reign, Feridoun despatched his three sons to
Arabia in quest of wives, and on their return proceeded to test their
mettle by meeting them in the shape of a dragon. While the eldest son
retreated, crying that a wise and prudent man never strives with
dragons, the second advanced recklessly, without thinking of
protecting himself. The third, however, set to work in a business-like
way, not only to rescue his foolhardy brother, but to slay the dragon.
On perceiving this, the father resumed his wonted form, and announced
he would divide his realm into three parts, of which the best share,
Iran or Persia, was bestowed upon Trij, the son who had shown both
courage and prudence.

Not long after this division, the two elder brothers united to despoil
the younger, but, although they succeeded in slaying him, his infant
daughter was brought up by the aged Feridoun, and in due time gave
birth to a son, Minuchir, destined to avenge his grandfather's death
by defeating and slaying his great-uncles. Having done this, Minuchir
occupied the throne, while his favorite vassal was made governor of
one of the newly conquered realms. This swarthy, dark-haired man
proved perfectly happy in these new estates until he heard his wife
had given birth to a son with snow-white hair.

"No human being of this earth could give to such a monster birth,
He must be of the demon race, though human still in form and face.
If not a demon, he at least, appears a parti-colored beast."

Such an offspring seeming nothing short of a curse, the father had
little Zal exposed on Mt. Alborz, where he expected he would perish in
a brief space of time.

On the top of this mountain the Simurgh, or Bird of God,--a marvellous
golden-feathered eagle,--had built a nest of ebony and sandal-wood,
lined with spices, around which she had piled all manner of precious
stones, whose glitter pleased her. Hearing the cry of a babe, this
great bird swooped downward, and, fastening her talons in the child's
dress, bore him safely away to her aerie, where she dropped him in the
nest beside two eaglets. These little birds proved kind to the young
prince, although they were able to leave their nest long before he
could walk about and play with the precious stones.

It was only when Zal was about eight years old that his father
suddenly realized he had committed a deadly sin, and was
correspondingly relieved to learn in a dream that his child had not
perished, but had been n