ABSTRACT
Then those seven men sat together and chose from seven three and from three one named Wiraz, it is so that some call him Weh-sapur. And then this Wiraz, when he heard that speech, stood up and put his hands on his breast and said: 'If it please you then do not give me the (potion of) henbane, aginst (my) will before3> you Mazdeans cast the lances of ordeal, and if the lances come to me, I shall go willingly to that place of the righteous and the sinful ones, and I shall take this message correctly
Text P. 4
and bring (back the answer) truly.' Those Mazdeans brought the lances of ordeal, (and cast them) the first time
This Wiraz had seven sisters, 4> and each of these seven sisters was like a wife for Wiraz. They had memorized the scriptures5> and performed the prayers, and when they heard (the news) they arrived6l in such a grievous (state) and *wept and shouted and went forth into the assembly of the Mazdeans, stood up, prostrated (themselves before them), and said: 'Do not do this thing, you Mazdeans, because we are seven sisters and he one brother, and each of the seven sisters is a wife to that brother. Like a house in which are laid7l seven beams and one post underneath, those beams would fall if that post is removed8>, thus for us seven sisters there is (only) one brother alone, from whom, after God, proceed9> our life and maintenance (and) every goodness. (I f) you send him before <his) time from this realm 10l of the living to that of the dead, you will do us an (act) of unreasonable tyranny.'
