A literary history of Persia

f40THE SASANIAN PERIODShdhndma (ed. Macan, vol. iii, pp. 1365-1367)."When on the wael-stow Dara his doom metFrom all his House her face Fortune averted.Him did a son survive, worthy of worship,Wary and wise in war, Sasan ycleped,Who, when he saw his sire thus foully smitten,Saw, too, on Persia's arms Fortune look frowning,Fled from his foes of Greece, swift and fleet-footed,Stayed not to stumble on snares of ill fortune.In distant lands of Ind death overtook him,Where he in turn a son left to succeed him.Thus in like wise for four generationsFrom sire to son the name Sasan descended.Herdsman were these and hinds,Laden each year long with heavy burdens.tenders of cattle,When now the last in birth came unto Babak,And on the grazing-grounds sought the head-herdsman,''Hast thou,' he questioned him, need for an hireling,Who here is fain to dwell, even in hardship ? 'Him the head-herdsman hired to his service,Holding him night and day unto long labour.So for a while the man thus did continue,Heart-sick and woe-worn, wearied with toiling.Sunk in deep slumber Babak one night slept,And his bright spirit thus in his dream saw.On a fierce elephant Sasan was seated,Held in his hand a sharp sword-blade of India,While those who ringed him round in adorationBowed down, and on him blessings invoked.He by right rule and wise made the earth prosper,And from the saddened soul banished the sorrow.When on the second night Babak to sleep sank,Care of his anxious mind was the companion.Thus in his dream he saw now, that the Fire-PriestHeld in his hand aloft three flaming censers,1Kharrad and Mihr-fires, Adhar-Gushasp too,1 On these three most sacred Fires, see Noldeke's note in his translationof the Kdr-ndmak (p. 37, n. 3 ad calc,). Kharrad in Firdawsistands for Frobd, Frobag, or Farnbag.