Tukhár departed with Farúd—a youth
Whom fortune had abandoned. Whensoever
The sky above us is untowardly
No gentleness or rage availeth thee.
They chose the summit of a lofty mountain,
Commanding all the army of Írán,
And marvelled at the troops and their equipment.
The youth said to his confidant Tukhár:—
“Conceal not aught of what I ask of thee.
Tell me the names of all that thou beholdest—
The man of rank, the bearer of the flag,
The lord of partisan and golden boot—
All whom thou recognisest of Írán.”
The Íránian host defiled between two mountains,
And what with golden helm and golden shield,
With golden ax and golden partisan,
Thou wouldst have said: “No gold is left unmined,
A cloud hath risen and rained jewelry!”

The roar of kettledrums along the pass
Affrayed the vultures as they flew o'erhead,
While thirty thousand sword and buckler men
Marched bravely on in all points dight for war.
Now when Tukhár had scanned the host, the prince
Began to question him. That expert answered:—
“I will clear up what is obscure to thee:
Know that yon flag charged with an elephant,
Those horsemen, and those blue steel scimitars,
Belong to noble Tús the general—
A bad opponent when he seeketh vengeance.
Behind him is another standard bearing
A blazing sun: 'tis that of Faríburz,
Son of Káús, a general, thine uncle,
A man of Grace and purpose. Next to him
There is a mighty flag, its charge a moon,
With many valiant warriors. The chief
Call Gustaham the son of Gazhdaham,
Whom no two-headed dart or club affrayeth.
Next yon tall flag charged with an onager,
Encompassed by a band of warriors,
Is over Zanga son of Sháwarán,
Whose troops are mighty men. The flag behind
That hath a moon on red, with musk-black fringes,
Belongeth to Gív's son Bízhan who spurteth
Blood to the sky. The flag charged with a tiger—
One that would make a mighty lion burst,
And, thou wouldst say, is leaping from its field—
Is borne by brave Shídúsh, while that behind him,
Whose blazon is a wild boar, ‘One to bring,’
As thou wouldst say, ‘the heavens to the shears,’
Pertaineth to a brave chief hight Guráza,
Who counteth it but sport to fight a lion.
The next flag blazoned with a buffalo,
With cavaliers behind and chiefs in front,
Is famed Farhád's, the choicest of the chiefs:
Thou wouldest say: ‘His stature is sky-high.’
The banner with a wolf for its device
Betokeneth the valiant chieftain Gív.
The banner with the lion wrought in gold
Is floating o'er Gúdarz son of Kishwád.
The streaming standard blazoned with a pard
Precedeth proud, imperious Rívníz.
The banner that is charged with a gazelle
Belongeth to Nastúh son of Gúdarz,
And to his troops; that with the mountain-sheep
Pertaineth to another son—Bahrám.
They all are lion-men—brave cavaliers;
To name each one were tedious.”

Thus he told

The blazons of the chiefs to prince Farúd,
Who viewed all, great and small. His heart grew glad,
His cheek flushed,*

and he spake thus to Tukhár:—
“We shall take vengeance for my sire with ease!
I will not leave in Chín or in Máchín
A cavalier, when battling for revenge,
But catch the Dragon*

and reduce their throne
To straits.”

Now when the ĺránians had descried

Farúd upon the mountain with Tukhár,
Tús the commander was incensed, and caused
The drums and elephants to halt. He said:—

“We need an enterprising cavalier
To hasten to the mountain-top to learn
Who these two warriors are and wherefore there.
If they be ours let him bestow on them
Two hundred lashes on their heads, if foes
Bind them and drag them hither faces downward;
If they be slain still let him drag them hither
Along the dust and have no fear of any,
While if they shall prove spies, who want to take
The number of our forces secretly,
Let him cleave both asunder on the spot,
Then fling them down the mountain and return;
But if a countless host be ambushed there,
Whereof a straggling few have shown themselves,
Let him return and give the intelligence
To us forthwith, and we will drive them thence.”