Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/367

 fallen--never to witness this sight! If the Almighty should spare thy life, thou shalt again be the monarch of Persia, and I will go from hence. On my mother's word, thou and I are sons of the same father. It is this brotherly affection which now wrings my heart!" Saying this, the tears chased each other down his cheeks in such abundance that they fell upon the face of Dárá. Again, he said, "Thy murderers shall meet with merited vengeance, they shall be punished to the uttermost." Dárá blessed him, and said, "My end is approaching, but thy sweet discourse and consoling kindness have banished all my grief. I shall now die with a mind at rest. Weep no more--

"My course is finished, thine is scarce begun; But hear my dying wish, my last request:  Preserve the honour of my family,  Preserve it from disgrace. I have a daughter  Dearer to me than life, her name is Roshung;  Espouse her, I beseech thee--and if Heaven  Should bless thee with a boy, O! let his name be  Isfendiyár, that he may propagate  With zeal the sacred doctrines of Zerdusht,  The Zendavesta, then my soul will be  Happy in Heaven; and he, at Náu-rúz tide,  Will also hold the festival I love,  And at the altar light the Holy Fire;  Nor will he cease his labour, till the faith  Of Lohurásp be everywhere accepted,  And everywhere believed the true religion."

Sikander promised that he would assuredly fulfil the wishes he had expressed, and then Dárá placed the palm of his brother's hand on his mouth, and shortly afterwards expired. Sikander again wept bitterly, and then the body was placed on a golden couch, and he attended it in sorrow to the grave.

After the burial of Dárá, the two ministers, Jamúsipár and Mahiyár, were brought near the tomb, and executed upon the dar.

Just vengeance upon the guilty head, For they their generous monarch's blood had shed.

Sikander had now no rival to the throne of Persia, and he commenced his government under the most favorable auspices. He continued the same customs and ordinances which were handed down to him, and retained every one in his established