Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/86

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52
FIRDUSI
And were not both spontaneous gifts from Heaven?Although the boy was hateful to thy sight,The grace of God has been bestowed upon him;And what is human tenderness and love.To Heaven’s protection? Thou to him wert cruel,But Heaven has blest him, shielding him from harm.

Sám screamed aloud in his sleep, and awoke greatly terrified. Without delay he went himself to Alberz, and ascended the mountain, and wept and prayed before the throne of the Almighty, saying:—

“If that forsaken child be truly mine,And not the progeny of Demon fell,O pity me! forgive the wicked deed,And to my eyes, my injured son restore.”

His prayer was accepted. The Simurgh, hearing the lamentations of Sám among his people, knew that he had come in quest of his son, and thus said to Zál:— “I have fed and protected thee like a kind nurse, and I have given thee the name of Dustán, like a father. Sám, the warrior, has just come upon the mountain in search of his child, and I must restore thee to him, and we must part.” Zál wept when he heard of this unexpected separation, and in strong terms expressed his gratitude to his benefactor; for the Wonderful Bird had not omitted to teach him the language of the country, and to cultivate his understanding, removed as they were to such a distance from the haunts of mankind. The Símurgh soothed him by assuring him that he was not going to abandon him to misfortune, but to increase his prosperity; and, as a striking proof of affection, gave him a feather from his own wing, with these instructions:—“Whenever thou art involved in difficulty or danger, put this feather on the fire, and I will instantly appear to thee to ensure thy safety. Never cease to remember me.

I have watched thee with fondness by day and by night,And supplied all thy wants with a father’s delight;O forget not thy nurse—still be faithful to me—And my heart will be ever devoted to thee.”

Zál immediately replied in a strain of gratitude and admiration; and then the Simurgh conveyed him to Sám, and said to

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