Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/332

 and the crown and the throne are thine; thou hast therefore only to march to the scene of action, and accomplish the object of the war." Hearing this, Isfendiyár sullenly retired to his own house, and Gushtásp, perceiving that he was in an angry mood, requested Jamásp (his minister) to ascertain the state of his mind, and whether he intended to proceed to Sístán or not. Jamásp immediately went, and Isfendiyár asked him, as his friend, what he would advise. "The commands of a father," he replied, "must be obeyed." There was now no remedy, and the king being informed that the prince consented to undertake the expedition, no further discussion took place.

But Kitabún was deeply affected when she heard of these proceedings, and repaired instantly to her son, to represent to him the hopelessness of the enterprise he had engaged to conduct.

"A mother's counsel is a golden treasure, Consider well, and listen not to folly.  Rustem, the champion of the world, will never  Suffer himself to be confined in bonds.  Did he not conquer the White Demon, fill  The world with blood, in terrible revenge,  When Saiáwush was by Afrásiyáb  Cruelly slain? O, curses on the throne,  And ruin seize the country, which returns  Evil for good, and spurns its benefactor.  Restrain thy steps, engage not in this war;  It cannot do thee honour. Hear my voice!  For Rustem still can conquer all the world." Hear the safe counsel of thy anxious mother! Thus spoke Kitabún, shedding ceaseless tears; And thus Isfendiyár: "I fear not Rustem; I fear not his prodigious power and skill;  But never can I on so great a hero  Place ignominious bonds; it must not be.  Yet, mother dear, my faithful word is pledged;  My word Jamásp has taken to the king,  And I must follow where my fortune leads."

The next morning Isfendiyár took leave of the king, and with a vast army, and immense treasure, commenced his march towards Sístán. It happened that one of the camels in advance laid down, and though beaten severely, could not be made to get up on its legs. Isfendiyár, seeing the obstinacy of the animal, ordered it to be killed, and passed on. The