بخش 7

When the king finished his words, Zarir, the commander, and Esfandiyar drew their swords and declared: whoever throughout the world spurns the faith and refuses obedience—whoever will not come before the fortunate king nor gird the belt of respect before the radiant court, who ignores the straight path and the goodly religion—his life we will cut from his body with the sword, and his head we will hoist upon the high gallows. Zarir, Iran’s general, bold as a ravening lion, spoke nobly: O king of the world, grant me leave to answer the sorcerer Arjasp. Goshtasp approved and said: rise and answer him—make the chastisement of the Tegin nobles of Khallakh known. Zarir the noble and Esfandiyar, with Jamasp the pure counselor, all three departed from the king’s presence, their heads full of vengeance and their hearts grim; they wrote a letter to Arjasp, in measure with the one he sent. Zarir the general took the letter, bore it open, unbound, and read it before the king; the world-seeking Goshtasp paused, then sealed it and wrote his name upon it with Zarir the wise rider, with Jamasp, and with the blessed Esfandiyar, and summoned the envoys. Take this, he said, and go to him—and see that henceforth you do not choose the wrong road. If the Avesta and Zand did not enjoin the safety of messengers, I would not spare you from harm; from this sleep I have roused you, and else I would have hung you alive upon the gallows. Let the Wolf-Land know he will not bow his neck to the sovereign. Then he cast down the letter and said: go, carry this to the sorcerous Turk; say: your wits are drawn tight; blood and dust are your due; may your neck be struck and your loins wounded; may your bones be poured into the earth. In this month, if God so wills, I shall don the iron raiment of war, lead my army into Turan, and lay waste the realm of the Wolf-Eaters.