Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/371

 monster slew.

Ascending then the mountain, many a ridge, Oft resting on the way, he reached the summit, Where the dead corse of an old saint appeared Wrapt in his grave-clothes, and in gems imbedded. In gold and precious jewels glittering round, Seeming to show what man is, mortal man! Wealth, worldly pomp, the baubles of ambition, All left behind, himself a heap of dust!

None ever went upon that mountain top, But sought for knowledge; and Sikander hoped When he had reached its cloudy eminence, To see the visions of futurity Arise from that departed, holy man! And soon he heard a voice: "Thy time is nigh! Yet may I thy career on earth unfold.  It will be thine to conquer many a realm,  Win many a crown; thou wilt have many friends  And numerous foes, and thy devoted head  Will be uplifted to the very heavens.  Renowned and glorious shalt thou be; thy name  Immortal; but, alas! thy time is nigh!" At these prophetic words Sikander wept, And from that ominous mountain hastened down.

After that Sikander journeyed on to the city of Kashán, where he fell sick, and in a few days, according to the oracle and the prophecy, expired. He had scarcely breathed his last, when Aristú, and Bilniyás the physician, and his family, entered Kashán, and found him dead. They beat their faces, and tore their hair, and mourned for him forty days.