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Zal Burns the Simorgh's Feather

Zal Burns the Simorgh's Feather

From C8.25, The Simorgh Comes to Rostam’s Aid. It illustrates C8.25.1–10:

  • C8.25.1
    When all three fixed upon that bold design,Zal climbed a height beneath the starlight’s shine.
  • C8.25.2
    Three censers full of fire he bore that night;Three watchful, valiant men climbed to the height.
  • C8.25.3
    Upon the summit, spell-wise Zal now stayed,And drew the feather from its rich brocade.
  • C8.25.4
    He lit a censer’s fire amid the gloom,And burned a portion of the Simorgh’s plume.
  • C8.25.5
    A watch of that dark night had passed; on highA cloud as black as iron filled the sky.
  • C8.25.6
    The bird looked down from heaven toward the height,And saw the fire below her burning bright.
  • C8.25.7
    Zal sat before it, sunk in grief and woe;The troubled bird came down to earth below.
  • C8.25.8
    Zal came before her, aloeswood to bear,And offered praise and bowed his head in prayer.
  • C8.25.9
    He filled three censers with their fragrant store;Down both his cheeks his liver’s blood would pour.
  • C8.25.10
    The Simorgh said, “O king, what grief or fearHas made you burn my plume to call me here?”

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