, article by article, before the King.

Within the chest was much silver, and gold, And musk, and amber, and fresh wood of aloes, Of rubies, and diamonds, and Indian swords.

Each Indian sword was beautifully damascened; Everything which is produced in Kanuj and Mai Hand and foot were busy to put in its place.

They placed the whole together in front of the throne, And the Chief, the favored of wakeful Fortune, Surveyed all that the Raja had painstakingly collected, And then commanded that it should be sent to his treasury.

Then the Amba.s.sador presented, written on silk, The letter which the Raja had addressed to Nus.h.i.+rvan; And a chessboard, wrought with such exceeding labor, That the pains bestowed upon it might have emptied a treasury.

And the Indian delivered a message from the Raja: "So long as the heavens revolve, may thou be established in thy place!

All who have taken pains to excel in knowledge, Command to place this chessboard before them, And to exert their utmost ingenuity To discover the secret of this n.o.ble game.

Let them learn the name of every piece.

Its proper position, and what is its movement.

Let them make out the foot-soldier of the army, The elephant, the rook, and the horseman, The march of the vizier and the procession of the King.

If they discover the science of this n.o.ble game, They will have surpa.s.sed the most able in science.

Then the tribute and taxes which the King hath demanded I will cheerfully send all to his court.

But if the congregated sages, men of Iran, Should prove themselves completely at fault in this science, Then, since they are not strong enough to compete with us in knowledge, Neither should they desire taxes or tribute from this land and country: Rather ought we to receive tribute from you, Since knowledge hath a t.i.tle beyond all else."

Khosru gave heart and ear to the speaker, And impressed on his memory the words which he heard.

They placed the chessboard before the King, Who gazed attentively at the pieces a considerable time.

Half the pieces on the board were of brilliant ivory, The other half of finely imaged teak-wood.

The nicely-observant King questioned him much About the figures of the pieces and the beautiful board.

The Indian said in answer: "O thou great Monarch, All the modes and customs of war thou wilt see, When thou shalt have found out the way to the game; The plans, the marches, the array of the battle-field."

He replied: "I shall require the s.p.a.ce of seven days; On the eighth we will encounter thee with a glad mind."

They furnished forthwith a pleasant apartment, And a.s.signed it to the Amba.s.sador as his dwelling.

Then the Mubid and the skilful to point out the way Repaired with one purpose to the presence of the King.

They placed the chessboard before them, And observed it attentively, time without measure.

They sought out and tried every method, And played against one another in all possible ways.

One spoke and questioned, and another listened, But no one succeeded in making out the game.

They departed, each one with wrinkles on his brow; And Buzarchamahar went forthwith to the king.

He perceived that he was ruffled and stern about this matter, And in its beginning foresaw an evil ending.

Then he said to Khosru: "O Sovereign, Master of the world, vigilant, and worthy to command, I will reduce to practice this n.o.ble game; All my intelligence will I exert to point out the way."

Then the king said: "This affair is thine affair; Go thou about it with a clear mind and a sound body, Otherwise the Raja of Kanuj would say, 'He hath not one man who can search out the road,'

And this would bring foul disgrace on my Mubids, On my court, on my throne, and on all my wise men."

Then Buzarchmahar made them place the chessboard before him, And seated himself, full of thought, and expanded his countenance.

He sought out various ways, and moved the pieces to the right hand and to the left, In order that he might discover the position of every piece.

When after a whole day and a whole night, he had found out the game, He hurried from his own pavilion to that of the King, And exclaimed: "O King, whom Fortune crowneth with victory, At last I have made out these figures and this chessboard, By a happy chance, and by the favor of the Ruler of the world, The mystery of this game hath found its solution.

Call before thee the Amba.s.sador and all who care about it; But the King of kings ought to be the first to behold it.

You would say at once without hesitation, It is the exact image of a battle-field."

The King was right glad to hear the news; He p.r.o.nounced him the Fortunate, and the bearer of good tidings.

He commanded that the Mubids, and other counsellors, And all who were renowned for their wisdom should be a.s.sembled; And ordered that the Amba.s.sador should be summoned to the Presence, And that he should be placed on a splendid throne.

Then Buzarchamahar, addressing him, said: "O Mubid, bright in council as the sun, Tell us, what said the King about these pieces, So may intelligence be coupled with thee forever!"

And this was his answer: "My Master, prosperous in his undertakings, When I was summoned and appeared before him, Said to me: 'These pieces of teak and ivory Place before the throne of him who weareth the crown, And say to him: a.s.semble thy Mubids and counsellors, And seat them, and place the pieces before them.

If they succeed in making out the n.o.ble game, They will win applause and augment enjoyment: Then slaves and money and tribute and taxes, I will send to him as far as I have the means; For a monarch is to be esteemed for his wisdom, Not for his treasure, or his men, or his lofty throne.

But if the King and his counsellors are not able to do all this And their minds are not bright enough to comprehend it, He ought not to desire from us tribute or treasure, And his wise soul, alas! must come to grief; And when he seeth our minds and genius to be subtler than theirs.

Rather will he send them to us in greater abundance.'"

Then Buzarchamahar brought the chess-men and board, And placed them before the throne of the watchful King, And said to the Mubids and counsellors: "O ye ill.u.s.trious and pure-hearted sages, Give ear all of you to the words he hath uttered, And to the observations of his prudent chief."

Then the knowing-man arranged a battle-field, Giving to the King the place in the centre; Right and left he drew up the army, Placing the foot-soldiers in front of the battle.