with the
wine-cup in his hand.

He sent for Rustem, and said, "It is of your doing, by your strength
and courage, that I have recovered my throne."

Rustem answered, "A man must do his duty. As for the honors that you
would give me, I owe them all to Aulad, who has always guided me on
the right way. He hopes to be made king of Mazanderan. Let the King,
therefore, if it please him, invest him with the crown."

And this the King did.

The next day Kaoues and his army set out to return to the land of
Persia. When he had reached his palace, he seated himself upon his
throne, and sending for Rustem, put him at his side.

Rustem said, "My lord, permit me to go back to the old man Zal, my
father."

The King commanded that they should bring splendid presents for the
hero. The presents were these: A throne of turquoise, adorned with
rams' heads; a royal crown set about with jewels; a robe of brocade of
gold, such as is worn by the King of kings; a bracelet and a chain of
gold; a hundred maidens, with faces fair as the full moon, and girdles
of gold; a hundred youths, whose hair was fragrant with musk; a
hundred horses, harnessed with gold and silver; a hundred mules with
black hair, with loads of brocade that came from the land of Room and
from Persia. After these they brought and laid at the hero's feet a
hundred purses filled with gold pieces; a cup of rubies, filled with
pure musk; another cup of turquoise, filled with attar of roses; and,
last of all, a letter written on pages of silk, in ink made of wine
and aloes and amber and the black of lamps. By this letter the King of
kings gave anew to Rustem the kingdom of the south. Then Kaoues blessed
him, and said: "May you live as long as men shall see the sun and the
moon in heaven! May the great of the earth join themselves to you! May
your own soul be full of modesty and tenderness!"

Rustem prostrated himself on the earth, and kissed the throne; and so
took his departure.

LIST OF BEST BOOKS OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS

ASHTON, T. _Romances of Chivalry_

BALDWIN, J. _The Story of Siegfried_

BALDWIN, J. _The Story of Roland_

BARING-GOULD, S. _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_

BROOKS, E. _The Story of the AEneid_

BROOKS, E. _The Story of the Odyssey_

BULFINCH, T. _The Age of Chivalry_

BULFINCH, T. _Legends of Charlemagne_

BURNS, J. _Popular Tales and Legends_

CLODD, E. _The Birth and Growth of Myths_

CLODD, E. _The Childhood of Religions_