Persian Literature/Volume 1/The Sháh Námeh/Kavah, the Blacksmith

by Hakīm Abol-Qāsem Firdawsī Ṭūsī

KAVAH, THE BLACKSMITH

ZOHÁK having one day summoned together all the nobles and philosophers of the kingdom, he said to them: “I find that a young enemy has risen up against me; but notwithstanding his tender years, there is no safety even with an apparently insignificant foe. I hear, too, that though young, he is distinguished for his prowess and wisdom; yet I fear not him, but the change of fortune. I wish therefore to assemble a large army, consisting of Men, Demons, and Peris, that this enemy may be surrounded, and conquered. And, further, since a great enterprise is on the eve of being undertaken, it will be proper in future to keep a register or muster-roll of all the people of every age in my dominions, and have it revised annually.” The register, including both old and young, was accordingly prepared.

At that period there lived a man named Kavah, a blacksmith, remarkably strong and brave, and who had a large family. Upon the day on which it fell to the lot of two of his children to be killed to feed the serpents, he rose up with indignation in presence of the king, and said:

“Thou art the king, but wherefore on my head.Cast fire and ashes? If thou hast the formOf hissing dragon, why to me be cruel?Why give the brains of my beloved children.As serpent-food, and talk of doing justice?”

At this bold speech the monarch was dismayed,And scarcely knowing what he did, releasedThe blacksmith’s sons. How leapt the father’s heart,How warmly he embraced his darling boys!But now Zohák directs that Kavah’s nameShall be inscribed upon the register.Soon as the blacksmith sees it written there,Wrathful he turns towards the chiefs assembled,Exclaiming loud: “Are ye then men, or what,Leagued with a Demon!” All astonished heard,And saw him tear the hated register,And cast it under foot with rage and scorn.

Kavah having thus reviled the king bitterly, and destroyed the register of blood, departed from the court, and took his children along with him. After he had gone away, the nobles said to the king:

“Why should reproaches, sovereign of the world,Be thus permitted? Why the royal scrollTorn in thy presence, with a look and voiceOf proud defiance, by the rebel blacksmith?So fierce his bearing, that he seems to beA bold confederate of this Feridún.”Zohák replied: “I know not what o’ercame me,But when I saw him with such vehemenceOf grief and wild distraction, strike his forehead,Lamenting o’er his children, doomed to death,Amazement seized my heart, and chained my will.What may become of this, Heaven only knows,For none can pierce the veil of destiny.”

Kavah, meanwhile, with warning voice set forthWhat wrongs the nation suffered, and there cameMultitudes round him, who called out aloudFor justice! justice! On his javelin’s pointHe fixed his leathern apron for a banner,And lifting it on high, he went abroadTo call the people to a task of vengeance.Wherever it was seen crowds followed fast,Tired of the cruel tyranny they suffered.“Let us unite with Feridún,” he cried,“And from Zohák’s oppression we are free!”And still he called aloud, and all obeyedWho heard him, high and low. Anxious he soughtFor Feridún, not knowing his retreat:But still he hoped success would crown his search.

The hour arrived, and when he saw the youth,Instinctively he knew him, and thanked HeavenFor that good fortune. Then the leathern bannerWas splendidly adorned with gold and jewels,And called the flag of Kavah. From that timeIt was a sacred symbol; every kingIn future, on succeeding to the throne,Did honor to that banner, the true signOf royalty, in veneration held.

Feridún, aided by the directions and advice of the blacksmith, now proceeded against Zohák. His mother wept to see him depart, and continually implored the blessing of God upon him. He had two elder brothers, whom he took along with him. Desirous of having a mace formed like the head of a cow, he requested Kavah to make one of iron, and it was accordingly made in the shape he described. In his progress, he visited a shrine or place of pilgrimage frequented by the worshippers of God, where he besought inspiration and aid, and where he was taught by a radiant personage the mysteries of the magic art, receiving from him a key to every secret.

Bright beamed his eye, with firmer step he strode,His smiling cheek with warmer crimson glowed.

When his two brothers saw his altered mien, the pomp and splendor of his appearance, they grew envious of his good fortune, and privately meditated his fall. One day they found him asleep at the foot of a mountain, and they immediately went to the top and rolled down a heavy fragment of rock upon him with the intention of crushing him to death; but the clattering noise of the stone awoke him, and, instantly employing the knowledge of sorcery which had been communicated to him, the stone was suddenly arrested by him in its course. The brothers beheld this with astonishment, and hastening down the mountain, cried aloud: “We know not how the stone was loosened from its place: God forbid that it should have done any injury to Feridún.” Feridún, however, was well aware of this being the evil work of his brothers, but he took no notice of the conspiracy, and instead of punishing them, raised them to higher dignity and consequence.

They saw that Kavah directed the route of Feridún over the mountainous tracts and plains which lie contiguous to the banks of the Dijleh, or Tigris, close to the city of Bagdád. Upon reaching that river, they called for boats, but got no answer from the ferryman; at which Feridún was enraged, and immediately plunged, on horseback, into the foaming stream. All his army followed without delay, and with the blessing of God arrived on the other side in safety. He then turned toward the Bait-el-Mukaddus, built by Zohák. In the Pahlavi language it was called Kunuk-duz-mokt. The tower of this edifice was so lofty that it might be seen at the distance of many leagues, and within that tower Zohák had formed a talisman of miraculous virtues. Feridún soon overthrew this talisman, and destroyed or vanquished successively with his mace all the enchanted monsters and hideous shapes which appeared before him. He captured the whole of the building, and released all the black-eyed damsels who were secluded there, and among them Shahrnáz and Arnawáz, the two sisters of Jemshid before alluded to. He then ascended the empty throne of Zohák, which had been guarded by the talisman, and the Demons under his command; and when he heard that the tyrant had gone with an immense army toward Ind, in quest of his new enemy, and had left his treasury with only a small force at the seat of his government, he rejoiced, and appropriated the throne and the treasure to himself.

From their dark solitudes the Youth brought forthThe black-haired damsels, lovely as the sun,And Jemshíd’s sisters, long imprisoned there;And gladly did the inmates of that haremPour out their gratitude on being freedFrom that terrific monster; thanks to HeavenDevoutly they expressed, and ardent joy.

Feridún inquired of Arnawáz why Zohák had chosen the route towards Ind; and she replied, “For two reasons: the first is, he expects to encounter thee in that quarter; and if he fails, he will subdue the whole country, which is the seat of sorcery, and thus obtain possession of a renowned magician who can charm thee into his power.

He wishes to secure within his graspThat region of enchantment, Hindústan,And then obtain relief from what he feels;For night and day the terror of thy nameOppresses him, his heart is all on fire,And life is torture to him.”