
Zal Burns the Simorgh's Feather
From C8.25, The Simorgh Comes to Rostam’s Aid. It illustrates C8.25.1–10:
- C8.25.1When all three fixed upon that bold design,Zal climbed a height beneath the starlight’s shine.
- C8.25.2Three censers full of fire he bore that night;Three watchful, valiant men climbed to the height.
- C8.25.3Upon the summit, spell-wise Zal now stayed,And drew the feather from its rich brocade.
- C8.25.4He lit a censer’s fire amid the gloom,And burned a portion of the Simorgh’s plume.
- C8.25.5A watch of that dark night had passed; on highA cloud as black as iron filled the sky.
- C8.25.6The bird looked down from heaven toward the height,And saw the fire below her burning bright.
- C8.25.7Zal sat before it, sunk in grief and woe;The troubled bird came down to earth below.
- C8.25.8Zal came before her, aloeswood to bear,And offered praise and bowed his head in prayer.
- C8.25.9He filled three censers with their fragrant store;Down both his cheeks his liver’s blood would pour.
- C8.25.10The Simorgh said, “O king, what grief or fearHas made you burn my plume to call me here?”
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