The monarch of the earth, when he had ended
His speech, sent for his general, greeted him,
Put in his charge the ambassadors, and said:—
“See them beyond the borders of Írán.”
The envoys left the presence of Gushtásp,
And went their way with dust upon their heads,
The Sháh dismissing them with ignominy.
From glorious Írán they reached Khallukh,
But in Khallukh were still inglorious.
As soon as they perceived the monarch's palace
Afar, surmounted by the sable standard,
They lighted from their proudly pacing steeds,
Their hearts were broken and their eyes were dim.
They went afoot before their sovereign,
With souls all darkness and with livid cheeks,
And gave to him the letter of the Sháh—
The answer of Zarír the cavalier.

The letter was unfolded by a scribe,
Who read it to the king of Turkman*

race.
The writing in the letter of the prince,
The leader of the brave, the warrior-horseman,
Ran: “Thine insulting letter to the Sháh
Arrived, and I have listened to and marked
Words that were not becoming thee to utter,
Words that should not be written or divulged,
Not fit to be read out and hearkened to.
Thus spakest thou: ‘I will lead forth anon
A host against that jocund land of thine.’
For my part I need not four months or twain
Ere I lead forth my Lions of the fray.
Bring not upon thyself increase of toil,
Because I shall unlock my treasury,
And lead a thousand thousand warriors,
All men of name, all veterans in fight,
All offspring of Íraj, the paladin,
Not of Afrásiyáb, or of the Turkmans,*

All moon-faced men, all kings to look upon,
All upright in their stature and their speech,
All worthy of the empire and the throne,
All worthy of the treasure, crown, and host,
All spearmen and all swordsmen, all of them
The leaders and the shatterers of armies,
All brandishing their lances as they ride,
All with my name inscribed upon their signets,
All converts to the Faith, all men of wisdom,
All worthy of the earring and the armlet.

When they are ware that I have bound the drums
Upon the elephants their horses' hoofs
Lay low the heights, and when they arm for battle
They send the dust-clouds flying to high heaven.
Firm as a mountain are they in the saddle,
The hill-tops shatter at them, while among them
For choice there are two warrior-cavaliers—
Zarír, the leader, and Asfandiyár—
Who, when they don their iron panoply,
Bestride the sun and moon, and, when they shoulder
The crashing mace, their Grace illumineth
The Grace and form of others. As they stand
Before the host thou must perforce observe them.
They with their crowns and thrones are like the sun,
Their countenances shine with Grace and fortune.
The other troops and chiefs are like myself—
Approved and chosen of the archimages—
So never fill up the Jíhún with musk,
For I will open thy parched treasuries,
And, if it pleaseth God, will trample down
Thy head in fight upon the day of battle.”
Arjásp descended from his throne, amazed
At reading this, and bade his generals:—
“Call out the whole host at tomorrow's dawn.”
The warriors*

of the army, chosen men
Of Chín, came to Túrán from every quarter.

The monarch had two brothers—Áhrimans—
One hight Kuhram, Andarímán the other,
Who both received drums, elephants, and standards,
Bedecked with yellow, red, and violet.
He gave to them three hundred thousand men,
Selected and courageous cavaliers.
He oped the treasury-doors and paid the troops,
Bade blow the trumpets and load up the baggage.
He had Kuhram, his brother, called in haste,
And gave him charge of one wing of the host.
He gave the other to Andarímán,
And took his own position in the centre.
There was an agèd Turkman named Gurgsár,
To whom the king gave the command in chief:
Thou wouldst have said: “He knoweth naught but ill.”
To Bídirafsh, the brother of this man,
He sent a banner blazoned with a wolf.
There was a valiant man by name Khashásh,
Who fought afoot with lions; him the king
Made leader of the scouts and of the vanguard:
They bore his flag as champion of the host.
There was a Turkman who was named Húshdív;
The monarch sent him to the rear, and said:—
“Keep guard behind the army and if thou
See one deserting slay him on the spot,
And take good heed herein.”

Thus in fierce wrath

He fared with full heart and with eyes all tears.

He ravaged as he went, he set on fire
The palaces, and razed trees, root and branch.
That king of infidels led forth his host,
With vengeful heart, against the Íránian coast.