Thereafter tidings reached Asfandiyár:—
“Zarír, that princely cavalier, is slain.
Thy father, overcome by grief for him,
Now purposeth to take revenge himself.”
The famous hero wrung his hands, and said:—
“What ill doth fortune spare us? When I saw
Zarír in fight I ever feared this day.
Woe for that horseman, warrior, and chief,
Whom fortune hath discrowned! Who slew that prince,
That valiant Elephant? Who plucked from earth
That iron Mount?”

Resigning to a brother

Flag, troops, and his own station, he advanced
Himself and reached the centre, girt his loins,
And seized the royal standard. Now he had
Five brothers, the adornments of the throne,
All men of high renown, the Sháh's compeers.
They held Asfandiyár in reverence,
Because it was his wont to shatter hosts.
That Mainstay of the troops said to those nobles:—
“Ye men of name and scions of the Sháh!
Attend to what I say, observe it well,
And trust the Faith of God, the Lord of all.
Know then, ye princes! that this is the day
Which will discern the false Faith from the true.
See that ye fear not death or anything,
For none will die but at his fated time,
And if so be that fated time hath come,
What is more glorious than to die in battle?
Heed not the slain, seek not for further help,
And count not heads. Put not your trust in flight,
And be not terrified at combating.

In battle let your lances' points be low,
Strive for a space and quit you manfully.
If ye will do as I have bidden you
My soul will still be stayed within my body,
Your name will be renowned throughout the world,
And all the host of yon old Wolf will perish.”
While matters fared thus with Asfandiyár
His father shouted from the mountain-top:—
“Ye men of name and warriors of mine,
Who are as mine own body and my soul!
Fear ye not arrows, swords, and javelins,
Because there is no fleeing from our fate.
By God's Faith and by brave Asfandiyár,
And by the soul of that loved cavalier,
Zarír, alighted now in Paradise,
Luhrásp the Sháh hath written unto me,
And I have pledged me to that ancient man,
That, if good fortune giveth me the day,
I will bestow, when I shall quit the field,
The crown and throne upon Asfandiyár;
I will bestow the royal crown on him
Just as my sire bestowed the realm on me,
While Bishútan*

shall have the host, and I
Will crown him with a crown of royalty.”