Shahnameh (Penguin Classics) by Ferdowsi Abolqasem

Author:Ferdowsi, Abolqasem [Ferdowsi, Abolqasem]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-07T16:00:00+00:00

Once more Rostam spoke: “Forget this injustice, prince. Don’t sully my name and make your own soul contemptible; only evil will come of this struggle. I shall give you a thousand royal gems, along with torques and pearls and ear-rings. I shall give you a thousand sweet lipped boys to serve you day and night, and a thousand girls, all from Khallokhi whose women are famous for their charm, to make your court splendid with their beauty. My lord, I shall open the treasuries of Sam and Zal before you and give you all they contain; I shall bring men from Kabolestan for you, fit companions for your feasting and fearless in war. And then I shall go before you like a servant, accompanying you to your vengeful king’s court. But you, my prince, should drive vengeance from your heart, and keep devils from dwelling in your body. You are a king, one who fears God, and you have other ways of binding men to you than by chains; your chains will disgrace my name forever, how can such an evil be worthy of you?”

Esfandyar replied:

“How long will you tell me to turn away

From God and from my king? To disobey

My sovereign lord and king is to rebel

Against God’s justice and to merit hell.

Accept my chains, or enmity and war—

But bandy pointless words with me no more.”

When Rostam saw that his offers of friendship had no effect on Esfandyar, he notched the wine-soaked tamarisk arrow to his bow and lifted his eyes to the heavens, saying:

“Just Lord, who gives us knowledge, strength, and life,

You know how I have sought to end this strife;

Creator of the moon and Mercury

You see my weakness and humility,

And his unjust demands: I pray that you

See nothing sinful in what I must do.”

Rostam hung back for a moment, and Esfandyar taunted him: “Well, famous Rostam, it seems your soul’s grown tired of combat, now that you’re faced with the arrows of Goshtasp, the lion heart and spear points of Lohrasp.”

Then, as the Simorgh had ordered him, Rostam drew back his bow. Aiming at Esfandyar’s eyes he released the arrow, and for the Persian prince the world was turned to darkness. The tall cypress swayed and bent, knowledge and glory fled from him; the God-fearing prince bowed his head and slumped forward, and his Chinese bow slipped from his hand. He grasped at his black horse’s mane as his blood soaked into the earth beneath him.

Rostam addressed Esfandyar: “Your harshness has borne fruit. You were the man who said, ‘I am invincible, I can bow the heavens down to the earth.’ Yesterday I was wounded by eight arrows, and bore this silently: one arrow has removed you from combat and left you slumped over your horse. In another moment your head will be on the ground, and your mother will mourn for you.”

Esfandyar lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Slowly he came to himself, and grasped the arrow: when he withdrew it, its head and feathers were soaked in blood.

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