The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  Having said this, Faridun Shah made to disembowel himself with his dagger, but his brother stopped his hand and said, “Send for Amar and I will see to it that Naheed Maryam is married to Amir Hamza.”

  Faridun Shah sent for Amar and showed Amar much favor and honor, and after making him an offering of five thousand gold pieces, said, “O Khvaja! In God’s name pray find some way to resolve my problem, and have the Sahibqiran marry my daughter. After their betrothal I promise to make you a further offering of ten thousand gold pieces!”

  Amar said, “I shall see to it that the betrothal takes place before the day is past. Have no worries in this regard, and begin the preparations for the wedding privately.” Amar took the gold pieces and returned to his camp and when privacy was arranged, he broached the subject of Naheed Maryam’s beauty and fair looks with Amir and planted the seed of desire in Hamza’s heart.

  Amir said, “O Khvaja, I would readily marry Faridun Shah’s daughter, but how would I show my face to Princess Mehr-Nigar afterward?” Amar replied, “How can the Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction repress his desire and devote it singularly to Mehr-Nigar’s person alone? Pledge your troth to Naheed Maryam freely and take your pleasure of her. Leave it to me to deal with Princess Mehr-Nigar. If she reproaches you later, tell her that you did it at my bidding. Then it will be my responsibility to bring her around!”

  Amir at last assented to betroth Naheed Maryam on the condition that he would not consummate their marriage until he had first married Princess Mehr-Nigar. Faridun Shah gladly consented to that condition and was greatly beholden to Amar.

  In addition to the promised ten thousand gold pieces, Faridun Shah conferred a most sumptuous robe of honor on Amar along with priceless gems. From there Amar went to Hamza. He sang such praises of Naheed Maryam’s beauty to him that Amir’s desire was fully aroused.

  Amir pledged his troth to Naheed Maryam and for the length of a fortnight remained in his harem occupied with the exercise of nuptial pleasures. On the sixteenth day Amir sent Landhoor and Amar with the tribute from the five lands and the goods and chattels of Shankavah to Naushervan, and ordered his advance camp to move toward Egypt.

  OF AMIR’S MARCHING TO CONQUER EGYPT AND OF THE RULER OF EGYPT TAKING HIM PRISONER BY DECEIT

  The historians of kingdoms and metropolises, and the account bearers of provinces and cities report that, after traversing many farsangs and miles, King Landhoor bin Saadan approached Ctesiphon, and Naushervan sent many a Sassanid noble to welcome him and inquired at length about the Sahibqiran’s welfare.

  Landhoor made an offering to the emperor of the gold received in tribute and presented him with the letter and gifts sent by the Sahibqiran. The emperor had the gold tribute removed to the royal treasury and conferred two luxurious robes of honor upon Amar and Landhoor. He ordered them to remain in daily attendance at the court and wait upon him as before. Then, while Landhoor took himself to his camp at Tal Shad-Kam, Amar called upon Princess Mehr-Nigar. He gave her Amir’s letter of fond remembrance and said to her, “O Princess! The Sahibqiran thinks of aught else but you.” The princess replied, “Khvaja! The night of parting and the day of separation weigh so heavily upon my soul that from the burden that it was before, my life has become a veritable curse!”

  Amar replied, “Princess, you have shown exemplary patience thus far. Hold on a while longer, and do not lose your poise and equanimity. None but the Almighty God shielded Amir from calamities, and freed him from the power of a despot. By the decree of the same Omnipotent Lord the day will come when you shall be blissfully reunited with Hamza.”

  Then Amar called on Bahram Gurd and Muqbil Vafadar. Amar addressed Landhoor, Bahram, and Muqbil, saying, “Remain in daily attendance at Naushervan’s court, but do not for a moment drop your guard. Because of Bakhtak’s presence, there is no knowing how the emperor will act toward you from one day to the next as he has shown himself to be irresolute and fickle.” Afterward, Amar headed toward Mecca.

  Now to satisfy those seeking the news of more adventures, a short account of Amir Hamza. The Sahibqiran arrived near Egypt’s frontiers and setup Prophet Danyal’s pavilion and pitched his tents by the banks of the Nile.

  The king of Egypt, Abdul Aziz, had learned that Hamza had been sent there by Naushervan to levy tribute on him. The king had a wise counselor in the person of his vizier, Karvan. He sent for him in private and sought his opinion about the course of action they must follow.

  Since Karvan was a prudent and sagacious man, he said to the king, “It would be wise in my humble opinion to call on him and make him a royal offering. It is well-known that just as he is without match in courage and valor, he is peerless, too, in fortitude and generosity of spirit. He would show an equal degree of preference and partiality should your excellent manners and sincerity be revealed to him!”

  Abdul Aziz was incensed by his vizier’s counsel and said irritably, “Your advice in this matter is most injudicious. The preferable course of action is the one I have resolved upon in my mind!” Karvan decided to hold his tongue and let the king hang himself with his own rope.

  Early the next morning, Abdul Aziz called on Amir with the three years’ tribute and many gifts. During his audience, he said to Hamza, “Why did Your Honor choose to camp in a field when the comforts of the city are available to you? Pray come into the city and ennoble my humble abode by setting foot there.” Amir conferred a robe of honor upon him and said, “I have no objections to accompanying you to your place!” Amir stood up and leaving his army stationed at that place, headed for the city in the company of some of his illustrious nobles.

  When Amir set foot in the city, every last person came out to feast their eyes on his face.

  Amir gave audience on a bejeweled throne in the royal court and the eminent nobles of his entourage occupied seats and thrones according to their established ranks. The king of Egypt ordered moonfaced cupbearers to bring goblets and ewers and directed the Venus-like dancers and exquisite musicians to dance and sing.

  All this while, Abdul Aziz employed himself in officiating and looking after the party’s arrangements. When Amir insisted that he should rest and let others take care of the arrangements, he replied with folded arms, “It is a signal honor for me to wait upon the son-in-law of the Emperor of the Seven Climes.” Amir was greatly pleased by his talk, and the glib tongue of that wily man led Hamza into such deception that he threw all caution to the wind.

  When evening drew to a close, that deceitful devil went into the wine cellar and drugged the wine with his own vile hands. After drinking the very first cup of that wine, the Sahibqiran said to the king, “It tastes different and unlike the one served earlier!”

  That malevolent king replied, “Indeed it is a different wine, and a finer one it would be impossible to find. Your Honor’s visit is a fit occasion to bring out this wine, which is much headier and stronger than the first.”

  Amir, who had never tasted drugged wine in his life, believed the king’s word. After the wine had made a few rounds, one after another, Amir’s companions began to swoon, falling down from their stations. Amir, too, fell unconscious to the floor.

  The king of Egypt said to his vizier, “Send for the executioner this moment to behead Hamza and his companions, and have their heads dispatched to Naushervan’s court!”

  Karvan humbly replied, “Indeed Your Honor overpowered the adversary with great facility but I see good reason why you must not act hastily in executing Hamza. Hamza has powerful friends who would wipe the kingdom of Egypt from the face of the earth if they heard of his murder. Therefore I deem it advisable that you put Hamza and his companions in chains and send this news to the Emperor of the Seven Concentric Circles. If he writes back to sanction Hamza’s execution, then you may proceed to fulfill your heart’s desire!”

  The king of Egypt said, “Indeed in this matter I deem your advice most judicious and propitious, O Karvan! But I fear that if Amar arrives here before the courier can return
from his two thousand farsangs journey to Ctesiphon, all my labor will come to naught. Then there will be no punishment that Hamza would consider too harsh for me!”

  Karvan replied, “I could arrange for the emperor’s reply to be received here within two days. Pray hand me the letter and I shall dispatch it in the morning by tying it to a courier pigeon’s neck. By evening it will have reached Ctesiphon, and if the emperor immediately grants a reply, it should arrive here the next day!”

  The king greatly praised Karvan’s counsel and highly commended him, and that very moment he sent for blacksmiths and had Amir and his companions put in irons and imprisoned in a well. Then the king summoned Sarhang Misri, the chief of his ayyars, and said, “Keep strict watch on these prisoners with your men. Have it proclaimed in the city that anyone who utters Hamza’s name is to be killed on the spot!” His edict was so severe that the denizens of the city refrained from even uttering the name of the followers of the True Faith. The next day, the king of Egypt wrote out a missive to Naushervan and the bird was sent toward Ctesiphon.

  OF THE PIGEON BRINGING THE MISSIVE INTO CTESIPHON; OF THE CONSPIRACY TO KILL LANDHOOR, BAHRAM, AND OTHERS; AND OF AMAR MAKING AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE

  The dove of the narrative is entrapped in the cage of these lines by lovers of sweet discourse and admirers of high-flying fancy, who expound on all manner of singular and propitious subjects thus.

  The pigeon reached Ctesiphon and the pigeon keeper took the letter to Bakhtak.

  Beside himself with joy upon reading it, Bakhtak hurried before the emperor. Upon reading it, Naushervan, too, came very near to bursting with joy. Bakhtak declared, “Your Honor must send a reply forthwith sanctioning Hamza’s death. This humble slave of yours has in his possession a pigeon from Egypt. He shall be dispatched early in the morning with the reply!” Naushervan replied, “I must needs, however, take Buzurjmehr’s advice in this difficult matter.” The emperor summoned Buzurjmehr and gave him the letter to read.

  Buzurjmehr summoned his senses to his aid and said, “Congratulations! Your greatest anxiety was addressed without your becoming involved yourself. However, it will not bode well to sanction Hamza’s death this instant. I counsel this for the reason that if the news is leaked to Landhoor, Bahram, and Muqbil neither bird nor beast will be found alive in Ctesiphon before the pigeon has even reached its destination. You should first address these matters. Then you may give the orders for Hamza’s death!”

  Bakhtak replied, “It can be arranged with facility. Tomorrow, when these men present themselves in the court, Your Honor must arrange for wine and meat to be served and then take them unconscious with drugged wine. Thereafter, the sanction for Hamza’s death may be dispatched and when Hamza’s head arrives in the court, Your Honor may have Landhoor and the others beheaded at your pleasure!” Naushervan was delighted by Bakhtak’s counsel and greatly praised his wisdom.

  Bakhtak counseled the emperor not to let Buzurjmehr go home that night and stayed over at the court himself, too. When it was morning, Landhoor, Bahram, and Muqbil arrived in the court according to their custom. The emperor gave orders for an assembly of revelry to be arranged and drugged wine began to circulate. Buzurjmehr tried to warn the men by making signs with his eyes in vain.

  After Muqbil had had two cups, he sensed some mischief. He rose from the assembly on the pretext of a headache, and headed straight for Buzurjmehr’s house where he fell unconscious on the floor. Landhoor and Bahram had had four and five cups each and, once fully drugged, they tumbled from their seats and thrones and collapsed to the ground. At the emperor’s orders they were manacled and put in leg irons, and thrown into the jail. Then Naushervan wrote these words to the sovereign of Egypt:

  Indeed, you showed great loyalty toward me by taking Hamza captive. You should behead him and dispatch me his head upon receiving this letter, and carry out this order with the greatest expedience!

  After writing this note Naushervan said to Bakhtak, “Seal it with the royal seal and send it early tomorrow morning” After giving these orders the emperor adjourned the court and retired to the royal bedchamber.

  Buzurjmehr took his leave and returned home, where he found Muqbil lying unconscious on the floor. He administered him a physic that dispelled the effects of the drugged wine. Then Buzurjmehr gave him a detailed account of all that had come to pass. Upon hearing it, Muqbil began wailing and lamenting and was fully disposed to put an end to his life. Buzurjmehr said to him, “This is not the occasion to indulge in wailing and lamentation. I have a camel that can traverse eighty farsangs in a day. Ride him full tilt and when you catch sight of the pigeon, kill him at the first opportunity.”

  Muqbil set out astride the camel that very moment. After he was gone, Buzurjmehr learned through ramal that all obstacles would be removed and the dilemma resolved only with the help and participation of Amar. He wondered how and where he could track down Amar that moment. He was engrossed in these meditations when he learned of Amar’s arrival at his doorstep.

  Khvaja Buzurjmehr ran out barefoot and brought Amar into the house, and narrated the whole story to him.

  Amar said, “How do you think that I can travel a thousand farsangs in one day, since I do not have a bird’s feathers and wings?” Buzurjmehr replied, “O Amar, I have learned from studying your horoscope that during your life there will be three occasions when you will run so swiftly that the feat will surpass those of great men who have gone before, and remain unequaled by those who will come after!”

  Amar replied, “O Khvaja! Indeed a pretty picture you paint of my fate where my lot is to spend my life running errands and playing the courier.” Khvaja Buzurjmehr replied, “Now make haste and be off, for this is not a time to make delays. I have also dispatched Muqbil by camel whom you will surely meet on the way.”

  Amar then went to Tal Shad-Kam and said to the nobles of India and China, “It is not advisable for you to camp here, as Naushervan might pick a quarrel with you in finding you without a leader. You should move camp to the forest, and wait and pray for God’s favor and see what fate unfolds!”

  OF AMAR SETTING OUT FOR EGYPT IN PURSUIT OF THE PIGEON AND KILLING HIM CLOSE TO ITS CITY GATES, AND OF HIS SECURING HAMZA’S RELEASE AFTER MUCH TOIL AND AFFLICTION

  The dove of the stylus trills its notes inside the vestibule of the page and the pen’s homing pigeon makes circles around the pigeon tower of the ream. When the hour of dawn struck, Amar decked himself in an ayyar’s attire and stationed himself under the royal pigeon house. The moment Bakhtak took the bird out of the pigeon house and released him, Amar locked his gaze with Bakhtak and said, “Mark it well that if, God forbid, even a single hair of Hamza or his companions is harmed, I will pluck clean the avis of Naushervan’s soul1 and annihilate those party to this treacherous counsel along with their kin. What an unenviable lot yours will be you cannot even imagine!”

  Amar, the Father of Racers and Tumblers, sped on under the pigeon’s shadow reciting “Help, O Immortal One! Help, O Imperishable One!” At every step of the way his eyes remained transfixed on the bird like a hawk chasing a pigeon.

  Now to those eager to hear a brief account of Muqbil Vafadar. He dismounted at a rivulet and ate a little. Letting his camel graze in the forest, he lay down a while to rest himself. It so happened that this forest abounded in poisonous grass, and upon eating it the dromedary fell dead. Muqbil set out from there on foot feeling completely at a loss, and trekked onward for several kos until his feet became swollen. Feeling completely powerless, he sat down under a tree and fell unconscious from a paroxysm of tears.

  Amar, who had been following the pigeon, found Muqbil lying unconscious under a tree. Amar immediately dripped some water into his mouth. Muqbil opened his eyes and began crying upon finding Amar there. Amar said, “This is no time to waste in crying tears. Make haste and climb on my shoulders, and let us find some way to hunt down that pigeon!” Muqbil fitted the notch of an arrow in his bowstring and climbed atop Amar, who set out at a co
met’s pace.

  The westbound bird2 had not yet retired to its nest when the pigeon approached the ramparts of the castle of Egypt. As the pigeon was about to fly over the castle walls into the city, Muqbil released the falcon of his arrow from his bow’s nest and the talons of the death’s hawk caught the pigeon at once. The pigeon came spiraling down and fell dead into the moat, where Amar fished him out. He opened the letter and, after reading it, put it safely into his zambil to show to Hamza.

  Amar then accompanied Muqbil into the camp of the followers of the True Faith. As Amar was exhausted by the day’s journey he slept like a log the whole night and when the first light of the morn appeared, he went into the city disguised as an Arab, but never heard anyone so much as mention Hamza’s name.

  Around the time of the maghreb prayers,3 he saw a water carrier. When Amar asked him where Hamza was imprisoned, that infidel (marked for hell fodder!) caught hold of Amar’s arm and began screeching, “Hasten to my aid, friends, for I have caught Amar!”

  Amar wondered how the man had recognized him. He bit the water carrier’s hands, and won release from his grip. He climbed atop the upper story of a nearby house in one leap, and sped away. When Sarhang Misri could not find a trace of Amar he ordered his men to arrest any stranger they came upon.

  Amar found his way into another bazaar in due time and saw a blind beggar resting against a pillow by the roadside. When Amar drew near him and inquired about Hamza’s whereabouts, the beggar caught the skirts of Amar’s robe and began to scream loudly for Sarhang Misri. Amar wondered endlessly how a man born from his mother’s womb blind could have recognized him. As people began gathering in throngs from all sides to apprehend him, Amar again escaped.