New Naqqali MangaIssue 3 · Rostam and Sohrab, Part Two: The FatherNew Naqqali MangaIssue 3 · Rostam and Sohrab, Part Two: The Father
Cover: Rostam on Rakhsh under his dragon banner, looking toward Turan, with the faint face of a young warrior in the clouds. New Naqqali, Issue 3: Rostam and Sohrab, Part Two: The Father.
What is New Naqqali? A note on the naqqal, the Persian coffeehouse storyteller, and how to read this issue.
Contents of the six sections, and Previously: Tahmineh, the birth of Sohrab, and his march on the White Fortress.
The cast: Rostam, Sohrab, Kay Kavus, Hajir, Giv, Tus, Gudarz and Zhendeh Razm.
Map: the plain below the White Fortress, where Kavus pitches his pavilion facing the Turanian camp.
Title page: Rostam and Sohrab, Part Two: The Father, with the first couplet of the section.
Colour page. Write to Rostam Now.
The Shah commanded: “Write to Rostam now,
And bless the Pahlevan of noble brow.
He Bars the Road. Mazandaran and Hamavaran.
He holds the stronghold with his warriors massed,
And bars the road so none may travel past.
You took Mazandaran in all its pride,
And broke our chains in Hamavaran’s tide.
Colour page. The Nile Is Nothing Beside Rakhsh's Dust.
The Nile is nothing beside Rakhsh’s dust,
That clouds the earth beneath his charging thrust.
They Chose Brave Giv. Do Not Stop to Smell the Flowers. The Sealed Letter. The Shah Commands.
They chose brave Giv to bring this news to you,
And urge the course that Iran must pursue.
If flowers rest within your hand, move fast;
Do not delay to smell them; hurry past.
The Shah then sealed the letter without stay,
And gave it into Giv’s hands straightaway.
Say: ‘War is near and presses hard on all;
The Shah commands that you obey this call.’
Colour page. No Bread, No Water, No Rest.
He pressed his mount along with tireless speed;
Nor bread nor water checked his urgent need.
A Rider Wrapped in Dust. Rostam Rides Out to Meet Him. Rostam's Eyvan.
“From Iran comes a rider wrapped in dust,
His road-worn steed still races at his thrust.”
When Giv drew close, they all got down to greet,
And Rostam asked what news had sped his feet.
They went within to Rostam’s eyvan hall,
And sat awhile to rest from journey’s call.
The Shah's Letter and Gifts. Tahamtan Laughed. The King of Samangan's Daughter Bore My Son.
He gave the letter, gifts the Shah had sent,
And told the good and ill of its intent.
Tahamtan laughed when he had read it through,
Then marveled at the report, strange and new.
The king of Samangan’s daughter bore my son,
But he is still a child, his years scarce run.
Still Milk's Scent on His Lip. He Hurled Hajir from His Steed. Come, Let Us Go to Dastan.
Still milk’s scent lingers on his youthful lip,
Yet soon he may take sword and spear in grip.
You say he hurled Hajir from off his steed,
Then bound him in his kamand at speed.
Come, let us go to Dastan’s noble hall,
And there consider what has caused it all.
Depart at Break of Day. Iran Has Need. Let Wine Now Wet Our Lips.
Kavus declared: ‘Let Rostam not delay;
Though night has come, depart at break of day.
So let us ride with haste; Iran has need,
For each delay may let disaster breed.”
Think not today of Kavus or the fight;
Let wine now wet our thirsty lips tonight.
My Banner Seen from Far. This Should Cause Us No Dismay.
My banner seen from far will shake his will,
And turn his feast to mourning, cold and still.
Such men would never rush into the fray;
So this affair should cause us no dismay.”
Colour page. To Zal and to the Shah.
They raised their cups to Zal and Shah with cheer,
And drank until clear judgment disappeared.
Then Changed His Mind. Rud and Song, as Days Before. On the Fourth Day Giv Prepared His Steed.
Next morning Rostam, heavy from the wine,
Made ready for the road, then changed his mind.
When food was done, they called for wine to pour,
For rud and song, and drank as days before.
Of Kavus and his summons none took heed;
But on the fourth day Giv prepared his steed.
Rakhsh Made Ready. Tus and Gudarz Ride Out. They Bowed Before the Shah.
He ordered Rakhsh made ready to depart,
While bronze neys called the warriors to start.
They left their steeds and hailed him with acclaim,
Then mounted, and beside him on they came.
They came before the Shah with spirits light,
And bowed in full observance of his right.
Kavus Answered Not. A Citron, Cast Away. Hang Him from the Height!.
But Kavus answered not, nor showed them grace;
A darkened fury settled on his face.
Were there a sword beneath my hand this day,
His head should fall; a citron, cast away.
Seize Rostam now! Go hang him from the height!
Let him not stand before my royal sight!”
Take Them Both and Bind!. Tus Seized Him by the Hand. No King Should Rule by Fury.
He turned to Tus: “Go take them both and bind!
Hang them at once and leave no trace behind!”
Tus stepped ahead and seized him by the hand,
To lead him out, obeying the command.
“Your every deed grows worse with each new choice;
No king should rule by fury in his voice.
You Live Through Me. Tus Crashed to Ground. He Left Before the Eyes of All.
You live through me; then turn your rage from me;
Let war receive the fury you set free.”
As when a raging elephant might pound
A tabira; headfirst Tus crashed to ground.
Then Rostam strode beyond the royal hall,
And left in rage before the eyes of all.
Colour page. I Slay the Lion; I Bestow the Crown.
He mounted Rakhsh, his anger bearing down:
“I slay the lion; I bestow the crown!
A Free Man, Not a Slave. My Sword My Signet, Helmet as My Crown. I Would Not Take the Crown.
I entered life a free man, not a slave;
I serve the Maker who my spirit gave.
My sword my signet, helmet as my crown;
My spear and gorz strike the enemy down.
I would not take the crown when it was mine;
I kept the ancient law, the royal line.
From Alborz I Brought Qobad. The Vulture's Wings Are Mine. He Rode in Burning Rage.
From Alborz I brought Qobad to the crown;
My hand raised up the king of great renown.
The land is yours; the vulture’s wings are mine;
I leave you now, and cross no more this line.”
He struck his steed and rode in burning rage,
While fear and grief possessed both chief and sage.
The Fold Stood Shepherdless. You Must Mend This Break. Who Broke His Chains in Mazandaran?.
For Rostam was the shepherd, they the fold,
And now the fold stood shepherdless and cold.
They turned to Gudarz: “You must mend this break;
Your words alone can make the blind Shah wake.
“In Mazandaran Divs had bound the Shah;
Who broke his chains and struck their hearts with awe?
He Set the Rescued Shah upon His Throne. Delay Will Deepen Shame. Gudarz Hurried to the Shah.
He set the rescued Shah upon his throne,
While chiefs acclaimed the valor he had shown.
“Now action calls; delay will deepen shame,
For this disgrace has stained Iran’s great name.”
Then Gudarz hurried to the Shah to plead,
And spoke with measured force that fit the need:
Who Meets That Wolf-Like Youth?. Who Drives Him Off Has Wisdom Cast Aside. He Saw His Fault.
If Rostam goes, who meets that wolf-like youth,
When Gazhdaham has warned us of the truth?
A king with Rostam standing at his side,
Who drives him off has wisdom cast aside.
The Shah grew still, and reason found its place;
He saw his fault and owned his deep disgrace.
Go Bring Him Back. Gudarz Rode Along the Hero's Way. Return in Honor.
“You speak the truth,” he said, “your counsel stands;
Go bring him back; restore him to my hands.
Then Gudarz rode along the hero’s way,
With chiefs beside him pressing through the day.
They gathered round and spoke in earnest tone:
“Return in honor; the Shah calls you home.
He Gnaws the Back of His Own Hand. My Throne Is Rakhsh.
He gnaws the back of his own hand in shame,
Repenting every word that fed the flame.”
But Rostam said: “I need no royal aid;
My throne is Rakhsh, my fame by battle made.
Colour page. I Fear but Yazdan.
I fear but Yazdan; no monarch shakes my will.
I stand as I have stood and shall stand still.”
No Answer Was Heard. Rostam Shrinks from Sohrab's Might. Sohrab Is All the Court Will Speak Of.
The gathering grew cold at Rostam’s word;
No answer through the silent ranks was heard.
They whisper: ‘Rostam shrinks from Sohrab’s might;
His courage fails before the coming fight.’
Sohrab is all the court will speak of now;
Your fame is judged by what you do, and how.
Tahamtan Stared. He Rode Back Through the Gate. I Filled My Mouth with Dust.
Tahamtan stared, astonished by the claim;
Then wounded honor kindled into flame.
He turned his steed and rode back through the gate,
Kay Kavus rose himself and did not wait.
Forgive my haste; repentance burns me sore,
I filled my mouth with dust upon the floor.”
Tonight We Feast, Tomorrow March. Weary Night Dragged On. Sound Now the Koust.
Let joy return and gladness fill this day;
Tonight we feast, tomorrow march to fray.”
Each wine-dazed warrior then sought his bed,
While weary night dragged on with heavy tread.
Kavus told Giv and Tus: “Sound now the koust;
Let trumpeting elephants thunder loose.”
The Treasury Opened Wide. A Hundred Thousand Mounted Men.
He opened wide the treasury’s guarded store,
And gave the troops their pay and rations more.
A hundred thousand mailed and mounted men
Set forth in ranks that stretched beyond the ken.
Like Fire Behind a Lapis Curtain. The Fortress Rose Ahead.
The khesht and zhupin flashed through dusty air,
Like fire behind a lapis curtain’s glare.
They marched until the fortress rose ahead;
Through dust, both stone and earth from sight had fled.
Colour page. Shoreless Rolls This Human Main.
He pointed toward the ranks that filled the plain:
“Look, Houman; shoreless rolls this human main.”
Cast Fear Out of Your Heart. Bring Me a Cup. The Shah's Pavilion Rose.
Then Sohrab said: “Cast fear out of your heart;
No worthy champion there can match my art.
He called the wine-server: “Bring me a cup,”
And drank, while battle waited to rise up.
Meanwhile before the fortress, on the plain,
The Shah’s pavilion rose above his train.
Tahamtan Came. Without a Helm or Belt.
Tahamtan came, his waist for battle bound,
With vengeance in his heart, his purpose sound.
Without a helm or belt I shall discern
The youth, his chiefs, and what command they earn.”
In Turk-Like Guise. Deeper Through the Festive Throng.
In Turk-like guise, concealed from watchful eyes,
He crossed the lines beneath the darkened skies.
He moved still deeper through the festive throng,
Where lamps were bright and cups and music strong.
Colour page. Like Some Fresh Cypress Sohrab Filled the Throne.
Like some fresh cypress Sohrab filled the throne,
In stature such as none around had shown.
No Peer Among Those Warriors. They Blessed the Fortune Shining Round Him. The Watchful Rostam.
His face was blood-red, youthful, fierce, and bright;
No peer among those warriors met his sight.
They praised his stature, sword, and signet ring,
And blessed the fortune shining round their king.
Apart, unseen, the watchful Rostam lay,
And marked the youth who ruled that bright display.
Show Him His Father. Who Are You, Stranger?. One Single Blow.
“When armies meet in battle on the field,
Show him his father before lots are sealed.”
Come to the light and let me see your face;
No unknown man walks freely through this place.”
Then Rostam struck one fist against his neck;
The blow allowed no warning and no check.
Watching Toward the Door. Zhendeh Razm Is Slain. Before That Lifeless Face.
Sohrab sat waiting, watching toward the door,
But Zhendeh did not cross the banquet floor.
They told Sohrab: “Zhendeh Razm is slain.”
Like smoke he rose and hurried through the train.
With servants, candles, minstrels to the place,
He stood in shock before that lifeless face.
A Wolf Has Entered Where Our Flock Was Penned. No Cup Could Make the Gathering the Same.
A wolf has entered where our flock was penned,
And tested dog and man from end to end.
The feast resumed, but joy had lost its flame;
No cup could make the gathering seem the same.
Rostam Laughed. How One Blow Had Slain.
But Rostam laughed and called to Giv nearby;
Giv knew his voice and lowered sword from high.
Then Rostam told him all that he had done,
And how one blow had slain the fallen one.
Sahm the Horseman's Form He Bears. Every Weapon Bared.
In all Iran or Turan none compares;
You would say Sahm the horseman’s form he bears.”
Yet all the while the army stood prepared,
In ordered ranks, with every weapon bared.
A Mighty Bay Charger. Coil on Coil.
Sohrab put on his jowshan, took his steed,
A mighty bay charger born for warlike speed.
His kamand hung in coil on coil below,
Prepared from saddle at the foe to throw.
Colour page. He Scanned the Spreading Plain.
He climbed a height and scanned the spreading plain,
Where Iran’s troops lay stretched in ordered chain.
The Straight Shaft Finds Its Target. Wealth or Chains. A Straight-Told Word.
A bending arrow strikes with weakened might;
The straight shaft finds its target in its flight.
I offer wealth beyond what kings bestow;
But crooked speech earns chains and prison’s woe.”
Why should I twist the truth that I can give?
A straight-told word is how the just must live.
Tell Me All That Can Be Told. A Turquoise Throne, a Sun-Marked Flag. The Shah Commands Those Halls.
Of Giv and Tus, of Gudarz, Bahram bold,
Of Rostam; tell me all that can be told.
A turquoise throne beneath the golden shine,
A sun-marked flag and golden moon align.
Who sits enthroned within those guarded walls?”
Hajir replied: “The Shah commands those halls.
An Elephant Upon Their Sign. Tus, of Nohzar's Kingly Vine.
An elephant is stamped upon their sign;
What chief commands beneath that battle line?”
“Tus,” Hajir said, “of Nohzar’s kingly vine;
His proven strength in war has made him shine.”
Lion Banners Blazing. Gudarz Directs That Stand.
“And there,” said Sohrab, “those red ranks I mark,
With lion banners blazing fierce and stark;
What chief commands that blazing battle band?”
Hajir replied: “Gudarz directs that stand.
A Giant Warrior Sits Among His Peers. The Charger Roars.
A throne is raised where Kaveh’s flag appears;
A giant warrior sits among his peers.
The charger roars until the ranks recoil;
You would think the sea beneath its feet would boil.
Colour page. A Dragon Marks the Banner.
A dragon marks the banner at his side;
What chief is this of such commanding pride?
Let Silence Guard the Strength. One from Chin Came as a Guest. His Mother's Signs Stood Plain.
Far better hide him than betray the land;
Let silence guard the strength at Iran’s hand.”
He answered: “One from Chin came as a guest,
A notable man the Shah received and blessed.”
Sohrab grew troubled, searching still in doubt;
His mother’s signs stood plain and all about.
A Wolf-Marked Banner. Rostam's Own Son-in-Law. One Sits High on Ivory Throne.
“Whose camp lies there,” he asked, “so far apart,
With wolf-marked banner raised above its heart?
Son of Gudarz, foremost of his line,
Rostam’s own son-in-law, in war he shines.”
Within, one sits high on ivory throne;
What prince is this whose rank is clearly shown?
The Shah's Own Son. A Boar Upon the Foremost Sign. The Signs His Father Bore.
Hajir replied: “There Fariborz you see,
The Shah’s own son of royal pedigree.”
A boar is stamped upon the foremost sign,
A silver moon crowns high the staff’s design.
Thus Sohrab sought the signs his father bore,
While Hajir hid it, as he had before.
A Man I Never Knew. That Chief of Chiefs Could Never Stay Concealed. He Feasts in Gardens Fair.
Hajir replied: “I hide no name from you;
That man from Chin is one I never knew.”
That chief of chiefs could never stay concealed;
His form would mark him out across the field.
Hajir replied: “He feasts in gardens fair,
With wine and song, and free of battle’s care.”
Then Shame Must Mark His Name. Your Life Will Fall Beneath My Hand. Once Freed, It Shines.
Sohrab said: “Then shame must mark his name;
He feasts while others march to meet the flame.
But if you hide the truth I now demand,
Your life will fall beneath my single hand.”
Still held within the stone, beyond all sight;
Once freed, it shines a jewel clear and bright.”
His Anvil-Breaking Gorz. He Towers Higher than a Lofty Tree. Such Fear Has Clouded Judgment.
His anvil-breaking gorz can crush a band;
Two hundred mighty bands fall at his hand.
He towers higher than a lofty tree;
No man beside him stands in symmetry.
You make a giant greater than mankind;
Such fear has clouded judgment in your mind.
The Sun Draws Forth Its Sword. Better I Die. None Will Leave My Blood upon the Plain.
And darkness sleeps when from the eastern height
The sun draws forth its sword of living light.”
Better I die than loose this hidden flame,
And bring on Iran everlasting shame.
Giv, Bahram, Rohham, Shidush will remain,
And none will leave my blood upon the plain.”
He Will Lay You Low. He Struck Hajir. He Cast His Golden Crown Aside.
Tahamtan will not yield beneath your blow;
Seek not his battle; he will lay you low.”
He struck Hajir and cast him to the ground,
Then stood in thought, by anger and purpose bound.
He girded up for vengeance, wrath his guide,
And cast his golden crown at once aside.
He Charged with Loosened Rein. He Struck the Shah's Pavilion. What Monstrous Champion?.
His blood ran hot with ardor through each vein;
He mounted fast and charged with loosened rein.
He struck the Shah’s pavilion, spear in hand,
And lifted up its canopy so grand.
They cried among themselves in anxious fear,
“What monstrous champion are we facing here?
How Fares Your Charge Today?. What Man Among You Dares?. Seventy Pegs at One Wrench.
“O king who claims the realm and holds command,
How fares your charge today? Where do you stand?
Now send your champion forth to meet my hand;
What man among you dares before me stand?”
He bent and tore the tent-pegs from the ground;
At one great wrench, seventy came unbound.
Go Bear This Word to Rostam. Kavus Summons Only Strife.
Go bear this word to Rostam, tell him straight:
A warrior comes who brings us bitter fate.
But Kavus summons only strife and pain;
No rest, no peace, but toil that yields no gain.”
Tus Brought the Bargostvan. Ahriman's Hand Is in This Fray.
Tus brought the bargostvan for Rakhsh to wear,
While every warrior armed and stood prepared.
He thought, “Ahriman’s hand is in this fray;
No single man could raise so wild an array.”
The Babr-e Bayan. Fierce for the Fight.
He donned his Babr-e Bayan for the fight,
And bound the Kayanian girdle tight.
They bore his standard as he rode to war,
Fierce for the fight, rage kindled long before.
Colour page. As Broad as Sahm.
He saw Sohrab’s great limbs and towering chest,
As broad as Sahm, in strength above the rest.
Age Has Drained the Force. Fair Youth, the Earth Is Cold.
Your frame is vast, your limbs and neck are strong,
But age has drained the force they bore so long.”
“Fair youth, the earth is cold and dry below,
Though words between us warm and gentle flow.
Do Not Throw Such a Noble Life Away. I Think That You Are Rostam.
Do not throw such a noble life away;
I have no wish to take your breath today.”
I think that you are Rostam, Zal’s great son,
Whose line from noble Nariman has run.”
I Am Not He.
But Rostam answered, “Do not make that claim;
I am not he, nor born of Zal’s great name.
Colour page. All the Brightness Faded.
Sohrab despaired; all former hope withdrawn,
And all the brightness faded from the dawn.
Afterword: the father’s part of the tale; Zhendeh Razm, Hajir and the hidden name; about this issue.
From the Poem: Rostam Slays Zhendeh Razm (B8.15), the full verse, couplets 1–20.
From the Poem: Rostam Slays Zhendeh Razm (B8.15), couplets 21–42.
From the Poem: Rostam Slays Zhendeh Razm (B8.15), couplets 43–60.
Glossary of words and names in this issue.
Next issue: Rostam and Sohrab, Part Three: The Tragedy. Credits.
Back cover: Sohrab alone at dusk on his dark bay, looking toward the Iranian camp.