| TAHMURAS Page 5
Chapter 3 TAHMURAS - THE BINDER OF THE DIV Tahmuras Ruled for Thirty Years
Tahmuras Ascends the Throne, Invents New Arts, Subdues the Divs and Dies :
Hushang possessed a wise and noble son Hight Tahmuras - the Binder of the Div - Who took the throne and girt his loins to rule, Then called the archmages and in gracious words Said: "Throne and palace, crown and mace and cap Are mine to-day, and when my rede hath purged The world a mountain-top shall be my footstool. I will restrain the Div, will reign supreme, And use the useful for the common gold." He sheared the flocks, and men began to spin; He thus invented clothes and draperies. He chose the swiftest quadrupeds and made them To feed on barley, grass, and hay; he noted The shyest of the beasts of prey, and chose The jackal and the cheetah, luring them From hill and plain, and taught them to obey him. Among the well-armed birds he chose the hawk And noble falcon, and began to tame them While men looked on amazed. His orders were To rear the birds and speak to them with kindness. He brought the cocks and hens to crow at drumbeat, And turned all hidden properties to use. He said: "Address your prayers and praise to Him Who made the world, and us to rule the beasts Praise be to Him, for He directed us." He had a famed and honest minister By name Shidasp, an upright man who took No step unless toward justice. Through the day He fasted, through the night he prayed, and lived In charity with all. The Shah's good fortune Was his sole wealth, ill doers he restrained And taught the Shah all good, acknowledging No rank but excellence till Tahmuras, Purged of his faults and glorious with the Grace, Bound Ahriman with spells and rode him horsewise At whiles around the world. Thereat the divs Rebelled and held a conclave, for their throne Of gold was void. When Tahmuras was ware He was enraged and spoiled their trafficking, Girt him with Grace and took his massive mace. Then all the divs and warlocks sallied forth - A huge magician host.
The Black Div led them And vapoured, while their shouts affronted heaven. It darkened, earth turned sable and all eyes Grew dim. The illustrious worldlord Tahmuras Advanced girt up for battle and revenge. There were the roar of flame and reek of divs, Here were the warriors of the lord of earth, Who ranked his troops and speedily prevailed, For of the foe he bound the most by spells And quelled the others with his massive mace. The captives bound and stricken begged their lives. "Destroy us not," they said, "and we will teach thee A new and fruitful art." He gave them quarter To learn their secret. When they were released They had to serve him, lit his mind with knowledge And taught him how to write some thirty scripts Such as the Ruman, Persian, Arabic, Sughdi, Chini, and Pahlavi, and thus Delineate sounds. How many better arts Explored he in a reign of thirty years, Yet passed away! His time of life was spent And all his toils became his monument. O world! caress not those whom thou wilt soon Cut off, for such caressing is no boon; Thou raisest one to very heaven on high, Then biddest him in sorry dust to lie.
Source :
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