MIRTÁS-TÁZÍ, AND HIS SON ZOHÁK
THE old historians relate that Mirtás was the name of a king of the Arabs; and that he had a thousand animals which gave milk, and the milk of these animals he always distributed in charity among the poor. God was pleased with his goodness, and accordingly increased his favor upon him.
Of balmy milk, with which the generous king
Nourished the indigent and helpless poor.
Mirtás had a son called Zohák, who possessed ten thousand Arab horses, or Tazís, upon which account he was surnamed Bíwurasp; bíwur meaning ten thousand, and asp a horse. One day Iblís, the Evil Spirit, appeared to Zohák in the disguise of a good and virtuous man, and conversed with him in the most agreeable manner.
Suspected not the speaker’s truth;
But praised the sweet impassioned strain,
And asked him to discourse again.
Iblís replied, that he was master of still sweeter converse, but he could not address it to him, unless he first entered into a solemn compact, and engaged never on any pretence to divulge his secret.
Assented to the oath, and bound himself
Never to tell the secret; all he wished
Was still to hear the good man’s honey words.
But as soon as the oath was taken, Iblís said to him: “Thy father has become old and worthless, and thou art young, and wise, and valiant. Let him no longer stand in thy way, but kill him; the robes of sovereignty are ready, and better adapted for thee.”
Heard what the stranger now designed;
