“I have no wish or

pleasure or a life of ease. Give

me a horse and the club of

Sahm, my grandfather, and I

will go forth against the

enemies of my

country.” Rustum said.

Time came when Rustum had

to go back to his own city. He was

sad and could not take his wife with

him.

He did not wish that his people

should know about his marriage for

they expected him to marry a

maiden of his own people.

Tamineh was afraid for Rustum will be

proud of such a son and take him from her.

While still a baby she bound the amulet of onyx

on his arm and sent message to Rustum that a

daughter had been born instead. Rustum was

disappointed for he had hoped for a brave son;

but he sent five jewels for the child bade the

mother to take good care of her. He was busy in

the battlefield and could not come to see her.

With a bitter smile Rustum

looked down upon his foe and said,

“Fool, thou art slain by an

unknown hand.” “Nay. It was not

thou, but the name of Rustum that

unmanned me for a moment. …the

mighty Rustum will avenge my

death – Rustum, my father, whom I

seek through all the world.”

Then Sohrab rose up

his arm and cried, “Behold

this onyx, given by Rustum

to my mother, that she

might bind it on her babe.”

Rustum looked and saw

the onyx stone. The sight

struck with cold horror at his

heart. He stood for some

moments and with grief said.

“Oh. Boy – thy father!” He

paused and fell down by

Sohrab’s side, like dead.

Moral Lesson:

• Don’t take pride too high. Rustum has so much pride in himself that he

forgets about humility. If He had humble himself when Sohrab asked if he is

Rustum, hence he might not killed his son. With pride, there are many

curses but with humility, there come many blessings. There is nothing bad

with pride, it’s just that pride is sometimes be good; represents dignity and

self-respect, or bad; represents superiority that reeks the concient and

arrogance.