The Adventures of Amir Hamza Page 13

  When the court adjourned, and Amir left the palace to return to his pavilion, Gustham was on hand to escort him to his camp. Gustham presented himself before Amir twice a day, performing new feats of fawning and cringing, and outdoing himself in his avowals of fidelity and servitude. Slowly Amir developed a fondness for Gustham, and all traces of his former spite were cleansed from his heart.

  It was the emperor’s routine to hold court for one week, and spend the next carousing with moonfaced beauties. When the emperor next retired to attend to his private commerce, Gustham announced to Amir, “We have leisure this week. It would be a great boon to your orderly if you would deem it proper to set foot in his garden and spend this week there in feasting and revelry!”

  Amir took Bahram Gurd and Muqbil and a few other associates, and arrived in all happiness and joy at the garden gates.

  Gustham had spread out a floor covering of satin, brocade, and gold tissue from the gates of the garden to the summerhouse. Amir was greatly pleased with Gustham’s exertions, and praised his fine taste to his companions. Fresh and dried fruits were put before them, and then Gustham sent for the silver-limbed cupbearers, and they began to drink in rounds.

  Before Amir’s arrival, he had secreted away four hundred trusted intrepid warriors, with instructions that when he clapped his hands thrice they must come in force, and with relentless swords fall upon Hamza and all his sympathizers.

  In short, when Gustham saw the night spread its dark shades, and Amir and his companions had become befuddled and robbed of their senses by drink, he stepped into the corridor of the summerhouse and struck his hands in succession three times. His accomplices emerged from their hideout and followed Gustham’s lead to where Hamza and his companions lay in the summerhouse.

  Gustham looked squarely into Hamza’s eyes, and spoke thus: “O Arab lad! You displayed great rebelliousness, and deemed the nobles of the empire insignificant and worthless! Now behold the death that stands above your head!” He closed in, and dealt Amir a blow from his sword. Although Bahram was himself addled by drink, he threw himself on Hamza to act as his shield. Gustham’s blow was thwarted and it landed on Bahram’s back, cutting him open from back to front. The wound caused his intestines to fall out from his abdomen.

  Muqbil had been prudent and had imbibed very little wine, and when he saw these events unfold before him, he secured his bow and arrows without further delay. He unleashed a hail of shots, riddling so many bodies with shafts that he brought down one hundred-odd men, and heaps of the slain were piled up in the garden. Gustham escaped with his companions, mistakenly believing that he had killed Hamza.

  Upon regaining his senses, Amir Hamza saw Bahram lying on the ground and groaning with his stomach slit open, and more than a hundred men scattered around stuck with shafts. Upon inquiring of Muqbil, Amir discovered that all of this was the doing of the redoubtable Gustham.

  The emperor became inconsolable with grief upon hearing the news and sent the crown prince Hurmuz, along with Buzurjmehr and Bakhtak, to attend to Hamza and administer him aid and relief; with the promise of rich reward, he dispatched Alqamah Satoor-Dast at the head of three thousand troops to arrest Gustham. Gustham absconded from the city in great disarray.

  Hurmuz, Buzurjmehr, and Bakhtak prostrated themselves in gratitude upon finding Hamza intact, and expressed great remorse at Bahram’s injury. Amir said to Buzurjmehr, “You are a learned physician. Make haste to attend to Bahram’s wound, and cure my cherished friend. For mark well that should Bahram die (perish the thought!), I vow by Holy Mecca that I will put every last Sassanid to the sword!” When Buzurjmehr investigated Bahram’s wicked wound, he was thrown into a great doubt, and was brought to his wits’ end by anxiety and dread.

  In the meanwhile there arrived Khvaja Amar bin Umayya Zamiri, who narrated to Hamza the joyous news of Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s welfare. But when Amar beheld Bahram’s state, he shed many a tear, and said to Amir, “O Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction, is this the treatment one metes out to his associates?” Amir replied, “O Amar! This is not the time or the occasion to make injunctions or to revile and reproach me with these thinly veiled words!”

  Amar turned to Khvaja Buzurjmehr and said, “What do you suggest, as you are by the grace of God the most learned of physicians?” Buzurjmehr replied, “The wound is grave and past all art and modes of surgery. It could not be stitched up without the intestines first being returned inside and restored to their place; but to return them to the stomach cavity will be the devil’s own work! The viscera are a most delicate affair, and just touching the artery of the heart would kill him—then nothing whatsoever could save him! And it is well-nigh impossible to stitch up the wound without handling the viscera!” Amar said, “Indeed Khvaja! You are a great, astute physician! Yet truth be told the province of medicine is a most abstruse domain, and none may claim command over it.”

  And having thus spoken, Amar produced a razor from his pocket and, pressing Bahram between his legs, reached for his gut. Khvaja Buzurjmehr asked Amar, “What is your intention?” Amar replied, “With a nimble hand I will first crop the intestines that are protruding out, so that they may be used to sew up the wound. Then I will apply a salve and make him well.” Confounded beyond belief, Buzurjmehr cried out, “What is this disastrous course that you have embarked on? Do you wish to do away with this miserable man?”

  Bahram was mortified by Amar’s speech, and lost all hope for his life. He heaved such a deep sigh of resignation that it caused his viscera to return to the cavity of his abdomen. Then Amar said to Khvaja, “There you have it! The problem stands resolved. Now apply the sutures and sew up the wound.” Buzurjmehr commended Amar highly for his judgment, and all those present broke into fits of laughter and praised the clever stratagem employed by Amar.

  Buzurjmehr sutured Bahram’s wound, and ordered that he be plied with sherbet so that the corrupted blood could be purged and all other contaminated matter expelled. Khvaja Buzurjmehr, Crown Prince Hurmuz, and Bakhtak then took leave of Amir and retired.

  When Buzurjmehr detailed all these events to the emperor, he responded, “Khvaja! There is no dwelling more sumptuous in Ctesiphon than the Bagh-e Bedad. I wish to invite Hamza to stay there for some days, and make him the recipient of my best hospitality. For he might think ill of me, imagining that Gustham committed this pusillanimous, dastardly act at my behest.

  When Buzurjmehr went to see Bahram again, he said to Amir, “The emperor offers many thanks that you escaped unhurt from the hands of that villain. He sends the message that it would afford him great delight if he could have your company for a weeklong sojourn at Bagh-e Bedad. However, Bakhtak and Amar must be excluded from the company, as they are both the very essence of knavery, and their hearts are bitter toward each other!” Amir acquiesced and accepted the wishes of the emperor.

  Amir brought Muqbil Vafadar and Aadi along, and presented himself before the emperor.

  Amir Hamza sat to the emperor’s right, and Buzurjmehr and the other commanders took their stations to the emperor’s left. Then musicians of alluring art and singers of enchanting voice appeared, regaling and rejoicing this reveling assembly.

  Now a few words about the yearning of the Lord of the Cunning Ones, Khvaja Amar Ayyar. When Amar did not see Hamza for a whole night and day, he set out worriedly, and his search and curiosity brought him to the gates of Bagh-e Bedad. There he found Aadi installed in a sumptuous chair, guzzling wine, with attendants at regular intervals plying him with delicacies. Amar began to inquire among his friends and companions as to why Aadi was keeping watch outside, while Amir was occupied within. Someone told him that the emperor had ordered Amar and Bakhtak to be kept out of the garden and that this was the reason why Aadi was deployed there.

  Then Amar went forward and, after greeting Aadi, took a seat next to him. Aadi said, “O Khvaja! How did you happen to come here?” Amar replied, “I bought a ruby today, and I believe I made an excellent bargain! But you take a look
at it, and assure me that I was not duped.” Greatly flattered, Aadi puffed up with happiness thinking that Amar considered him a connoisseur of jewels. He said, “Khvaja, no jeweler in the world could claim your astute judgment. But allow me, in obedience to your wishes, to have a look at it.” Amar put his hand in his pocket, took out a handful of earth, and shoved it into Aadi’s eyes. Aadi began rubbing his eyes, crying, “Confound you, Amar, you have blinded me!”

  All those around them worriedly turned to attend to Aadi. In one leap Amar got inside the garden, and reached the courtyard. When Aadi washed his eyes and cleared them of dirt, he asked those about him where they had seen Amar go. But when nobody could tell him where Amar had disappeared to, Aadi thought that Amar had run away for fear of him.

  Amar sauntered off toward the palace where the emperor and Amir were assembled and sat under the tree, and, strumming, began a prelude on his do-tara.

  When the voice reached Hamza, he said to Muqbil Vafadar, “I believe that I hear Amar singing, and my ears recognize the strumming of his do-tara! How did he gain entrance since I had enjoined Aadi not to let Amar set foot in the garden? Go and bring Aadi before me forthwith!” When the emperor noticed Hamza’s discomfiture, he said, “Do not send for Aadi as I exonerate Amar! But instead send for Amar by the mace bearer, and invite him here to join us!”

  When the mace bearer called on Amar, he answered, “In such august company where the emperor and Amir preside, there is no place for a common, worthless ayyar like myself!”

  The mace bearer returned alone and narrated Amar Ayyar’s speech to the emperor. The emperor then stepped out of the palace holding Amir’s hand, and they made their way to where Amar sat singing. When Amar saw them coming toward him, he made a leap and fell before the emperor, kissing his feet, and said, “I never once imagined that Your Highness, too, would consider my person as a nuisance and would forbid my presence! As to Hamza, his singular devotion and faithfulness to his friends is amply manifest in the fact that he indulges in feasting by himself, and in no time forsakes old friends in pursuit of the least pleasure!” The emperor laughed at this speech and, leading Amar by the hand, brought him to the Qasr-e Firoza-Nigar. When he was seated on the throne, the emperor ordered Amar to be the cupbearer.

  Now a few words regarding Bakhtak, that listeners may be afforded some mirth.

  When Bakhtak heard that Amar had found his way into Bagh-e Bedad, he was greatly chafed and vexed. Bakhtak left for the garden, carrying with him salvers laden with bales of velvet, brocade, and gold-worked satin, and arrived at the gates of Bagh-e Bedad, where he greeted Aadi with a great show and avowal of friendship.

  At this, Aadi said to him, “Where are you headed and what has brought you here?” Bakhtak replied, “I have brought some gifts for you, and I will be forever indebted, if you would accept these tokens of my gratitude and allow me into the garden!” At these words Aadi flew into a rage, and with great anger exclaimed, “O Bakhtak, did you think me a bribe taker, that you could gain admittance to the garden by thus luring me? If you do not wish to be publicly chastised, you would do well to take yourself from my presence!”

  Thwarted and downcast, Bakhtak returned home and bided his day in weeping and gnashing his teeth. But come evening, he donned a felt mantle and, carrying his clothes under his arm in a bundle, arrived under the walls of Bagh-e Bedad after giving the slip to the guards. There, he threw the bundle over the wall into the garden, and made himself ready to enter by way of the sewer.

  Now, Khvaja Amar was performing the services of cupbearer in the Qasr-e Zarrin by order of the emperor, filling up the crystal goblets with crimson wine, when all of a sudden the notion that some roguery was afoot took powerful hold of him. He said in his heart, Gustham, too, had arranged a similar feast in Hamza’s honor, and for all appearances showed him similar hospitality and warm indulgence. I must go investigate and sniff around, lest some mischief should stir as before and some devilry be enacted!

  On the pretext of going to the toilet, Amar stepped out of the Qasr-e Zarrin and arrived near the gates of the garden, where at that very moment Aadi was telling someone, “Bakhtak came today to bribe me, taking me for one as unfaithful as his own grandfather, Alqash!” Amar started upon hearing these words, thinking that if Bakhtak had approached Aadi with that intention, he would certainly attempt to get inside the garden by all means fair or foul. Then Amar applied himself to examining every promenade and grove, in order to find some sign of Bakhtak’s entry.

  Suddenly Amar caught sight of the bundle lying under the garden wall heavy with robe and regalia. He hid the bundle in a nook under some leaves, and then sought the place where Bakhtak would stage his entry. Amar’s eyes fell on the sewer and when he looked closely he saw a man’s head emerge from the hole and withdraw after looking around here and there. Amar decided that it could be no one but Bakhtak.

  Amar hurried to Khvaja Alaf Posh, who was the chief garden keeper, and said to him, “A thief is about to break into the garden by way of the sewer! When I heard him stirring I came to alert you. Now it is up to you and your sense of duty to decide what to do.”

  Khvaja Alaf Posh became duly alarmed and bandied together some gardeners. Armed with mattocks they took up positions at the sewer by the garden wall. The moment Bakhtak crept out, the gardeners fell upon him and tied him up in no time. Although Bakhtak shouted, “I am Bakhtak!” they paid absolutely no heed to his declarations, and began beating him after suspending him from the branch of a tree.

  When Bakhtak had been beaten to a pulp, Amar called out to ask Khvaja Alaf Posh, “What is all this noise that I hear, Khvaja Alaf Posh?” Khvaja Alaf Posh replied, “We have caught a thief, and tied him to a tree.”

  When Bakhtak heard Amar’s voice, he called out to him, addressing Amar in the language of ayyars. “O Khvaja Amar! In God’s name, release me from the clutches of these ruffians. I shall remain indebted to you all my life for this!”

  Amar then spoke to Khvaja Alaf Posh and interceded on Bakhtak’s behalf, telling him that this man was indeed Bakhtak the emperor’s vizier. When he asked Alaf Posh to release Bakhtak he accosted Amar in a thousand ways, and said, “O Khvaja Amar, what is this that you propose? Why would Bakhtak call such a calamity on his head when he is a close associate of the emperor? And should the real Bakhtak himself be caught in this manner, we would not let go of him either.”

  Amar then returned into the emperor’s presence to resume his duties, and remained occupied thus for the course of the night.

  When day broke, Amar declared before the emperor, “There is a spicy gale and the air is sweetened by the zephyr. The dawn is breaking and it is a fit time to promenade in the garden.”

  Thus was the emperor inveigled, and leading Hamza by the hand, he headed to the flower garden for a jaunt, with his attendants in the train. Amar led the emperor to the place where Bakhtak was tied up against the tree, naked as the day when he emerged from his mother’s womb. Bakhtak raised a hue and cry when he saw the emperor and began to shout, “O my guide and mentor! I was brought to this state at the hands of the gardeners!” Then Khvaja Alaf Posh presented himself before the emperor and admitted, “Your Honor! Last night this thief tried to break into the garden by way of the sewer. When we thrashed him he made claims to be Your Honor’s vizier, Bakhtak!” When the emperor and Amir Hamza looked closely, they discovered that it was indeed Bakhtak who was tied to the tree.

  Then Amar stepped forward and said, “Bakhtak is most astute and discerning. Why in the world would he take it into his head to break into the garden and invite this calamity on his head? In all likelihood it is some demon who has come in Bakhtak’s guise and now enthralls Your Honor with this prank.” Beholding Bakhtak in this state, the emperor blossomed into laughter, and those in his retinue split their sides laughing.

  After Amar had spoken and the emperor made to move onward with his stroll, Hamza determined in his heart that the episode bespoke Amar’s hand. He pleaded for Bakhtak’s release and
delivered him from that unforeseen scourge.

  The emperor then headed for Bagh-e Hasht Bahisht, which was situated in the center of Bagh-e Bedad, set like a precious stone in a ring.

  In this manner, the emperor conducted Hamza into a new palace every day and regaled him there in numerous ways with feasting and revelry. When it was morning again, the emperor removed himself to Qasr-e Chahal Sutoon. As the emperor had not closed his eyes even for a moment for the past five days and nights, he was overtaken by sleep, and Amir stepped out of the palace to retrieve a change of livery, accompanied by his associates and attendants.

  During their stroll, they came upon a stream in a corner of the garden, where Amir occupied himself with bathing.

  It so happened that at that time Princess Mehr-Nigar, the daughter of Naushervan the Just, was looking out the window from the palace roof.

  When she laid eyes on Hamza, the shaft of Amir’s love pierced her heart, and she fell into a swoon. Thus love-struck, she said in her heart, Those arched eyebrows have shot my heart with love’s arrow. It would be a fitting response to give him a taste of his own medicine. She took the ambarcha50 from her neck and threw it at Amir. It fell on Amir’s shoulders, and upon looking upward, he beheld the handiwork of the Perfect Artist. Presently Amir was overwhelmed and he fell on his back in the water. Muqbil jumped in to rescue him and helped him out of the water in his arms.

  Then Amir heaved such a soul-searing sigh that his garden of pleasure was set ablaze, the flames of love conflagrated his heart, and tears of longing began to issue forth from his eyes. And he began reciting love verses.

  At this, Muqbil counseled Amir, “Now is not the hour to become derelict or cultivate the familiarity further! You must change into your new livery and return to the assembly!”