| C.—Macan's edition of the Sháhnáma. | |
| L.—Lumsden's | do. |
| P.—Mohl's | do. |
| T.—Tihrán | do. |
| V.—Vullers' | do. |
| DEI. | J. Darmesteter, Études Iraniennes. |
| DZA. | Professor Darmesteter's Trans. of the Zandavasta in the Sacred Books of the East. References to Parts3 and pages. |
| EHI. | The History of India as told by its own Historians. By Sir H. M. Elliot, K.C.B. |
| MZA. | Rev. L. H. Mills' Trans. of the Zandavasta in the Sacred Books of the East. Reference to Part and pages. |
| RM. | The Mahábhárata translated into English Prose (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli). Published by Pratápa Chandra Rái, C.I.E. |
| WPT. | Dr. E. W. West's Trans. of the Pahlaví Texts in the Sacred Books of the East. Reference to Part and pages. |
á as in “water.”
í as in “pique.”
ú as in “rude.”
a as in “servant.”
i as in “sin.”
u as in “foot.”
ai as i in “time.”
au as ou in “cloud.”
g is always hard as in “give.”
kh as ch in the German “buch.”
zh as z in “azure.”
Afrásiyáb and Kai Khusrau continue the war with renewed vigour, Pírán and Gúdarz being in chief command on the Túránian and Íránian sides respectively. After some abortive negotiations the campaign opens, Húmán and Bízhan fight in single combat, and the former is slain. A general engagement between the two hosts follows, but the result is indecisive and both generals send for reinforcements. In the interval they arrange a combat of eleven champions a side in which the Íránians are completely victorious, all the Túránians, including Pírán himself, being slain with the exception of Gurwí—the executioner of Siyáwush—who is taken alive by Gív. Kai Khusrau comes up, and Lahhák and Farshídward—Pírán's two surviving brothers—abandon their army and take to flight. They are pursued and captured by Gustaham, who is himself severely wounded but is saved by Bízhan and cured by Kai Khusrau, to whom also the Túránian army capitulates, and Gurwí is put to death.
The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs or Champions is one of the most celebrated and favourite passages in the Sháhnáma from the Persian point of view, probably owing to the completeness of the Íránian triumph, the poet being determined, in spite of some evident qualms of conscience, that the Túránians should not get the best of it in any way. The English reader being unprejudiced probably would prefer a more equally balanced result.
The word Rukh is the familiar Rook of the game of chess, and is used metaphorically by the poet as an equivalent for Champion. The word really means cheek, the two sides of the chess-board where the Rooks or Castles are placed being looked upon as its two cheeks. Formerly, moreover, the Castles moved as the Queen does now, and were therefore by far the most powerful pieces or Champions of the board, the piece which we call the Queen being then restricted to close attendance on the King and to a single move, as appears from the poet's own account of the game when he gives the legend of its origin, after describing its introduction into Persia during the reign of Núshírwán.
The reader will notice that there are really only eleven combatants on each side in the battle of the champions. To make up the full number the preliminary struggle between Húmán and Bízhan must be included, and even then there are only eleven combatants on the Íránian side to twelve on the Túránian, as Bízhan fights twice.
Bízhan appears to have been a special favourite of the poet, who never loses an opportunity of putting him forward.
§ 1. The Prelude is translated in the metre of the original, which, the reader may be reminded, is uniform throughout the Sháhnáma.
§ 4. “We will not rest and sleep, my mace and I, The field of battle and Afrásiyáb.”
These lines, which form a couplet in the original, are said to have been quoted to Mahmúd on a certain occasion by one of his ministers, and to have caused the Sultán to seek too late for a reconciliation with Firdausí.8
The tradition goes back to within a century of the poet's death. The reading of the first hemistich of the couplet varies.
§§ 8-11. The time of the usually prudent Húmán being at hand he becomes fey, as Bahrám did on a previous occasion.8a
§ 14. Shabáhang (Sirius) is given elsewhere as the name of Farhád's steed.8b
Bízhan's steed was called Shabrang.8c
Shabáhang seems used metri causá for Shabrang. One would gather from another passage, taken alone, that Bízhan used Gív's steed in the battle with Húmán.8d
Abate both the woe and the weal of the day,
But if thou adventure the pathway of greed
The process of this world is longsome indeed!
One view is—'Tis well after greatness to seek
All be that it lurk mid the Dragon's own reek,
And servants of greed and provokers of strife
Will hear not commendment from any in life:
The other—What reck if, since none can abide,
Our Hostel of Sojourn be narrow or wide?
Whenas the tall Cypress is bent in the grove,
And darkened the light of the Lustre above,
When leafage is withered, when roots are unsound,
And top is beginning to nod toward the ground,
From dust having issued to dust it will go,
While all is dismayment and horror and woe.
Accepteth untroubled the world as it is,
Yet travail of body, if long be thy stay,
Enforceth the need for thy passing away.
Life's ocean is deep, and no bottom we see;
A hoard 'tis of secrets whose door hath no key.
Thy wants will but greaten what while thou remain,
And each day's provision prove provand for pain.
But three things are needful—food, raiment, and bed;
For these no reproaches descend on thy head.
Content thee, for all else is travail and greed,
And greed is a torment no lighter than need.
Thou knowest that this world is fleeting, why let
Thy soul and thy spirit with covetise fret?
Enjoy what thou hast, seek not more to possess,
For greed will but make thine own glory the less.
The Turkman monarch's heart, as I have heard,
Was ever vexed by greed. When he had quitted
The field where Rustam gloomed the world for him
He fared apace until he reached Khallukh,
Avoiding other kings in his disgrace,
And entered with a heart fulfilled with anguish
His palace with his prudent veterans—
Pírán and Garsíwaz, his counsellor,
And Shída, Kurákhán and Karsiyún,
Húmán, Kulbád, Rúín son of Pírán—
A warrior-crocodile—and Farshídward.
He spake with them at large of what had passed,
Recalling every circumstance, and said:—
“Since I assumed the crown of sovereignty,
And sun and moon bestowed on me their light,
And nobody hath turned aside my rein;
Thus ever since the war with Minúchihr
Írán hath not laid hand upon Túrán.
Now from Írán they make a night-attack
Upon my life at mine own palace-door!
The craven hath become courageous,
The Stag hath ventured to the Lion's lair!
We must be up and doing in this strife,
Or they will make our marches reek. 'Twere well
To scatter messengers about the realm,
And gather of the Turkmans and from Chín
A thousand thousand girded for the fray
To compass all the army of Írán,
And make a battlefield on every side.”
Then all the priests advised him shrewdly, saying:—
“Cross we Jíhún and beat the royal tymbals
On yon wide plain, and, speeding night and day,
Camp at Ámwí; that is the place for battle,
For bloodshed, and for fighting Gív and Rustam—
Those haughty, city-taking warriors,
Who privily have dipped their hands in bane.”
Thereat the monarch's face and fortune brightened,
And, as the great are wont, he praised the priests
And paladins, then called and charged a scribe.
He sent ambassadors to the Faghfúr
And monarch of Khutan, sent through the realm,
Moreover, letters to all chiefs and nobles,
And summoned troops because he purposed war,
Enraged at Rustam's doings. Two weeks passed,
Then from the Turkman states, Chín, and Khutan,
A host assembled; like a troubled sea
Earth heaved; it was so that the waste was hidden.
All horse-herds running wild, undid the sacks
Of treasures closely kept and handed on
For generations since the time of Túr,
And parted with dínárs by night and day.
When all the army was equipped for war,
So that there was sufficiency for all,
He chose out fifty thousand warriors,
Arrayed for strife and eager to engage,
And said to Shída, his heroic son,
Exalted o'er the Lions of the fight:—
“I give to thee this well-appointed host;
Prepare to march toward Khárazm; there guard
The borders and be ever girt for battle.”
He bade Pírán choose fifty thousand men
Of Chín, and said: “Go thou against Írán,
And set a throne above the young Sháh's throne;
Seek not in any wise the door of peace,
And speak no word unless of war and vengeance;
To mingle fire and water spoileth both.”
Those two illustrious, prudent paladins
Went at the bidding of Afrásiyáb,
The old at leisure and the young in haste,
With iron mace and sword and golden gong,
And, like a cloud that thundered, roared along.
Thereafter tidings reached the conquering Sháh:—
“A Turkman host hath marched upon Írán.
Afrásiyáb, that tyrant-miscreant,
Can neither rest nor slumber in his vengeance,
But fain would raise his head from its disgrace,
And from all sides hath sent forth troops to war;
He rubbeth poison on his lance's point,
If so he may turn rein upon Írán.
Will cross Jíhún and thence send up the dust
In battle-time to heaven. The warriors
Can sleep not at his court for tymbal-din.
What with the blare of brass and clang of bell
Thou wouldst have said: ‘Men's hearts are in their
mouths!’
If that host cometh to Írán for battle
No lion, lusty though he be, will meet them.
Pírán is posted by Afrásiyáb
With no small army on the Íránian coasts,
While fifty thousand girded for the fight
Have marched toward the borders of Khárazm.
Their chief is Shída of the lion-heart,
Whose scimitar will pluck the core from fire.
The troops resemble maddened elephants,
Such as would level mountains in the strife.”
The monarch at the news sat full of thought,
Then said: “Ye wise! the archimages say:—
‘The Turkman moon, when heaven's height is won,
Shall meet disaster from the Íránian sun.
Strike the black snake that cometh from its bed
Toward the cudgel with uplifted head.
The king that shall unjustly plant a tree
Will lose his fortune and his sovereignty.’”
Then, having summoned all the archimages,
He laid before them that which he had heard.
The great men and the warlike sages sat
In secret with the monarch of Írán,
As Zál and Rustam, as Gúdarz and Gív,
Shídúsh, Farhád, and brave Ruhhám, Bízhan,
Ashkash and Gustaham, Gurgín and Zanga,
And Gazhdaham, great Tús, son of Naudar,
And Faríburz, blest scion of Káús,
With all the other nobles of the host,
Who were the worldlord's flock. He thus addressed
Against my throne, so we too must prepare.”
He gave command and at his palace-gate
The trumpets blared and brazen cymbals clashed.
He went forth from the palace to the plain.
They set his throne upon an elephant;
He mounted, dropped the ball within the cup,
And “smeared earth,” thou hadst said, “with indigo,”
Such was earth's hue; the air was black with dust;
The brave troops of the host resembled leopards,
With maces in their claws and war at heart;
The land heaved like a sea with warriors.
A proclamation went forth from the court:—
“Ye paladins of the Íránian host!
None that can ply the stirrup and the rein
May now abide at home in idleness.”
The monarch gave command: “We need,” he said,
“Three hundred thousand warlike cavaliers,
With warriors and mighty men from Rúm
And Hind, and gallant Arabs of the desert,
Accoutred well—fierce Lions girdle-girt.
Those that reach not the presence of the Sháh
In forty days shall not obtain a crown.”
They sent out horsemen with the royal letters
On all sides. Two weeks passed; throughout the realm
Troops were in motion at the Sháh's command,
And battle-cries went up from all the world.
One morn at cock-crow rose the tymbals' din
On all sides, and the chiefs of provinces
Arrayed their troops before the monarch's gate.
He oped his ancient treasures and bestowed
Such largess that all heads were crowned with gold,
While with horse-armour and men's coats of mail
The massed array looked like a hill of iron.
The Sháh made choice among the cavaliers
Of thirty thousand armed with scimitars,
Put them in Rustam's charge, and said: “Famed hero!
Lead these toward Sístán and Hindústán.
When at Ghaznín make for the upper road,14
So thou mayst win a signet, crown, and throne;
But when thou hast achieved the sovereignty,
And pard and sheep are drinking at one trough,
Give Farámarz the signet and the crown
Together with such troops as he may choose;
Then sound the kettledrums, the horns, and pipes,
And stay not in Kashmír or in Kábul,
Because this war against Afrásiyáb
Depriveth me of provand, rest, and sleep.”
He gave the Aláns and Gharcha to Luhrásp,14a
And said: “O hero of illustrious race!
Go with a mountain-like array. Select it
Out of the host, and lead thy seasoned horsemen
To rob the Turkmans of the breath of life.”
He bade Ashkash march forth with thirty thousand—
Impetuous Lions, brandishers of spears,
An army that was like a ravening wolf—
Toward Khárazm with mighty kettledrums,
Set up his place hard by the entering in,
And challenge Shída to the battlefield.
He gave a fourth host to Gúdarz and said:—
“O hero of a race of paladins!
Go with the great men of Írán, with Zanga,
Gurgín and Gustaham, Shídúsh, Farhád,
Kharrád and Gív, the general Guráza,
And brave Ruhhám.”
He bade them arm for war,
And hasten to the marches of Túrán.
Gúdarz, son of Kishwád, the general,
The paladins and nobles, all obeyed
The Sháh then bade him: “Thou art bound for battle;
See that thou do not aught injuriously:
Destroy no house that is inhabited,
And see that no non-combatant be harmed
Since God approveth not our evil deeds;
Here we have no abiding but pass on.
In leading forth the host toward Túrán
Keep head and heart both cool. Be not agog
Like Tús, mount not the drums on all occasions.
Be just to every one in every thing,
Remembering God—the Source of good. Dispatch
Some wise and heedful veteran to Pírán,
Thus by much counsel gain that general's ear,
And clothe him in the raiment of good will.”
The captain of the host said to the Sháh:—
“Thy hest is higher than the orbèd moon.
I will go even as thou biddest me,
For thou art worldlord and I am a slave.”
Then from the portal of the paladin
Shouts rose; the earth rocked with the din of drums;
The soldiers trooped to camp, and all the scene
Grew dark with horsemen's dust. Before the host
Three score fierce elephants weighed down the world,
And of those mighty elephants of war
Four were caparisoned for royal use;
Upon their backs was placed a throne of gold
Whereon a Sháh might sit encrowned in state,
But there the monarch bade Gúdarz to sit,
And, as he urged the elephants, the dust
Suggested this conceit of happy presage:—
As these beasts send the dust up with their feet.”
Then by the Sháh's command the host moved on
From stage to stage, inflicting harm on none.
Now when Gúdarz was drawing near Raibad
He chose him captains out of all the host—
A thousand valiant wielders of the spear,
Exalted and renowned, and furthermore
Ten famous horsemen of the Íránians,
All ready speakers well beseen in fight.
The chief next summoned Gív, told what the Sháh
Had said, and added this: “My prudent son,
Whose head is lifted over many a head!
I have selected for thee worthy troops—
Men who are chieftains in the provinces—
That thou mayst make a journey to Pírán
To speak to him and to receive his answer.
Thus say to him: ‘I with a host have reached
Raibad according to the Sháh's commands.
Thou knowest what thy words and deeds have been,
What peace and toil and trouble have been thine,
And how the country of Túrán hath girt,
With its illustrious kings, its loins for ill.
The glorious Farídún had cause to weep,
While in this world, for pain and misery,
Írán was full of pain, the Sháh of grief,
The moon shone not through mourning for Iraj.
Thou only of the people of Túrán
Dost pride thyself on kindness and good faith,
Though that word kindness is a lie with thee;
I see not peace and kindness in thy heart;
To me: “Address him with all gentleness,
For in the days of noble Siyáwush
He built no ill, and hath a claim upon me
As being guiltless of my father's blood.”
The Sháh condoneth all thy past misdeeds,
And holdeth evil on thy part as good,
Since thou hast wronged not any of our Sháhs.
Thou art not to be slaughtered by my hand
Because thy many faults are overlooked;
Else in this warfare with Afrásiyáb
Thy destiny would make short work of thee.
The great men of Írán and this my son
Will tell thee mine advice. Hold parle with them;
Then, if thou art persuaded, thou art quit
Of care and sure of life, thy land and kindred
Will flourish, and thy neck escape my sword;
But if the fault be thine thy life will be
In danger from the Sháh, and in this strife
We will not rest and sleep, my mace and I,
The field of battle and Afrásiyáb,
To take revenge on whom our sovereign
Hath no need to array a mighty host;
But if thou wilt attend to mine advice,
And wilt give credit to my prudent words,
Then first: all those that brought about the feud,
Those that rolled up their sleeves for shedding blood,
Put forth their hands to murder Siyáwush,
And wrecked the world by their unrighteousness,
Thou shalt dispatch to me in chains like dogs
That we may send them to the Sháh, for him
To take their heads or to forgive their crimes.
My Sháh, who is the warden of the world,
Hath given me a list of all their names.
Said to the wolf—a pregnant utterance?
“Fate hath no place except the dust in store
For him whose hand hath shed a monarch's gore.’
Moreover all the treasures that thou hast
Are but the enemies of thy dark soul;
So thou shalt send to me thy noble steeds,
Thy gems, dínárs, brocade, crowns, scimitars,
Horse-armour, coats of mail, casques, Indian swords,
The equipment of thy troops, thy gold, and silver.
With that which thou hast gained by force or fraud
Thou mayst buy life and see the pathway opened
To safety. What is worthy of a king
Will I send to the monarch of the world,
And give the rest as booty to the troops
Instead of taking vengeance for wrong done:
And furthermore when thou shalt have dispatched
Thy favourite son—the guardian of thy throne
And signet—with those leaders of thine army,
Thy brethren twain, who ever lift their necks
Above the moon—all three as hostages
That I may feel assured—to this famed host,
Then will thy tree of honesty bear fruit.
Consider now and choose between two courses.
By taking one thou wilt approach the Sháh,
Wilt go with kith and kindred to Khusrau,
And rest beneath the shadow of his love,
Wilt put away that of Afrásiyáb,
And never even dream of him again.
I will give pledges to thee that Khusrau
Will raise thy head above the shining sun;
Thou knowest best the kindness of his heart,
And that he will entreat thee royally.
Or if from terror of Afrásiyáb
Thou art not willing to approach Írán,
Take thy teak throne and set thy crown on high;
But if thy heart is with Afrásiyáb
Depart to him and battle not with us,
For in regard to those with whom I strive
I have a lion's heart, a leopard's claws,
And I will leave the Turkmans naught of throne:
My bows are clouds that pour down showers of bane.
If thou wilt none of this but willest strife,
And thy head be all ill advice and guile,
Rise and come hither all equipped for war
If thou canst face the lion ravening.
When both the hosts shall be arrayed for battle
Will those in fault appear as innocent?
Nay, and unless thou hearken to my words
Thou wilt repent at last, but then repentance
Will profit naught, fate's sword have reaped thy head!’”
The paladin with these words charged his son,
“Repeat them to Pírán,” he said, “each one.”
Gív left his father's presence, and departed
To Balkh, with all those bitter words in mind.
Alighting there he sent a messenger
Before him as directed by Gúdarz,
On that same night assembled all his troops,
And left the gates of Balkh for Wísagird,
The city where Pírán was with his powers,
And menaced the Íránian crown and throne.
The messenger in audience of Pírán
Said thus to him: “Gív hath arrived at Balkh
With nobles and with gallant warriors.”
Pírán pricked up his ears on hearing this,
While shouts rose from the warriors of the host.
He blew the trumpets and bound on the tymbals;
The horse-hoofs turned the earth to ebony
As five score and ten thousand cavaliers
Came forward dight for war from his array.
Advanced to the Jíhún and ranked them there,
Made by the stream a wall of spears, and held
An interview with Gív. Two weeks they parleyed
In order that they might not war unjustly;
The Íránians spake on all points, and Pírán
Heard; but the Turkmans did injuriously,
For while the Íránian chiefs employed their tongues,
And grew more instant with their enemies
In speech, Pírán dispatched a messenger
To hasten to Afrásiyáb and say:—
“Gúdarz, son of Kishwád, hath with his troops
Placed his own helmet o'er the Íránian throne,
And Gív, his favourite son—the shatterer
Of hosts—hath reached me with an embassage;
But I attend to thy commands alone,
And stake my life upon my loyalty.”
Now when this reached the monarch of Túrán
He chose him thirty thousand mighty men
Among his troops who drew the scimitar,
And sent them to Pírán, the cavalier,
With these words: “Draw the scimitar of vengeance,
And rid the earth of them; spare not Gúdarz
Or Gív, Farhád, Gurgín or brave Ruhhám,
For troops, whose object is the Íránian throne,
Flock from all sides. These will I lead, will make
The whole land of Írán a stream of gore,
And by the counsels of the wise and brave
Send up this time the dust from Kai Khusrau.”
Pírán, when he beheld that mighty host,
Each man as thirsty as a wolf for blood,
Was, being reinforced, inclined to war.
He washed his heart of honour and chose ill:
That heart so well disposed grew overbearing,
Grew full of thought and passionate for strife.
He said to Gív: “Arise and go thy ways
Back to the paladin and say to him:—
First to surrender to thy hands these chiefs
Of high renown! How is this possible?
And for thy next demand—the arms and troops,
The noble chargers and the throne and crown,
A brother who is my bright soul, a son—
My well-belovèd and my paladin—
“These things,” thou sayest, “put afar from thee!”
Can words so crude be uttered by the wise?
Death would be better for me than such life:
Shall I that am a prince do slavishly?
In this regard the leopard coming near
To battle with the fearless lion said:—
“To have thee shed my blood and keep my fame
Is better than to live a life of shame.”
Besides instructions from the king have come
To me, and troops, with orders to engage.’”
Gív with his chiefs on this reply departed,
Whereon Pírán, the captain of the host,
Prepared for fight, sent up the battle-shout,
Pushed on to Kanábad and set his ranks
In war-array upon the mountain-flanks.
Gív, when he reached the presence of his sire,
Informed him of the answer word for word,
And said: “Array the host upon the spot
Where thou wilt fight; Pírán hath no idea
Of peace, no room for justice in his heart.
I told him all thy words, appealed to him
In all ways. When the fault proved clearly theirs
He sent the king a camel-post to say:—
‘Gúdarz and Gív are come to fight, and troops
Must be dispatched to me forthwith.’ Thereat
And crossed the river while we were returning.
Now bind the drums upon the elephants
For battle since Pírán forestalleth us.”
Gúdarz said: “He is sick of life. I thought
No other of the miscreant, and yet
By order of the monarch of the world
I had to send—there was no remedy—
And now the Sháh hath proved him to the heart.
I spake to that effect before the Sháh
When he gave orders for the troops to march:
I said to him: ‘Put from thy heart the love
Of one whose heart and tongue do not accord.
Pírán's whole love is for the Turkmans; let
The Sháh wash hands of him.’”
The brave Pírán
Led in Gív's tracks his army lion-like,
And when Gúdarz knew that the host approached
He beat the tymbals, marched out from Raibad,
And drew his army up on that broad plain
With mountains in the rear. The day's light failed
What time Pírán marched forth from Kanábad.
A hundred thousand Turkman cavaliers
Went girt for battle, mailed, and carrying
Long spears and Indian swords. The embattled hosts
Looked like two mountains with their iron helms.
Then there arose the sound of clarions,
And thou hadst said: “The mountains are astir!”
The hosts stretched from Raibad to Kanábad:
The vales and plains were black and blue with them.
The lances' heads were stars, the swords were suns,
The clouds were dust-clouds and the ground was iron.
The sky was iron with the helms and spears.
Gúdarz surveyed the army of Túrán,
Then all in motion like a heaving sea,
Flag following flag and troop succeeding troop
Without a break till night rose from the hills.
Both hosts placed elephants to bar the way,
Lit up the watch-fires, and thou wouldst have said
At all the shouting of the eager chiefs:—
“The world is Áhriman's and full of foes
From skirt to sleeve!” That darksome night the rocks
Were riven to their cores with tymbal-din!
The dawn ascended from the sombre mountains,
And then the leader of Írán bestrode
A fresh horse in the presence of the host,
And made his dispositions on all sides.
The army's right wing rested on a hill,
Undaunted mid the battles of the brave,
While to the left a river ran, as apt
As soul for body. In the front were ranged
The spearmen with the footmen in their rear
With coats of mail and iron-piercing shafts,
And bows flung o'er their arms. The soldiers' blood
Boiled in their veins. Arrear of these there came
The warlike cavaliers, whose falchions robbed
The fire of lustre, then the elephants
Like mountains; earth was wearied with the tramp.
Full in the centre of the host and shining
Moon-like with jewels stood the glorious standard.
What with the flashing of the blue steel swords
Beneath the shadow of the flag of Káwa
Thou wouldst have said: “The sky, this darksome
night,
Is shedding stars!”
Gúdarz arrayed the host
Like Paradise and planted in the garden
Of loyalty the cypress of revenge.
Hajír was with the baggage in the rear.
Guráza, chiefest scion of Gívgán,
And that o'er-looker of the Kaian throne,
Zawára, went to aid, and ranked themselves
With, Faríburz. Gúdarz then bade Ruhhám:—
“O thou, the inspirer of crown, throne, and wisdom!
Go with the cavaliers toward the left.
Like Sol from Aries on New Year's Day
Illuminate the army by thy Grace,
And nurse it tenderly, but like a lion
Smite foemen with thy chief-consuming steel.”
Ruhhám went forth with his companions,
With Gustaham, and matchless Gazhdaham,
And Furúhil whose arrows pierced the sky.
Gúdarz then bade ten thousand cavaliers
On barded steeds to go with Gív, committing
The rear to him, a post for men of war;
Gurgín and Zanga bare him company.
A banner and three hundred horse to guard
The army's river-flank, as many more
To guard the mountain-flank, Gúdarz dispatched.
A watchman went upon the mountain-top,
And kept his neck outstretched both night and day
Above the army, with his eyes intent
To watch the movements of the Turkman troops,
And shout, if he perceived an ant's foot move,
To rouse Gúdarz, who ordered so that field
That sun and moon were eager to engage.
The valiant crocodile will not affright
The host whose leader is well seen in fight.
Gúdarz then took the post of chief command
To guard the army from the enemy.
And gave the chiefs that battled at the centre
To each his station, summoning them all.
Behind him was Shídúsh, Farhád before.
Thus posted in their midst Gúdarz, their leader,
Had Káwa's standard over-shadowing him,
And dimming sun and moon.
Pírán from far
Looked forth upon that host, upon that pomp
And circumstance of war, and hearts whence care
And travail ebbed. Dale, desert, mount, and waste
Were full of spears, and rein was linked to rein.
The chieftain of Túrán was sorely grieved,
And raged at fortune's gloomy sun. Thereafter,
Surveying his own host, the battlefield
Displeasured him; he saw not room to fight
Or rank his troops, and in his anger smote
His hands together, being forced to form
As best he might since he must charge the brave.
Then of his own chiefs and his men of war,
And of the warriors of Afrásiyáb,
That longed for fight, he chose him thirty thousand,
Men fit for war and armed with scimitars.
He gave the centre to Húmán—a host
Of lion-flinging, battle-loving troops.
Andarímán he summoned with Arjásp,
He gave Burjásp the chief command of both,
And put the army's left wing in their keeping
With thirty thousand gallant warriors.
The brave Lahhák and Farshídward drew up
With thirty thousand heroes of the fray
Upon the right, and earth turned black with iron.
Along with Sipahram, the good at need,
And spearmen twice five thousand, to support
The cavaliers, the wielders of the sword.
Then with ten thousand warriors of Khutan
Rúín in brazen panoply marched forth
To ambush like a lion in the wood,26
With outposts on the river and the mountain
To threaten the Íránian general,
On whom, if he advanced beyond his lines
And ventured forward on Pírán himself,
Rúín the chief should fall, as 'twere a lion,
And take him boldly in the rear. Pírán
Placed likewise scouts upon the mountain-top
To watch by day and count the stars by night,
That if a horseman of the Íránians
Should turn his reins toward the Turkman chief,
The keeper of the watch should raise a cry,
And all the battlefield be roused thereby.
Three days and nights the opposing hosts—all men
Of name and eager for the fight—remained
Embattled face to face: thou wouldst have said:—
“No one's lip moveth!” Quoth Gúdarz: “If I
Yield to the foe my station, and advance,
They will assail my rear; I shall but grasp
The wind.”
Both night and day before the host
He stood in quest of favourable signs
From sun and moon. “Which is the auspicious hour,”
He thought, “for action when the wind of battle
Will blow and blind the Turkman horse with dust?
Then haply I may get the upper hand,
And lead the army onward like a blast.”
Pírán on his side waited anxiously
Until Gúdarz should seethe at heart with rage,
And by advancing leave his rear exposed
To those in ambush.
The fourth day, from the rearward to the centre,
Came to his father's presence with his clothes
Rent, flinging up the dust to heaven and crying:—
“Why tarriest thou thus indelently here,
My veteran sire? The fifth day now approacheth,
Yet all is peace by day and night. The sun
Beholdeth not our warriors' scimitars,
And no dust riseth to obscure the sky.
Our cavaliers are in cuirass and helm,
And yet the blood hath stirred in no man's veins!
Once, after famous Rustam, in Írán
No cavalier was equal to Gúdarz;
But ever since the battle of Pashan,
And all the carnage of that mighty field,
When at Ládan he saw so many sons
Slain and Íránian fortune overturned,
He hath been liver-stricken, all distraught,
And indisposed to see another fight.
We must consider that the man is old,
And that his head is turned toward heaven above,
As one who counteth not his followers,
But reckoneth the stars around the moon.
Know that he now is bloodless and hath grown
Too feeble for the battles of the brave.
I wonder not at veteran Gúdarz,
Whose heart is no more set upon this world,
My wonder, O my father! is at thee,
From whom fierce Lions seek accomplishment.
Two hosts are looking at thee. Rouse a little
Thy brain to action and display thy wrath.
Now when the world is warm and air serene
The army should be ordered to engage,
For when this pleasant season shall be gone,
And earth's face bound as hard as steel with frost,
What time the hand is frozen to the spear,
With war in front of us and snow behind,
What warrior will come before the host
To challenge combat on this battlefield?
While if thou art afraid of ambushes,
Then of the soldiers and the men of war
Of mine own choosing, apt for fight, and we
Will raise our foemen's ambuscade in dust,
And send their heads cascading o'er the moon.”
Gív smiled to hear Bízhan, praised his brave son,
And said to God: “I give Thee thanks that Thou
Hast granted me a son so excellent,
And made him strong, God-serving, and discreet,
Versed in affairs and eager for the fray.
In this brave youth restored to me28
I have
The typic offspring of a paladin.
Thus said the lion to the lioness:—
‘Suppose our cub should prove a coward, we
Will own no love or consanguinity,
His dam shall be the dust, his sire the sea.’
Yet, O my son, impetuous in thy speech!
Loose not thy tongue against thy grandsire thus,
For he is wiser and experienced,
And is the leader of this noble host.
The veteran needeth not in aught a teacher.
If our own cavaliers have much to bear
The Turkmans are not very bright and fresh,
But luckless and dejected, with their eyes
Suffused with tears and livers full of blood.
This ancient veteran would have the Turkmans
Advance to battle. When they leave the hills
He will attack in force, and thou shalt see
How he will ply the whole march with his mace.
He watcheth too the aspects of the sky,
And, when the auspicious time shall come, will void
Earth's face of Turkmans.”
“Chief of paladins!”
Bízhan said, “if my glorious grandsire's purpose
Be such we need not carry Rúman mail.
I will depart, put off my fighting-gear,
And make my shrunken face rose-red with wine,
But when the chief of paladins hath need
Of me I will return in battle-weed.”
Came like a lion to his brother, saying:—
“O paladin of great Afrásiyáb!
We long for fight. The fifth day is at hand
That all these cavaliers have borne their mail;
Their loins are chafed with iron, their hearts with ven-geance,
Their eyes are on Írán. Why keep the hosts
Confronting thus? What is thy purpose? Speak!
If thou intendest to engage, engage,
And if thou meanest to retreat, retreat,
For 'tis a shame to thee, O paladin!
And old and young will laugh at thy proceedings.
'Twas this same host that fled from us in battle,
Disgraced and pale; their slain filled all the field;
The whole earth ran with blood; but, as for us,
We lost not any cavalier of name;
Moreover Rustam is not in command.
If thou distastest fight and bloodshed choose
Some troops, give them to me, and be spectator.”
Pírán, on hearing, answered: “Be not hasty,
And harsh. Know, brother! that this man of war,
Who thus hath come against me with a host,
Is of the chiefs of Kai Khusrau the choicest,
The greatest noble, and a paladin.
Now in the first place Kai Khusrau is higher
Amidst all peoples than my sovereign;
Next, of the paladins of Kai Khusrau
I know not any equal to Gúdarz
In dignity, position, manliness,
In prudent counsel and sagacity;
Then in the third place he is inly seared,
And full of anguish, for his many sons,
Whom with their heads dissevered from their trunks
We left, and laid the earth's dust with their blood;
In serpent wise to compass his revenge;
And fourthly he hath brought and massed two hosts
Between two mountains. Seek where'er thou wilt
There is no way to him. Perpend, for this
Is no brief toil. We must induce the foe
To quit their station on yon walls of rock,
And haply they may make through weariness
Some weak manœuvre and attack us first;
Then, when the foes have left their vantage-ground,
We will pour showers of arrows on their heads,
Enclose them as with walls and, like fierce lions,
Prey on their lives, appease our lust on them,
And our renown shall go up to the sun.
Thou art the army's stay, our monarch's chief;
Thy crown is raised o'er Saturn and the sky,
Should one so famous hanker still for fame?
Moreover none among their famous men
Will venture forth against the roaring Leopard:
Gúdarz will send out from among his troops
Some one of small renown, and much ambition
To fight with warriors, to contend with thee;
And then if thou shouldst roll earth over him
'Twould not enhance thy fame, while to the Íránians
It would be no great loss, but should he shed
Thy blood the Turkman host would be dismayed.”
Húmán gave heed to what Pírán was saying,
Yet thought his conduct foolish and replied:—
“What cavalier among the Íránians
Will come to fight me? Thou art bent on kindness,
But lust of fighting hath come over me.
If thou art not desirous to engage,
And hast no fire of battle in thy soul,
I will go saddle me my gallant gray,
And challenge combat at the break of day.”
His teeth as wild boars do. When morning came
He mounted on his steed, like some fierce lion,
And, taking with him an interpreter,
Approached the Íránian host. His heart was full
Of fight, his head of vengeance on Khusrau.
Grief made the world seem narrow to Pírán
On learning that his brother had gone forth
To battle, and in deep distress of heart
He called to mind some sayings of his sire's:—
“The wise deliberateth every way,
And hasteth not to mingle in a fray;
The fool exhibiteth both dash and go
At first, but in the end thereof is woe.
Although the tongue within a brainless head
Should shower pearls none would be profited.”
“I know not,” said he, “what Húmán will gain
By showing so much temper in this fight.
May God, the Judge of all the world, assist him,
Because I see not any help besides.”
Now when Húmán, the son of Wísa, bent
On challenging the brave, drew near to where
Gúdarz, son of Kishwád, lay with his host,
The captain of the watch encountered him.
The outpost—horsemen of Írán and all
Suspicious—came to the interpreter,
And asked: “Why doth this eager warrior
Display himself as freely on the plain
As he had been a herald and yet carry
A mace in hand and lasso at his saddle?”
He said: “The time for sword and mace and bow
Hath come, for this famed, lion-hearted man
Desireth to encounter you in fight.
He is the head of Wísa's sons, Húmán
By name; his seabbard is the lion's heart.”
Now when the Íránians saw his mace, equipment,
And royal stature, all their spear-armed hands
Refrained from action through that chieftain's Grace.
And said: “Go tell Húmán our words in Turkman:—
‘We have no purpose to contend with thee
For want of leave to combat from Gúdarz;
But to the famous leader of our host
The way is open if thou seekest battle.”
They told Húmán at large about the chiefs
Of that proud host, told who the soldiers were,
And who commanded on the left and right.
The outpost sent a cameleer in haste
To tell Gúdarz: “The leopard-like Húmán
Hath come to combat with the paladin.”
Húmán passed by the outpost, came apace
Toward Ruhhám, and shouted lustily:—
“Son of the chief whose fortune is discreet!
Ply now thy reins upon this battlefield
Between the hosts arrayed. Thou dost command
The left wing and thou art the Lions' Claws,
A guardian and a captain of Írán;
Thou shouldest fight me. Be the where thy choice—
Stream, mountain, desert. If not, Gustaham
And Furúhil perchance will charge together.
Who will fight me with sword, spear, massive mace?
Whoever cometh, fortune will make earth
Reel under him. Pards' hides and lions' hearts
Burst in the battle when they see our sword.”
Ruhhám replied: “O famous warrior!
Among the Turkmans we considered thee
As wise; but thou art other than we thought,
To brave a host, and weenest that no swordsman,
Nor any cavalier, can be thy match.
Recall to mind a saying of the Kaians,
And, being snared by wisdom, save thy neck:—
‘No need for him who leadeth an attack
To settle by what road he will go back.’
All whom thou challengest by name are keen
For fight but, since the general of the Sháh
Hath not so bidden, will not volunteer.
If thou art fain to combat warriors
Why dost thou not accost the paladin?
Get licence for the combat from Gúdarz,
And then ask us to prove our readiness.”
Húmán said: “Ply me not with fond excuses,
But take a spindle and put down the spear;
Thou art not one for war, no cavalier.”
Húmán, departing toward the centre, sped
To the other wing. With his interpreter
To Faríburz, like furious elephant,
He came and shouted: “Wretch, degraded one!
Erst horsemen, elephants, and golden boots
Were thine with Káwa's flag, but on the day
Of battle thou didst yield them to the Turkmans.
Íránian chieftains hold thy manhood cheap.
And shouldest wear the girdle of a slave.
As brother of the noble Siyáwush
Thou rankest o'er thy chief. I am from Túr,
King of Túrán, perchance in composition
Thine equal. Since thou art of worth to challenge
Thou shouldst prepare for fight; so now for once
Come forth with me upon the battlefield
That we may wheel in presence of the hosts.
Thou wilt be famous to the shining sun
Through meeting me. If thou wilt not, so be it.
See where Zawára and Guráza are;
Bring to encounter me some warrior
That hath a name among the Íránians.”
Then Faríburz replied: “Forbear to fight
The rending lion; days of battle end
For this in triumph, and for that in woe.
When thou hast conquered, fear calamity,
Because high heaven keepeth not one stay,
And angry men bring things to such a pass
As to lay desolate their own old home.
The king deprived me of the flag, 'tis well.
He gave to whom he would the elephants
And host. Since Kai Kubád, in Kaian wars,
If any one hath donned the crown of power,
And girt himself to make earth prosperous,
It is the chief Gúdarz, son of Kishwád,
Who ever fighteth foremost. His forefathers
Have been the chiefs and champions of the Sháhs,
And through his mace no doubt thy leader's day
Will end. 'Tis for Gúdarz to give command.
If he shall bid me fight with thee, and leecheth
The sear upon my heart, thou shalt behold
How I will raise my head from shame to heaven
Upon the battlefield.”
“Enough! I see thee great in talk. What fighter
Hast thou e'er hurt when girded with that sword?
Contend then with that despicable mace;
On helm and breastplate it will leave no trace.”
Húmán, returning thence triumphantly,
“A Lion,” thou hadst said, “intent on mischief,”
And keen for vengeance on the noble chiefs,
Approached Gúdarz, son of Kishwád, and shouted:—
“O haughty chieftain, binder of the Dív!
I heard about thy converse with the Sháh,
And thereupon thy leading forth the host,
About the Sháh's gifts and about thy pledge
And exhortations to Pírán our leader.
An envoy reached the army of Túrán—
Gív, thy dear son, the refuge of the troops—
And afterward thou swarest by the Sháh,
By sun and moon and throne and diadem:—
‘If e'er mine eyes shall light upon Pírán
In battle I will take away his life.’
Fierce as a lion hast thou ranked thy powers
In thine anxiety to fight with us,
Then why sulk thus behind a mountain-range
As though thou wast a wretched mountain-sheep?
Thus doth the quarry in its headlong course,
When fleeing from the lion's bold pursuit,
Make for some narrow covert in the wood,
Forgetting honour in its fear for life.
Lead just for once thine army to the plains.
Why keepest thou the host behind the heights?
Was this thine understanding with Khusrau—
To make a hill thy stronghold in the war?”
Gúdarz replied: “Attend to me: 'tis right
That I should speak. That none took up thy challenge
Thou thoughtlessly imputest unto me.
By order of the Sháh, but now that I
Have come with this great host—the pick of all
The valiant chieftains of Írán—ye lurk
Like old fox in a brake, frayed by the hunter!
Ye practise cunning, artifice, and guile
To 'scape mace, spear, and lasso. Brag not thou,
Nor challenge us, for foxes meet not lions.”
Húmán, on hearing what Gúdarz replied,
Raged like a lion on that scene of strife,
And answered: “If thou comest not to fight
'Tis not that fight with me disgraceth thee,
But ever since the battle of Pashan
Thou hast avoided Turkmans in the fray.
Thou didst approve me at Ládan and praise
My prowess on the field, and therefore now,
If it is even with thee as thou sayest,
And thou art eager to make good thy words,
Choose thee a champion from among thy troops
To counter me upon the battlefield.
I like a lusty crocodile have challenged
Ruhhám and Faríburz, and passed along
Before thy host, not one opposing me.
They were restrained from fighting by Gúdarz;
'Twas waste of time to listen; but thou art
The man that saith: ‘In battle with my sword
Will I make tulips on the yellow hills!’
So let some warrior with his massive mace
Confront me here. Thyself hast many sons,
O man of name! and all have girt themselves
To fight with us; set one of them against me,
For if thou seekest fight why this delay?”
“Which of the warriors,” Gúdarz considered,
“Shall go? If I oppose some famous man,
Some raging Lion, to this enemy,
And if Húmán be slain upon the field,
None of the Turkmans will come forth to fight;
Their general will writhe for grief of heart,
And will not take the offensive in the war;
And we shall have to fight at disadvantage;
While should one of the nobles of this host
Be lost so would my fame. The warriors
Would have but broken hearts for this campaign,
And would not tarry on the waste. 'Tis best
Not to engage and foil the ambuscade.
His troops may grow adventurous, seek fight,
And march against us from their cramped position.”
Then to Húmán: “Depart, thou art a boy
In action, and intemperate of speech.
Thy words have made me know thee in and out.
Hath none among the Turkmans wit to think
Aright? Know'st not that on the day of battle
The savage lion smircheth not his paws
With fox's blood? Besides both hosts are ranked,
All necks are stretched for war, and all the chiefs
Will gnaw their hands if only two engage.
Let all advance and combat, host with host.
Now go back to thine army and exalt
Thy head before thy boyish chieftains, saying:—
‘I challenged oftentimes the Íránians,
But no one stirred unless to heave a sigh.’
This field of battle will exalt thy name,
Pírán too will fulfil thy whole desire.”
Húmán exclaimed: “What sort of chieftains then
And warriors are all these? I am reminded
Of what a king said—one that ruled the world:—
‘Thou longest for a throne—stop that desire!
Or still long on resolved to face the fire.’
Thou wishest not for war; but know that one
Who plucketh roses must encounter thorns.
Thou hast no lion-man to counter me
Before the host and wouldest by a shift
Dismiss me, but to know me is to know
That I reject thy guile.”
The warlike chiefs
To fight him,” but Gúdarz said: “Not to-day.”
Húmán, when he had had his fill of speech,
Raged like a valiant lion, laughed and, turning
His back upon the chief, sped toward an outpost.
He strung his bow and flung four cavaliers
Upon the meadow. When they saw from far
The shots of that Túránian chief the guards
Gave way and fled, attempting no resistance.
He went toward the heights like one bemused,
And laid the mountains prostrate with his shouts:
He brandished round his head his spear and cried:—
“Húmán, the son of Wísa, triumpheth!”
When his spear waved the blare of clarions rose
Above the desert, and the exulting Turkmans
Touched with their helms the orbit of the moon.
Now when Húmán departed thus in triumph
Gúdarz was troubled at his insolence,
And sorely vexed at that indignity.
Rage and vexation tyrannised o'er him
Whose warriors sweated under such disgrace,
But still he drew this augury of good:—
“The eagerness for blood is on their side,
Ill will be his who unto ill is guide.”
Then, casting round his haughty chiefs his eyes,
He sought the fittest for the enterprise.
Bízhan was told: “Húmán the lion-like
Came boldly to thy grandsire, having challenged
The chiefs of both the wings. Not one went forth;
He then withdrew in anger and disdain,
First having slain four horsemen of the host,
And flung them to the ground despitefully.”
For combat with Húmán. He bade to saddle
His favourite elephantine charger, donned
His Rúman war-mail, quickly girthed Shabrang,
And came, full of resource, before his father,
To whom he spake about his grandsire, saying:—
“My father! said I not so, point by point?
‘Gúdarz,’ I said, ‘is failing in his wits;
Dost thou not see the change in him? His heart
Is full of fear, his liver full of blood
Through his exceeding grief for all his sons
Slain and beheaded on the battlefield.’
For proof—this Turkman boldly, lion-like,
Came midst our warriors to Gúdarz, with spear
In hand and shouting like a drunken man,
And yet no horseman of this noble host
Was fit to fight, to loft him on a spear,
And make him like a bird upon the spit!
Array, my loving and most prudent sire!
My shoulders in the mail of Siyáwush,
For none but I may battle with Húmán,
And cause his manhood to go up in dust.”
Gív said, “My prudent son! give car a while.
I said to thee: ‘Be not impetuous,
And say not aught untoward to Gúdarz,
Because he hath experience and more wisdom,
And is the leader of this noble host.’
His cavaliers would fight an elephant,
Yet bade he none to battle with Húmán;
But youth, as it would seem, hath made thee rash;
Thou hast set up thy neck and come to me
With this request; I am not of thy mind,
And therefore let me hear no more thereof.”
To my desire thou wouldst not have me famous.
I will go girded to the general,
And smite my breast for leave to fight Húmán.”
He wheeled his charger, hurried to Gúdarz,
Saluted him, and told him all with sorrow:—
“O paladin of our world-ruling Sháh,
Versed in affairs, thou glory of the throne!
I see this cause for wonderment in thee,
Though I am one of little wit, that thou
Hast made a pleasance of this battlefield,
And purged thy heart of warfare with the Turkmans!
The seventh day is hard at hand; but day
And night bring rest, not action, for the sun
Beholdeth not the warriors' scimitars,
And no dust riseth in the face of heaven!
More wonderful than that—from yonder host
One Turkman—one misguided wretch—came forth,
Whom God who giveth good, but bringeth ill
On evil men, led from Túrán in arms
In order to be slaughtered by thy hand,
And thou didst spare the netted onager!
I do not understand thy policy.
Supposest thou that, if Húmán were slain
E'en now, Pírán would not come forth to fight?
Think not that ever he will be the first
To move his army to the open field.
Behold now I have bathed my hands in blood,
And girded up my loins to fight Húmán,
Whom, if the paladin will give me leave,
I will encounter like a furious lion.
Now let the general order Gív to give me
The arms of valiant Siyáwush, the helm
And Rúman mail, unbuckling them himself.”
On hearing what Bízhan said and perceiving
His courage and his wise advice Gúdarz,
And answered: “Fortune ever prosper thee.
Since thou bestrod'st the pardskin, crocodiles
Have held their breath and lions sheathed their
claws.
Thou never restest but art first in fight
And in adventures, faring gallantly
And, like a lion, always conquering.
Still ere thou challengest Húmán think well
If thou canst meet him on the battlefield,
For he is a malignant Áhriman,
And like a mail-clad mountain in the fray,
While thou art but a youth. Heaven scarce hath
turned
Above thy head. Thou lovest not thyself.
Wait, and I will dispatch to fight with him
Some veteran Lion, like a thundering cloud,
To shower arrows down on him like hail,
And pin his steel casque to his head.”
Bízhan
Said: “Paladin! a gallant youth should have
Accomplishment. If thou saw'st not my fight
Against Farúd now is the time to prove me.
I rolled up earth when fighting at Pashan.
None hath beheld my back upon the day
Of battle, and I am not fit to live
If I have not such prowess as the rest.
Now if thou dost deny me this, and say:—
‘Adventure not thyself against Húmán,’
I will complain of thee before the Sháh,
And give up belt and helm from this time forth.”
Gúdarz smiled joyfully upon the youth,
So like a noble cypress-tree, and answered:—
“How fortunate is Gív in such a son!
And may I ne'er forget the glorious day
Whereon a virtuous mother gave thee birth.
Pards' claws have proven impotent since thou
Didst stretch thy hands to fight. Thou mayest meet
Húmán, and may good fortune be thy guide.
Now in the name of God who ruleth all,
And by the triumphs of our warriors' Sháh,
Endeavour that destruction may o'erwhelm
This Áhriman, God willing, by thy hand.
The suit of armour that he asketh for.’
If thou shalt vanquish thine antagonist
Thou shalt receive addition at my hands,
And shalt be greater than Farhád and Gív
In treasure and in troops, in throne and crown.”
Thus spake the grandsire to the grandson—one
Full of resource and ruse—who, lighting, kissed
The ground and praised him. Then the paladin
Called Gív. Talk passed about the youth and how
He fain would combat in that royal mail.
“Chief paladin!” said to the sire the son,
‘This one is mind and soul and world to me:
His life is not so worthless in mine eyes;
I would not lose him down the Dragon's maw.”
“Fond one!” Gúdarz said, “think not thus of him.
Bízhan, though young and fresh, is led by wisdom
In all things, and besides we should fight here,
And purify the world of Áhrimans.
We, whom the Sháh commanded to take vengeance
For Siyáwush, may not heed kin or spare
Our lives although the clouds rain swords of steel.
We must not break Bízhan's heart for the fight,
Or veil his hopes of fame. A youth if slothful
Will prove but mean of spirit, dull of soul.”
Gív, left without resource by such reply,
Made yet one more endeavour to persuade
His son, if haply he would shun the strife.
The son replied: “Thou wilt disgrace my name.”
Then Gív said to Gúdarz: “Chief-paladin!
When our own lives are put in jeopardy
Respect for, and command of, chief and Sháh.
I have a ruggèd time in front of me;
Why should I sacrifice my life for him?
Where are his own arms if he fain would fight?
He hath his mail: why should he ask for mine?”
The champion said: “I do not want thy mail.
Think'st thou that all the warriors of the world
Will seek for fame in thine accoutrements,
And no chief aim at glory and renown
Unless he hath the arms of Siyáwush?”
He spurred his charger from the troops around
That he might quit them for the battleground.
Now when Bízhan had vanished from the host
Gív's heart swelled up with sorrow, and repenting
He wept blood in his anguish. See what grief
And love a son may cause! He raised his head
To heaven with full heart and with liver stricken,
And said to God: “O Judge of all the world!
Vouchsafe to look upon this wounded heart.
Oh! burn it not with anguish for Bízhan,
My feet are in the mire made by my tears!
O Thou, the Omnipotent! restore me him
Unhurt.”
He went in sorrow for the youth,
His son, and thought: “I pained him wantonly:
Why did I thwart his wishes? Should ill come
Upon him from Húmán, what good to me
Are armour, sword, and belt? I shall be left
All anguish, care, and wrath; on his account
My heart will ache, mine eyes will weep.”
He went
Like dust, approached his son upon the field,
And said: “Why dost thou grieve us thus and haste
So greatly on the battle-day that so
The crocodile may issue from the deep?
And is the shining of the moon so bright
As to eclipse the radiance of the sun?
Now thou art rushing on Húmán and turnest
Thy head from my behest, adopting thus
Thine own course, knowing not the task before thee!”
Bízhan replied: “Turn not, my valiant sire!
My heart from its revenge for Siyáwush.
Húmán is not of brass or iron, not
A mighty elephant or Áhriman.
He is a man of war. I challenge him,
And backed by thy good fortune will not shrink.
My fortune may be written otherwise
Than I desire, the Judge disposeth all;
Since what must be will be grieve not nor trouble
On mine account.”
Gív, hearing his brave son
Whose loins were girt for battle like a lion,
Dismounted, gave to him the steed and mail
Of Siyáwush, and said: “If thou art bent
On fight, and self-will lordeth thus o'er wisdom,
Mount on this rapid charger, which will roll
Earth under thee. My mail too will be useful,
Since thou wilt have to fight an Áhriman.”
When he beheld his father's steed before him
Bízhan alighted from his own like wind,
Put on the mail and made the buckles fast:
Then, having mounted on that royal charger,
Bound tight his girdle, took his mace in hand,
Chose from the army an interpreter—
One well acquainted with the Turkman tongue—
And went, like some huge lion, with his loins
Girt up to take revenge for Siyáwush.
Bízhan, or ever he approached Húmán,
Beheld an Iron Mountain—one that moved—
The desert all a-gleam with the cuirass,
And under the cuirass an Elephant.
He bade the interpreter shout to his foe:—
Bízhan is ready to contend with thee,
And thus he saith: ‘O veteran cavalier!
Why urgest thou thy steed about the field,
Sent by Afrásiyáb to come to ill?
Thou shouldest have the curses of Túrán;
Thou art the miscreant that made the feud,
And art the guiltiest in all the land;
I look to God for succour and I thank Him
For bringing thee to meet me on this field.
Draw in the reins of thine impetuous steed:
My blood is boiling for revenge upon thee;
Select a spot whereon we may engage,
And wheel with me on desert, dale, or mountain,
Or else between the hosts' embattled lines,
For name and fame, where friend and foe alike
May look upon thee and of all the chiefs
Approve thee most.’”
Húmán laughed long and loud,
And answered: “Luckless one! thou trustest much
Thy body haply weary of its head!
I will dispatch thee to the host so mauled
That Gív shall be in pain and grief for thee,
Soon will I separate thy head and trunk
Like those of many of thy gallant kin.
Thou wilt be in my clutches as a pheasant,
When borne with shrieks and weeping tears of blood
Above the cypress-branches by a hawk,
Which sucketh at the gore and teareth out
The plumes; but what availeth? Night is near.
Go sheltered by its murk and I will go
Awhile to mine own host, present myself
At daybreak to the chief, and hurry back
With head erect and dight to counter thee.”
“Begone,” Bízhan replied, “and may a ditch
Be in thy rear and Áhriman in front!
Thy king and host shall ne'er behold thee more,
And I will bear thy head so far away
That thou shalt cease to trouble for thy troops.”
They wheeled and sought their camps and paladins,
Then passed in troubled, vexed repose that night
With hearts that were impatient for the fight.
When morning breathed above the mountain-tops,
And dark night's skirt was no more seen, Húmán
Equipped himself, and told Pírán: “I challenged
Bízhan, the son of Gív, and spent the night
Preparing.”
Calling an interpreter,
He mounted on his wind-swift bay and reached
The appointed place, expectant of Bízhan,
Who with his own interpreter anon
Came dight for combat, riding Shabáhang,
Girt tightly, and advancing haughtily
Like warrior-pard to battle. He was mailed
Withal on his heroic breast, his head
Shone with his royal casque. He thus addressed
Húmán: “O light of wit! but yesternight
Thou didst bear off a souvenir from me—
Thy head! To-day my hope is that my sword
Will part it from its body in such wise
As with thy blood to turn the dust to clay.
Thou mayest take to heart an apologue:
‘Though all the plain were silk no more again
The snare once 'scaped for me! Be thine the plain.’”
Húmán replied: “To-day Gív's heart shall break
For his bold son. Wilt thou contend with me
Upon Mount Kanábad, or make the scene
Raibad, and far from aid on either side?”
Bízhan said: “Why this talk? Fight where thou
wilt.”
They left Mount Kanábad, rode toward the waste,
And reached a desert-spot where they beheld
No footprints left by man, where vultures flew not,
And lions trod not, far from host and help.
There they agreed: “Whichever shall survive
Shall spare the fallen man's interpreter
To bear his king the news of what befell.”
This done, they lighted from their steeds, made
fast
The divers straps and buckles of their mail,
And fixed their saddles firmly; then the twain—
Those wrathful warriors with vengeful hearts—
Next gat their bows in order for the fray,
And hurried forward to the battleground.
Discharged their poplar arrows tipped with steel,
Then took their spears, and wheeled to left and right
While bits of armour flew and spearheads gleamed.
Watch how the fortune of the day inclined!
Their mouths gaped like a lion's with the heat;
Both longed for rest and water; presently
They damped their burning rage and stayed to breathe,
Then took their shields and trenchant scimitars:
Thou wouldst have said: “The Day of Doom hath
come!”
But steel was foiled by steel, though in the fight
The flashing sword-strokes showered down like fire;
Each hero failed to shed the other's blood,
And both their hearts were still insatiate.
They took their maces, having done with swords,
And passed all measure in their combating;
Thereafter they essayed each other's strength;
Each grasped his foeman's girdle and endeavoured
To drag him from his steed and fling him down.
The stirrup-leathers in the violent strain
Snapped, but each rider still retained his seat,
And neither of them had the mastery.
Then both the warriors lighted from their chargers,
And breathed themselves a while. The interpreters
Held the two steeds. Anon the combatants
Rose like fierce lions, wearied as they were,
And gat them ready for a wrestling-bout.
Thus from the morning till the shadows lengthened
These champions, on the poise of hope and fear,
His head away; their mouths were parched, their bodies
A-sweat with toil and with the blazing sun:
Then by consent they hastened to a pool.
Bizhan, when he had drunk, arose in anguish,
All shaking like a willow in a gale,
And, in his heart despairing of sweet life,
Called upon God and said: “Omnipotent!
Thou knowest all within me and without.
If thou perceivest justice in my cause,
Both in my challenge and my purposes,
The strength which I possess take not away,
And give me self-possession in the fray.”
Húmán, distressed and raven-black with pain,
Advanced. All wounded as they were both came
Like pards to fight again, strove mightily,
And first one, then the other, touched the ground.
They put forth all their strength and artifice
Until high heaven's own artifice was seen,
For, though Húmán was mightier, all prowess
Is but defect in him whose sun is set.
Bízhan put forth his hands like leopard's claws
To catch upon Húmán where'er he could;
His left hand gripped his foeman's neck, the right
His foeman's thigh, he bent that mighty Camel,
Raised him aloft, and flung him to the ground;
Then holding down Húmán, and drawing forth
A dagger, swift as wind beheaded him,
And flung away his carcase like a dragon's.
Húmán lay rolled in dust, the waste ran blood.
Bízhan surveyed that elephantine form,
Fall'n like a stately cypress in a meadow,
To Him who ruleth o'er the world, and said:—
“O Thou that art above both place and time,
Above the revolution of the sky!
Thou and Thou only rulest o'er the world—
A matter which no wisdom can gainsay.
I have no portion in this doughty deed,
Not having pluck to fight an elephant,
Yet have cut off Húmán's head in revenge
For Siyáwush, and my sire's seventy brothers.
Now may his spirit be in thrall to mine,
His body rent to pieces by the lions.”
He bound Húmán's head to the saddle-straps
Upon Shabrang and flung the trunk to dust,
With armour shattered and with girdle snapped,
His head in this place and his trunk in that.
The world is all imposture, nothing more,
It will not help thee when distress is sore;
It showeth fairly, but it doth not so,
And therefore let thy heart its love forego.
Húmán, the son of Wísa, being slain,
The two interpreters ran to Bízhan
To worship him as Brahmans do an image
In Chín. He looked around the battlefield,
And saw no way save past the Turkman host,
And fearing lest that murderous multitude,
When they perceived the upshot of the fight,
Should come forth in a mountain-mass to battle
While he was not prepared to fight alone,
He put from him the mail of Siyáwush,
And donned instead the armour of Húmán;
Then mounted on the elephantine steed,
And took in hand the banner, of that prince.
He went his way with blessings on the place,
His wakeful fortunes, and the glorious field.
Húmán's interpreter, when he beheld
His master's fate, was fearful of Bízhan,
Who said: “Fear not, I will observe the pact.
Go tell thy host what thou hast seen me do.”
He went what while Bízhan with bended bow
Rode rapidly toward Mount Kanábad.
The lance and standard of that chief of Túr,
They sprang up cheering in their joy and sped
A cameleer like smoke to tell Pírán:—
“Húmán, such is our king's victorious fortune!
Is hasting from the place of combating,
The standard of the Íránian chief is down,
His corpse defiled in dust and drenched in gore.”
The whole host shouted and their leader listened
To hear Húmán's approach—a short-lived joy,
And then the hail descended on their heads!
Anon the interpreter returned and told
What he had seen, and tidings reached Pírán:—
“The glory of the empire is bedimmed.”
From the Túránian army rose a cry,
The warriors unhelmed themselves; the world
Grew overcast; there was no brightness left,
And all their frantic words availed them not.
Now when Bízhan in crossing 'twixt the hosts
Approached the shadow of the great king's throne,
At once that warrior of lion-heart,
The army's refuge, dipped the sable standard.
The watchmen of the Iránian host, perceiving
The sable banner thus inverted, turned
Their faces toward the paladin and raised
A shouting from the watch-tower. They dispatched
Post haste a cameleer to tell Gúdarz:—
“Bízhan is come in triumph, lionlike,
And carrieth the sable flag reversed.”
Gív bare himself meanwhile like those distraught,
All clamorous and restless everywhere,
In quest of news of his heroic son,
And sorrowed greatly at a time of joy.
Then tidings came. He hurried forth. He saw
The well-loved face. He lighted from his steed—
Returning thanks to God, then clasped his son
Upon his breast, that youth so wise and brave.
Thence, still returning thanks, they sought Gúdarz,
Whose grandson lighting from his steed, which bare
Húmán's head in its saddle-straps, presented,
With mail besmirched with blood and head with dust,
The armour, steed, and head of brave Húmán.
“The paladin,” thou wouldst have said, “will pour
His soul out,” he rejoiced so o'er Bízhan,
And then began to praise the Judge of all
For that good omen and unsleeping fortune.
He next gave orders to the treasurer,
And said: “Bring forth a crown and royal robe
With patterns jewelled on a golden ground,
The crown and belt with pendent pearls like suns.”
He likewise brought ten chargers with gold bridles,
And ten boy-slaves fay-faced and girt with gold,
Bestowed them on Bízhan, and said: “Brave Lion!
None else had laid this Dragon low. Our host
Hast thou delivered by thy sword and hand,
And broken too the Turkman monarch's heart,
While our own warriors like lions ride
On steeds which plunge and caracole in pride.”
On the other side Pírán all pain and wrath,
With heart grief-stricken and with eyes all tears,
Dispatched a messenger to Nastíhan
To say: “O famous warrior, good at need!
Make ready to engage and dally not
O'er this our brother's blood, attack the Íránians
By night and make earth a Jíhún with gore.
Lead forth ten thousand cavaliers of proof,
Armed for the fray. Thou mayst avenge Húmán,
And bring our foemen's heads between the shears.”
Will make earth like Jíhún.”
Two-thirds of night
Passed, then the plain shook with the tramp of horse-men—
The Turkmans eager to exalt their necks
By that emprise. As Nastíhan led on
His vengeful powers toward the Íránian host
He came, as dawn was breaking, to a place
Where from the look-out the Íránian watchman
Saw him, and shouted to the scouts: “A force
Is on us from Túrán!”
They lightly sped
Toward Gúdarz to say: “A host approacheth
As 'twere a gliding stream; thou wouldest say:—
‘They have not speaking tongues.’ The general knoweth
How men are wont to make a night-attack.”
Gúdarz said to the troops: “Be vigilant
And bright of heart, let every ear be open
To any indication of the foe.”
With that he called the son of Gív—Bízhan,
The swordsman and heroic paladin—
And said: “Success and fortune are thine own,
The hearts of foes are shivered at thy name.
Take whom thou needest of my famous troops,
Go lion-like, receive the foemen's charge,
And by thy courage bring the heavens down.”
Bízhan chose out a thousand cavaliers,
And, when the two hosts met, they drew their maces;
Murk gathered overhead wherefrom dark dust
Descending veiled the Turkman soldiers' eyes.
Bízhan, when he perceived the Turkman host
Thus hidden, bade his warriors string their bows.
He saw the flag of Wísa's family
Borne by that chief whose steed an arrow reached
Sent from the broad breast of Bízhan. The charger
Fell in its anguish, then Bízhan came up,
And with his mace smote Nastíhan's helmed head,
Brained it, and there an end. Then cried Bízhan:—
“If any soldier handle aught but mace
And scimitar, then will I break his bow
Across his head because although the Turkmans
Have fairy faces they are naught in fight.”
His warriors took courage at his words,
And every one unsheathed his glittering glaive;
The air seemed rusty, earth a sea of blood.
Most of the Turkman troops blood-boltered fell
Beneath the chargers' feet, the others fled
Toward their host, the Íránians in pursuit.
Pírán missed Nastíhan, the earth turned black
To him, he bade the scouts: “Dispatch at once
A cameleer to the Íránian host
That he may get me news of Nastíhan,
Or if not I will pluck out both his eyes.”
They instantly dispatched a cameleer,
Who went, beheld, returned to them in haste,
And said: “Lo! Nastíhan is on the field
With other chieftains of the Turkman host,
Beheaded, lying like an elephant,
His body blue with bruises from the mace!”
Pírán swooned at the news, then tore his hair
And wept, rejecting food, repose, and sleep.
He said: “Almighty Ruler of the world!
In sooth I must unwittingly have sinned
Against Thee, for Thou hast deprived mine arms
Of might, so darkened are my star and sun!
Alas! that lion-quelling hero-taker,
That cavalier so young and brave and goodly—
My brother dearer to me than my life—
The head of Wísa's race, my brave Húmán,
And Nastíhan, that Lion fierce in fight,
To whose claws any leopard was a fox!
Whom have I left upon the field? My course
Is to lead out the host.”
He blew the trumpets,
Bound on the drums, and with the heaven murky,
The earth like ebon, sun and moon obscured,
Marched from Mount Kanábad. Gúdarz too sounded
His clarions, marched, and took up his position.
Full in the centre, guarded by blue falchions,
Was Káwa's flag, while chiefs intent on strife
Stood ready with the lance and ox-head mace.
As morning dawned the hosts advanced, and battled
Till daylight failed, then both, still fit for fight
And eager for revenge, returned to camp.
The Íránian general occupied Raíbad,
And could not rest for his anxiety.
“A mighty battle have we fought to-day,”
He said, “and slain the leaders of the foe,
And now methinketh that Pírán will send
His king a cameleer and ask for succours
In this campaign against me, and I now
Will send intelligence to Kai Khusrau.”
And said: “I have some secrets to impart,
And if thou openest thy lips thereon
Thy tongue will bring disaster on thy head.”
He had a letter written to the Sháh
About the host, the parley with Pírán,
The ambassage of Gív to proffer league
And love, and show Pírán heaven's purposes,
The answer that Pírán had made to Gív,
And to the wise and valiant chiefs, and how
A Turkman host had pard-like followed him
Up to Mount Kanábad to battle there;
Then how they had prepared a battlefield,
And had relieved their hearts by combating.
Gúdarz gave to the Sháh a full report
About Húmán and valiant Nastíhan,
And how Bízhan upon the day of fight
Had served the mace-men of Túrán; that done,
Gúdarz spake thus about Afrásiyáb:—
“He hath approached the river; should he cross
Thou knowest that we cannot stand against him,
O monarch of Írán, lord of the world!
Unless Khusrau shall come to our support,
And set a crown upon his warriors' heads;
But if Pírán shall come alone the troops
Will need no help; Khusrau shall learn how I—
His slave—have by his fortune used Pírán;
And furthermore the conquering Sháh perchance
Will condescend to let his servant know
What Rustam—binder of the Dív—hath done,
And what Luhrásp hath done, and wise Ashkash.”
The letter being tied and sealed, Gúdarz
Bade bring out many rapid courier-steeds
Who though a youth was prudent as an elder,
And said: “Wise son! give all thy heart hereto,
For thou, if ever thou desire my favour,
Canst win it now. Charged with this missive speed
Forth like a blast, repose not night and day,
Nor pausing e'en to scratch thy head, and bear
The Sháh my letter.”
He embraced Hajír,
Who came out from his glorious father's presence
And, calling from the host two of his kindred,
And mounting them upon swift-footed steeds,
Left his sire's camp-enclosure. With relays
Of horses for each stage they ate, reposed,
And slept upon their steeds both day and night,
And on the seventh day approached the Sháh.
One went to tell Khusrau, who sent Shammákh
With many haughty chiefs to welcome them.
“O lion-taking son of paladins!”
Shammákh said, “what hath chanced that thou hast
come
Thus all unlooked for to the worldlord's court?”
Then at the Sháh's command they raised the curtain,
And let Hajír ride through, who, when the Sháh
Perceived him, rubbed his visage in the dust.
Khusrau much greeted him, then made him sit
Beside the throne, and asked about Gúdarz,
The leaders, and the rest. The prudent youth
Of ardent soul gave him the great men's greetings,
Informed him fully of the host's affairs,
Then gave the letter of the paladin.
Then filled Hajír's mouth with bright gems and ordered
The treasurer, “Bring dínárs forth and brocade,”
Who, when he heard the order, brought forth sacks
Of coin and emptied them upon Hajír
Until his head was hidden; then produced
A suit of king's apparel—cloth of gold—
And crown inlaid with jewels. Furthermore
They led before Hajír ten noble steeds
With golden saddles, while Hajír's companions
Were clad in robes of honour and received
Dínárs and drachms and goods of every kind.
They left the throne-room with the Sháh and sat
A night and day with wine and revelry.
Khusrau considered every circumstance,
And, having bathed his head and body, went
First, freshly garmented in robes of service,
While both his eyes were raining like a cloud,
At dawn before the Ruler of the world;
Then, stooping lowly with his head abased,
He offered praises to the righteous Judge,
To whom he prayed for Grace and victory,
And pleaded for the crown and throne of might.
He plained to God about Afrásiyáb,
And in his grief poured water from his eyes;
Then, like a stately cypress, left the place,
And sat upon the throne in all his Grace.
The Sháh then called a wise scribe and dispatched
A fair reply yet harsh in some regards.
He lauded first the paladin and said:—
“Live evermore and may thy soul be bright!
Blest be the prudent captain of the host,
The heedful and discerning warrior,
Who brighteneth Káwa's flag. Praise be to God,
The Worldlord, that our troops have been triumphant.
When fortune shone on thee it quickly raised
Smoke from the foe. Thou sayest first: ‘I sent
Some noble, prudent warriors with Gív
As envoys to Pírán. What good advice
I gave him! But his ill-conditioned mind
Rejected all. He would not league with me!’
A king whose officer made war on him
Gave utterance to a saw in this regard:—
‘When subjects turn from right, and do instead
Such ill as this, their lives are forfeited.’
Pírán, I knew, would not give up the struggle;
Still for past kindness' sake I did not seek
War to the death with him. Now time hath shown
That all his sympathies are with Túrán;
Afrásiyáb is all the world to him,
So strive no longer to divert his love,
For he preferreth sentiment to wisdom,
And no endeavour will bring grass from flint.
That thou didst speak the foeman fair is good;
Fair speech befitteth well the noble race.
And next, from thy description of the encounter
Between the warriors with their massive maces,
Of our good fortune, of the favouring sun
And moon, and efforts made, I am persuaded
That thy might will secure the victory;
Acknowledge this and give Him all the praise.
And thirdly, thou hast said: ‘Afrásiyáb
Will cross the river, having marched thereto
Because Pírán hath sent to ask for aid.’
The matter is so, and we thus reply:—
‘Know, O my thoughtful sage, mine officer
Approved in all things! that Afrásiyáb
Abideth not by the Jíhún to fight
With us; the Khán is marching forth from Chín
Upon him; he is ambushed on both flanks,
Or rather, through the innumerable host,
Whose chiefs are now disposed around Túrán,
As Rustam—refuge of the warriors
On battle-days—Luhrásp and deft Ashkash,
Afrásiyáb is threatened on all sides,
And therefore marcheth to the river-bank.
If he advanceth from his present ground
He will resign his country to the foe.
And fifthly, since thou askest me for tidings
About the chieftains whom thou lovest well,
Know, and may fortune ever go with thee,
That on the road that lion Rustam took
The dust hath risen from Kashmír and Hind,
While from Khárazm, whereto the shrewd Ashkash
Went, hath gone up the battle-cry, and Shída
Defeated sought Gurganj; and where Luhrásp
Marched all the chieftains gave him passage, yielding
The Aláns as well as Ghuz which now are ours.
So if Afrásiyáb shall cross Jíhún
These noble chiefs will take him in the rear,
And leave him nothing but the wind to grasp.
He will not then advance, be well assured,
And leave to foes the towns and broad champaign,
His fair support, whate'er Pírán may urge.
Unknown to me. May that day ne'er be blest
When he shall lead his host across the river,
And may none see the day of gloom and straitness
When he shall get the upper hand of us.
Now will I order Tús, that ardent chief,
To mount the drums, seize Dahistán, Gurgán,
And lands around, and thus exalt his head
High as the sun; ourself will follow Tús
With throne and host and elephants to aid thee.
Meanwhile confront Pírán, array thy troops,
And offer fight; Húmán and Nastíhan
Are gone; regard his hands as full of grief,
And if he challengeth our chiefs to combat
Decline not thou. If he should offer battle
Be of good courage, meet him like a lion.
Dread not a conflict with Afrásiyáb;
Take heart and turn not from him; thou wilt win
If thou hast confidence, and God, I trust,
Will favour me. Methinketh that when I
March to support you ye will have your will
Upon your foes and raise your own names sunward.”
He sent the host much greeting from Káús
And Tús. The letter with his seal imprest
He handed to Hajír whom too he blest.
Now, when Hajír had left the presence, Khusrau
Toward his troops turned all his thoughts to war.
He said thus: “If Afrásiyáb bestir
Himself and cross the river he will drive
My troops back; my course is to go myself.”
Thereat he called to him the head of all
The scions of Naudar, commanded him
To lead a host to Dahistán forthwith,
To occupy the whole waste of Khárazm,
Watch o'er Ashkash upon the day of battle,
And enter into combat like a pard.
Then from the court of Tús the tymbals, trumpets,
And kettledrums resounded, chief and host
Marched forth, and earth was hidden by the horse-hoofs.
“The circling sun,” thou wouldst have said, “stood still,
Frayed by those cavaliers!” Tús marched two weeks,
And light departed from the sun and moon,
While news about the Sháh's own movements spread,
For, when Tús left, Khusrau prepared to march,
With five score thousand of the chosen chieftains,
Toward Gúdarz with elephants and drums,
The Grace and crown and throne of king of kings.
Hajír sped proudly on before Khusrau,
Glad, with a robe of honour, and in favour;
Thou wouldst have said: “He rolleth up the earth.”
As he approached the camp the clarions blared,
And all the golden-girdled chiefs went out
He told of his reception by the Sháh,
What graciousness and interest were shown,
What magnanimity and statesmanship,
Spake of the Sháh's affection for his troops,
And how his face cleared when he heard the message.
Hajír then gave the letter of Khusrau,
With greetings from the nobles, to Gúdarz,
Who, hearing of the monarch's graciousness,
And having pressed to his own eyes and face
The letter, broke its seal and handed it
When open to a scribe to read to him.
The chieftain called down blessings on the Sháh,
And kissed the ground on hearing his commands,
Spent all the night consulting with his son,
And took his seat at dawn for audience.
Then all the men of name throughout the host
Came helmed before the throne, anon Hajír
Produced the letter of the glorious Sháh,
And gave it to a scribe who read it out.
Gúdarz brought into camp all steeds at grass,
And bade the quarter-masters do their office,
Allowing them the keys of all his hoard
Of mail, dínárs, gold casques, swords, crowns, and girdles;
For since the moment for revenge had come
He poured that wealth out on the host till horse
And foot were furnished; thus an army gathered
As 'twere a mountain; earth shook at the tramp
Of wind-foot steeds, the hearts of lions quaked
At troops so whelmed with iron, gold, and silver.
He bade them to prepare for strife and give
Their hearts and ears to compassing revenge.
They marched past their brave chief by companies—
Saw earth obscured and heaven azure-dim,
And said thus: “From Jamshíd's days until now
None hath arrayed the like with steeds and arms,
Gold, silver, elephants of war, and Lions.
Hence with God's aidance will I ride to Chín.”
This said he called the noble and the wise
To entertain them at a drinking-bout
With harp and pipe, and with the men of might
Discussed the manner of the coming fight.
News of the Sháh's proceedings reached Pírán
And filled his heart with terror; he took refuge
In knavery, deceit, and artifice,
And then—his sole resource—he bade a scribe
Indite a letter to the paladin,
Wherein he proffered first great praise to God—
His refuge from the potent Dív—then said:—
“In public and in private my one prayer
To God, the All-ruler of the world, is this—
To ban this scene of strife between our hosts.
If it be thou, Gúdarz! that hast desired
Thus to fulfil the world with thy revenge,
Thy lust is sated. Say, what wouldst thou more?
Behold how many of my gallant Hearts,
Of mine own nearest kindred and my Lions,
Hast thou flung—headless trunks—upon the dust!
Hast thou no reverence, no fear of God?
From love and wisdom thou hast turned thy face,
And now that thou hast gained thine end 'tis time
For thee to sicken of revenge and be not
Henceforward bold in bloodshed. Do thou mark
And of Túrán, have perished in this war!
It is high time that ruth should come to thee,
With some remission in the quest of strife.
In seeking vengeance for one dead and gone
How many living ones wilt thou behead?
Now, since the past will not return to us,
Sow not fresh seed of vengeance in the world,
Vex not thy spirit nor expend thy body,
But cease from bloodshed, for the dead are cursed
That leave a long-enduring name for ill,
And whensoever sable locks turn white
Small hope of life is left. If our two armies
Again encounter on this field I fear
That thou wilt see none left on either side;
Lives will be lost, but vengeance will survive,
While after all who knoweth which will win,
Which be the luckless, which the illustrious?
But if thy resolution to shed blood,
And make a fight of lions with me here,
Is all to win advantage for Írán,
So say and I will send a messenger
To ask Afrásiyáb for his commands
That so we may divide earth, and lay by
The strife as in the days of Minúchihr
When every one observed the settlement.
Declare what lands thou claimest for Írán
That we may move the Turkmans out of them,
From settlement and desert, field and fell,
As Kai Khusrau, the righteous judge, shall order.
First will I draw toward the hills, and quit
Írán from Gharcha to the land of Bust,
Quit Tálikán as far as Fáriyáb
Including Andaráb, and cities five
As far as Bámiyán, and all the coasts,
And Kaian dwelling-places, of Írán,
Thus titled by the master of the world,
With all from Balkh as far as Badakhshán
That beareth indications of his sway;
While, lower down, the desert of Ámwí
And Zam shall be included with Khatlán,
Besides Shingán, Tirmid, and Wísagird,
Bukhárá and the cities round about.
Proceed moreover to the land of Sughd;
None will claim aught thereof. To valiant Rustam
I yield Nímrúz and will withdraw the troops,
Allowing him free access to the East,
And all as far as Hind ungrudgingly.
Kashmír, Kábul, and Kandahár with all
That fronteth Sind shall likewise be included.
The Aláns and parts invaded by Luhrásp,
And all between them and Mount Káf, I yield,
Without strife or contention to Khusrau,
With all the region threatened by Ashkash.
This done I will recall from every side
My troops, and swear to be thy foe no longer.
Thou knowest that I have been friendly, true,
And upright. I will send Afrásiyáb
Intelligence that we have ceased from strife;
Do thou moreover look on us with favour,
And in thy kindness write Khusrau a letter
To say that I have made thee overtures,
And vie with thee no more in shedding blood.
When we have ratified the covenant
I will dispatch the treasures which Khusrau
Demanded, and he too perchance will stop
His warlike operations. Afterward
And by a friendly, just, and sacred treaty
Will sew the eye of feud up with the hand
Of good faith, broken in the great Sháh's time
By evil-natured Túr and savage Salm,
When Farídún was well-nigh crazed with grief
Because the illustrious Íraj was slain.
What thou requirest else be good enough
To state, then write and tell the Sháh of all.
Think not because I speak thee fair: ‘These people
Are giving way,’ I only speak in love;
Mine object is to make a happy ending.
My treasures, troops, and military fame
Surpass thine own, but this persistent strife,
And impious bloodshed, cause my heart to burn
Upon the troops' account, and I would stop
The feud: besides I stand in awe of God
Both in my public and my private life,
Who as the Judge will not approve ill deeds,
But utterly destroy our fields and fells.
Now if thou turnest from these words of mine,
And seekest war against me to the death,
Condemning me though I am innocent,
And not regarding aught that I can say,
Since justice and injustice are all one
To thee, and thou wouldst further spread the feud,
Choose out some chiefs that wield the massive mace,
And I too will select among my troops
Such warriors as are needful for the strife.
These will we pair for combat. Let us twain
Encounter likewise on the battlefield.
Those innocent of bloodshed then perchance
Will find repose from strife. Those whom thou holdest
As guilty, those that grieve thy heart, will I
Bring forth to thee upon the day of battle.
Moreover thou shalt make a covenant
And if the Turkman warriors' fortune sinketh,
Thou wilt in no wise harm my host or burn
My country and my throne, but give my troops
Free passage home and ambuscade them not.
If I prevail, my good star bear me fruit,
I will not ambuscade the Íránians:
We will not be injurious or vindictive,
But give them access to their king and country
Without the loss of property or life.
If thou consentest not, but wouldst prefer
A general engagement, set thy host
In order and the blood shed in the fight
Shall rest upon thee in the other world.”
He tied the letter and then called his son,
A chief of brazen body hight Rúín,
To whom he said: “Go to Gúdarz; address him
In prudent words and list to his reply.”
Rúín, when he had left the chieftain's door,
Came with ten horsemen and inspired by wisdom
In haste to where the paladin was camped,
And, when he saw Gúdarz, drew near to him
With folded arms and head inclined. That chief
Rose, clasped Rúín, and asked about Pírán,
The host, the mighty men, the king and realm.
Rúín then told his message and delivered
With all its goodly language and advice,
And wise Pírán's proposals for a peace.
Then said Gúdarz: “Son of the general,
And happy youth! first thou must be our guest,
And then thou mayest ask for my reply.”
They cleared a camp-enclosure for his use,
Providing him a lodging fit for kings.
Gúdarz, filled with anxiety of heart,
Sat with his counsellor—the twain, no more—
While they prepared an answer, picking out
The fairest words. A sennight thus elapsed
While minstrels, wine, and harp were in request,
And daily when the sun sank in the sky
Rúín was called to share the revelry.
Gúdarz upon the eighth day called a scribe,
And bade him write the answer, planting thus
Another tree of feud. He offered praise
To God, then point by point made this response:—
“Thy letter I have read and understand
Thy message, but I wonder at thy writing
Such goodly words, because thy tongue and heart
Accord not, and thy soul is poor in wisdom.
In all affairs thou speakest courteously,
And usest phrases so instinct with grace
That any one that is not really wise
Would rest with confidence on thy good will;
Yet art thou like those salt-marsh tracts which look
Afar like water when the sun is on them;
But lies and trickery are no avail
When it is time for mace and spear and lasso.
I will have naught with thee but war and strife,
This is no time for parley and rejoinder,
For glozing, league, and love, but to discern
The aspect of the sky, and mark to whom
God will give strength, the sun, and conquering fortune.
Still hear me, and let wisdom be thy guide;
First for thy saying: ‘I, through loving kindness,
Through fear of God, and recent happenings,
Wish not for war; my heart is strait and darkened
By all this coil.’ Thy tongue and heart agreed not
What time these words were passing through thy lips,
Because if justice had possessed thy heart
Thou hadst not been the foremost to shed blood.
When Gív first came to thee with prudent nobles,
Brave officers, and other clear-brained chieftains,
With fair discourse and prudent counsellings,
Thou didst array thine army for this fight,
And leave thine own land to invade another.
In every conflict thou hast been aggressor.
This tardy wisdom should have come before,
And peace been thy beginning not thine end;
Are forcing thee to quit the path of wisdom,
Because the nature of thy race is evil—
A race that is inured to treachery.
Thou knowest how high-born Íraj was used
By Túr in envy of the crown and throne;
How ill came on the earth through Túr and Salm,
How vengeance and injustice spread around;
How Farídún in agony of heart
Had open lips to curse them night and day;
And how by help of God who giveth good,
Who tendered and supported Minúchihr
In seeking vengeance and in justifying
The world by Grace of his supremacy,
Túr was requited for his wickedness.
Thus much time passed until the evil strain
Had reached Afrásiyáb through men of name
But little wit; he sought a new revenge
On Minúchihr, Naudar, and Kai Kubád,
Did that whereof we wot to Kai Káús,
Sent dust up from the homesteads of Írán,
And lastly with the blood of Siyáwush
Prepared the base of new and lengthy strife.
Thou hadst no thought of justice at the time
When Siyáwush though guiltless yielded up
Sweet life. How many great men of Írán
With crown and state have perished in this feud!
Thou sayest next: ‘O thou with hoary hair!
How long wilt thou be girded to shed blood?’
Know, veteran deceiver who hast witnessed
The ups and downs of life! that God hath given me
A length of days and an illustrious fortune
That I, in vengeance on the day of battle,
Might send the dust up sunward from Túrán;
And all mine apprehension is that God
May end my life ere I have been revenged,
And trodden underfoot your fields and fells.
Thou sayest thirdly: ‘I see not in thee
The heart-felt fear and awe of holy God.
Will be thine own undoing in the end?’
If for thy gentle words I turn from fight
Almighty God will ask at Question-time
About the days that I have spent on earth,
And say: ‘I gave thee leadership and strength,
With manhood, wealth, and skill; why didst not thou
Gird in the presence of the Íránians
Thy loins in wreak for Siyáwush?’ And when
The just Judge asketh me about the blood
Of all those seventy noble sons of mine,
How shall I tell the Maker of the world
The motives that seduced me from revenge?
And fourthly as to wreak for Siyáwush
Thou sayest, ancient prince! ‘For one now dust
'Tis wrong to take the lives of living men.’
Remember all the foul deeds which have been
Most grievous to the heart in every way,
The deeds which ye have wrought upon Írán,
What numbers of our monarchs ye have wronged,
What treaties have been broken, feuds begun,
And your eternal instancy in ill!
How can I think of these things and make peace,
For all along thou hast held evil good?
Thou sayest fifthly: ‘I will covenant
With thee, will give the chiefs as hostages,
Send treasure to Khusrau and end my travail.’
Know then, O chieftain of the Turkman host!
That we have no such orders from the Sháh.
He bade me fight, avenging Siyáwush
With blood for blood, and if I disobey
My soul will shame before him. If thou hopest
That he will look with favour on thy words
Send him Lahhák and that stanch liege Rúín
As hostages, with treasures such as may be,
At once; the road is open to Írán.
And sixthly for the lands, the populous
And fertile provinces, of which thou said'st:—
God hath forestalled thee; if thou knowest not
I will explain. Luhrásp hath all the west
As far as to the marches of Khazar;
Toward the south, and all the way to Sind,
The world is like a glittering Rúman glaive,
For gallant Rustam with his trenchant sword
Hath raised therefrom a Resurrection-blast,
And hath despatched the prince of Hindustán,
Together with his black flag, to the Sháh.
In Dahistán, Khárazm, and in those parts
Where Turkmans ruled, the plains are cleared of those
Who made the raids; Ashkash hath hailed on Shída,
Hath brought him down nigh unto death, and sent
Khusrau withal the captives and much spoil.
Now here the contest is betwixt us twain.
Thou hast beheld these famous Lions' prowess
And mine; if thou wilt meet me face to face
I will release thee from all further parley,
For by God's power and at the Sháh's command
Will I submerge this battlefield in blood.
Observe, O famous leader of the host!
The revolutions of the sun and moon,
For heaven hath nigh enthralled thee and the head
Of Turkman fortune is within the shears.
Mark what the Maker will bring down upon thee
For thine ill deeds; time hath uncloaked thy crimes,
And ill is manifest, requiting ill.
Be very heedful, ope thine cars and hearken
To wise men's words. Know that this host so famed,
These hundred thousand horsemen drawing swords,
And all in quest of honour and revenge,
Will not be charmed off from this battlefield.
I reach the seventh point. Thou 'stablishest
There is no talk of league; no dealings hath
Thy soul with wisdom since in all thy compacts
Thou leavest honesty in tears. Thine oath
Wrecked Siyáwush. May no one trust thy words.
Thou didst not save him in his evil day,
Much as he called on thee in his distress!
The eighth point is, thou say'st: ‘My crown and throne,
My valour and my fortune, are more great
Than thine, and I possess more men and treasure,
But out of love for thee my soul is sad.’
Methinketh that thou hast without a doubt
Proved me in war ere this. Thou know'st if thou
Hast found me wanting in the day of battle.
Now scan me well again: in wealth and crown,
In throne and prowess, haply I exceed thee
At every point. And lastly thou hast said:—
‘Choose champions for the fray; I too will bring
Exalted horsemen from the Turkman host,
For, out of tenderness toward my troops,
I would not spread injustice and revenge.’
Thou dost not proffer this in tenderness,
Because thou knowest thine own heart and purpose.
The Sháh, the world-lord, will be wroth with me
If I shall cause our armies thus to part;
Before me is a guilty host wherewith
My people are aggrieved, the Sháh will never
Allow me to shun fight on such a plea.
First in full force our armies like two mountains
Must shock in battle. Let them be arrayed
In line upon the space which is between them,
And haply victory may declare itself;
But if not, we will choose a ground and champions,
And my word shall be kept though thine be broken.
Encounter me, then ask thy king for more,
And carefully consider thy position.
As for the wounded absent from the ranks,
Among thy kith and kindred and allies,
Wait till the leeches make them whole, for now
To gain time is of consequence to thee.
If thou wouldst have of me delay or respite
Well—but if battle set thy host in order.
I speak thus that upon the day of fight
Thou mayst not dare excuse thyself and say:—
‘Thou camest on us unexpectedly,
Didst lie in wait, and gavest us no time.’
If I shall seek revenge a hundred years,
Or now at once, 'tis all the same to me.
There is no hope that I shall leave this feud;
'Tis ever present to me night and day.”
Whenas the letter of reply was done
The envoy fairy-like appeared therefor
With girded loins upon a rapid steed,
Escorted by a band of cavaliers.
Rúín the warrior lighted from his horse,
And introduced his escort to Gúdarz.
The chieftain ordered that the archimages,
And all the famous sages of the host—
Wise men and shrewd—should come to him forthwith.
The paladin bade read to them his answer.
The great men, having heard that cogent letter
Recited by the well-graced scribe, ignored
The sense and counsel of Pírán, and thought
His rede but shallow, while they praised Gúdarz,
And hailed him as the paladin of earth.
He sealed and gave the letter to Rúín,
Son of Pírán of Wísa's race, and bade,
What time they rose to go, prepare a robe
Of honour—Arab steeds with golden trappings,
And crowns and scimitars with golden sheaths.
With crowns and belts to those of rank for them.
Rúín departed with his little troop
Back to his host. Arrived, he came before
His sire, as was his duty, and bent low
Before the throne. The veteran Pírán
Embraced him. When Rúín had given the answer,
Sent by the general of the Sháh, he told
What he himself had witnessed. Then a scribe
Read out the letter to the paladin,
Whose cheek upon the instant grew like pitch.
His heart became all pain, his soul all dread;
He recognised that his decline was near,
But took it patiently and silently,
And kept it from his troops whom afterward
He thus harangued: “Gúdarz is obstinate;
His heart is instant with him to avenge
The slaughter of his seventy sons beloved.
If on the past he base revenge anew
Shall I not gird me to avenge forthwith
My brothers and nine hundred famous heads
Lost to their bodies on the day of battle,
For in Túrán there is no cavalier
To gird him like Húmán and Nastíhan—
That shadowing cypress-tree which in a breath
Evanished from the copse? And now to arms!
I will not leave the Íránians field or fell,
But, by God's strength and our sharp scimitars,
Bring down upon that folk the Day of Doom.”
Such in the herds of horses as were fit
He brought at once to camp from every side.
He mounted all the infantry and gave
To each of them two chargers fit for service.
Then, opening a hoard laid up of yore,
Began to make disbursements from his store.
Sent to Afrásiyáb a messenger,
Shrewd, well advised, and old, of ready speech,
A warrior, a cavalier, and brave,
Thus saying: “Go, say to the Turkman king:—
‘O righteous king who seeketh diadems!
Since first the vault of yonder lofty sky
Revolved above the sad, dark dust of earth
No king like thee hath sat upon the state;
The name of king hath not pertained to any;
None else is worthy of the throne, to bind
The girdle on, and compass crown and fortune.
The Ruler of the world will send up dust
From those that meet thee on the day of battle.
A slave am I and guilty in thy sight
In that I did not follow thy shrewd counsels.
The Sháh hath been much plagued by Kai Khusrau,
And all through me, but yet I am not conscious
That I did wrong; it was the will of God;
What hath been hath been, much talk will not profit.
The monarch, if he seeketh good in me,
Will spare and pardon. Now I send him tidings
How heaven hath been dealing with his slave.
I led mine army to Mount Kanábad,
And checked the progress of the Íránians;
Upon their side a mighty host advanced,
Led by Gúdarz and other generals;
No greater host since Minúchihr was Sháh
Hath issued from Írán against Túrán.
They took up their position at Raibad
Upon the mountains. For three days and nights
The hosts faced one another like two leopards.
We did not take the offensive for we thought:—
‘Perchance the foe will march out on the plain.’
And would not leave the mountains; then Húmán,
My brother, that world-conqueror, longed for fight,
And went to challenge the Íránians;
I know not what possessed that lion-man.
The son of Gív came out, encountered him,
And having slain him turned my head with sorrow.
Who ever knew a lofty cypress-tree
Killed by a blade of grass? This broke the hearts
Of our chief men, and happiness was dashed
By grief; moreover noble Nastíhan,
With twice five thousand proven cavaliers,
Departed from me at the break of day,
And perished by the mace-blows of Bízhan.
Grieved to the heart I led the army on,
And went forth shouting to the battlefield.
We fought in force till night rose o'er the hills,
But when nine hundred of the king's great men
Were headless on the field, and of the rest
The more part had been wounded to the heart
With grief, their bodies by the scimitar,
The Íránians gat the upper hand of us.
Their purpose of revenge is absolute,
And I am fearful that the turning sky
Will wholly cease to favour us. Since then
Ill news have reached me and perturbed me more,
That Kai Khusrau is coming with a host
To aid his general in this campaign.
If this prove true the king is ware that I
Can not encounter them unless he set,
With his fierce troops, his face toward Írán,
Take part in this campaign, avert this evil,
And make revenge the girdle of his loins,
For if we perish by the Íránians' hands
None will be left to take revenge for us!”
He mounted swift as fire upon a courser—
A mighty beast whose feet were like the wind—
And journeyed, till he reached Afrásiyáb,
Without a halt for breathing, rest, or sleep.
He came swift as a blast before the king,
First kissed the throne, then told his tale. The
monarch,
On hearing from Pírán such woeful tidings,
Grew sorely troubled and his colour changed.
He was heart-broken, grieving for the slain,
Whose hap became to him a lasting sorrow;
He grieved too that his army had been worsted,
And country harried. War pressed everywhere,
The world was strait to him in his distress;
Still, having heard the message of Pírán,
And seeing that his troops maintained their ground,
He blessed the general and showed joy. His heart
Grew brighter. Then he called the messenger,
Bestirred himself, took counsel all that night,
And when at dawn he donned the crown anew
He gave the messenger an interview.
The monarch bade the messenger return
To brave Pírán, that man of prosperous counsels,
With this reply: “O warrior famed and true!
Since thy pure mother bare thee thou hast made
Thyself my shield. Thou standest first with me,
And rankest o'er the other paladins,
Thy wealth for me, conducting hosts Íránward
From Chín, and blackening foes' hearts and fortunes.
Prince and the paladin of earth art thou;
A thousand blessings be upon thy soul!
Thy friendship dateth from Pashang and Túr;
The heaven raiseth not a paladin,
The army seeth not a general,
And no sage girdeth up his loins, like thee.
First for thy saying: ‘I was most to blame
For Kai Khusrau's escape and his revenge.’
Know thou that I, the king, am not aggrieved,
And never laid the matter to my heart,
So let not thine be straitened for this cause
Or fear disgrace. God will accomplish what
He hath decreed, and needeth not a teacher.
Call not Khusrau my grandson; it is false,
Because his Grace deriveth not from me.
I will not ever be a grandsire to him,
Or take advantage of our kinsmanship.
In this affair of his none is to blame;
Nor do I strive against the Omnipotent:
What happened was according to His will;
Why then should my heart be aggrieved at thee?
And secondly thou speakest of the army,
And of the bias of sky, sun, and moon;
But heaven's bias is not all one way,
It giveth sometimes sorrow, sometimes joy;
Be not heart-broken then on this account,
Impose not chains like these upon thy soul.
Thus is it written in respect of warfare:
The sky abandoneth all sides in turn,
To talk about the slain is but to dream;
Forgo not to take vengeance for thy brother;
The heart in anguish for a brother's loss
Will not be cured by leeches' remedies.
Thou sayest thirdly: ‘Kai Khusrau hath left
His throne and cometh with his army hither.’
The tidings that have reached thee: ‘Kai Khusrau
Is coming from his kingdom,’ are not true,
For it is Tús, the general, with his troops
That is upon the march to Dahistán;
May no one ever look upon the day
When he shall outstrip us, for I myself
Will lead the host o'er the Jíhún at dawn.
I will not spare Gúdarz, Khusrau, or Tús,
Or throne, or crown, or troops, or kettledrums,
But so attack Írán that none shall see
The Sháh's throne more. I will not leave the world
For Kai Khusrau, but take him unawares,
And let his mother mourn a headless son,
Unless the will of heaven be otherwise.
Oh noble veteran! God hath suffered thee
To lack for naught; all that thou wouldst is thine
Of men, of treasure, and of might of hand.
A splendid force of thirty thousand men—
Intrepid, shrewd, and gallant cavaliers—
Behold! I have dispatched to reinforce thee,
And brighten thy dark mind, for ten Íránians
Would look but small compared with one of these.
On their arrival tarry not a day,
Deprive Gúdarz of both his head and crown,
Drag off with thine own steeds the very mountains
Whereon he hath entrenched his host, and when
Thou hast the victory be not slack in bloodshed.”
Came to the captain of the host. Pírán,
On hearing, called the troops. The messenger
Repeated all the words, which gave good heart
To all and freed them from their griefs, albeit
Pírán was inly sorrowful of soul,
His heart was full, his fortune soiled, he saw
His king's host shrunk by battle everywhere,
He feared withal an onslaught by Khusrau,
And thus he prayed: “O Thou, the Omnipotent!
What marvels happen in this life of ours!
No outcast he whom Thou hast set on high!
Save Thee there is no world-lord, none abiding.
Khusrau for instance! Who supposed till now
That he would be a king? How turning fortune
Hath helped a self-made man! From withered thorns
He bringeth forth fresh roses, and for him
His sleepless fortune turneth dust to musk!
Do one more marvel: let that noble man
Possess his soul in sorrow evermore!
Between two kings—a grandsire and a grandson—
I know not why this battlefield is needed.
What with two warlike monarchs of two realms,
What with two armies serried face to face,
How can I tell the issue of this strife
And fortune's trend?”
Then wailing bitterly
He prayed: “O glorious and almighty Judge!
If on this battlefield Afrásiyáb,
With other nobles of the Turkman host,
Shall perish in the struggle, and the head
Of all our fortunes shall be overthrown
When Kai Khusrau shall come forth from Írán
For vengeance, and the world be turned to him,
And that the Omnipotent should take my soul.
Ne'er may these eyes of mine behold the man
That followeth the course that I have followed,
For unto him whose daily course is run
In disappointment life and death are one.”