Azizan
My dear, let me tell you a hero's story tonight, about Rostam and his gentle horse Rakhsh. One day they had walked a long way and both were tired. Rostam wanted to rest and went looking for a cool, pretty place.
Rostam came to a spring of clear water, with soft green grass all around. Rakhsh went off and slowly grazed. Rostam lay down on the grass and drank, and as the breeze blew his eyes grew heavy.
Rostam fell asleep and breathed quietly. But near that spring lived a div named Akvan, very strong. Akvan saw Rostam asleep and said to himself, "Let me play a big joke on him."
Akvan crept up beside Rostam, took hold of the ground all around him with his big hands, and lifted the earth with Rostam on it, up into the air. Rostam woke and found himself in the sky.
Akvan laughed loudly. "Hero, I am going to drop you somewhere. Shall I drop you on a mountain or into the sea?" Rostam thought for a moment and was not afraid. He saw that whatever he asked for, the div would do the opposite.
"If I say the sea, he will drop me on the mountain, and that would hurt," Rostam thought. So he called out, "Please drop me on the mountain!" Akvan grinned from ear to ear. "No, no! I will drop you into the sea!"
The div let go and Rostam fell into the sea, with a splash and soft waves all around. But Rostam was a very good swimmer. He pushed the water aside with his strong arms and swam slowly to the shore. He was not frightened or upset at all.
Rostam climbed out of the water and shook himself. The div thought Rostam would never come back, but Rostam took his lasso and came quietly up behind him. Akvan was still laughing and did not know.
Rostam swung the lasso in the air and it settled round the div like a golden ring. Akvan suddenly found he could not move. His eyes went round with fear. "Oh no! Hero, forgive me!"
Rostam said firmly and calmly, "You must not bother anyone any more." Akvan hung his head and promised never to go near anyone again. Rostam undid the lasso and let him go, and the div hurried away. Rostam smiled and went back to Rakhsh.
Rostam went back to the clear spring. Rakhsh was still grazing quietly, and when he saw Rostam he neighed and ran to him. Rostam stroked his neck, and the two stood by the spring as the morning sun fell on them.