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Updated: June 9, 2025
Isfendiyár was now angry with Kurugsar, and said: "Thou hast declared that for the space of forty farsangs there was no water, every drop being everywhere dried up by the burning heat of the sun, and here we find water! Why didst thou also idly fill the minds of my soldiers with groundless fears?" Kurugsar replied: "I will confess the truth.
But it was as though a man had thrust him through with a knife. The king gazed after him in admiration of his magnificent obedience. "Stay!" he called out. "How long wilt thou be gone?" Zoroaster turned sharply round in military fashion, as he answered: "It is a hundred and fifty farsangs to Ecbatana.
I thanked him for his generosity, kissed the dust of obeisance, apologized for my boldness, and at the moment of taking my leave, added: "When the fane of the Caabah, at Mecca, became their object from a far distant land, pilgrims would hurry on to visit it for many farsangs. It behooves thee to put up with such as we are, for nobody will throw a stone at a tree that bears no fruit."
"At the distance of three farsangs beyond this inaccessible belt of scorching country lies the Brazen Fortress, to which there is no visible path; and if an army of a hundred thousand strong were to attempt its reduction, there would not be the least chance of success." Seventh Stage.
But dangerous is the way. A stony desert Lies full before thee, which the nimble deer Has never passed. Then a prodigious stream Two farsangs wide obstructs thy path, whose banks Are covered with a host of warrior-Demons, Guarding the passage to Mázinderán; And thou art but a single man canst thou O'ercome such fearful obstacles as these?" At this the Champion smiled.
But Darius had chosen the site of his palace at some distance from the stronghold; where the river bent suddenly round a spur of the mountain, and watered a wider extent of land. The spur of the hill ran down, by an easy gradation, into the valley; and beyond it the hills separated into the wide plain of Merodasht that stretched southward many farsangs to the southern pass.
He found it constructed entirely of iron and brass; and, notwithstanding a strict examination at every point, discovered no accessible part for attack. It was three farsangs high, and forty wide; and such a place as was never before beheld by man. Isfendiyár returned from reconnoitring the fortress with acute feelings of sorrow and despair.
For three farsangs the sand on the ground is as hot as fire, and there is no water to be found during the whole journey." This information made a serious impression upon the mind of Isfendiyár; who said to him sternly: "If I find thee guilty of falsehood, I will assuredly put thee to death." Kurugsar replied: "What! after six trials? Thou hast no reason to question my veracity.
"It will need three weeks, will it not?" asked Nehushta. "Yes it is at least one hundred and fifty farsangs. It would weary you to travel more than seven or eight farsangs in a day's journey indeed, that is a long distance for any one." "We shall always be together, shall we not?" asked the princess. "I will ride beside your litter, my beloved," said Zoroaster.
Rustem pursued him, and the Túránian troops, who had followed the example of the king; but though thousands were slain in the chase which continued for many farsangs, no further advantage was obtained on that day.
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