As soon as tidings came to Sháh Gushtásp:—
“The ruler of the Turkmans and of Chín
Hath made his preparations and set forth,
Dispatching to the front the brave Khashásh,”
He bade his general: “At dawn tomorrow
Array the elephants, lead out the host.”
He wrote a letter to his marchlords thus:—
“The Khán hath left the pathway of the great.
Come to my court-gate, all! because my foes
Are at the border.”

When the letter reached

Those nobles with this news: “There hath appeared
A foeman who ambitioneth the world,”
Troops gathered at the portal of the Sháh,
Out-numbering the grass-blades on the ground.
The warriors of the world girt up their loins
To aid the Kaian Sháh, the world-possessor,
And, as he had commanded, all the marchlords
Set forward to the court-gate of the king.
Anon a thousand thousand gathered round
The Sháh, that famous and benignant Kaian,
Who visited the camp, reviewed the troops,
And chose the fit. It joyed the glorious Sháh,
Whose heart was all astound at such a host.
Next day Gushtásp went with the archimages,
The chiefs, the great men, and the army-captains,
Unlocked the treasures hoarded by Jamshíd,
Gave to the soldiers two years' pay and then,

When he had given mail and rations, sounded
The drums and trumpets, loaded up the baggage,
And ordered to be borne before the host
The conquering standard of the glorious Sháhs.
He led the troops to battle with Arjásp—
An army such as none had ever seen.
None could discern the daylight or the moon
For murk of flying dust-clouds, troops, and steeds
Whose neighing and the war-cries drowned the drums.
A multitude of banners were displayed,
And spearheads pierced the clouds like trees that grow
On mountain-tops or like reed-beds in spring.
Upon this wise by Sháh Gushtásp's command
The army made its way from land to land.