King Sáwa's envoy, when he heard those words
Of stern defiance, showed his back. He went,
And told what he had heard and seen whereat
The Turks' king's head breathed vengeance and he bade
To bring the tymbals forth and to lead out
The elephants high-crested to the plain.
The realm was darkened with the dust of hoofs,
The trumpets blared. Now when Bahrám Chúbína
Heard that a host had come, and plains and vales
Were yellow, red, and black, he bade his men
Mount and rode forth in armour, mace in hand.
Behind him lay Harát, before a host
Of swordsmen. He drew up the wings. The troops
Were as one heart and body. Thou hadst said:—
“The world is all cuirass; a star is shining
On every spear.”

King Sáwa viewed that field,

Its order and array, perceived that while
Bahrám Chúbína rested on Harát
His own position was both cramped and ill,
And thus addressed his horsemen, veterans,
And intimates: “A lying messenger
Came from the Persian leader of the folk,

And tarried till yon host had seized the city,
And left me nothing but a brake of thorns!”
He ranked his army in that straitened place,
The air was indigo and earth was hidden.
Upon the right were two score thousand horsemen,
Who used two-headed darts and wielded spears,
With two score thousand on the left withal,
All archers and engrossers of the fray,
While two score thousand warriors formed the centre,
Who carried spear or sword, and two score thousand
He stationed in the rear; but many troops
Were left unused for he was cramped for room.
They placed the elephants before the line,
As 'twere a wall, and barred the way in front.
Thus circumstanced king Sáwa's heart was grieved
By reason of this straitening of his host.
Thou wouldst have said: “His fortune hath fore­shown
To him the presage of an empty throne.”