A literary history of Persia

142That neither privily nor yet in publicThou wilt attempt to wreak on me thy vengeance.'Babak, thus hearing, loosened his tongue in speech :Much made he mention of the All-Giver,Saying, ' I swear no hurt shall befal thee,Nay,I will hold thee honoured and noble'Then spake the youth again freely to Babak,'Know, valiant knight, that Sasan my sire is,Who from King Ardashir's seed was descended,(He who is called by you Bahman ' the Long-hand');Of brave Isfandiyar he was the offspring,Who of King Gushtasp's fair fame was the guardian.' 1When Babak heard this, tear-floods he rainedFrom those clear eyes which gazed on the vision.Then kingly garments brought he from out his store,And eke a horse equipped with lordly harness.' Hence to the bath,' quoth he, ' hie thee in all haste,And there abide till fit raiment be brought thee.'Soon a fair palace built he for Sasan ;(Thus from the herdsman did he upraise him),And in this palace when he had placed himBondsmen and servants set he before him,Gave him all gear and garb needful for lordship,And of allgoods and gifts ample endowment,Last, his dear daughter gave him in wedlock,Crown of his glory she, and his heart's darling.When o'er the moon-faced maid nine moons had wanedTo her a son was born, radiant as sun-light,Like unto Ardashir, famed in the older time,Graceful, and growing daily in favour.Him too his father Ardashir named,By him his grand-sire greatly was gladdened."1The tracing of the Sasanian pedigree to Gushtasp (Vi'shtaspa), theprotector of Zoroaster, and the first " Defender of the Faith " is part ofthe general plan which aims at representing them as the direct andlegitimate heirs of the ancient Persian kings, and the hereditarychampions of "the Good Religion."