
Farhad's Hand Is Crushed
From B5.8, Kavus’s Letter to Mazandaran. It illustrates B5.8.25–30:
- B5.8.25He chose his warriors one by one for might,And bade them show their prowess in his sight.
- B5.8.26“Let him behold what separates mankindFrom Divs whose strength leaves mortal force behind.
- B5.8.27Go meet him like the leopard on its prey,And let your Div-like strength his heart dismay.”
- B5.8.28They came in force and grimly closed him round,Their anger thick as storm-clouds on the ground.
- B5.8.29One seized his hand and crushed with savage force,Till pain through bone and sinew ran its course.
- B5.8.30Yet Farhad held his ground beneath the strain;His face showed neither pallor nor the pain.
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