
The World-Revealing Cup Shows Bijan
From C2.13, The Cup Reveals Bijan. It illustrates C2.13.4–15 (to C2.13.16):
- C2.13.4The Shah then clothed himself in Roman dress,And stood before Yazdan, in humbleness.
- C2.13.5Before the World-Creator he cried loud,And on the sun laid praise, and praise, and bowed.
- C2.13.6He prayed for strength, for judgment’s cleansing flame,To break dark Ahriman’s malignant aim.
- C2.13.7Then to his throne he came in royal state,Put on Kayanian crown, and read his fate.
- C2.13.8He took the cup and gazed, and in its roundThe seven climes and heaven’s signs were found.
- C2.13.9Within its depths, in order, form, and scope,Appeared each act, decree, and mortal hope.
- C2.13.10From Pisces round to Aries, sign by sign,The zodiac appeared in one design.
- C2.13.11Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, the Lion’s glow;Venus and Mercury up, the Moon below.
- C2.13.12All that would come to pass lay there displayed;The World-Holder, enchanter, read and weighed.
- C2.13.13He scanned the seven climes for Bijan’s trace,But found no sign of him in any place.
- C2.13.14He came to Gorgasaran’s land at last,And by Yazdan’s command beheld him fast.
- C2.13.15Bound in a pit with heavy chains he lay,And, in his anguish, prayed to pass away.
In the picture
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