Fereydoon and His Sons · A6.13

Fereydoon Receives the Tragic News

A royal welcome becomes a funeral procession. The father’s grief destroys the garden of joy and turns into a prayer for an avenger.

F&R English · 48 couplets · 5 commentary entries

Parallel text ↓Commentary ↓

The chapter in five texts

Text	Chapter treatment and distinctive choices
F&R English	Forty-eight couplets preserve the reversal from welcome to funeral and the father’s turn toward vengeance.
Moscow	The mourning sequence develops from the head’s arrival to a prayer for a descendant avenger.
Mohl	Pp 81–83 sustain the ritual details, burned garden and prolonged lament.
Ganjoor	Sh11 has 50 couplets; English combines several concluding descriptions while expanding emotional beats.
Khaleghi	The main-text mourning includes bodily and visual affliction as well as the prayer for revenge.

Parallel text

English left · Persian right. Ganjoor is the reference except where a row names a printed source. Select a number to open the relevant note. G identifiers distinguish digital sections across chapter boundaries.

1–10+

Fereydoon watched the road with both eyes set,

While crown and army yearned to greet him yet.

The time had come when Iraj should return,

Yet what had happened, how could father learn?

He had prepared a turquoise throne, and strung

New jewels on the crown for one so young.

The people stood in readiness to greet,

Their king with wine and song and music sweet.

They called tabiras, elephants in line,

And dressed the land in splendor and design.

Both Shah and army sat their steeds and gazed,

When on the road a darkening dust was raised.

From that dark dust a dromedary came,

Its rider bowed with grief, his heart aflame.

He raised a cry; his grieving heart was torn,

A golden casket at his side was borne.

Within the golden casket silk was spread,

And in its folds lay Iraj’s severed head.

With wail and sigh, his face gone sickly pale,

He came before Fereydoon with the tale.

فریدون نهاده دو دیده به راه

سپاه و کلاه آرزومند شاه

چو هنگام برگشتن شاه بود

پدر زان سخن خود کی آگاه بود

همی شاه را تخت پیروزه ساخت

همی تاج را گوهر اندر نشاخت

پذیره شدن را بیاراستند

می و رود و رامشگران خواستند

تبیره ببردند و پیل از درش

ببستند آذین به هر کشورش

به زین اندرون بود شاه و سپاه

یکی گرد تیره برآمد ز راه

هیونی برون آمد از تیره گرد

نشسته برو سوگواری به درد

خروشی برآورد دل سوگوار

یکی زر تابوتش اندر کنار

به تابوت زر اندرون پرنیان

نهاده سر ایرج اندر میان

ابا ناله و آه و با روی زرد

به پیش فریدون شد آن شوخ مرد

Ganjoor · f11:1-10

11–19+

They thought his dreadful tale could not be so,

And raised the golden lid in fear and woe.

They drew the silken folds away in dread,

And there before them lay young Iraj’s head.

Fereydoon fell from horseback to the ground,

The army tore their robes; a wail went round.

Their faces black, their staring eyes went white,

For they had hoped to see another sight.

So came the young king home from his long ride;

The waiting army turned, its gladness died.

With banners torn and every koust laid low,

The nobles’ faces blackened in their woe.

They blackened elephants, tabiras too,

And stained the Arab horses mourning-blue.

The Shah and army walked the road instead,

And cast the mourning dust upon each head.

The champions cried in agony and tore

Their flesh for that brave prince they saw no more.

ز تابوت زر تخته برداشتند

که گفتار او خوار پنداشتند

ز تابوت چون پرنیان برکشید

سر ایرج آمد بریده پدید

بیافتاد ز اسپ آفریدون به خاک

سپه سر به سر جامه کردند چاک

سیه شد رخ و دیدگان شد سپید

که دیدن دگرگونه بودش امید

چو خسرو بران‌گونه آمد ز راه

چنین بازگشت از پذیره سپاه

دریده درفش و نگونسار کوس

رخ نامداران به رنگ آبنوس

تبیره سیه کرده و روی پیل

پراکنده بر تازی اسپانش نیل

پیاده سپهبد پیاده سپاه

پر از خاک سر برگرفتند راه

خروشیدن پهلوانان به درد

کنان گوشت تن را بران رادمرد

Ganjoor · f11:11-19

20–29+

Such is the turning sky’s way with mankind:

It shows its face, then leaves no trace behind.

Do not trust Time or take its love for true;

No straightness from a bending bow is due.

Call Time your foe; it shows a loving face;

Call Time your friend; it hides away its grace.

One counsel I will offer, plain and whole:

Wash love of this world clean out of your soul.

Heart-scorched, both Shah and army cried in woe,

Then turned toward the garden Iraj used to know.

There once the royal festivals were held,

And banquet joy through all the garden swelled.

Fereydoon bore the young king’s head in pain,

And entered, staggering beneath the strain.

He looked upon the royal throne with dread,

And saw no crown above the severed head.

The royal pool and cypress met his eye,

Flowering tree, willow, quince stood nearby.

He found the nobles’ festive ground laid bare,

Black dust rose high to Saturn through the air.

برین گونه گردد به ما بر سپهر

بخواهد ربودن چو بنمود چهر

مبر خود به مهر زمانه گمان

نه نیکو بود راستی در کمان

چو دشمنش گیری نمایدت مهر

و گر دوست خوانی نبینیش چهر

یکی پند گویم ترا من درست

دل از مهر گیتی ببایدت شست

سپه داغ دل شاه با های و هوی

سوی باغ ایرج نهادند روی

به روزی کجا جشن شاهان بدی

وزان پیشتر بزمگاهان بدی

فریدون سر شاه پور جوان

بیامد ببر برگرفته نوان

بر آن تخت شاهنشهی بنگرید

سر شاه را نزدر تاج دید

همان حوض شاهان و سرو سهی

درخت گلفشان و بید و بهی

تهی دید از آزادگان جشنگاه

به کیوان برآورده گرد سیاه

Ganjoor · f11:20-29

30–39+

He tore his hair and wounded his own face,

While tears poured down within that ruined place.

He bound a blood-red girdle round his frame,

And set the royal dwelling all aflame.

He tore the rose beds up, burned cypress trees,

And closed joy’s eye, renouncing every ease.

He cradled Iraj’s head against his breast,

Then turned toward Yazdan with his request:

“O righteous Judge, behold this guiltless one;

Look on the innocent; see what they have done.

His severed head lies here, exposed and bare;

His body, torn by lions, lies elsewhere.

Burn both those unjust hearts till all their light

Is gone, and every day they see is night.

Brand both their livers with so deep a scar

That beasts will pity what their torments are.

O radiant Lord, one boon I ask of you:

Grant me enough of life to see it through.

Let one renowned from Iraj’s seed arise,

And gird for vengeance there before my eyes.

همی سوخت باغ و همی خست روی

همی ریخت اشک و همی کند موی

میان را به زنار خونین ببست

فکند آتش اندر سرای نشست

گلستانش برکند و سروان بسوخت

به یکبارگی چشم شادی بدوخت

نهاده سر ایرج اندر کنار

سر خویشتن کرد زی کردگار

همی گفت کای داور دادگر

بدین بی‌گنه کشته اندر نگر

به خنجر سرش کنده در پیش من

تنش خورده شیران آن انجمن

دل هر دو بیداد از آن سان بسوز

که هرگز نبینند جز تیره روز

به داغی جگرشان کنی آژده

که بخشایش آرد بریشان دده

همی خواهم از روشن کردگار

که چندان زمان یابم از روزگار

که از تخم ایرج یکی نامور

بیاید برین کین ببندد کمر

چو دیدم چنین زان سپس شایدم

اگر خاک بالا بپیمایدم

Ganjoor · f11:30-40

40–48+

Once I have seen that day, then let it be:

Let earth rise up and close itself on me.”

So long he wept in anguish, day by day,

That grass grew round him where in grief he lay.

The earth his bed, the dust beneath his head,

His world-beholding eyes grew dark with dread.

He closed his court, yet still would call and cry:

“O valiant youth, why did you have to die?

No crowned king has been slain as you were slain,

O famed young prince, the source of all my pain.

Ahriman has severed your noble head;

The lions’ mouths became your shroud instead.”

His cries rose bitter, tears would never cease,

And robbed each beast of slumber and of peace.

Throughout the realm, both women and the men,

With tear-filled eyes and blood-filled hearts met then.

So many days they passed beneath grief’s breath,

That all of life itself seemed only death.

برین‌گونه بگریست چندان بزار

همی تا گیا رستش اندر کنار

زمین بستر و خاک بالین او

شده تیره روشن جهان‌بین او

در بار بسته گشاده زبان

همی گفت کای داور راستان

کس از تاجداران بدین‌سان نمرد

که مُرده‌ست این نامبردار گُرد

سرش را بریده به زار اهرمن

تنش را شده کام شیران کفن

خروشی به زاری و چشمی پرآب

ز هر دام و دد برده آرام و خواب

سراسر همه کشورش مرد و زن

به هر جای کرده یکی انجمن

همه دیده پرآب و دل پر ز خون

نشسته به تیمار و گرم اندرون

همه جامه کرده کبود و سیاه

نشسته به اندوه در سوگ شاه

چه مایه چنین روز بگذاشتند

همه زندگی مرگ پنداشتند

Ganjoor · f11:41-50

Narrative and poetic form

The chapter is strong because grief changes the father’s world instead of merely producing an isolated lament. The note on sight is essential connective tissue: the reader needs to recognize what the later restoration heals.

Couplet commentary

Quoted text · evidence · interpretation

1–10An expected return

1–10

Fereydoon watched the road with both eyes set,

While crown and army yearned to greet him yet.

The time had come when Iraj should return,

Yet what had happened, how could father learn?

He had prepared a turquoise throne, and strung

New jewels on the crown for one so young.

The people stood in readiness to greet,

Their king with wine and song and music sweet.

They called tabiras, elephants in line,

And dressed the land in splendor and design.

Both Shah and army sat their steeds and gazed,

When on the road a darkening dust was raised.

From that dark dust a dromedary came,

Its rider bowed with grief, his heart aflame.

He raised a cry; his grieving heart was torn,

A golden casket at his side was borne.

Within the golden casket silk was spread,

And in its folds lay Iraj’s severed head.

With wail and sigh, his face gone sickly pale,

He came before Fereydoon with the tale.

فریدون نهاده دو دیده به راه

سپاه و کلاه آرزومند شاه

چو هنگام برگشتن شاه بود

پدر زان سخن خود کی آگاه بود

همی شاه را تخت پیروزه ساخت

همی تاج را گوهر اندر نشاخت

پذیره شدن را بیاراستند

می و رود و رامشگران خواستند

تبیره ببردند و پیل از درش

ببستند آذین به هر کشورش

به زین اندرون بود شاه و سپاه

یکی گرد تیره برآمد ز راه

هیونی برون آمد از تیره گرد

نشسته برو سوگواری به درد

خروشی برآورد دل سوگوار

یکی زر تابوتش اندر کنار

به تابوت زر اندرون پرنیان

نهاده سر ایرج اندر میان

ابا ناله و آه و با روی زرد

به پیش فریدون شد آن شوخ مرد

Ganjoor · f11:1-10

Textual evidence

Preparations for welcoming Iraj and the first signs of the dreadful arrival establish the reversal.

Interpretation

The English preserves delayed recognition. The reader knows what the father does not, so the ceremonial preparation becomes painful dramatic irony rather than redundant pageantry.

Return to parallel text

11–19The head and public mourning

11–19

They thought his dreadful tale could not be so,

And raised the golden lid in fear and woe.

They drew the silken folds away in dread,

And there before them lay young Iraj’s head.

Fereydoon fell from horseback to the ground,

The army tore their robes; a wail went round.

Their faces black, their staring eyes went white,

For they had hoped to see another sight.

So came the young king home from his long ride;

The waiting army turned, its gladness died.

With banners torn and every koust laid low,

The nobles’ faces blackened in their woe.

They blackened elephants, tabiras too,

And stained the Arab horses mourning-blue.

The Shah and army walked the road instead,

And cast the mourning dust upon each head.

The champions cried in agony and tore

Their flesh for that brave prince they saw no more.

ز تابوت زر تخته برداشتند

که گفتار او خوار پنداشتند

ز تابوت چون پرنیان برکشید

سر ایرج آمد بریده پدید

بیافتاد ز اسپ آفریدون به خاک

سپه سر به سر جامه کردند چاک

سیه شد رخ و دیدگان شد سپید

که دیدن دگرگونه بودش امید

چو خسرو بران‌گونه آمد ز راه

چنین بازگشت از پذیره سپاه

دریده درفش و نگونسار کوس

رخ نامداران به رنگ آبنوس

تبیره سیه کرده و روی پیل

پراکنده بر تازی اسپانش نیل

پیاده سپهبد پیاده سپاه

پر از خاک سر برگرفتند راه

خروشیدن پهلوانان به درد

کنان گوشت تن را بران رادمرد

Ganjoor · f11:11-19

Textual evidence

The opened container reveals the head. Ganjoor speaks of the father’s eyes becoming white, followed by torn standards, reversed drums, blackened elephants, indigo on horses and a dismounted army.

Interpretation

These specific ritual colors and inverted royal objects deserve to remain particular. The source’s eye-language also prepares the restoration of sight at Manuchehr’s birth; it should not be reduced throughout to a metaphor for sadness.

Return to parallel text

20–29The unfaithful world and the empty garden

20–29

Such is the turning sky’s way with mankind:

It shows its face, then leaves no trace behind.

Do not trust Time or take its love for true;

No straightness from a bending bow is due.

Call Time your foe; it shows a loving face;

Call Time your friend; it hides away its grace.

One counsel I will offer, plain and whole:

Wash love of this world clean out of your soul.

Heart-scorched, both Shah and army cried in woe,

Then turned toward the garden Iraj used to know.

There once the royal festivals were held,

And banquet joy through all the garden swelled.

Fereydoon bore the young king’s head in pain,

And entered, staggering beneath the strain.

He looked upon the royal throne with dread,

And saw no crown above the severed head.

The royal pool and cypress met his eye,

Flowering tree, willow, quince stood nearby.

He found the nobles’ festive ground laid bare,

Black dust rose high to Saturn through the air.

برین گونه گردد به ما بر سپهر

بخواهد ربودن چو بنمود چهر

مبر خود به مهر زمانه گمان

نه نیکو بود راستی در کمان

چو دشمنش گیری نمایدت مهر

و گر دوست خوانی نبینیش چهر

یکی پند گویم ترا من درست

دل از مهر گیتی ببایدت شست

سپه داغ دل شاه با های و هوی

سوی باغ ایرج نهادند روی

به روزی کجا جشن شاهان بدی

وزان پیشتر بزمگاهان بدی

فریدون سر شاه پور جوان

بیامد ببر برگرفته نوان

بر آن تخت شاهنشهی بنگرید

سر شاه را نزدر تاج دید

همان حوض شاهان و سرو سهی

درخت گلفشان و بید و بهی

تهی دید از آزادگان جشنگاه

به کیوان برآورده گرد سیاه

Ganjoor · f11:20-29

Textual evidence

Narratorial counsel interrupts the procession, which then reaches the former feast-place. The father sees its throne, crown, pool and trees without the son who gave them meaning.

Interpretation

The English retains the change from public spectacle to intimate absence. The earlier architecture of prosperous rule has become a structure of loss, making the setting part of the tragedy.

Return to parallel text

30–39The father’s destructive prayer

30–39

He tore his hair and wounded his own face,

While tears poured down within that ruined place.

He bound a blood-red girdle round his frame,

And set the royal dwelling all aflame.

He tore the rose beds up, burned cypress trees,

And closed joy’s eye, renouncing every ease.

He cradled Iraj’s head against his breast,

Then turned toward Yazdan with his request:

“O righteous Judge, behold this guiltless one;

Look on the innocent; see what they have done.

His severed head lies here, exposed and bare;

His body, torn by lions, lies elsewhere.

Burn both those unjust hearts till all their light

Is gone, and every day they see is night.

Brand both their livers with so deep a scar

That beasts will pity what their torments are.

O radiant Lord, one boon I ask of you:

Grant me enough of life to see it through.

Let one renowned from Iraj’s seed arise,

And gird for vengeance there before my eyes.

همی سوخت باغ و همی خست روی

همی ریخت اشک و همی کند موی

میان را به زنار خونین ببست

فکند آتش اندر سرای نشست

گلستانش برکند و سروان بسوخت

به یکبارگی چشم شادی بدوخت

نهاده سر ایرج اندر کنار

سر خویشتن کرد زی کردگار

همی گفت کای داور دادگر

بدین بی‌گنه کشته اندر نگر

به خنجر سرش کنده در پیش من

تنش خورده شیران آن انجمن

دل هر دو بیداد از آن سان بسوز

که هرگز نبینند جز تیره روز

به داغی جگرشان کنی آژده

که بخشایش آرد بریشان دده

همی خواهم از روشن کردگار

که چندان زمان یابم از روزگار

که از تخم ایرج یکی نامور

بیاید برین کین ببندد کمر

چو دیدم چنین زان سپس شایدم

اگر خاک بالا بپیمایدم

Ganjoor · f11:30-40

Textual evidence

Fereydoon burns his own garden and residence, tears his face and hair, and prays to see an avenger descend from Iraj. The source explicitly asks that the killers suffer.

Interpretation

This is grief destroying the place of joy, not another enemy attack. The vengeance prayer sharply differs from Iraj’s renunciation. The English should be allowed that conflict rather than making father and son spokesmen for one uniform policy.

Return to parallel text

40–48Grief and damaged sightContinuity of sight

40–48

Once I have seen that day, then let it be:

Let earth rise up and close itself on me.”

So long he wept in anguish, day by day,

That grass grew round him where in grief he lay.

The earth his bed, the dust beneath his head,

His world-beholding eyes grew dark with dread.

He closed his court, yet still would call and cry:

“O valiant youth, why did you have to die?

No crowned king has been slain as you were slain,

O famed young prince, the source of all my pain.

Ahriman has severed your noble head;

The lions’ mouths became your shroud instead.”

His cries rose bitter, tears would never cease,

And robbed each beast of slumber and of peace.

Throughout the realm, both women and the men,

With tear-filled eyes and blood-filled hearts met then.

So many days they passed beneath grief’s breath,

That all of life itself seemed only death.

برین‌گونه بگریست چندان بزار

همی تا گیا رستش اندر کنار

زمین بستر و خاک بالین او

شده تیره روشن جهان‌بین او

در بار بسته گشاده زبان

همی گفت کای داور راستان

کس از تاجداران بدین‌سان نمرد

که مُرده‌ست این نامبردار گُرد

سرش را بریده به زار اهرمن

تنش را شده کام شیران کفن

خروشی به زاری و چشمی پرآب

ز هر دام و دد برده آرام و خواب

سراسر همه کشورش مرد و زن

به هر جای کرده یکی انجمن

همه دیده پرآب و دل پر ز خون

نشسته به تیمار و گرم اندرون

همه جامه کرده کبود و سیاه

نشسته به اندوه در سوگ شاه

چه مایه چنین روز بگذاشتند

همه زندگی مرگ پنداشتند

Ganjoor · f11:41-50

Textual evidence

The closing source passage prolongs mourning, darkens the eyes and clothes the country in blue and black. English 42’s “eyes ... dark with dread” gives an emotional formulation where the sequence also implies loss of sight.

Interpretation

The later prayer and miracle in A6.15 make the physical dimension explicit. A note supplies continuity without requiring a repair to the present verse. The lions eating the body are part of the father’s lamented account; they should not be multiplied into a newly narrated recovery scene.

Return to parallel text

Chapter source record

English original ↗ Ganjoor f11 ↗ Moscow p 106 ↗ Moscow p 107 ↗ Moscow p 108 ↗ Moscow p 109 ↗ Moscow p 110 ↗ Mohl p 81 ↗ Mohl p 82 ↗ Mohl p 83 ↗ Khaleghi p 120 ↗ Khaleghi p 121 ↗ Khaleghi p 122 ↗ Khaleghi p 123 ↗ Khaleghi p 124 ↗