Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/330



"Whenever the Heft-khan is brought to mind, I feel a sense of horror. But why should I  Repeat the story of those great exploits!  God is my witness, how I slew the wolf,  The lion, and the dragon; how I punished  That fell enchantress with her thousand wiles;  And how I suffered, midst the storm of snow,  Which almost froze the blood within my veins;  And how that vast unfathomable deep  We crossed securely. These are deeds which awaken  Wonder and praise in others, not in thee!  The treasure which I captured now is thine;  And what is my reward?--the interest, sorrow.  Thus am I cheated of my recompense.  It is the custom for great kings to keep  Religiously their pledged, affianced word;  But thou hast broken thine, despite of honour.

"I do remember in my early youth, It was in Rúm, thou didst perform a feat  Of gallant daring; for thou didst destroy  A dragon and a wolf, but thou didst bear  Thyself most proudly, thinking human arm  Never before had done a deed so mighty;  Yes, thou wert proud and vain, and seemed exalted  Up to the Heavens; and for that noble act  What did thy father do? The king for that  Gave thee with joyous heart his crown and throne.  Now mark the difference; think what I have done,  What perils I sustained, and for thy sake!  Thy foes I vanquished, clearing from thy mind  The gnawing rust of trouble and affliction.  Monsters I slew, reduced the Brazen Fortress,  And laid Arjásp's whole empire at thy feet,  And what was my reward? Neglect and scorn.  Did I deserve this at a father's hands?"

Gushtásp remained unmoved by this sharp rebuke, though he readily acknowledged its justice. "The crown shall be thine," said he, "but consider my position. Think, too, what services Zál and Rustem performed for Kai-khosráu, and shall I expect less from my own son, gifted as he is with a form of brass, and the most prodigious valor? Forbid it, Heaven! that any rumor of our difference should get abroad in the world, which would redound to the dishonor of both! Nearly half of Irán is in the possession of Rustem." "Give me the crown," said Isfendiyár, "and I will immediately proceed against the Zabúl champion." "I have given thee both the