Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/209

 Rustem's revenge--Súdáveh's fate-- Afrásiyáb's degraded state, And that terrific curse and ban Which fell at last upon Túrán!

When Kai-káús heard of the fate of his son, and all its horrible details were pictured to his mind, he was thrown into the deepest affliction. His warriors, Tús, and Gúdarz, and Báhrám, and Fríburz, and Ferhád, felt with equal keenness the loss of the amiable prince, and Rustem, as soon as the dreadful intelligence reached Sístán, set off with his troops to the court of the king, still full of indignation at the conduct of Káús, and oppressed with sorrow respecting the calamity which had occurred. On his arrival he thus addressed the weeping and disconsolate father of Saiáwush, himself at the same time drowned in tears:--

"How has thy temper turned to nought, the seed Which might have grown, and cast a glorious shadow;  How is it scattered to the barren winds!  Thy love for false Súdáveh was the cause  Of all this misery; she, the Sorceress,  O'er whom thou hast so oft in rapture hung,  Enchanted by her charms; she was the cause  Of this destruction. Thou art woman's slave!  Woman, the bane of man's felicity!  Who ever trusted woman? Death were better  Than being under woman's influence;  She places man upon the foamy ridge  Of the tempestuous wave, which rolls to ruin,  Who ever trusted woman?--Woman! woman!" Káús looked down with melancholy mien, And, half consenting, thus to Rustem said:-- "Súdáveh's blandishments absorbed my soul, And she has brought this wretchedness upon me." Rustem rejoined--"The world must be revenged Upon this false Súdáveh;--she must die." Káús was silent; but his tears flowed fast, And shame withheld resistance. Rustem rushed Without a pause towards the shubistán; Impatient, nothing could obstruct his speed To slay Súdáveh;--her he quickly found, And rapidly his sanguinary sword Performed its office. Thus the Sorceress died. Such was the punishment her crimes received.