Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/352

 Of death afforded one bright gleam of joy To Rustem, who, with lifted eyes to Heaven, Exclaimed: "Thanksgivings to the great Creator, For granting me the power, with my own hand,  To be revenged upon my murderer!" So saying, the great champion breathed his last, And not a knightly follower remained, Zúára, and the rest, in other pits, Dug by the traitor-king, and traitor-brother, Had sunk and perished, all, save one, who fled, And to the afflicted veteran at Sístán Told the sad tidings. Zál, in agony, Tore his white hair, and wildly rent his garments, And cried: "Why did not I die for him, why Was I not present, fighting by his side?  But he, alas! is gone! Oh! gone forever."

Then the old man despatched Ferámurz with a numerous force to Kábul, to bring away the dead body of Rustem. Upon his approach, the king of Kábul and his army retired to the mountains, and Ferámurz laid waste the country. He found only the skeletons of Rustem and Zúára, the beasts of prey having stripped them of their flesh: he however gathered the bones together and conveyed them home and buried them, amidst the lamentations of the people. After that, he returned to Kábul with his army, and encountered the king, captured the cruel wretch, and carried him to Sístán, where he was put to death.

Gushtásp having become old and infirm, bequeathed his empire to Bahman, and then died. He reigned one hundred and eight years.