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DÎNKARD, BOOK VII.
life of mankind. 8. Also the abundance of ordinances (âyino) - of various descriptions, the approval of the apostate among tyrants and the non-approval of the Zoti? who is well-disposed and wise, the coming of the Zoti to want, and all the other adversity, disruption, and running astray which are overpowering even in districts and localities of the countries of Irân.
9. The maintenance of no ritual (apandih) of the religion of the sacred beings; the weakness, suffering, and evil habits of those of the good religion; the lamentation and recantation (khûstakih) of the upholders of the religion; and the wickedness and extermination of good works in most of the countries of Irân. 10. Also much other misery in these two centuries is recounted in the Avesta, which passed away with them and is also now so visible therein, and manifestly occurs in them.
11. This, too, is a statement (nisang-I) as to them, which revelation mentions thus : “That is the age mingled with iron (that is, from every side they perceive it is of iron) in which they bring forth into life him who is a sturdy praying apostate. 12. This is their sturdiness, that their approval is unobservant of both doctrines (âînako); and this is their praying, that whenever it is possible for them they shall cause misery to others; also when an old man publicly advances into a crowd (galako) of youths, owing to the evil times in which that man who is learned is born, they are unfriendly to him (that is, they are no friends of the high-priests of the priestly assembly). 13. They are freely speaking (that is,
1 Or it may be hênô, 'squadrons.' 2 The chief officiating priest in religious ceremonies.
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