Then Rustam made him ready for the fray,

Concealed his mace within a load of salt
And took some wise and valiant men withal.
He hid the arms within the camels' loads
And merry at the artifice sped on
To Mount Sipand. When he arrived the watchman
Saw him and hastened to the castellan.
“A caravan,” he said, “with many drivers
Hath come, and if my lord doth ask their business,
To me it seemeth that they carry salt.”
The chief sent one in haste to learn their loading,
Who went like dust to Rustam and inquired:—
“O master of the caravan! inform me
What merchandise is hidden in thy packs,
That I may go and tell the castellan
And take his orders.”

Rustam answered him:—

“Go to the noble castellan and say:
‘They carry salt.’”

The messenger returned

And said: “They carry salt alone, my lord!”
The chief rose, glad and smiling, bade his men
Unbar the gate and let the strangers in.
So battle-loving Rustam with his folk
Approached the gate whence people hurried out
To welcome him. He kissed the ground before
The chieftain, paid him many compliments,

Gave him much salt and spake fair words all round.
The chieftain said to Rustam: “Live for ever.
Be as the sun and as the shining moon.
I both accept and thank thee, worthy youth!”
Young Rustam entered the bázár and took
His caravan. The people flocked about him;
One gave a robe, another gold and silver,
And chaffered with him unsuspectingly.
At night brave Rustam and his warriors,
Armed for the fray, made for the castellan,
Who strove against them, but the Matchless one
Struck him a mace-blow on the head, and buried
His head and crown in dust. The tidings spread,
The people hastened to oppose the foe,
Night gloomed, blades flashed, and earth was like the ruby.
What with the mellay and the waves of blood
One would have said: “A sunset sky hath fallen.”
The peerless Rustam with his lasso, mace,
And sword destroyed the gallant foe; and when
The sun unveiled itself, and held the world
From earth to Pleiades, of all the garrison
Not one remained alive that was not wounded.
The brave Íránians entered every nook
And slaughtered all they found. The matchless Rustam
Saw in the citadel where room was scant
A building of hard stone with iron doors,
And having with his mace-blows shattered them
He entered and beheld a lofty vault
Full of dínárs. Astonied at the sight
He bit his lip; then to his chiefs he said:—
“Who ever would have thought of such a thing?
Good sooth no gold remaineth in the mines,
Or any pearl or jewel in the sea;
They lie out-spread within this treasury.”