بخش 5

When a part of the dark night had passed and the morning star turned in the sky, the door to the bedchamber softly opened, revealing a secret. A servant entered holding a scented candle, approaching the hero's bedside. Behind the curtain appeared a moon-faced beauty, radiant and fragrant like the sun. Her eyebrows were like bows, her hair like a lasso, and she was tall as a cypress tree. Her spirit was wise, her body pure; she seemed not of this earth. Rustam, the Lion-Hearted, was amazed by her and praised the Creator. He asked her, "What is your name? What do you seek in the dark night? What is your desire?" She replied, "I am Tahmineh. You could say I am torn in two by sorrow. I am the daughter of the King of Samangan, descended from lions and leopards. There is no one like me in the world, and few under the blue sky match my beauty. No one has ever seen me outside my curtain, nor heard my voice. I have heard many stories about you from everyone, like legends: that you fear no lion, demon, crocodile, or leopard, and have such sharp claws. You go alone into Turan at night, roam the borders, and never sleep. You roast a whole wild ass alone and make the air weep with your sword. Anyone who sees your mace in hand, even the heart of a lion or the claws of a leopard would tear apart. When an eagle sees your naked sword, it dares not hunt. The lion bears the mark of your lasso, and clouds rain blood from fear of your spear. Hearing these stories, I have bitten my lip in longing for you. I desired your shoulders and chest, and now God has brought you to this city. I am yours now if you want me; no one else shall see me but the fish and the birds. I have become like this for you, killing my reason for the sake of passion. Secondly, I hope that God will grant me a son from you, who will be like you in strength and power. Thirdly, I will find your horse and bring all of Samangan under my command." When Rustam saw such a fairy-faced woman and found her wise, and since she gave news of Rakhsh, he saw nothing but a good outcome. He ordered a wise priest to go and ask her father for her hand. The King was overjoyed to hear this, feeling free as a cypress. He gave his daughter to the hero according to custom and law. He arranged their union with pleasure and approval. Everyone, young and old, rejoiced when he gave his daughter to the hero. They scattered much gold in happiness and praised the hero, saying, "May this new moon be blessed for you, and may the heads of your enemies be severed." When she became his partner and shared his secret, that long dark night passed. As the shining sun was about to cast its lasso from the high sky, there was a bead on Rustam's arm that was famous in the world. He gave it to her and said, "Keep this. If fate brings you a daughter, sew it into her hair as a good omen. And if the stars bring a son, tie it to his arm as a sign of his father. He will be like Sam Nariman in stature and will have the noble nature of the generous. He will bring down the flying eagle from the clouds, and the sun will not shine as fiercely as him." He stayed with the moon-faced beauty that night, talking of many things. When the shining sun rose in the sky and adorned the earth with light, he embraced her to say farewell, kissing her eyes and head many times. The fairy-faced woman left him weeping, joined by sorrow and pain. The noble King came to Rustam and asked about his sleep and rest. Then he gave him the good news about Rakhsh, which gladdened the Crown-Bestower's heart. He went, rubbed Rakhsh down, saddled him, and was happy with his horse and the King.