Now, when earth's face turned ebon, from both hosts
The drums and trumpets sounded, and the drummers
Upon their elephants made haste to leave
The scene of action. Both the hosts agreed:—
“Since night hath fallen we will quit the field,
And in the morning choose us valiant men,
Men that would send dust from the ocean's depths,
Men of renown and eager for the fray,
To meet in single combat; thus our troops
Will be relieved and shed no more the blood
Of guiltless folk.”

This settled, they withdrew,

And thought that they had made the long road short.
The two chiefs, both perturbed at that last fight,
Turned from the strife, one toward Mount Kanábad,
The other toward Raibad. Gúdarz sent out
His scouts. The troops were galled by mail and helm,
Their hands and falchions were adrip with blood;
They loosed the fastenings, put off mail and casque,

And, with their bodies freed from iron burdens,
Began to feast and drink. Then young and old
Alert went to the paladin for counsel.
Gív said: “My father! what strange hap was mine!
When I had broken through the foemen's ranks,
And come upon Pírán, my charger jibbed,
And would not stir a foot. Thou wouldst have said
That in my wrath I should behead my friend.
Then was it that Bízhan recalled to mind,
And told me of, a presage of the Sháh's
That by thy hand Pírán will die.”

“My son!”

Gúdarz replied, “my hand will take his life
Assuredly, and in God's strength shall I
Avenge on him my seventy sons beloved.”
Gúdarz then viewed the host and saw it worn
With bloodshed, stress of war, and combating,
And, grieved to see his noble folk thus wan,
Dismissed them to recruit. They went their ways,
And at the dawn returned equipped and vengeful.
They greeted him: “Famed paladin of earth!
Hast risen refreshed by sleep? Dost purpose fight?”
He answered: “Noble and illustrious chiefs!
Be instant, all of you! by night and day
In blessings on the Maker, for till now
The war hath met our wishes. Many a marvel
Have I experienced, and known this world

As one of changes. Many men like us
The sky hath-fashioned, reaping what itself
Sowed with delight. I instance first Zahhák,
The unjust, who rose to kingship. How he straitened
The world and yet its Maker suffered him!
Vile as he was, and noted as a tyrant,
The breezes wafted him supremacy!
Thus many years passed over his ill-doings;
Then God sent evil on the miscreant,
The Judge endured no longer his injustice,
And raised a just man to dispose of him.
The glorious Farídún, that righteous Sháh.
Girt up his loins to win the empiry,
Unloosened all the coil of Áhriman,
And decked the earth throughout with righteousness.
From miscreant and ill-disposed Zahhák,
A man vituperated by our Sháhs,
The taint descended to Afrásiyáb,
Who looketh not upon the face of good.
When he enlarged his vengeance on Írán
He left the path of justice, law, and Faith;
At last he slew the noble Siyáwush,
And robbed our country of the breath of life.
When Gív came to Túrán how many hardships
Awaited him! his bed was dust, his pillow
A stone, he lived on game, wore leopard-skin,
And wandered like a madman till he found
The traces of Khusrau and did him homage.
When they had set their faces toward Írán,
And news reached fierce Pírán, he with his host
Sped after to destroy them by the way,
And did what harm he could, but God's protection
Sufficed. Then in revenge for Siyáwush
Our army marched toward the Kása rúd,
And at Ládan, when mighty hosts had gathered,
And at the camisado of Pashan,
How many of my sons were slain before me
While all our chiefs lost heart! Pírán again
Hath come to fight and now confronteth us,
But feeling weak he will procrastinate
By ruse and parle till reinforcements come.
Now he is challenging our chiefs to combat,
And we must be prepared, for if we show
Unreadiness or weakness he will find
Excuse of some sort to avoid a battle.
If they will fight us let us send the dust
Out of their men of name; and if Pírán
Will keep his word and meet us on the field
I swear to you that I will fight and give,
White-headed as I am, my body up
For slaughter in the presence of our troops.
I and the brave Pírán, Rúín, and Gív,
Will quit ourselves like men, for none abideth
For ever here, our fame alone will stay,
And best it is to leave a lofty name,
Since death will fling its lasso at us all;
The end is one to die or to be slain,
We can but little trust the turning sky;
And by the self-same token do ye likewise,
Armed with your lances and man-slaying swords,
Gird, all of you of any name, your loins
For vengeance, for our foemen's fortune falleth,
And we must strike at once. Húmán who fought
With brave Bízhan had no peer in Túrán;
But since when fortune turned he was o'erthrown,
Beheaded wretchedly, and rolled in blood,
We need not fear them or withdraw ourselves.
If single combat pleaseth not Pírán,
And he shall lead his army forth like dust,
We too must go forth like a mountain-mass,
And counter him for, since our foes are downcast
And fearful, sure am I that we shall gain
The mastery and make them reek to heaven.”
The noble veterans blessed him, saying thus:—
“O chieftain, true of heart and pure of Faith!
Ne'er since God made the world hath man beheld
A paladin like thee. E'en Farídún—
The ruler of the world—had no such servant.
Thou art the army's stay, the Sháh's chief captain,
Through thee the warriors exalt their helms.
Thou hast devoted children, life, and goods,
And what can Sháhs ask more of their commanders?
All that the Sháh required of Faríburz,
And Tús, he will behold achieved by thee.
We are thy slaves; our hearts are full of love
For thee. If now Pírán shall bring a thousand
Against our ten; see which will turn from strife!
But should he come to fight on plain and mountain
In full force we are all heart-sore for vengeance,
Our loins are girt for war. Oh! may we give
Our lives for thee! To that we all are pledged.”
Gúdarz was bright of heart at this, and cried:—
“O paladins of our earth-ruling Sháh!
Such ever is the wont of warriors,
Of noble Lions and brave cavaliers.”
He bade the troops to mount and gird themselves
For fight, dispatched sun-faced Farhád to lead
The left wing, where Ruhhám had been, and sent
Katmára, a descendant of Káran's,
In haste to lead the right wing in the stead
Of Faríburz, and ordered thus Shídúsh:—
“My son and ready minister in all!
Be thy place in the rear with Káwa's flag,
And troops to give support to all the rest.”
He then commanded Gustaham: “Go to,
Lead for the nonce, assume the chief command,
Be watchful, prudent, and the army's stay.”
He issued orders: “Let no man advance
Beyond his post, look ye to Gustaham,
And be both night and day upon the saddle.”
A cry rose midst the host, the soldiers mourned,
And hastened to Gúdarz, dust on their heads,
Because their leader with his hoary hair
Had girt his loins, and went to fight in person.
Gúdarz called Gustaham, gave him advice,
And said to him: “Be thou a trusty guard
Against the foe, be watchful night and day
In mail and ready for attack, unhelm not,
For, if thou shalt begin to be remiss,
Sleep will assail thee, and the sleepless foe
Will fall upon thee while thy head is nodding.
Maintain a watchman on the mountain-top,
And let the soldiers feel themselves secure.
If from Túrán by night and unawares
They fall on us by way of ambuseade
Thou must display the valour of a man
And warrior's prowess. Should ill tidings come
About us from the army of Túrán—
That they are slaying us upon the field,
And bearing to Túrán our trunkless heads—
Avoid a battle and abide three days,
For on the fourth will come the famous Sháh
To help with Grace and power.”

Gustaham

Received the proffered counsels and, resolved
To act with loyalty, this answer gave:—
“I will obey thy bidding like a slave.”