arose among them, and shuddering with
horror at the cruelty exercised by him in providing food for the
accursed serpents, they preferred embracing the cause of the new king.
Zohak, seeing that he had lost the affections of the army, and that
universal revolt was the consequence, adopted another course, and
endeavored alone to be revenged upon his enemy. He proceeded on his
journey, and arriving by night at the camp of Feridun, hoped to find him
off his guard and put him to death. He ascended a high place, himself
unobserved, from which he saw Feridun sitting engaged in soft dalliance
with the lovely Shahrnaz. The fire of jealousy and revenge now consumed
him more fiercely, and he was attempting to effect his purpose, when
Feridun was roused by the noise, and starting up struck a furious blow
with his cow-headed mace upon the temples of Zohak, which crushed the
bone, and he was on the point of giving him another; but a supernatural
voice whispered in his ear,

"Slay him not now--his time is not yet come,
His punishment must be prolonged awhile;
And as he cannot now survive the wound,
Bind him with heavy chains--convey him straight
Upon the mountain, there within a cave,
Deep, dark, and horrible--with none to soothe
His sufferings, let the murderer lingering die."

The work of heaven performing, Feridun
First purified the world from sin and crime.

Yet Feridun was not an angel, nor
Composed of musk or ambergris. By justice
And generosity he gained his fame.
Do thou but exercise these princely virtues,
And thou wilt be renowned as Feridun.

FERIDUN AND HIS THREE SONS

Feridun had three sons. One of them was named Silim, the other Tur, and
the third Irij. When they had grown up, he called before him a learned
person named Chundel, and said to him: "Go thou in quest of three
daughters, born of the same father and mother, and adorned with every
grace and accomplishment, that I may have my three sons married into one
family." Chundel departed accordingly, and travelled through many
countries in fruitless search, till he came to the King of Yemen, whose
name was Saru, and found that he had three daughters of the character
and qualifications required. He therefore delivered Feridun's
proposition to him, to which the King of Yemen agreed. Then Feridun sent
his three sons to Yemen, and they married the three daughters of the
king, who gave them splendid dowries in treasure and jewels. It is