When Dáráb had ascended the throne, he conducted the affairs of the
kingdom with humanity, justice, and benevolence; and by these means
secured the happiness of his people. He had no sooner commenced his
reign, than he sent for the washerman and his wife, and enriched them by
his gifts. "But," said he, "I present to you this property on these
conditions--you must not give up your occupation--you must go every day,
as usual, to the river-side, and wash clothes; for perhaps in process of
time you may discover another box floating down the stream, containing
another infant!" With these conditions the washerman complied.
Some time afterwards the kingdom was invaded by an Arabian army,
consisting of one hundred thousand men, and commanded by Sháíb, a
distinguished warrior. Dáráb was engaged with this army three days and
three nights, and on the fourth morning the battle terminated, in
consequence of Sháíb being slain. The booty was immense, and a vast
number of Arabian horses fell into the hands of the victor; which,
together with the quantity of treasure captured, strengthened greatly
the resources of the state. The success of this campaign enabled Dáráb
to extend his military operations; and having put his army in order, he
proceeded against Failakús (Philip of Macedon), then king of Rúm, whom
he defeated with great loss. Many were put to the sword, and the women
and children carried into captivity. Failakús himself took refuge in the
fortress of Amúr, from whence he sent an ambassador to Dáráb, saying,
that if peace was only granted to him, he would willingly consent to any
terms that might be demanded. When the ambassador arrived, Dáráb said to
him: "If Failakús will bestow upon me his daughter, Nahíd, peace shall
be instantly re-established between us--I require no other terms."
Failakús readily agreed, and sent Nahíd with numerous splendid presents
to the king of Persia, who espoused her, and took her with him to his
own country. It so happened that Nahíd had an offensive breath, which
was extremely disagreeable to her husband, and in consequence he
directed enquiries to be made everywhere for a remedy. No place was left
unexplored; at length an herb of peculiar efficacy and fragrance was
discovered, which never failed to remove the imperfection complained of;
and it was accordingly administered with confident hopes of success.
Nahíd was desired to wash her mouth with the infused herb, and in a few
days her breath became balmy and pure. When she found she was likely to
become a mother she did not communicate the circumstance, but requested
permission to pay a visit to her father. The request was granted; and on
her arrival in Rúm she was delivered of a son. Failakús had no male
offspring, and was overjoyed at this event, which he at once determined
to keep unknown to Dáráb, publishing abroad that a son had been born in
his house, and causing it to be understood that the child was his own.
When the boy grew up, he was called Sikander; and, like Rustem, became
highly accomplished in all the arts of diplomacy and war. Failakús
placed him under Aristátalís, a sage of great renown, and he soon
equalled his master in learning and science.
Dáráb married another wife, by whom he had another son, named Dárá; and
when the youth was twenty years of age, the father died. The period of
Dáráb's reign was thirty-four years.
Dárá continued the government of the empire in the same spirit as his
father; claiming custom and tribute from the inferior rulers, with
similar strictness and decision. After the death of Failakús, Sikander
became the king of Rúm; and refusing to pay the demanded tribute to
Persia, went to war with Dárá, whom he killed in battle; the particulars
of these events will be presently shown. Failakús reigned twenty-four
years.