Conditions and Terms of Use PREFACE Copyright © Heritage History 2009 Southey's Oriental Romances, Thalaba the Destroyer Some rights reserved and The Curse of Kehama, are, I suppose, almost wholly unknown to the younger generation of readers. It must be This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an organization confessed that they are not commended by their metrical form; dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history books, and to the but they display great power of imagination, and convey an promotion of the works of traditional history authors. admirable moral. I have tried to tell these two stories in prose. The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and I have added the Story of Rustem, greatly condensed, are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may therefore be reproduced from Firdausi's Shah-Nameh, or Book of the Kings. I have within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. availed myself of M. Jules Mohl's translation from the Persian, a The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, however, are popular edition of which, in seven octavo volumes, was the property of Heritage History and are licensed to individual users with some published under the care of Madame Mohl in the years 1876-78. restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the integrity It was necessary to take some liberties with the story, for the of the work itself, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure that chief of which I may plead the authority of Mr. Matthew Arnold, compromised or incomplete versions of the work are not widely disseminated. who, in his beautiful poem of "Sohrab and Rustem," represents In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a copyright the father as believing that the child born to him by his Tartar by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are included at the foot of wife is a girl. In Firdausi's poem he knows that he has a son, but every page of text. We request all electronic and printed versions of this text include cannot believe that so young a child can be his stalwart these markings and that users adhere to the following restrictions. antagonist. 1) This text may be reproduced for personal or educational purposes as long as The illustrations are taken from Persian and Indian MSS. the original copyright and Heritage History version number are faithfully in the British Museum. reproduced. HADLEY GREEN, Sept. 21, 1886. 2) You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own work. 3) You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes unless you have the prior written consent of Heritage History. 4) This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1887 by Alfred J. Church. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 RUSTEM FIGHTS WITH AFRASIAB .......................................... 45 ABLE OF ONTENTS T C MARCH AGAINST THE LAND OF THE GENII ........................... 48 THE STORY OF THALABA THE SEVEN ADVENTURES OF RUSTEM .................................. 50 THE MEETING OF THE MAGICIANS ......................................... 4 THE SEVEN ADVENTURES OF RUSTEM (CONTINUED) ........... 54 ASWAD ................................................................................... 6 SOHRAB ................................................................................ 59 HOW ABDALDAR THE MAGICIAN SOUGHT FOR THALABA ...... 9 SOHRAB (CONTINUED) .......................................................... 62 HOW THALABA WENT ON HIS ERRAND ................................ 11 SOHRAB (CONTINUED) .......................................................... 64 HOW THABALA FARED ON HIS JOURNEY ............................. 14 SOHRAB (CONTINUED) .......................................................... 68 WHAT THALABA SAW AT BABYLON .................................... 16 THE LAST VICTORY OF RUSTEM ........................................... 70 THE PARADISE OF SIN........................................................... 19 THE DEATH OF RUSTEM ........................................................ 75 HOW ONEIZA WAS SAVED AND LOST ................................... 22 STORY OF KEHAMA THE DELIVERANCE OF THALABA .......................................... 24 THE CURSE ........................................................................... 77 THE MAGIC THREAD ............................................................ 26 THE GLENDOVEER ................................................................ 79 LEILA ................................................................................... 30 LADURLAD ............................................................................ 83 THE SLEDGE AND THE BOAT................................................. 32 THE ANCIENT TOMBS ........................................................... 85 THE DOOM ........................................................................... 35 THE REFUGE ......................................................................... 89 THE DOOM ............................................................................ 92 THE STORY OF RUSTEM OF ZAL, THE FATHER OF RUSTEM ........................................ 38 THE FIRST EXPLOITS OF RUSTEM ......................................... 42 RUSTEM AND HIS HORSE RAKSH .......................................... 43 Original Copyright 1887 by Alfred J. Church. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 each of his eight children. "Burn flames," cried Abdaldar, "burn while the race of Hobdeirah lives." As they looked the flames THE STORY OF THALABA began to grow dim and to waver. "Curse on him!" cried Khawla the witch, "curse on Okba's hasty hand!" The fool has failed; CHAPTER I eight only are gone out." So saying, she turned to inquire of the Teraph, or oracle, THE MEETING OF THE MAGICIANS which the magicians had set up in their cave. This oracle was the head of a child, fixed on a plate of gold, and on the plate was Many years ago there was in Arabia a great Society of written the name of an evil spirit. Only the eyes had life, and the very powerful magicians. These by diligent practice of their art mouth could speak. "Tell me," she said, "is the fire gone out that had learnt such spells that they could do almost what they threatens the race of the magicians?" would, even to making the sun dark at noon-day. There was no The head answered, "The fire yet lives." end to the wickedness that they did, and the whole country groaned from the tyranny which they exercised upon it. These At that moment came Okba, bearing in his hand a dagger magicians had their chief meeting-place in a great cave under the dripping with blood. "See the flames, Okba," said Khawla the sea, which was called the Domdaniel cavern; and here, when this witch. "See how they burn; and you know that while they burn, story begins, they were assembled to deliberate about a very we are in danger. Did your heart fail you? Could you not see? A grave matter. It had been revealed to them by their art that a curse on your weakness." child had been born in Arabia who should destroy them and their "Khawla," said Okba, "you should have known me dwelling, unless indeed they could first kill him. Further, they better. Eight times I struck, and I struck home; there needed no had learnt that this child was the son of a certain Hodeirah, an second blow. But when I would have struck the ninth time, there Arab chief who lived in the desert. Knowing this, the heads of came a cloud about me, and my eyes could see nothing. I struck the Society assembled together, and drew lots who should go to through the cloud with my dagger, and the dagger was driven kill Hodeirah and his wife and children. He had eight children, back upon myself, and I heard a voice that said, 'Cease, son of and as the magicians did not know who among the eight should Perdition. Thou canst not change what is written in the book of be the Destroyer, it was needful that all should be slain. One of fate.'" the Society, whose name was Okba, drew the lot, and went Then Khawla turned again to the oracle. "Tell me," she immediately to do his errand, and the others waited till he should said, "where our enemy is hidden." return; and as he could transport himself by his art in a moment of time whithersoever he would, they had no need to wait long. The dead lips answered, "I behold the sea, and I behold the land, but the boy is neither on the sea nor on the land." There were three that sat together in the cavern; that is to say, three of greater note than the rest, namely, Khawla, the Lobaba said, "A power that is mightier than we are witch, and Lobaba, and Abdaldar. Before these three burned ten protects him; but see! one of the Fires burns dim! see, it quivers! flames, that sprang up from the rocky floor of the cavern, and it goes out!" burned without fuel. One flame was the life of Iodeirah, and one As he spoke, the ninth fire went out; and only the tenth the life of Zeinab his wife, and there was a flame for the life of was left, a pale blue flame that seemed to tremble