NationalEpicsZALANDRUDABEH.

zalandrudabeh.

"zal,recoveredfromthecareofthesimurghandarrivedatmanhood,issenttogovernthefrontierprovinceofzabul;theadjoiningprovinceofkabul,thoughtributarytothepersianemperor,beinggovernedbyitsownking,calledmihrab.thisepisodecommenceswithavisitwhichmihrabpaystozal,whoreceiveshimwithdistinguishedhonor,entertainshimatasumptuousbanquet,andtheyseparatewithmutualrespect."

thenachiefofthegreatonesaroundhim

said:"othou,theherooftheworld,

thismihrabhathadaughterbehindtheveil,

whosefaceismoreresplendentthanthesun;

fromheadtofootpureasivory,

withacheeklikethespring,andinstatureliketheteak-tree.

uponhersilvershouldersdescendtwomuskytresses,

which,likenooses,fetterthecaptive;

herlipislikethepomegranate,andhercheeklikeitsflower;

hereyesresemblethenarcissusinthegarden;

hereyelasheshaveborrowedtheblacknessoftheraven;

hereyebrowsarearchedlikeafringedbow.

wouldstthoubeholdthemildradianceofthemoon?lookuponher

countenance!

wouldstthouinhaledelightfulodors?sheisallfragrance!

sheisaltogetheraparadiseofsweets,

deckedwithallgrace,allmusic,allthoucanstdesire!

shewouldbefittingforthee,owarrioroftheworld;

sheisastheheavensabovetosuchasweare."

whenzalheardthisdescription,

hisloveleapedtothelovelymaiden:

hisheartboiledoverwiththeheatofpassion,

sothatunderstandingandrestdepartedfromhim.

nightcame,buthesatgroaning,andburiedinthought,

andapreytosorrowforthenot-yet-seen.

onreturningfromasecondvisit,mihrabdescribeszaltohiswifeandhisdaughterrudabeh.

"obeautifulsilver-bosomedcypress,

inthewideworldnotoneoftheheroes

willcomeuptothemeasureofzal!

inthepicturedpalacemenwillneverbeholdtheimage

ofawarriorsostrong,orsofirminthesaddle.

hehaththeheartofalion,thepowerofanelephant,

andthestrengthofhisarmisastherushofthenile.

whenhesittethonthethrone,hescatterethgoldbeforehim;

inthebattle,theheadsofhisenemies.

hischeekisasruddyastheflowerofthearghavan;

younginyears,allalive,andthefavoriteoffortune;

andthoughhishairiswhiteasthoughwithage,

yetinhisbraveryhecouldteartopiecesthewater-serpent.

"heragethintheconflictwiththefuryofthecrocodile,

hefightethinthesaddlelikeasharp-fangeddragon.

inhiswrathhestaineththeearthwithblood,

ashewieldethhisbrightscimitararoundhim.

andthoughhishairisaswhiteasisafawn's,

invainwouldthefault-finderseekanotherdefect!

nay,thewhitenessofhishairevenbecomethhim;

thouwouldstsaythatheisborntobeguileallhearts!"

whenrudabehheardthisdescription,