
Esfandiyar Shames Bahman in Court
From C8.10, Bahman Returns to Esfandiyar. It illustrates C8.10.21–32 (to C8.10.36):
- C8.10.21When Bahman reached the royal dwelling place,He stood before his father face to face.
- C8.10.22Then glorious Esfandiyar asked his son,“What answer have you from the peerless one?”
- C8.10.23Then Bahman sat and told what he had heard;He gave his father Rostam’s every word.
- C8.10.24He gave first Rostam’s greeting and reply,Then told what he had marked with careful eye.
- C8.10.25He told his father what his eyes had seen,Describing Rostam’s strength and mighty mien.
- C8.10.26“I never saw among the great or smallA man like Rostam, mightiest of all.
- C8.10.27He has a lion’s heart and elephant’s size;He pulls, and from the Nile its great beasts rise.
- C8.10.28He came, no jowshan, gorz, nor any traceOf helm or kamand, to the Hirmund’s place.
- C8.10.29He longs to see you; yet I cannot sayWhat purpose guides him on his chosen way.”
- C8.10.30Then Esfandiyar grew angry at his son,And shamed him in full court for what was done.
- C8.10.31He said, “A noble man should not confideHis secrets to a woman at his side.
- C8.10.32Send children on a weighty task and seeHow little strength and courage there will be.
In the picture
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