Upon hearing Amar’s speech the emperor and all the nobles in the court broke into laughter, and were most amused by his mien and air. The emperor said to Buzurjmehr, “Take him to the royal treasury, and give him three mithcals of noshidaru!”
Buzurjmehr did as he was ordered. Then Buzurjmehr took out another three mithcals, and quietly slipped them into his pocket, for since discovering Hamza’s poisoning at Gustham’s hands, he knew that Amar would arrive there any day to ask for noshidaru. On the way back to the court, Amar said to Buzurjmehr, “It is a thing to marvel at, sire, that you steal even though you are the emperor’s attendant! Hand me the noshidaru that you have stolen and secreted away in your pocket.” Buzurjmehr was obliged to give the noshidaru to Amar for fear of inviting scandal.
Now we turn to Bakhtak who also knew of Hamza’s poisoning. The knowledge gave him no peace but constantly worried him that Buzurjmehr would certainly reserve some noshidaru from the pharmacopoeia for Hamza. Unable to overpower his base nature, Bakhtak said to the emperor, “Regard Buzurjmehr’s status, and then consider his theft of noshidaru! Behold his prestige and honor, and see how he has crowned it with his embezzlement! If he needed the noshidaru, why would he not ask Your Majesty for it?”
Incited by Bakhtak, the emperor gave orders that Buzurjmehr be subjected to a full search. But nothing at all was found on Buzurjmehr, and Bakhtak was taken to task and penalized, and the emperor offered an apology to Buzurjmehr. When Buzurjmehr learned that it was Amar himself who had expropriated noshidaru from him in the guise of a peasant, he rejoiced exceedingly that Amar had saved him the humiliation of being branded a thief.
Once Amar was outside Ctesiphon, he took off his disguise and headed for Hamza’s camp. Hamza had fallen into paroxysms of tears one day, distressed by suffering this weakness that had reduced him to the last extremity. He cursed himself, thinking that death would be far more preferable than a life such as his, since he became increasingly decrepit with each passing day. Then Prophet Ibrahim appeared to him in the realm of dreams and offered him consolation and many words of solace.
In the morning Hamza offered prayers in gratitude, and had propped himself up in his bed, when Amar arrived. Amar handed the noshidaru to Hakim Aqlimun, who began administering Hamza several mashas70 of that confection.
Now hear of what passed with Bahram Gurd, the emperor of China. After his four ships had been separated from Hamza’s fleet by the storm, he was tossed around in the turbulent sea for six months. After the storm abated, he anchored near Sindh and thought of stocking his ships with provisions, and went ashore with that intent.
He had gone a little distance when he saw a bow and a purse of a thousand gold pieces lying on a pedestal under a great tree. Bahram asked some passersby, “Why are this bow and this purse of gold kept in this place?” The people answered, “This bow belongs to Koh Bakht Hindi, who is the brother of our ruler Sarkash Hindi, and one who has a title to great strength. He put the bow and the purse here as a challenge, so that the one who could draw the bowstring might claim the purse of gold!”
Bahram walked up to the pedestal and drew the bowstring, pulling its notch up to his ear. Then he picked up the purse of gold pieces and placed the bow back on the pedestal, and made to leave after handing the purse over to his attendant.
The guards took the news to Koh Bakht Hindi. By chance, an ayyar had also witnessed the incident and, like an arrow shot from a well-strung bow, he hied before Sarkash Hindi and narrated the whole incident to him. Sarkash Hindi ordered him to produce the merchant and the bow before him at once. Immediately upon receiving these orders, people rushed to fetch Bahram, proclaiming, “The ruler of the city has sent for the merchant, and expressed the desire to see him!”
Bahram went as demanded by traditions of chivalry, and Sarkash Hindi received him with great kindness and showed him much honor. When the men sent by Sarkash Hindi had returned with the bow, and the nobles had also assembled, Sarkash Hindi asked Bahram, “Were you the one who handled this bow?” Bahram replied, “Indeed it was I, God’s weakest creature, and I thank God a thousand times for endowing me with the strength to do it!” Sarkash Hindi said, “I wish you to draw it once more in my presence!”
Bahram grasped the handle of the bow, and pulled at the bowstring with such force that the bow snapped into two. Then as a token of his respect Sarkash Hindi gestured to Bahram to be seated, and Bahram stepped up to the gold-inlaid steel chair next to Sarkash Hindi’s throne.
Hardly had Bahram seated himself when Koh Bakht Hindi walked into the court like a fierce lion. When he saw his bow lying broken, and Bahram seated at his station, he flew into a great passion. Brandishing his dagger, he charged at Bahram, bellowing, “Not only did you break my bow, but you dared also to sit in my seat! Now you shall taste the deserts of your presumptions!”
Bahram twisted Koh Bakht Hindi’s arm and, wresting the dagger from his hand, he threw him to the floor by catching him from behind. Then Bahram said to him, “Is this all the strength you had to show or is there some left in you still?” Sarkash Hindi apologized to Bahram, obtained pardon for Koh Bakht’s contumacious behavior, and then addressing Bahram, spoke thus: “In the name of your creed and your people, I ask you to tell me verily who you are, what is your appellation, of which land you are denizen, and where is your homeland!” Bahram gave a complete account of his particulars, and told Sarkash Hindi all that had led him to this land.
Upon hearing Amir Hamza’s name, Sarkash Hindi heaved a cold sigh, and said, “I forever nursed a desire to some day kiss Amir’s feet, but may the devil take Gustham, who killed such a peerless youth and champion without match!” At these words Bahram let out a cry, and was taken unconscious.
When he was restored to his senses, he said, “Pray tell me in detail who is your source for this news, and how these tidings reached you!” Sarkash replied, “Gustham himself was here, and although he tried to obtain an audience with me, I would not grant it. He sent the heads of Hamza and Landhoor to Naushervan’s court from here by the agency of one of his companions. His destination upon leaving this place I could not determine.”
Bahram said, “Now that you have mentioned Gustham’s name, I no longer doubt the truth of his claim. Surely, that wretch (deserving of beheading!) must have killed Hamza by deceit. I cannot stay here a moment longer, but must needs head immediately for Ctesiphon! If I do not rout Naushervan’s army with these selfsame four thousand troops and do not quench my dagger’s thirst with the blood of Naushervan’s life, I shall never again show my face among brave and valiant men, and will eat poison or extinguish my life with this very dagger!”
Bahram boarded his ship lamenting and grieving, and they reached the port of Basra in six months and from there Bahram headed for Ctesiphon at the head of his four thousand Uzbek warriors, giving orders to pillage and plunder and raze to the ground every village, town, city, and tract of land, and burn down every last hut and hovel on the way to Ctesiphon.
The news reached Naushervan who sent Faulad bin Gustham with ten thousand mounted troops to go and comfort Bahram with the news that Hamza was alive.
Faulad bin Gustham encountered Bahram on the way, but try as he would to convince him of Hamza’s well-being, Bahram did not believe him. In the battle that ensued, Bahram killed Faulad and half his army. The other half fled and went before Naushervan to give a complete account of the encounter.
On the fourth day, while the emperor was still occupied with thoughts of somehow dispelling this calamity, Bahram’s Uzbek troops arrived within sight of the fort.
Bahram used a clever stratagem to advance to the parapets of the fort, whereupon Naushervan underwent ecstasies of fear, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Bahram would enter the city after felling the gate.
Bahram was about to bring his mace down on the gates of the fort when a dust cloud rose on the horizon. Bahram beheld that the dragon-shaped standard had manifested itself from the cloud of dust. Bahram spurred on his steed a
nd rode at a gallop to kiss the stirrup of Amir Hamza, who introduced Bahram to Landhoor, and said, “Just as you are my one arm, he is the other! He is an illustrious person, a valiant warrior, and a faithful friend!”
They had not yet mounted their steeds when a camel rider dispatched by Naushervan arrived with the message that Amir should camp at that station that day, and the following morning, His Majesty would come himself to welcome him and to escort him in his cortege into the city.
When the King of the Four Climes71 ascended the throne of the heavens and filled the whole world with the grace of his luminance, the Sahibqiran mounted his steed and rode out to kiss the royal threshold in the cortege of the Khusrau of India, Landhoor bin Saadan, the Emperor of China, Bahram Gurd, and other illustrious nobles. When Amir sighted Naushervan’s throne draw near, he dismounted and kissed its leg. Naushervan ordered his throne to be put down, and embraced Hamza, and then the two headed toward the city, regaling each other with clever repartee and conversation.
Upon entering the court of Kai Khusrau, the emperor ascended the imperial throne to give audience, and Amir was seated on the throne of Rustam.
And while Amir was thus occupied, the malicious Bakhtak declared to Naushervan, “Before, everyone was in awe of Hamza and there was no one but was terrified of him. Now that he has Landhoor and Bahram by his side, no one dares look him in the eye or stand against their combined might! I fear that they may overthrow Your Majesty and usurp Your Highness’s crown!” Bakhtak’s words smote terror in the emperor’s heart, and becoming panic-stricken, he asked, “What must be done about it?” Bakhtak answered, “You must dispose of them one by one! Tomorrow when Hamza presents himself into Your Honor’s presence, Your Majesty must tell him that he had been ordered to bring Landhoor’s head, not to bring Landhoor alive, contradicting Your Majesty’s commands!” Naushervan said to Bakhtak, “I give you the authority to speak to Hamza as you deem proper.”
In the morning when Amir arrived in Naushervan’s court, Bakhtak addressed him in a loud voice even before greetings had been exchanged: “His Majesty states that he ordered you to bring him Landhoor’s head!” Amir took offense at these words, and replied, “Rather than beheading people unwarrantedly, gaining their fidelity should be the desired end. Landhoor has come here with his army to offer servitude.” Bakhtak replied. “His servitude has no meaning! Today he may lay down his head at the emperor’s feet, but who would answer for him should he revert tomorrow?”
Amir replied, “For as long as I live, he will not have the gall to raise his head from His Majesty’s servitude or rebel or go against the emperor’s orders. But should the emperor so desire, I will presently go and bring his head, as His Majesty’s pleasure is my command!”
Bakhtak said, “How could you claim with any certitude that he will not rebel and display his headstrong ways?” Amir replied, “At a word from me Landhoor shall willingly submit his head to the inclement sword and would not show the least hesitation!”
Bakhtak said, “Then why this delay? What is it that you await? Send for Landhoor and tell him what you must!”
The Sahibqiran ordered Amar to bring Landhoor to him. Amar went before Landhoor, and said, “Come along! The emperor has ordered you to be put to death, and Amir has sent for you to fulfill the emperor’s wishes!”
Then Landhoor rose, and said to Amar, “My sole consideration is a life that is spent seeking the Sahibqiran’s pleasure! What do I care whether my head stands on my neck or rolls? Come, tie my hands with a kerchief and lead me to the emperor’s court!”
Hearing Landhoor’s words, Amar embraced him, and spoke warmly thus: “O Khusrau! No power on Earth could cast an evil glance at you or even presume to harm a single hair on your body. Come along with me. Hamza’s head shall fall before any injury will come to you! And after him all the nobles, the champions, and I myself will lay down our lives before your person is exposed to the least detriment! Decorate yourself with all your arms and armor, and follow me on your she-elephant Maimoona.” Then the Khusrau placed all his arms on his person and, carrying his mace resting on his shoulder, rode his she-elephant to the Hall of Audience.
Amar went into the court, and said to Hamza, “Landhoor who is to be executed has arrived!” In the Hall of Audience Landhoor began playing with his mace by tossing it into the air. It occasioned a great uproar, and people cried, “If the mace should slip from his hands, some ten or twenty lives will be lost immediately, the bones of hundreds will be crushed and they will lose the use of their limbs!” Upon hearing the hue and cry the emperor asked, “What has caused this din to erupt all of a sudden?” When the people explained the reason, the emperor was struck silent.
Then Hamza said, “Go and show Landhoor in!” Amar went outside and brought Landhoor with him to the Hall of Assembly. Landhoor submitted to Hamza with folded arms, saying, “What is your pleasure, my lord?” Amir replied, “The emperor wishes to have your head, as he has become distrustful of you.” Landhoor replied, “I will obey whatever you shall command, and submit to it fully!”
Amir said: “Very well then! You must take leave of His Majesty, and wait outside in the yard of the Hall of Audience with bowed head. The one who shall receive the orders to behead you will be sent there.”
Landhoor made obeisance, went into the yard, and sat there resting against his mace. Amir then ordered Aadi to go and bring him Landhoor’s head. When Aadi expressed his duty to Landhoor, the emperor of India lowered his neck and said, “I am most grateful to God that my submission to Amir does not show the least variance even as I am being beheaded at his command!” Struck by the degree of Landhoor’s devotion, Aadi sat down next to him, saying, “Before anyone could cast an impious glance at Landhoor, he would first have to behead me.”
Upon hearing of this turn of events Amir Hamza bid Bahram to behead Landhoor with his own hands. But Bahram, too, became enamored of Landhoor’s noble sentiments, and sat down by Landhoor’s other side himself, pronouncing, “My head will also fall with Landhoor’s head! If Amir wishes to behead us with his own hands, he has the freedom to do so!” When the Sahibqiran heard Bahram’s words, he sent Sultan Bakht Maghrebi, who also sat down next to Landhoor, and said, “A fine thing is this purposeless slaughter that Amir has taken into his head. But if he is set upon this course, my head will also roll with my friends’ heads!”
The emperor was notified of these men’s comments by spies who narrated the speeches of these nobles before him. Bakhtak said to this, “Why is the royal executioner not ordered to go forth and bring His Majesty the heads of all of the men that His Highness desires, and put an end to this scandalous state of affairs instantly?” Hamza replied, “You are at liberty to send whomever you choose!”
Bakhtak immediately signaled to an executioner. Amar quietly shadowed the executioner when he noticed him walk up to Landhoor wielding a Bardwani blade, dressed in a lion skin robe, with a bloodied butcher’s towel stuck at his waist. The executioner arrived at Landhoor’s head, and called out, “Who is the one whose life’s sun is become pale? Who is the one whose sun of life is about to set?”
All of a sudden a great clamor arose when a carriage passed by, and the cries of crowd dispersers and the shouting of the royal proclaimers began to fill the air at intervals. It was revealed that Empress Mehr-Angez and Princess Mehr-Nigar were passing by in a litter on their way to the palace. The empress looked out from the curtains of the carriage, and asked Mehr-Nigar, “Who is this man, and what is all this bustle about?” When Mehr-Nigar told her that it was Landhoor, the empress ordered the eunuchs to report to her why a throng was gathered at the royal threshold.
When the eunuchs had made queries and brought the details to Empress Mehr-Angez, she said, “A fine bloodlust this is that prompts the emperor to shed the blood of innocent men! Go and conduct Landhoor to our palace!”
Landhoor was released from that scourge, and taken to the empress’s palace, where the empress conferred a robe of honor on him and gave him leave
to depart. Then Landhoor retired happily and joyously to Tal Shad-Kam, alongside Bahram, Aadi, and Sultan Bakht Maghrebi. When spies took this intelligence to the emperor he said, “The empress would not have acted in this manner without good cause! She must have seen some wisdom in so doing. I shall come to learn the reason before long and then this mystery will unfold.” He then adjourned the court and retired to his palace.
OF RUMORS OF PRINCESS MEHR-NIGAR’S DEATH BEING SPREAD BY BAKHTAK’S MOTHER, SAQAR GHAR BANO, OF HAMZA BECOMING DISTRESSED UPON HEARING THEM, AND OF AMAR KILLING SAQAR GHAR BANO AND BURYING THE BAWD IN THE LEAVES
The ebb and flow of time is proverbial, and the juggling of the heavens is ever evident and fully manifest. At times grief will strike amid transports of joy; sometimes in the depths of sorrow the face of hope will gleam. Similar is the course of the story here told.
The connoisseurs of the tale recount that when the emperor entered the royal harem, he asked Empress Mehr-Angez, “What was the reason that you granted pardon to Landhoor?” The empress answered, “In the first place, Landhoor was not guilty and did not put up the least resistance despite all the power and might at his command, for his hands were tied by his love for Hamza. In the second place, Landhoor is also the sovereign of a clime, and monarchs do not mete out such treatment to their equals. My third reason was that if the news of this incident had been carried abroad, your reputation would have been forever lost, people would have heaped rebuke on your head, and never again reposed faith in your word or believed in your promises. Again, if Landhoor had died in this manner, in retribution for his blood, Hamza himself would have laid your whole empire to ruin. Did you not consider that if Landhoor had not submitted his neck himself at Hamza’s bidding, no one among your royal retainers could have dared cut off his head? These were the reasons why I conferred a robe of honor on Landhoor, and sent him away in safety!”
The Adventures of Amir Hamza Page 22