Of Ferdoosee. 59 
When Saum has finished this narrative, 
Manucheher immediately commands him to 
march against Mihraub, lay waste his country, 
and extirpate his family. Saum, without 
daring to expostulate, promises to obey his 
orders. On his way he is met by Zaul, who 
earnestly implores him to suspend his purpose, 
and to permit him to go himself, and urge his 
suit before the King. Saum complies with 
the wishes of his son, and seconds his request 
in a letter to Manucheher, in which he takes 
occasion to mention several services which he 
had performed, and in particular that of ha- 
ving slain an immense Dragon, which had 
for a long time infested and desolated the 
country. | 
Had I not been in the land, 
Even the mighty would have perished, 
When the huge Dragon 
Came up and desolated the earth : 
His height was as the distance from city to 
city, 
His breadth as that from mountain to moun- 
tain. 
The people were filled with terror, 
From the dread of him they rested neither 
day nor night. 
