The talisman Zahhak had forged,

Its head rose high to the heavens.

Fereydoun brought it down from above,

For he saw its power lay in the Creator's name.

And of the sorcerers who dwelled in the palace,

All were famed, mighty demons.

He struck down their leaders with his mighty mace,

And sat upon the throne of the sorcerer-worshipper.

He set his foot upon Zahhak's throne,

Claiming the crown of kingship and his rightful place.

He brought forth from his harem,

The dark-haired beauties and sun-faced women.

He ordered their heads to be cleansed first,

And their souls washed of all darkness.

He showed them the path of the pure Creator,

And then purified them of all impurities.

For they had been raised by idol-worshippers,

Bewildered, as though they were drunken souls.

Then those daughters of the mighty Jamshid,

With tearful narcissus-like eyes and rosy cheeks,

They spoke to Fereydoun with open hearts,

Saying, 'May you remain fresh as the world grows old.'

What ill fate is this, O blessed one,

What fruit have you borne from which tree's branch?

That you have come to slay a lion,

And challenge a tyrant and a bold man.

How much the world suffered at our expense,

From the deeds of this foolish sorcerer.

We saw none so bold as this,

Who possessed such skill at such a station.

Whose mind was ever on his throne,

And whose desires lay in his royal splendor.

Fereydoun replied thus: 'This throne,

Stays with no one forever, nor does fortune.'

I am the son of the blessed Abtin,

Whom Zahhak took from the land of Iran.

He slew him in cruelty, and I, the avenger,

Have set my sights upon Zahhak's throne.

That cow was a humble nurse to me,

Her body like a jewel in my life.

From the blood of that speechless creature,

What befell that impure-minded man.

I am girded for battle without hesitation,

And have turned to vengeance for Iran.

With this ox-headed mace, his head,

I shall crush, with no mercy or love.

When Arnavaz heard these words from him,

The secrets of her pure heart were revealed.

The king said to him, 'You are Fereydun

Who destroys the lazy and the sorcerer'

Where the wit of Zahhak is at your command

The opening of the world is tied to your belt'

From the seed of Kian, two pure ones

Have become tame with him out of fear of destruction'

He calls us the mates of the serpents

How can we be so, O king?

Fereydun responded thus

If the heavens grant me justice from above

I will root out the dragon from the earth

I will cleanse the world from impurity

You must now tell the truth

Where is that worthless dragon-spawn?

The beautiful ones revealed the secret to him

Hoping that the dragon would meet its end

They said he went to India

To form an alliance with the sorcerers

He took the heads of a thousand innocents

Frightened by the evil times

A seer had told him

That the earth would be cleansed of him

Someone will come to take your throne

And how your fortune will wither

His heart is burning with that ominous sign

All his life has become unpleasant for him

He spills the blood of animals, men, and women

Pours it into a large basin

Thinking he can wash his body with blood

And reverse the astrologers' prediction

Those serpents on his shoulders

Have caused him long torment and wonder

He moves from one land to another

Finding no rest from the torment of the two black snakes

Now the time of his return has come

For he must not linger in one place for long

The beautiful one with a broken heart revealed the secret

The proud one listened intently