A literary history of Persia

LEGEND OF ARDASHJR 137Sasanian dynasty the; second, as we have seen, was put todeath by Nushirwan in A.D. 528 or 529, at which time theSasanian power was at its height, though the first symptoms ofits decline were not far distant. This chapter will therefore fallinto four divisions namely, (i) The Legend of Ardashir andthe foundation of the Sasanian dynasty; (2) Manes and theManichaean doctrine; (3) Nushirwan and Mazdak ; (4) thelast days of the House of Sasan.I. The Legend of Ardashir.The principal episodes of this Legend, as presented by thePahlawi K&rn&mak (of which I make use of Noldeke's excellentGerman translation, a tirage-a-part of 21-69 pages, whereofthe Introduction occupies pp. 22-34) and the Shdhndma(Macan's Calcutta ed., vol. iii, pp. 1365-1416) areas follows.(1) Sasan, fifth in descent from Bahman " Dirds-dast" (Longimanus,see p. 117 supra), enters the service of Papak (Babak),Prince of Pars, as a herdsman. Papak, warned in a dream of Sasan'skingly origin, raises him to high honour and confers on him the handof his daughter. Of this union Ardashir is the offspring (K. 36-38 ;Sh. 1365).(2) Papak adopts Ardashir as 'his son, and as he grows up thefame of his courage, wisdom, and knightly virtues reaches Ardawan,the last Parthian King, who summons him to his court at Ray.There he ishonourably entertained, until one day out hunting hegives the lie to one of Ardawan's sons who claims a remarkable shotmade in reality by him. Thereupon he is disgraced, and dismissedto serve in the Royal stables (K. 38-41 ;Sh. 1366).(3)A beautiful and wise maiden who enjoys Ardawan's fullestconfidence takes pity upon Ardashir, provides two swift horses,and escapes with him to Pars. Ardawan pursues them, but turnsback on learning that the " Royal Splendour," personified as a fineram, has caught up Ardashir and rides behind him on his horse(K. 41-46 ;Sh. 1370).(4) Ardashir's wars with the Parthians and others ;his defeat ofArdawan and his son, and his reverse at the hands of the Kurds(K. 46-49 ; Sh. 1374).(5) The episode of Haftan-b6kht (Haftawad) and the monstrous