Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/116

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FIRDUSI

intelligence of him, he alighted and approached the bank of the stream where the company was assembled. The young man who was seated upon the golden throne took hold of the hand of Rustem, and filling up a goblet with wine, gave another to his guest, and asked him at whose command or suggestion he was in search of Kai-kobád. Rustem replied, that he was sent by his father Zál, and frankly communicated to him the special object they had in view. The young man, delighted with the information, immediately discovered himself, acknowledged that he was Kai-kobád, and then Rustem respectfully hailed him as the sovereign of Persia.

The banquet was resumed again—And, hark, the softly warbled strain,As harp and flute, in union sweet,The voices of the singers meet.The black-eyed damsels now displayTheir art in many an amorous lay;And now the song is loud and clear,And speaks of Rustem’s welcome here.“This is a day, a glorious day,That drives ungenial thoughts away;This is a day to make us glad,Since Rustem comes for Kai-kobád;O, let us pass our time in glee,And talk of Jemshid’s majesty,The pomp and glory of his reign,And still the sparkling goblet drain.—Come, Sakí, fill the wine-cup high,And let not even its brim be dry;For wine alone has power to partThe rust of sorrow from the heart.Drink to the king, in merry mood,Since fortune smiles, and wine is good;Quaffing red wine is better farThan shedding blood in strife, or war;Man is but dust, and why should heBecome a fire of enmity?Drink deep, all other cares resign.For what can vie with ruby wine?”

In this manner ran the song of the revellers. After which, and being rather merry with wine, Kai-kobád told Rustem of the dream that had induced him to descend from his place of refuge on Alberz, and to prepare a banquet on the occasion. He dreamt the night before that two white falcons from Persia

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