Thus, this tale continued through the night,

The sky above the mountains turned dark.

Soudabeh happily sat upon the throne,

She placed a crown of ruby and gold upon her head.

She summoned all the maidens to her side,

Adorned them and seated them on golden thrones.

Thus she spoke to the moon-faced Herbad (priest),

“Go from here and speak with Siavash.

That you must trouble your feet,

And show me his cypress-like stature.”

The Herbad went and spoke with Siavash,

Revealed the hidden secret from its concealment.

Siavash came gracefully before her,

Saw her seated and her head and crown.

Before him stood newly adorned beauties,

You would say the palace and residence were paradise.

She descended from the throne and went before him,

Her face and hair adorned with jewels.

Siavash sat upon the golden throne,

Soudabeh extended her hand before him.

She presented the beauties to the newly arrived king,

Who were like uncut gems.

She said to him, “Behold this throne and place,

So many wearers of golden crowns as attendants.

All young and unblemished, adorned beauties,

Whom God created from modesty and grace.

Tell me which of them pleases you,

Look at their appearance and stature.”

When Siavash cast his eyes slightly,

He did not take his eyes off one of them.

They all said to one another, “O moon-like one,

He dares not look at this king.”

They each went towards their own thrones,

Lamenting and counting on their own fortune.

When they had departed, Soudabeh said,

“Why do you hold so much speech concealed?”

“You do not tell me what your desire is,

For on your face is the splendor of a fairy's countenance.”

“Anyone who sees you from afar,

Becomes senseless and chooses you.”

“From these beautiful ones, with a discerning eye,

Look at who is worthy of you.”

Siavash remained silent and gave no reply,

Such a thought came to his pure heart:

“That I should lament for my pure heart,

It is better that I take a wife from among my enemies.”

“I have heard from renowned elders,

All the tales of the people of Hamavaran,

“What she did in the past with the Shah of Iran,

And stirred up trouble among the warriors of Iran.”

“Soudabeh is full of deceit, for she is his daughter,

She does not desire the core and essence of the lineage.”

When Siavash opened his lips in reply,

The fairy-faced one removed the veil from her face.

She said to him, “If the sun and the new moon,

Should be seen together in a new era,”

“It would not be surprising if the moon were eclipsed,

For you have the sun itself by your side.”

“One who has seen like me, on an ivory throne,

With a crown of ruby and turquoise upon his head,”

“It would not be surprising if he did not look at the moon,

And did not consider anyone equal to him in beauty.”

“If you now make a pact with me,

And do not turn away and make your mind at ease,”

“I will make a young, unmarried girl,

Serve you as a handmaiden at your feet.”

“Now make a pact with an oath,

And do not deviate even slightly from my words.”

When the king departs from this world,

You will desire my body as a remembrance of him.

You will not allow harm to come to me,

You will hold me as dear as you held him.

I now stand before you,

I have given you my sweet body and soul.

Whatever you desire from me is all your wish,

I will fulfill it and not turn my head from your snare.

She tightly grasped his head and tore a piece of her garment,

And gave it to him, unaware of shame or fear.

Siavash's cheeks became like a rose from shame,

His eyelashes were adorned with warm tears.

Thus he said to himself, “May the Lord of the world

Keep me far from the work of the demon.”

“I will not be unfaithful to my father,

Nor will I become acquainted with Ahriman (the devil).”

“And if I speak coldly to this bold-eyed one,

Her heart will boil and become hot with anger.”

“She will perform a magic spell in secret,

And the king of the world will believe her.”

“It is better that with her, in a soft voice,

I speak and keep her appeased and warm.”

Siavash then said to Soudabeh,

“Who in the world is truly your equal?”

“You resemble none but the half-moon,

You are worthy of no one in the world but the king.”

“Now, it is enough that your daughter is for me,

No one but her is worthy of me.”

“Be firm in this and tell the Shah of Iran,

See what answer you receive from him.”

“I will ask for her and make a pact,

I will pledge my word to you.”

Until he becomes my equal in stature (or until he is mine),

My heart will not incline towards anyone else.

And further, since you asked about my appearance,

My love has mingled with your soul.

My creator, from his own glory,

Has created me thus, O adorned one before me.

Do not reveal this secret and tell no one,

For me, there is no other course but to conceal it.

You are the head of the ladies and also a noblewoman,

I believe that you are like a mother.

He said this and, sorrowful, went out the door,

He was distraught by her words.

When King Kavus arrived in the women's quarters,

He looked and Soudabeh saw him.

She went to the king and gave him tidings of that conversation,

She spoke much of Siavash's affairs.

“He came and looked at the entire palace,

I gathered the dark-eyed beauties together.”

“The palace was so full of beautiful faces,

That you would say love was raining down from the moon.”

“He found no one pleasing except my daughter,

He considered no one among the beautiful ones worthy of him.”

The king became so happy at these words,

That it was as if the moon had come to his side.

He opened the treasury and so many jewels,

Of gold-woven brocade and golden belts,

As well as armlets, crowns, and rings,

As well as necklaces and the royal throne,

A treasure trove of all kinds of things was prepared,

A world filled entirely with riches.

Soudabeh looked and remained astonished,

She thought and recited many incantations.

“If he does not come under my command,

I deem it right that my soul should depart.”

Both good and evil, and every scheme that is in the world,

They do openly and in secret.

I will contrive if he turns away from me,

I will raise a cry of lament about him before the assembly.

She sat upon the throne with earrings,

And placed a decorated crown upon her head.

She called Siavash to her side,

And spoke with him in various ways.

She said to him, “The king has prepared a treasure,

Of which no one has seen such a crown and throne.

Of everything, so much that there is no measure,

If you were to load it, two hundred elephants would be needed.

He intends to give my daughter to you,

Look at my face, head, and crown.

What excuse do you have against my love,

That you turn away from my stature and my face?

Since I have seen you, I have been consumed,

Roaring, seething, and tormented.

I do not see the bright day because of pain,

I imagine that the sun has turned to lapis lazuli (dark blue).

Now, it has been seven years since my love,

Has been dripping blood on this face of mine.

Make me happy in secret,

Bestow upon me the days of my youth.

More than what the world-ruling king has given you,

I will adorn you with armlets, a crown, and a throne.

And if you turn away from my command,

And your heart does not incline towards my pact,

I will bring ruin upon your kingship,

The king's eye will become darkened upon you.

Siavash said to her, “May it never be,

That for the sake of desire, I would give my head to the wind (sacrifice myself).

That I would thus be unfaithful to my father,

And separate myself from manliness and wisdom.”

You are the king's lady and of sun-like majesty,

It is not fitting that such a sin should come from you.

And from that throne, she arose with anger and hostility,

Soudabeh seized him with her claws (hands).

She said to him, “I revealed the secret of my heart to you,

Hidden from your ill-wishers.”

“You foolishly wish to disgrace me,

And make me disgraced before the wise and elegant.”

She struck her hand and tore her pure garment,

With her nails, she scratched both of her cheeks.

A cry arose from her women's quarters,

Her lament rose from the palace to the street.

A clamor arose from the garden and the palace,

As if it were truly the night of resurrection.

The news reached the ears of the commander (Kavus),

He descended from his royal throne.

Full of worry, he went from his golden throne,

He hurried towards the women's quarters.

When he came and saw Soudabeh's face,

Scratched and the palace full of commotion,

He asked everyone and became distressed,

He did not understand the actions of that hard-hearted one.

Soudabeh cried out before him,

She shed tears and tore her hair.

She said, “Siavash came to the throne,

He prepared to seize it and struggled fiercely.

“That I want no one else from the root (at all),

This is what he kept saying.”

“That my soul and heart are full of love for you,

Why do you avoid me, O beautiful-faced one?”

“He threw the crown from my fragrant head,

My garment was torn thus on my chest.”

The king became deeply worried by that speech,

He sought clarification in every possible way.

He said to himself, “If she is telling the truth,

And is not seeking such disgrace,”

“Siavash's head must be cut off,

In this way, the key to evil would be secured.”

“What will wise people say now?

The essence of shame has been turned to blood by this story.”

He dismissed those who were in the women's quarters,

Who were wise and devoted to their superiors.

He dismissed them and remained alone in the hall,

He summoned Siavash and Soudabeh before him.

With wisdom and reason, he spoke to Siavash,

“This secret should not be kept hidden from me.”

“You did not do this evil that I have done,

I have been troubled by idle talk.”

“Why did I summon you to the women's quarters?

Now, there is grief for me and a plot against you.”

“Now, seek the truth and tell me,

Show me how the matter stands.”

Siavash said, “Where had that gone?

And from that, Soudabeh became agitated.”

Soudabeh said, “This is not true,

That he desired no one from among the beauties except my body.”

“I told him everything that the world's king,

Wished to give him, openly and secretly.”

“Of children, and the crown, and possessions,

Of dinars and adorned treasures.”

“I told him that I would add so much to this,

And give all the good things to his daughter.”

“He said to me, ‘I have no need for possessions,

I have no intention of seeing your daughter.’”

“‘I need only you,’ he said in this matter,

‘Neither my treasure nor anyone else is of use to me without you.’”

He wanted to seize me for an act (of violence),

He grasped me with both hands like tightly held stones.

I did not obey his command, and he pulled my hair,

And my face became scratched.

I have a child hidden away,

From your lineage, O king of the world.

Because the suffering of his killing was near,

The world was narrow and dark before me.

Thus the king said to himself,

“The words of both are not reliable.”

“In this matter, there is no place for haste,

For a troubled heart puts wisdom to sleep.”

“First, one must examine this matter carefully,

So that the heart can bear witness when it becomes clear.”

“I will see which of these two is guilty,

And who is deserving of punishment for the evil.”

For that investigation, he sought a solution,

He first smelled Siavash's hands.

His chest, arms, and his stature,

He smelled him all over, everywhere on him.

From Soudabeh, Kavus smelled wine and pure musk,

Kavus also detected the scent of rosewater.

He did not find such a scent on Siavash,

There was no sign of touching/struggle on him.

He became grieved and despised Soudabeh,

He filled his own heart with pain.

He said to himself, “This one, with a sharp sword,

Must now be cut to pieces.”

Then he thought about the people of Hamavaran,

That turmoil would arise, full of noise and pain.

And also at the time when he was imprisoned,

He had neither kin nor connection with her.

She was Soudabeh's attendant day and night,

Who suffered from that pain and did not open her lips.

Third, that she had a heart full of love (for him),

Every evil should be overlooked because of it.

Fourth, that she had young children from him,

The concern for the young children cannot be disregarded.

Siavash was innocent of that evil deed,

The king recognized his wisdom.

He said to him, “Do not think about this at all,

Gather your wisdom, judgment, and knowledge.”

“Do not remember this at all and do not tell anyone,

Lest the matter take on color and scent (become a bigger issue).”

When Soudabeh realized that she was disgraced,

And that the king’s heart had become cold towards her,

She sought a solution for that ugly deed,

Out of spite, she planted a new tree of malice.

There was a woman entrusted to her inner circle,

Full of magic, trickery, and enchantment.

She was heavy with child in her womb,

She was enduring hardship because of the pregnancy.

She revealed the secret to her and sought a solution from her,

“From the beginning, I want your promise first.”

When she received the promise, she gave many things (gifts),

And said, “Do not remember anything about this matter.”

“Prepare a potion so that you miscarry,

So that you remain empty and do not break my secret.”

“Perhaps all this deception and these many lies,

Will bring glory to your children.”

“I will tell Kavus that these children are mine,

And that they were killed by the hand of Ahriman (the devil).”

“Perhaps this vengeance will be directed towards Siavash,

Now, you must find a solution for this.”

“If you do not listen to this, my reputation with the king,

Will become tarnished, and I will be kept away from the court.”

She said to him, “I am your slave, O king,

And I bow my head to your command and banner.”

When the dark night came, the woman (the magician) took the potion,

And the children of Ahriman (evil) fell from her (miscarried).

Two children, just as if they were born of demons,

What else could be expected of children of a sorceress's lineage?

She hid the woman and then went to sleep herself,

Her lament arose from the hidden palace.

As many attendants as were in the palace,

Quickly went to Soudabeh.

They brought a golden basin before her,

And she told that story to her attendants.

She placed the children of Ahriman in it,

She cried out and tore her garments.

They saw two dead children in the basin,

The lament passed from the palace to the heavens (Keivan - Saturn/sky).

When Kavus heard the lament from the palace,

He trembled in his sleep and opened his ears.

He inquired, and they told the king,

What had happened to the moon-faced one (Soudabeh).

He became grieved that night and did not rest at all,

At dawn, he arose and came forth gloomy.

He saw Soudabeh lying there like that (in a state of mourning),

He saw the entire women's quarters in disarray.

The two children in that way in the golden basin,

Thrown down in disgrace and with wounded hearts.

Soudabeh shed tears from her eyes,

She said to him, “See the bright sun.”

She kept saying, “See what evil he has done,

You foolishly became confident in his words.”

King Kavus's heart became suspicious,

He went and became lost in thought for a while.

He kept saying, “What remedy can I find for this?

It is not right that I should take this lightly.”

After that, King Kavus looked for

Someone who was skilled in astrology.

He searched and summoned them to his presence,

He questioned them and seated them on a golden throne.

He spoke of Soudabeh and the war with Hamavaran,

He spoke in every way with the nobles.

So that they would become aware of his affairs,

And understand his actions.

And he also spoke much of those children,

While still keeping some things hidden.

They all consulted astronomical tables and astrolabes,

They spent a week on this matter.

Finally, they said, “How could this be?

In a cup where you pour wine, you have poured poison.”

“The two children are from another lineage,

Neither from the king's lineage nor from this mother.”

“If they were of royal lineage,

It would have been easy to find it through these astronomical calculations.”

“Their secret is not revealed in this sky,

Nor is this wonder known on earth.”

The sign of the malicious, impure woman,

They told the king in the assembly.

Kavus kept it secret and told no one,

He kept it hidden within himself.

Another week passed on this matter,

A clamor arose in the world because of the magic.

Soudabeh lamented and sought justice,

She cried out for help from the world-ruling king.

She kept saying, “I am of the same lineage as the king,

By wounds and by being thrown from the throne and place.”

“My heart is tormented by the slain children,

From time to time, I feel like separating my head from my body.”

He said to her, “O woman, be calm,

Why do you speak such unpleasant words?”

All the gatekeepers of the king's court,

He ordered to set out on the road.

They searched all the city and neighborhoods,

And brought the evil-doing woman to the place (court).

They found her nearby,

And the world-seers (spies/messengers) also hastened.

They dragged the unfortunate woman from the road,

And took her disgracefully to the king.

He questioned her kindly and gave her hope,

He also gave her promises of many days (of life).

And after that, with disgrace, wounds, and imprisonment,

The exalted king took retribution from her.

There was no confession in that story,

The powerful king did not agree (with her).

He ordered that they take her out from his presence,

And try many solutions and magic.

If confession does not come from her by any means,

Cut her down, and this I know is the custom and glory.

They took the woman from the king's court,

They spoke of the sword, the gallows, and the well (various forms of execution).

The sorceress said, “I am innocent,

What can I say in this renowned court?”

They told the king what the woman said,

The Creator of the world knows what is hidden.

He ordered Soudabeh to come forward,

The astrologer (or star-counter) spoke his words.

“These two children are from a sorceress,

It is evident that they are from the lineage of Ahriman.”

Soudabeh brought this reply in return,

“That the secret with them is other than this.”

“There is more hidden than this speech,

They dare not say it because of Siavash.”

From fear of the commander, the elephant-bodied Go (a warrior),

The lion trembles in the assembly.

Where he has the strength of eighty elephants,

He can block the course of the Nile's water if he wishes.

The same renowned army of one hundred thousand,

Flees from him in the ranks of battle.

How then could I withstand him?

Unless my eyes were constantly filled with blood (from weeping).

Except for what the astrologer commands,

What can he say, and from whom does he seek thanks?

If you have no concern for your young child,

I have no greater connection than you (to him).

If you have taken this matter so lightly,

I have cast this judgment to the world (I appeal to the world).

Tears flowed from her eyes more than

The sun can draw from the Nile River.

The commander (Kavus) became gloomy from her words,

And wept bitterly along with her.

He dismissed Soudabeh, heartbroken,

And set his mind firmly on that matter.

He said, “In secret, this matter

We will investigate until we reach the bottom of it.”

He summoned all the Mobeds (Zoroastrian priests/wise men) from his side,

And spoke some words about Soudabeh.

Thus the Mobed said to the king of the world,

“The commander's pain will not remain hidden.”

“If you wish to reveal the truth of the matter,

You must strike the stone against the pitcher (test the truth).”

“For although a child is dear,

The king's heart will be harmed by worry.”

“And because of this daughter of the king of Hamavaran,

You have become deeply worried on the other hand.”

“Since the matter has become such from all sides,

One of them must pass through fire (ordeal by fire).”

Such is the oath of the high heavens,

That no harm will come to the innocent.

The world-ruler summoned Soudabeh,

And made her sit to speak with Siavash.

Finally, he said, “Without being certain of either of you,

My heart and spirit will not be at peace.”

“Unless the sharp fire reveals,

The guilty one quickly exposes them.”

Soudabeh brought this reply forth,

“That I speak the truth in my words.”

“I showed the two fallen children to the king,

No one will see a greater sin than this.”

“Siavash must be judged (proven guilty),

For he committed this evil and sought destruction.”

The king of the land said to the young prince,

“What is your opinion now in this matter?”

Siavash said thus, “O king,

Hell has become insignificant to me compared to this accusation.”

“If it were a mountain of fire, I would cross it,

Passing through this dishonor is more difficult than that.”

King Kavus's soul became full of worry,

Because of his son and the noble Soudabeh.

“If one of these two becomes wicked,

Who will then call me king?”

“Since my son and wife are my blood and essence,

From whom will a good outcome emerge more readily?”

“It is best to cleanse my heart of this ugly deed,

And find a heart-rending solution.”

What did that eloquent commander say?

“Do not rule with a troubled heart.”

He ordered the vizier (or by custom) that the camel drivers,

Bring one hundred caravans of camels from the plain.

The camels went to carry firewood,

All the people of Iran went to see.

With one hundred caravans of red-haired camels,

They brought firewood with great haste.

They placed the firewood in two high mountains,

Its quantity surpassed all measure.

Whoever saw it from a distance of two farsangs (leagues),

Considered it the key to this trial/calamity.

Everyone wanted to see the truth revealed,

And all the falsehood from the woman exposed.

When you hear this story from beginning to end,

It will be better for you if you believe in it.

They placed two mountains of firewood on the plain,

The whole world gathered to watch.

The passage was so wide that a rider,

Could pass through with four others abreast.

At that time, the oath of the powerful king,

Such was the custom and such was the way.

And after that, the king ordered the Mobed (priest),

To pour black naphtha (oil) on the wood.

Two hundred fire-kindling men came,

They blew, it was as if night had turned into day.

With the first blowing, it became black with smoke,

Flames quickly rose after the smoke.

The earth became brighter than the sky,

The world was roaring and the fire was raging.

The entire plain became scorched,

They wept for his smiling face.

Siavash came before his father,

With a golden helmet placed upon his head.

Wise and wearing white garments,

With lips full of smiles and a heart full of hope.

He was riding a black Arabian horse,

The dust from its hooves rose to the moon.

He scattered camphor upon himself,

Just as was the custom and preparation for a shroud.

When he returned before Kavus,

He dismounted from his horse and bowed to him.

He saw King Kavus's face full of shame,

And found his speech with his son gentle.

Siavash said to him, “Do not grieve,

For such is the turning of time.”

“My head is full of shame and majesty,

If I am innocent, I will be released.”

“And if I am guilty of this deed,

The Creator of the world will not look upon me.”

“By the power of the benevolent God,

I will not feel heat from this mountain of fire.”

A cry arose from the plain and the city,

Grief came to the world because of that event.

When Soudabeh heard the sound from the plain,

She went up to the palace and saw the fire.

She wished that evil would befall him,

She was seething, full of agitation.

The world had its eyes on Kavus,

Their tongues full of curses and their hearts full of anger (towards Soudabeh).

Siavash quickly spurred his black horse forward,

He did not become disheartened and entered the fire.

Flames rose from every side,

No one could see Siavash or his horse.

The entire plain was filled with tearful eyes,

Waiting for him to come out of the fire.

When they saw him, a shout arose,

“The new king has come out of the fire!”

If it had been water, he might have gotten wet,

From the wetness, all his clothes would have lost their sheen.

The horse and the rider's coat came out such that,

It was as if he had jasmine flowers in his arms.

When the grace of the pure God was upon him,

The breath of fire and water was the same (had no effect).

When he passed through the mountain of fire to the plain,

A shout of joy arose from the city and the plain.

The horsemen of the army spurred their horses,

They scattered coins before him across the plain.

There was great rejoicing in the world,

Among the common people and among the nobles.

Everyone gave good tidings to one another,

That the just one had forgiven the innocent.

Soudabeh tore her hair in anger,

She shed tears and scratched her face.

When the pure Siavash went before his father,

He had no smoke, fire, dust, or earth on him.

King Kavus dismounted from his horse,

The commander and the army dismounted.

He embraced Siavash tightly,

And apologized for the bad deed (the trial).

Siavash, before the pure world-ruler,

Came and rubbed his face on the ground (bowed in respect).

That he had survived the heat of that mountain of fire,

All the desires of his enemies were thwarted.

The king said to him, “O brave young man,

You are of pure lineage and bright spirit.”

“Such that from a virtuous mother,

One who is born becomes a king in the world.”

He walked joyfully to the palace and sat down,

He placed the royal crown upon his head.

He brought wine and summoned the musicians,

He fulfilled all desires with Siavash.

For three days, they drank wine in that feast,

There was no lock or key on the treasury door (it was open to all).

On the fourth day, he ascended the royal throne,

With a mace shaped like a bull's head in his hand.

He became furious and summoned Soudabeh before him,

He recounted past events to her.

“That you have committed many acts of shamelessness and evil,

You have greatly grieved my heart.”

“You showed one evil at the end of the matter,

That was a danger to my son's life.”

“You deceived and threw him into the fire,

You built this matter on sorcery.”

“Your apology is of no use now,

Prepare your place and arrange your affairs (prepare to die).”

“It is not fitting that you remain on earth,

There is no other punishment for this but hanging.”

Soudabeh said to him, “O king,

Pour fire upon my head.”

“If my head must be cut off,

It is the recompense for the evil that has befallen me.”

“Give the order, and I have set my heart on this,

The sharp fire was not hostile to him (Siavash).”

“Siavash speaks the truth,

And washes the king's heart from sorrow.”

“Zal performed all the magic in this matter,

I do not want you to hold resentment against me.”

He said to her, “You still have tricks,

The hump of your mischief will not be straightened (you won't change your ways).”

The king of the world said to the Iranians,

“Because of this evil that she committed in secret,”

“What shall I do? What should be the recompense for this?”

Everyone praised the king.

“The punishment for this is that she should be lifeless,

And be tormented by her own evil deeds.”

He ordered the executioner that this one in the street,

Hang from the gallows and turn away your face.”

When they turned Soudabeh away (to be executed),

The entire women's quarters erupted in cries.

King Kavus's heart became full of pain,

He concealed it, but the color of his face turned yellow.

Siavash said thus to the king,

“Do not trouble your heart with this matter.”

“Forgive Soudabeh this sin for my sake,

Perhaps she will accept advice and come to the right path.”

He said to himself, “If by the king’s hand,

Soudabeh is destroyed like this,”

“At the end of the matter, he will become regretful,

He will see grief from me when he becomes tormented.”

He kept seeking a reason from the king's action,

So that he would forgive the past sin.

(Kavus) said to Siavash, “I have forgiven her,

After I saw the shedding of her blood (the execution was about to happen).”

Siavash kissed his father's throne,

And arose from that throne and came outside.

The entire women's quarters again went to Soudabeh,

They ran and showed her reverence.

In this way, a period of time passed,

The king's heart became warmer towards her.

His heart became so full of love for her again,

That he did not take his eyes off her face.

Again, with the king of the world,

She continued to plot secretly.

So that evil would befall Siavash,

In a way that she thought was fitting for his lineage.

Because of her words, the king became suspicious,

But he did not reveal it to any of the nobles.

In a situation where such a thing has occurred,

Wisdom, knowledge, religion, and justice are needed.

Just as it was for fearful people,

The outcome will be according to the heart's desire of the person of action (the one who takes wise action).

In a place where time is filled with poison,

Do not foolishly seek sweetness from it.

If you are not content with creation (fate),

Do not be sharp (aggressive) if you are not the one who nurtures (controls fate).

Such is the way of the revolving heavens (fate),

It will not always show you a favorable face.

Regarding this story, an advisor said,

“There is no love greater than the love of blood (family).”

When a worthy child appears,

One must cut off the heart from the love of women.