Among all the great heroes who had such vast influence in shaping the
destinies of Iran, there is no house so celebrated as that of Saum Swar,
the mighty Pehliva, unto whom the aged Feridoun especially committed
Minuchir. Seistan, which is to the south of Iran, was the hereditary
province of this famous warrior, and here was bred a race of heroes that
not only saved Persia again and again from out the hands of her foes,
but whose marvellous deeds of valor have filled the world with wonder.
Now Saum was the son of the great chieftain Neriman, and on account of
his intrepid bravery had been made commander-in-chief of the Persian
armies. But, though a valiant hero upon the battle-field, he was
particularly celebrated because, more than once, he had warred against
the allied hosts of Deevs, and come off victorious. He also conquered
the furious monster Soham, which was of the color and nature of fire,
and, bringing it beneath obedient rein, he made it his war-horse in all
his later battles with the Deevs.
So the great Pehliva, girt with might and glory, and smiled upon by the
gracious Feridoun, passed his days in happiness, save for the grief that
for long years he was childless. After the death of the great Shah,
however, it came to pass that at last a son was born unto him, perfect
in face and limb, and fair as the sun, but, by some strange misfortune,
his hair was silvery white like that of an aged man. Now the poet says
of this wonderful baby:
“His hair was white as a goose’s wing,
His cheek was like the rose of spring,
His form was straight as a cypress tree,
But when his sire was brought to see
That child with hair so silvery white
His heart revolted at the sight.”
Yes, strange as it may seem, such an unfortunate omen is it considered
in Persia to have light hair and blue eyes, that in spite of its being
well known in the Pehliva’s household that he longed passionately for a
son to perpetuate his line, yet the infant had gazed upon the light for
seven days ere any one found courage to announce unto him the fact of
the baby’s birth.
On the eighth day, however, the child’s nurse, bold as a lioness, went
in unto the Pehliva, and, bowing herself low in the dust, craved of her
lord the boon of speech. Permission being graciously granted unto her,
therefore, the woman thus spake:
“Unto the sire of a noble house I bring good news. May the days of Saum
the hero be happy! May he live to see the heart of his enemies rent
asunder! And now rejoice, O mighty Pehliva, for God hath granted unto
thee the desire of thy heart. Behind the curtain of the house of women,
thou hast at last a son, a moon-faced boy who, young as he is, yet
showeth the heart of a lion. Fresh from the Garden of Paradise, he is
beautiful to behold, with nothing amiss except that by some ill-luck his
hair is white. Fate would have it so. But in spite of this misfortune,
the stars have decreed unto him a great destiny. Be content, therefore,
with this gift of God as he hath sent it, nor give place in thine heart
unto ingratitude.”
Now, thus speaking, the woman again performed obeisance and departed.
Then Saum descended from his throne and made haste unto the apartments
of the women, where, when the curtain was raised, he beheld a child of
extraordinary beauty, but with the head of an aged man, the like of
which he had never seen or heard tell of before. Appalled at the sight,
and filled with despair at this strange trick of Fate, which he feared
boded misfortune unto his house; also dreading the jeers of his enemies
who would now accuse him of bearing a demon child, Saum, the great
Persian Pehliva, departed from the paths of wisdom. For, lifting up his
eyes unto Heaven, he murmured against the Lord of Destiny, and he said:
“O God of all the World, eternally just and good! Source of all light
and wisdom! incline unto me, and mercifully hear my cry. If I have done
evil in thy sight, behold my repentance and pardon me, for lo! I am
bowed in the dust at thy feet. O merciful Ormuzd, have pity upon me, for
truly my soul is overwhelmed that unto me should be born a son who, with
his black eyes and his hair as white as a lily, seemeth to be of the
race of Satan. Alas! alas! the shame of it is greater than I can bear.”
Thus spake Saum Swar in the turmoil of his soul, and, with heart full of
anger, he hastily departed from the house of women, cursing the fate
which gave unto him such a child. Not so was it, however, with the
gentle young mother who gave unto her baby the name of Zal, and loved
him, mother like, doubly on account of his misfortune.
But the superstitious people, when they heard of the white-haired child
born unto the house of Saum the hero, straightway whispered together,
saying:
“No human being of this earth
Could give to such a monster birth;
He must be of the Demon race,
Though human still in form and face.
If not a Demon, he, at least,
Appears a parti-colored beast.”
And behold! the nobles of the court expressed much the same sentiment
when they said warningly unto Saum:
“O Pehliva of the World, truly this is an ominous event which will, we
fear, be productive of naught but calamity unto thee and thy house.
Would it not be better if thou couldst remove him out of sight?”
Alas! with a heart overflowing with bitterness, Saum bore the sneers and
reproaches which everywhere met him for some time. Then his
superstitious fears getting the better of him, he resolved, though with
a sorrowful heart, to carry the unfortunate babe unto Mount Alborz
where, abandoned, he would fall a victim unto the beasts of prey.
And the resolve once made, in vain did the loving mother plead to be
allowed to keep her babe; in vain she promised to hide him in seclusion
so sacred that the sight of him should never again offend his father’s
eye; all was useless! In spite of tears and pleading, little Zal was
taken from her loving arms, and carried away unto the lonely mountain,
in the dead of night, and there left to die.
But though abandoned by his most unhappy father, poor little Zal was not
forgotten by God, who knew that he would yet do great things for Persia.
Therefore, he provided a safe and happy refuge for the babe.
For behold! upon an inaccessible cliff of Mount Alborz, whose head
touched the stars, and upon whose crest no mortal foot hath ever
stepped, the great Simurgh, the bird of marvel, had builded her nest.
Far beyond the reach of man, this wondrous nest, fashioned of ebony and
of sandal-wood, and twined about with aloe, was hidden among the great
white cliffs, threaded thickly with veins of golden quartz. Around the
base of this nest of marvel, however, there gleamed the stones of
fire—the amethyst, the topaz, and the ruby, while in the rocks not far
away the sunset fires had left their glow in the heart of the opal. So
this bird of the golden plumage was happy, for she loved these precious
stones because they flashed back unto her the fire of her eye, and
warmed her heart with their gleaming beauty.
Now the Simurgh is a giant bird, so large that she carrieth elephants in
her claws unto her nestlings. Yea and her feathers are of pure gold,
being so luxuriant and soft as admirably to fit her for the protecting
cares of a mother. Now her home being so near unto the stars, and in her
swift flight soaring almost unto heaven’s gate, it is not surprising
that, by the people, the Simurgh is also called the Bird of God.
So at least on this fateful night she proved unto the forsaken babe of
the house of Saum, who lay upon the hard ground, thorns for his pillow,
the cold earth for his nurse. Now the night was dark, for great black
clouds which foretold a coming storm had dimmed even the light of the
stars. Then
“A voice not earthly thus addressed
The Simurgh in her mountain nest—
To thee this mortal I resign,
Protected by the power divine.
Let him thy fostering kindness share,
Nourish him with maternal care;
For, from his loins in time will spring
The champion of the world, and bring
Honor on earth, and make thy name
The heir of everlasting fame.”
And not in vain was the message, for the great mother bird listened unto
the voice, and, peering over the edge of the cliff, she spied the
helpless infant lying bereft of clothes and wherewithal to nourish it,
sucking its fingers for very hunger. Now her own young nestlings were
gathered safe and warm under her soft feathers, and as she thought of
this human parent who could thus leave his tender offspring upon the
cold, bare rocks to die, her heart beat hot with anger.
Rising quickly from her nest, therefore, the great bird poised for a
moment in mid-air, listening to make sure that all was well in her nest,
then the strong wings moved up and away through the darkness and the
storm, and circling round and round in stately flight, she swept nearer
and nearer unto the abandoned babe. Down she dropped at last, and the
forlorn little one, looking with wondering, tear-wet eyes upon the great
mass of soft plumage that seemed to have been borne unto him upon the
wings of the storm, smiled and gurgled and cooed with delight, reaching
out his baby arms toward his new-found friend.
At this the tender mother bird first caressed little Zal with her beak,
as if to reassure him, then, wreathing him with a girdle of aloe, in
which she fastened her talons securely, up, up, she soared over mountain
streams and rocky cliffs, beyond the foot-hills and the higher peaks,
until she reached the mountain nest hidden amidst the stones of fire.
Here, a sweet, well-known note caused the nestlings to cling more
closely together, and, in the newly made space, the forsaken child
cuddled, finding a safe and happy retreat. For behold! his shelter that
night from the cruel storm was the soft golden feathers of the Bird of
God.
But the storm and the darkness passed, and in the morning, when the
sunlight touched the white cliffs and lighted up the fires in the ruby
and the opal, the great bird was aroused from slumber by a strange cry
beneath her wings, reminding her of her human nestling, and the new
responsibilities which it entailed. Rising, therefore, upon her strong
swift wings, she flew forth to find food for the helpless stranger
within her walls.
Now the Simurgh, being a wise bird, knew only too well that elephant’s
flesh would be quite too tough for her dainty guest, so she secured
nice, tender venison for breakfast. And with due regard for courtesy and
hospitality, baby Zal was fed with the very choicest morsels before her
own loved brood were allowed to break their fast. And though accustomed
to balmy milk instead of flesh, the baby laughed in glee as the tender
bits were popped into his mouth, now by the mother bird, now by her
nestlings, and thought it a fine breakfast—oh, ever so much better than
sucking his own fat thumbs!
So, nourished and protected by the Simurgh, Zal flourished finely; and
the nestlings were no less kind unto the little stranger than their
mother, for from her they had learned the lessons of mercy and love.
Soon upon tender wing, therefore, they, too, were bringing dainties unto
their human playfellow. And so, the moons and the years rolled happily
by for white-haired Zal, as he lived in the Simurgh’s home, or played
amidst the rough jewels upon the crags around her nest.
But Zal’s greatest treat, as he grew older, was going to school; for
thus the wise old bird named the wonderful excursions upon which she
took him. Now, of course, geology and mineralogy he could learn at home,
from the jewelled rocks about their door; but as for astronomy, when it
was the lesson of the day, quickly he would mount into his golden
chariot, which was his foster-mother’s soft back, and then, away he
would be borne gently through the air, up, up, until he almost thought
to touch the golden sun, and all the silver stars.
And, would you believe it? his language lessons he loved even better,
for then would the glorious bird sweep majestically down to earth, near
to the dwellings of men, and thus did Zal learn quite early to speak the
language of the children of Ormuzd, though he thought it not nearly so
beautiful as the wonderful notes of his mother. Oh, those were glorious
excursions! but best of all, he loved his geography lessons. For then,
upon the back of the Bird of Marvel, he sailed over the whole world,
visiting all its places of interest, and storing his mind with
knowledge. So, take it all in all, the education of Zal was quite
complete, and his way of securing it most happy.
But though Zal was so contented and well cared for in his mountain home,
even unto the time when he was grown into a glorious youth, for his own
natural mother, in the stately palace of Saum, the years dragged by with
muffled feet, bringing no balm unto her wounded heart. And the old
warrior, his father, too, suffered, so that even the remembrance of his
glorious deeds of valor, writ large in the heart of the Shah and the
people, was but as dust in his nostrils. However, no word of repentance
crossed his lips; the only sign of remorse was to be seen upon his head,
for the raven locks of the great Pehliva had become as the silver poplar
in whiteness. Night after night, too, he was haunted by strange and
terrible dreams, so that sleep was driven from his pillow, and he knew
neither rest nor joy.
But by and by, as neither good nor evil can remain hidden forever, there
came a day when the fame of the glorious youth of Mount Alborz, whose
chariot was the Bird of Marvel, whose home its mountain nest, spread
through the whole land, even unto the ears of Saum, the son of Neriman.
Then it came to pass that one night Saum dreamed a dream wherein he
beheld a gallant youth of martial bearing riding toward him at the head
of a troop of horsemen, with a banner flying before him, and a Mubid
upon his left hand. And the Mubid said unto Saum:
“O Unfeeling Mortal, who in thy wickedness cast out thy only son to die,
disowning him because his hair was white, though thine own resembleth
the silver poplar! How long must thy fair young offspring be left unto
the tender mercies of a mountain bird?”
Now hearing these words, Saum awakened with a great cry, and so terrible
was his distress of mind that he hastily summoned his Mubids and
questioned them concerning the marvellous youth of Mount Alborz, whether
this could indeed be his son, saved in some miraculous way.
Then the Mubids, seeing that the time was opportune, said unto Saum, the
son of Neriman:
“O father more cruel than the lion, the tiger, and the crocodile—for
even savage beasts protect their young, while thou didst cast out thine
own, because a mark was set upon him by the Creator—arise and seek thy
child, for since he is in the guardianship of God, having a great
mission to perform in the world, surely all is well with him. Pray
Heaven, therefore, to forgive thy cruelty, and seek thy child in the
wild eyrie of the Bird of God.”
Now when Saum heard these words of promise he was truly contrite of
heart, and calling about him his army, he hastened quickly unto the
mountain. And there, from the foot of the inaccessible rock which seemed
to pierce the very skies, the white-haired old warrior beheld his son, a
youth of heroic mould, standing near unto the nest of the Simurgh,
gazing like a young King out over the world. Now seeing this, the pride
and glory of fatherhood awakened suddenly in the breast of Saum, and his
desire to get near unto his son was very great; but, alas! he strove in
vain to mount the cliff.
Then the great Pehliva, kneeling, called upon God in his humility. And,
behold! seeing that his repentance was sincere, the All-Just One put it
into the heart of the Simurgh to look down upon the warrior, who with
uplifted, longing arms cried eagerly unto his son. Consequently, as the
father’s cry mounted up unto the wondrous nest amidst the stones of
fire, it softened toward him the tender heart of the great mother bird
who, casting a proud glance at her own loved offspring circling in the
blue above the nest, then looked sorrowfully down upon the white-haired
youth upon the cliffs below who shot out into the world unpolished gems
from his bow.
Presently, however, rising from her nest, the Bird of God circled nearer
and nearer unto the youth, finally settling down beside him upon the
cliff. Then, throwing aside his bow and arrow, Zal stroked the golden
plumage of his kind foster-mother, questioning her as to the proud
warrior and his host who tarried upon the rocks below. Whereupon, first
caressing him lovingly with her beak, the Simurgh then said:
“O thou my Nestling! verily, I have reared and been unto thee as a
mother, but now the time is come when I must give thee back unto thy
people. For lo! the warrior who gazeth at us so longingly from afar is
thy father, Saum the hero, Pehliva of the World, greatest among the
great; and he hath come hither to seek his son. And behold! glory and
splendor await thee at his side.”
Now as the youth listened unto these words, his eyes slowly filled with
tears and his heart with sorrow, for he loved his mountain home, and
longed not for greater splendor than that which was already his in the
glorious nest of the Simurgh. Flinging his arms closely, therefore, in
mute caress about the soft neck of his foster-mother, for a time Zal was
silent; then suddenly raising his head, he burst forth into impassioned
speech, and he said:
“O Wondrous Bird of God, art thou then weary of me? Ah, send me not
forth! For truly thy nest is unto me a throne, thy sheltering wings, a
mother’s arms. In thy golden chariot have I beheld the glories of the
world, and now I desire naught but to remain near unto thee forever.
Then send me not forth, lest I die with longing for thee and my mountain
home.”
Now at this proof of affection, tears filled the eyes of the kind old
mother bird. But, once more caressing Zal with her golden feathers, she
said unto him gently:
“O Glorious Youth, verily it is not for want of love I send thee forth!
Nay, if I consulted my heart, I would keep thee beside me forever. But
the stars indicate for thee a great destiny, and so I must let thee go,
for thy country as well as thy father shall be royally blessed through
thee. Comfort thyself, therefore, and take heart. And who knoweth! It
may even be that when thou hast experienced the joys of a real throne,
with all its pomp and splendor, the glories of the wondrous nest will be
dimmed in thine eyes. But, that thou mayest always remember with
affection thy loving foster-mother who saved and reared thee among her
little ones; that thou mayest still feel thyself safe under the shadow
of her wings, take and bear with thee into the world this golden feather
from her breast, and when thou art involved in difficulty or danger
place it upon the fire. I will then come unto thee instantly to secure
thy safety. And now, O my Nestling,
“Having watched thee with fondness by day and by night,
And supplied all thy wants with a mother’s delight,
Oh, forget not thy nurse—still be faithful to me,
And my heart will be ever devoted to thee.”
And now right sorrowfully the Simurgh bade the youth mount for the last
time into his golden chariot; then in graceful circles she swept slowly
down unto the wondering father. And behold! having reached the ground,
the Bird of Marvel placed the youth in the outstretched arms of his
father, saying unto Saum:
“O contrite Pehliva, receive thy son, and know that never royal youth
was more worthy of diadem and throne. Let thy heart rejoice in him,
therefore, for great glory shall he bring unto thy house.”
Then Saum, when he beheld his son, with body like unto an elephant’s for
strength, and glorious in his youthful beauty, bowed low before the Bird
of God, covering her with benison. And he said:
“O Shah of Birds, dwelling so near unto Heaven’s gate, truly thou art
the Bird of Marvel as well as the Bird of God! Mayest thou be ever safe
from thy enemies! mayest thou be great forever!”
[Illustration: Then in graceful circles she swept slowly down unto the
wondering father.]
But even as Saum yet spake, the wondrous bird flew upward unto her nest,
leaving father and son together. Then the Pehliva humbly acknowledged
unto Zal his guilt, entreating forgiveness. And he said:
“O Silver-crowned Youth, whose glory is a reproach unto thy father,
graciously let the waters of forgetfulness cover my sins, and I swear
unto thee that never again will I harden my heart against thee, or
refuse unto thee aught that is good.”
Then reconciliation having been made, Saum clothed his son in rich robes
worthy a king’s son, and mounting him upon a superb Arab steed, he
conducted him unto the army. Now when the warriors beheld the glorious
youth, they shouted for joy, and the army being set in motion, the
kettle-drummers, mounted upon mighty elephants, sounded their
instruments, the tabors were beaten, the cymbals clashed, and great
rejoicing filled the land because that Saum had found his son, and that
Zal was a hero among men. And above this rejoicing host, far, far up in
the blue, there floated the wondrous Bird of God, who accompanied the
army even unto the gates of Seistan.
Now thus it was that Zal, the son of Saum, clad in purple, and covered
with honors, returned unto the palace from which he had been cast out, a
naked and wailing babe. And when clasped in the glad arms of his
beautiful mother, who wept tears of joy over her handsome, white-haired
boy, then, indeed, did he think less longingly of the wondrous nest amid
the stones of fire. But again and again was he made to tell of his
wonderful experiences in the Simurgh’s nest, and the golden feather was
prized by all as the greatest treasure of the house of Saum.
And behold! as the days and the weeks flew by, the wondrous story of Zal
pierced even unto the ears of the great Minuchir, who bade his son Nuder
go forth unto Seistan with a splendid troop of horsemen, in order to
bring the great Pehliva and his newly found son unto the court to
receive the royal congratulations.
So father and son made ready, and when they were arrived at the gates of
the Shah, behold, Saum was first conducted into the presence of the
great Minuchir. Now the King was seated in all his royal robes upon the
throne of light, while upon his right hand sat Karun the Pehliva.
Receiving Saum most graciously, therefore, the monarch bade him be
seated upon his left hand. Then he questioned him as to the wondrous
story of Zal; and Saum related everything unto the Shah, hiding not his
own evil deed. Then when all was told, Minuchir commanded that Zal be
brought into his presence.
So the nestling of a mountain bird, clad in robes of splendor, was
conducted by the chamberlains into the great audience-room of Kings, and
the Shah, amazed at his royal appearance, after welcoming the youth,
said unto Saum:
“O Pehliva of the World! Verily, the heart of the Shah rejoiceth in this
young hero born to be a glory unto the land of Iran. Guard him well,
therefore, teaching him the arts of war and the pleasures and customs of
the banquet. For how should one reared in the nest of a mountain bird be
familiar with these things?”
Then, after talking pleasantly with Zal for some time, the Shah bade his
Mubids cast the horoscope of this child of promise. And lo! it was found
that the stars would bring naught but good unto the son of Saum; that he
would outlive every warrior of the age, and be the defence of Iran for
hundreds of years.
Now these prophecies so delighted Minuchir that he presented Zal with a
beautiful Arabian horse and gorgeous armor, and as he left the
audience-room slaves poured musk and amber before him. And unto Saum the
Shah gave Indian swords in gold scabbards, rubies, a throne adorned with
turquoises, a crown and girdle of gold, and finally, a charter that
vested him with the sovereignty of Kabul, Zabul, and Ind. Then he bade
that the Pehliva’s horse be brought, and sent him rejoicing back unto
his land.
But it was not to idleness that Zal returned, after his visit unto the
court of the great Minuchir. For, in accordance with the wishes of the
Shah, he was now placed under the care of renowned instructors, and
daily he increased in wisdom and accomplishments, so that his fame
filled the land. However, the Mubids were not his only teachers, for
often when tired of the pomp and splendor of his father’s court, his
heart would fill with longing for his mountain home. Then climbing up
unto his airy balcony, presently he would hear a great flapping of
wings, and lo! there was his golden chariot, into which he would quickly
mount, and then, away, away, wherever his fancy led. Now during these
marvellous journeys so great was the sense of freedom and power which he
enjoyed, that he envied not all the kings of earth; nay, not even the
great Minuchir upon his throne. And this is not to be wondered at. For
truly such delight is seldom accorded to mortals. It cometh, we are
told, but once in a thousand years, and then only unto the white-haired
wonder child of a Simurgh. Happy Zal!
But not even a wonder child can always remain young and free from
responsibility, and so the time came when Zal was called upon to fight
the battles of his country, and also to rule in his father’s stead, when
he was absent fighting against the Deevs. In all these things the son of
Saum proved himself to be a real hero, being not only valiant and wise,
but also beneficent in his power.
Then a thrilling experience happened unto Zal the son of Saum, for he
fell deeply and irrevocably in love with fair Rudabeh, the daughter of
the King of Kabul. The poet says of this princess, in describing her
beauty:
“Oh, wouldst thou make her charms appear,
Think of the sun so bright and clear,
And brighter far, with softer light,
The maiden strikes the dazzled sight.
Think of her skin, with what compare?
Ivory was never half so fair!
Her stature like the Sabin tree.
Her eyes, so full of witchery,
Glow like narcissus tenderly.
Her arching brows their magic fling,
Dark as the raven’s glossy wing.
Soft o’er her blooming cheek is spread
The rich pomegranate’s vivid red,
Her musky ringlets unconfined
In clustering meshes roll behind.
Possessed of every sportive wile,
’Tis heaven, ’tis bliss, to see her smile.”
Now Zal _did_ see Rudabeh smile one moonlight night upon her balcony,
and straightway he vowed to win her for his bride, though all the world
opposed. And that there would be opposition enough Zal knew quite well,
for the King of Kabul was of the hated seed of Zohak and therefore under
a ban. But Zal determined to conquer in spite of this drawback, for not
only did he love the princess, but she also loved him, saying stubbornly
unto those who would have persuaded her of her folly:
“My attachment is fixed, my election is made,
And when hearts are enchained, ’tis vain to upbraid.
Neither Kizar nor Faghfur I wish to behold,
Nor the monarch of Persia with jewels and gold.
All, all I despise, save the choice of my heart,
And from his beloved image I never can part.”
But alas for the lovers! When the mighty Saum heard of the folly of Zal,
he was so overwhelmed with anger and dismay that in his great distress
of mind he cried out bitterly:
“Ah, woe is me, for my son, whom a mountain bird hath reared, is become
a prey unto wild desires, and who can foretell the end?”
But the anger of Saum was mild compared with that of Minuchir. For when
he heard the ill news, at once he commanded Saum to go straight to
Kabul, there to tarry until he had burned the palace of Mihrab, and
utterly destroyed his whole family and all who served him, since he
willed that the entire serpent brood of Zohak be wiped from the earth.
Then to complicate matters still further, Mihrab, when he learned the
Shah’s decree, straightway determined in his terror to slay the Princess
whose folly was causing all the trouble. But Rudabeh faced her father
proudly, and as the Queen interceded in her behalf, offering to go alone
unto the mighty Saum to beg for mercy, the King relented and Rudabeh was
saved.
But while these events were happening in Kabul, Zal was not idle. Going
straight to his father, he pleaded most eloquently for his love,
reminding Saum that when a helpless babe he had cast him out to die, and
that now once more he threatened his happiness. He also recalled unto
his father’s mind his promise never to refuse his son aught that his
heart desired; and so, being thus beset, Saum finally withdrew his
opposition. And not only that, but he also gave unto his son a strong
letter of pleading to carry unto the Shah.
So once more Zal set out for the Court, this time to besiege the great
Minuchir. And here he had no easy time, for the Shah, determining to try
the young hero, instructed that his Mubids should propound unto him six
hard riddles, most difficult of solution, in order to test his wisdom.
But Zal answered them every one, and all the Court wondered at his great
intelligence. Then the King required that he give proof of his physical
prowess, and in the tournament which followed, behold, Zal outstripped
every competitor, arousing the greatest enthusiasm by his remarkable
exhibitions of skill and strength and courage. But it was the Mubids who
finally gained the day for Zal, as you shall hear, for, after consulting
the stars, they said unto Minuchir:
“O Shelter of the Universe! Lo, in the Book of Fate it is written that
the love of Zal and Rudabeh shall shine as the stars, for from their
union shall spring a son, beside whom all the heroes of the world shall
pale. Long life, courage, strength, and honor shall be his, and in the
hour of peril the great Shahs of Iran will never call upon him in vain.”
Now hearing this, Minuchir could not reasonably withhold his consent, so
quickly the gallant young lover speeded him back unto Kabul where a most
gorgeous wedding took place. And after this great event, for days and
days, naught was heard but merry sounds of rejoicing through all the
land. For the people loved White-haired Zal, and their hearts were glad
because of his victory.
But the happiest time for the lovers was when, the fuss and parade all
over, they were allowed to settle down amid the roses and fruits of
their vine-wreathed home. Yea, and here, for many, many moons, the young
chieftain and his fair bride lived happy as it is ever given unto
mortals to be.
But alas! One day there was darkness and gloom in the thicket of roses,
where the night-bird trilled his song unto the drooping flowers. There
was darkness also upon an inner-room, for the shadow of death hovered
over the fair Princess, who lay ill and in terrible peril, the court
physicians having given up all hope of her life.
Now for a time, after hearing this dire verdict, Zal sat stupefied with
sorrow; but suddenly as he gazed blindly at the dying fire, he thought
of the Simurgh’s plume. Pausing not an instant, therefore, he quickly
secured the beauteous golden feather, and laid it softly upon the fire.
Then with bated breath he waited, listening! listening! and lo! in a
moment there came the rushing sound as of a tempest, the wings of the
Simurgh gleamed in the darkness, and the great, soft mother bird stood
beside her foster-child.
And, oh! how Zal’s eyes lighted up with joy and hope as he threw his
arms about her soft golden neck, and leaned upon her gorgeous plumage!
Waiting not for him to speak, however, the Bird of God said caressingly
unto Zal:
“O, thou my Nestling! Wherefore art thou troubled? And why do I see the
eyes of the lion wet with tears?”
Then quickly Zal told unto his foster-mother of the great joy that had
come unto him, followed, alas, by the present sorrow, unto all of which
the Simurgh listened attentively. And the story told, bidding him be of
good cheer, the loving mother bird whispered a few directions in his
ear, after which away she flew back to her mountain nest.
But Zal speeding him to carry out the directions of the Simurgh, soon
joy reigned once more in the bower of roses, for Rudabeh was out of
danger. Yea; and not only that, for with the Bird of God, tucked safely
under her soft wing, had come a priceless gift unto Zal and Rudabeh—a
splendid young son to crown their happiness. And now Rudabeh, too, loved
the beautiful Simurgh, with a love almost as great as that of Zal
himself, because the golden chariot had brought her babe so safely. And
behold! they called the boy Rustem, which meaneth “delivered”; for, said
the Mubids, while he liveth will he ever stand between Persia and her
foes.