The Persian Literature, Comprising The Shah Nameh, The Rubaiyat, The Divan, and The Gulistan, Volume 1

A certain amount of romantic interest has always attached to Persia. With a continuous history stretching back into those dawn-days of history in which fancy loves to play, the...

"Listen awhile, if justice be thy aim, And thou wilt find me guiltless. I was sent From Persia to destroy herds of wild boars, Which laid the country waste. That labour done, I...

And lately, by the Tavern Door agape, Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder; and He bid me taste of it; and 'twas--the Grape!

My heart has burned, but to ambition, the aim, still wished for, is denied: These tears that tinged with blood are flowing, if I could reach it, would be dried.

"I am thy servant, and twice sixty years Have seen my prowess. Mounted on my steed, Wielding my battle-axe, overthrowing heroes, Who equals Sám, the warrior? I destroyed The mig...

[Footnote 44: Rustem is as much distinguished for piety as bravery. Every success is attributed by him to the favor of Heaven. In the achievement of his labors in the Heft-Khan,...

When Iblís found that he had got Zohák completely in his power, he told him that, if he followed his counsel and advice implicitly, he would become the greatest monarch of the a...

When the particulars of this event were described to Afrásiyáb by Pírán-wísah, he was exceedingly sorrowful, and lamented deeply that Kai-khosráu had so successfully effected hi...

"Delays are ever dangerous--let us meet The foe betimes, this Rustem and the king, Kai-khosráu. If we linger in a cause Demanding instant action, prompt appliance, And rapid exe...

"Have I done wrong, done evil? None, but good. I gave ye kingdoms, that was not a crime; But if ye fear not me, at least fear God. My ebbing life approaches to an end, And the p...

Rustem was accustomed to go to Kábul every year to receive the tribute due to him; but on the last occasion, it is said that he exacted and took a higher rate than usual, and th...

Rustem having communicated to Kai-khosráu, through Fríburz, the account of his success, received the most satisfactory marks of his sovereign's applause; but still anxious to pr...

In consequence of this brilliant success, the king conferred additional honors on Gushtásp, who now began to display the ambition which he had long cherished. Aspiring to the so...

After this event Rishnawád sent to Húmaí intelligence of the victories he had gained, and of the surprising valor of Dáráb, transmitting to her the ruby as an evidence of his bi...

Thee I invoke, the Lord of Life and Light! Beyond imagination pure and bright! To thee, sufficing praise no tongue can give, We are thy creatures, and in thee we live! Thou art...

All fixed their gaze upon the captive king, Loaded with chains; his hands behind his back; The ponderous fetters passing from his neck Down to his feet; oppressed with shame he...

When the keeper of the forest saw the stranger and his horse, he went to Rustem, then asleep, and struck his staff violently on the ground, and having thus awakened the hero, he...

Fifth Stage.--On the fifth day, Isfendiyár resumed his journey, travelling with his little army over desert, plain, mountain, and wilderness, until he reached the neighborhood o...

Isfendiyár, however, was not contented with his mother's counsel, and suspecting that she would communicate to the king what he had said, he one day, as if under the influence o...

His hair was white as goose's wing, His cheek was like the rose of spring His form was straight as cypress tree-- But when the sire was brought to see That child with hair so si...

When the battle ceased Kárun fell back upon Dehstán, and communicated his misfortune to Nauder, who lamented the loss of Kobád, even more than that of Sám. In the morning Kárun...

The champion immediately requested his father's permission to go and fight Isfendiyár the following day, but the old man recommended reconciliation and peace. "That cannot be,"...

Upon the achievement of his victory, Kahram entered Balkh in triumph, made the people prisoners, and destroyed all the places of worship belonging to the Gubers. He also killed...

Suddenly intelligence was received that Afrásiyáb had assembled another army, for the purpose of making an irruption into Irán; and Káús, seeing that a Tartar could neither be b...

Afrásiyáb replied, "So it is;" and instantly urged his horse into the middle of the plain, where he loudly challenged Kai-khosráu to single combat, saying, "Why should we useles...

Zál beheld his son with amazement and delight. The Túránians left the fire-worshippers in possession of the field, and retreated towards the Jihún with precipitation, not a soun...

His faltering breath protracted speech denied: Still from his eye-lids flowed a gushing tide; Through Rustem's soul redoubled horror ran, Heart-rending thoughts subdued the migh...

Pírán with horror heard this stern command, And hasten'd to the king, and thus addressed him: "What! wouldst thou hurl thy vengeance on a woman, That woman, too, thy daughter? I...

Firdusi, Omar, Sa'di, Háfiz, are names of which any literature may be proud. None like unto them rose again in Persia, if we except the great Jami. At the courts of Sháh Abbas t...

"What, though there be a hundred thousand men Pitched against one, what use is there in numbers When Heaven is on my side: with Heaven my friend, The foe will soon be mingled wi...

"To thee all praise, whose mighty arm alone, Preserves the glory of the Persian throne! Lo! Tartar hordes our happy realms invade; The tottering state requires thy powerful aid;...

"Ah! say not thus; the Champion of the world, Shrink from the kindling war with banners furled! It cannot be! Say where his lightnings dart, Show me the warrior, all thou know's...

Ere from his lofty sphere the morn had thrown His glittering radiance, and in splendour shone, The mindful Champion, from his sinewy arm, His bracelet drew, the soul-ennobling c...

O Thou! the clement, the compassionate, We are thy servants, succor our distress, And save us from the sorcery that now Yields triumph to the foe. In thee alone We place our tru...

He then ordered his tents to be pitched in the desert, and opened his treasury, and for seven days made a sumptuous feast, and distributed food and money among the indigent, the...

At times I draw sighs from my heart, and at times, O my life, thy sharp dart: Can aught I may say represent all the ills I endure from my heart?