In this portion of Persian history, of which the princi pal events are generally regarded as fabulous, 'here is scarcely any transaction that bears a resemblance to those of the same period as recorded by Grecian historians. The usurpation of Zohauk is supposed to refer to the con quest of Persia by the Assyrians ; and the duration of the Assyrian power in Persia occupies the same space of time as that assigned to the reign of Zohauk. Upon this sup position, Feridoon will represent the Arbaces of the Greeks, who delivered Persia from the Assyrian yoke ; and there is no passage in history more fully proved by oriental writers than the revolt of Kawah, who placed Feridoon upon the throne, which event is confirmed by the undouhted fact, that the imperial standard, which fell into the hands of the Caliph Omar, consisted of a black smith's apron. The subsequent events of this period may allude to the constant wars carried on against the Scythi ans, which led first to the usurpation of Afrasiab, and then to his expulsion from the throne of Persia; and Mann cheher, Nouzer, Zoowah, and Kershasp, correspond with the Mandauces, Sosarmus, Artia, and Arbianes, of the Greeks.
We now enter upon another portion of Persian history, " the heroic and poetical," where we can evidently disco ver truth to form the basis of the narrative, though often defaced and obscured by the fictions of an oriental imagi nation. The Persian historians make no reference to dates ; so that it is only by a similarity of events that we can trace the same history as recorded by Grecian writers. After the removal of Kershasp, Zal, with the other chiefs of the empire, placed upon the throne Kai-Kobad, a lineal descendant of Manucheher, and the founder of the Kai anian dynasty. During the reign of this prince, Zal held the reins of government, and his son Roostum, as yet a youth, led the armies of Persia. The Tartar Afrasiab continued to be the dreaded enemy of the empire, and seized every opportunity of disturbing its tranquillity. He had again passed the Oxus with an invading army. In the first engagement he encountered the hero Roostum, and, after a violent contest, the Tartar prince was saved only by his soldiers, with the loss of his rich crown and girdle. He immediately retreated and begged for peace.
Kai-Kobad reigned 120 years, and his son Kai-Kaoos succeeded to a powerful and prosperous sceptre. But the pride and ambition of this monarch led him into many schemes, which he wanted ability to execute. In his in vasion of the kingdom of Mazenderan, whose climate and fertility he had heard highly extolled, he and his army were struck with sudden blindness* during a great battle, and all that were not slain were made captives. The royal prisoner was confined in a strong fort, and his jailor used tauntingly to ask him what he thought of that de lightful climate he was so anxious to enjoy. His captivity, however, was not of long continuance. Roostum, though opposed, according to Ferdosi, by all the efforts of valour and enchantment, effected his liberation, and also succeed ed in adding Mazenderan to the kingdom of Persia. Kai Kaoos again fell into the hands of his enemies. In a ne gociation with the king of Hamaveran to obtain his daughter Sudaba in marriage, he was invited to a feast by that monarch, and treacherously made prisoner. This event was aggravated by a new inroad of the Tartars ; but Roostum once more became the deliverer of his sovereign. He led an overwhelming force against the king of llama veran, and his auxiliaries, the kings of Egypt and Bar bary, and compelled him not only to release Kai-Kaoos, and give him the fair Sudaba in marriage, but to assist the Persians in expelling Afrasiab beyond the Oxus. A cir
cumstance is narrated as having taken place in this reign, which greatly embittered the hostility between the Persi ans and Tartars, and involved them in long and bloody wars. Kai-Kaoos had married a niece of Afrasiab, who had fled into Persia, and had by her a son named Sia wush, who was alike remarkable for his personal beauty and mental endowments. Of him the fair Sudaba, notwith standing her marriage with his father, became deeply ena moured; and, after many vain efforts to seduce him, she endeavoured to destroy him by false accusations. Sia wush, however, completely exculpated himself, it is said, by submitting to the ordeal of passing through the fire.
While these dissentions prevailed in the Persian court, Afrasiab was preparing for another invasion. But he be came alarmed for his own safety by a dream which he had, and which was regarded as portentous of evil. At this time Roostum and Siawush commanded the army opposed to him, and to them he made overtures for a peace, but he was compelled to submit to hard terms, and gave 100 hostages as a pledge of his fidelity. Kai-Kaoos, who had expected nothing less than the head of his enemy, no sooner heard of the peace, than he ordered Siawush to send the hostages to court, and gave the command of the army to Toos, with orders to prosecute the war. Siawush was so indignant at such a proceeding, that he joined Afrasiab with all the hostages, declaring that he would never be a party to such dishonourable conduct. In a let ter to his father, however, he ascribed this step to his dread of the intrigues of Sudaba, which rendered it im possible for him to preserve his honour and his life at the court of Persia. Afrasiab, overjoyed at the accession of such an auxiliary, gave him his daughter Feringees in marriage, with Cheen and Khoten as her dowry. Siawush retired to his dominions, and diligently applied himself to the improvement of his new subjects. But his success excited only the jealously of Gurseevas, the brother of Afrasiab, who, being joined by some of the nobles of Tar tary, at last accomplished his ruin. They represented to the Tartar king, the impolicy and danger of allowing au enemy of their race to become acquainted with the state of his dominions, and acquire popularity among his sub jects, who, as soon as he should succeed to the Persian throne, would use that knowledge and popularity to their destruction. Afrasiab long resisted their importunities, and adduced, in his behalf, his claim of hospitality and protection ; but he yielded at last, and the brave and ge nerous Siawush was treacherously slain. The beautiful Feringees, who was then pregnant, was also doomed to death. She was, however, saved by the intercession of the nobles, and her offspring ordered to be destroyed as soon as born. The execution of this order was entrusted to the vizier, Peeran-`Visa, but the heart of the minister revolted at such a deed ; and when the Tartar princess was delivered of a son, he gave it the name of Kai Khoosroo, and committed him to the care of a shepherd, with secret instructions to bestow upon him an education suited to his high birth. Afrasiab was made to believe that the child had been exposed in a desert. A rumour, however, soon reached him that his grandson was alive. He immediately questioned the vizier upon the subject, who reported that the child had been found, and brought. up by a shepherd, but that he had proved an idiot. The young prince was then sent for, and, being instructed be forehand by Pecran-`Visa, acted the part of a fool so well before his grandfather, that he was looked upon as per fectly harmless, and allowed to reside with his mother.