left imperfect, he entreated his master, the celebrated poet Asidi, to assist him, and who composed four thousand verses, which have been grafted on this poem.* This is all the assistance we know him to have received; and as there is no prior claim to the machinery of this poem, he cannot be denied the merit of invention. We cannot but regret that he has made so little use of it; for although a fabulous bird presided over the birth of Roostum, and reared up his father Zal, his aid is only resorted to upon the most desperate cases, and when all other means had failed to command success. He strictly observes Horace's rule, " nec Deus intersit," &c. which applies, however, to tragedy, and not to epic poetry. Excepting in one or two instances, his storms are the effects of natural causes ; the demons of Mazenderan fight with human arms, and either scorn, or fail to resort to the powerful aid of magic or incantation. Whether this be a beauty or blemish, I shall not determine; it is at least contrary to the practice of the most admired authors of antiquity. The demons of Mazenderan appear to have been infinitely more cultivated than their neighbours the Persians. They were acquainted with letters, and imparted their knowledge to Tumoorus, the son of Hoshung.. This is doubtless a fable, as well as the story of a navigation being carried on with foreign states in the time of Jumshyd. This strange assertion is in direct contradiction to the established principle of the Magian religion, and betrays an uncommon ignorance of the customs of the ancient Persians.§

Dow's History, vol. i. p. 87, 88.

دلش را به دانش برافروختند

چه رومي و تازي و چه پارسي

+ نوشتن به خسرو در آموختند نوشته يكي في که نزديکاسي

"They taught the king to write, and enlightened his mind with science. They did not teach "him the letters of one language, but of three, Greece, Arabia, and Persia."

زکشور بکشور بر آمد شتاب گذر کرد ازان پس بکشتي براب

"After this, boats were launched upon the ocean, and went quickly from one country to "another."

Hyde Relig. Vet. Pers. Yet this was a rule which was sometimes broken.

Y

The poetical part of the Shah Namu can hardly be said to commence before the period of the usurper Zohak, who overthrows Jumshyd's government, and puts him to death. His enormities, at length, become so excessive, as to excite his subjects to throw off his authority, and to espouse the cause of a blacksmith, whose two sons were murdered by the orders of the tyrant. Gawu raises his leather apron as a standard of rebellion, and which afterwards became the consecrated banner of the Persian empire. A descendant of the ancient family of Persia is discovered in the person of Feridoon, who succeeds to the throne of his ancestors. The education of Feridoon may be supposed to have been remarkable. He was brought up by the cow Poor Mahee, and miraculously escaped the diligent search of the usurper Zohak. The whole of this story is related with a considerable degree of poetical spirit; but as I have reserved my remarks for a future period, I must pass over this in silence.*

Feridoon divides his empire between his three sons, which gives rise to the celebrated feuds which afterwards prevailed between the Persian and Tooran governments. Eeruj, the youngest son, receives the whole of Iran, or Persia, as his portion; and this preference is beheld with envy and indignation by the two brothers. Soolm and Toor resolve upon attacking their brother. Eeruj endeavours to mollify their anger, and falls the victim of his own moderation, The lamentations of the unfortunate old king are extremely affecting, and forcibly describe the anguish and disappointment of a fond and partial parent:

بياراي از بهر او تخت عاج

فرستاده را بخواند انزمان بدان تا به بیند جهاندار شاه

برفتند بازان دو بیداد شوم

بنه بر سرش بر دل افروز تاج

بدان برد نزد شاه جهان

بروي چه آید زتخت و کلاه که

يكي سوي چين و يکي سوي روم

This part of the Shah Namu has been trauslated by Mr. Champion, whose performance, if not poetical, is assuredly superior to a bald translation.

همه شاه از تخت فیروزه ساخت همان تاج را گوهر اندر نشاخت

دریده درفش و نگون کرده کوس رخ نامداران برنگ ابنوس

چو دشمنش گيري نمايدت مهر وگر دوست گيري به پیش چهر

يكي پند گویم ترا من درست دل از مهرگيتي ببايدت شست

همي سوخت داغ و همي خست روي همي ريخت اشك و همي كند

گلستانش برکند و سروانش سوخت به يكباركي چشم شادي بدوخت

نهاده سر ایرج اندر کنار گفت اي داور دادگر

همي

سر خویش کرده سوي کارزار

بهين بي گنه کشته اندر نگر

تنش خورده شیران ان انجمن به خنجر سرش خسته از پیش من

دل هردو بیداد زانسان به سوز

ز داغ جگرشان کي آزده

که هرگز نه بینند جز تیره روز

که بخشایش آرد به ایشان رده

که چندان امان یابم از روزگار همی خواهم از تو من اي کردگار

که از تخم ايرج يکي نامور

به بینم برین کین به بسته کمر

چوبینم چنان زان سپس شایدم

کجا خاک بالا به پیمایدم

همي تا کیا رستش اندر کنار بگفت این وبگریست چندان بزار

To Tooran, Toor, to Greece, now Soolm goes,

Unaw'd they triumph in a parent's woes.
With fond anxiety the god-like king,
And the whole army chide the tardy wing
Of time; when near approached the hour,
(For who could fathom fate's imperious power),
A gorgeous throne, with jewels studded o'er,
And all the treasures of the orient shore,
The king prepares. He quits the chair of state,
And hastes, vain hope ! to meet his son elate.
The richest wines Irania's vintage yields,
And the gay minstrels charm the martial fields;
On elephants the drum and tabor play,
And splendid arches, such as grace the day
Of Persian triumph, all prepar'd to go,
When from afar, with solemn dirge and slow,
Midst clouds of dust, a man of sorrow rose,
His face the picture of corroding woes!
Deep were his sighs; a golden urn he bore
(With silk the head of Eritch cover'd o'er!)
By sorrow worn his livid face appears,

And all his cheeks were dew'd with purple tears.

To Feridoon he came, the urn of gold
He groaning opens, dreadful to behold!
From his pale visage, and his faultering tongue,
The monarch feared some awful horror hung.
The silk around the head a servant tears,
The head of Eritch pale and wan appears.
From his high steed the fainting monarch falls,
And the whole sorrowing train on Eritch calls.*
Sunk were his eyes, his face of livid hue ;
Far different scenes his happier fancy drew!
Now they return; pale anguish led the way,
Torn were the colours, and the minstrel's lay
Was silent now. The universal grief

With ebony had mark'd each warrior's cheek.
No more the drum or flutes enlivening sound,
Teaches the warrior or his steed to bound.
They all dismount, each soldier weeps aloud;
As when all heaven, by some tempestuous cloud,
Is darken'd o'er. Their sorrowing breasts they tear,
All call on Eritch with a wild despair.

The stars, they cry, who mark'd thy fatal end,

Will change their course, and to thy murderers bend.

One truth attend, let not the meteor blaze

On this vain world, delude with dazzling rays;

'Tis vain, 'tis idle, a delusive dream!

Nor fancy fortune is as she may seem.

Should foes acknowledged strive to wound your breast, Harbour no vengeance, and relieve distrest;

But if a friend assures of high esteem,

Watch all his actions, varying with his theme.

Et multo clamore sequuntur

Euryali et Nisi.