A rustic bard hath spread the board and there
Set forth “The Seven Stages” as the fare.
He took within his hand a cup of gold,
And of Gushtásp and of the Brazen Hold,
And of the doings of Asfandiyár,
His journey and the counsels of Gurgsár,
Spake thus:—Now when embittered, tongue and soul,
Asfandiyár reached Balkh he left his sire,
And set out with Gurgsár toward Túrán.
He marched until he came where two roads met,
And camped there with his host, bade spread the board,
And furnish wine and harp and minstrelsy,
While all the captains of the host drew near,
And sat at table with the king of men,
By whose directions presently Gurgsár,
In miserable plight, was brought before him,
And furnished with a golden goblet filled
Four times successively. Thereafter said
Asfandiyár to him: “Thou luckless one!
I will advance thee to the crown and throne,
Will give thee all the kingdom of the Turkmans,
And will exalt thee to the shining sun,
As soon as I return victorious,
If thou wilt tell me truly what I ask,

Nor will I harm thy children, kith or kin;
But if thou go about to utter lies
In any way they will not pass with me,
My sword shall cleave thee, and the hearts of all
Shall tremble at thy fate.”

Gurgsár replied:—

“O famous, glorious Asfandiyár!
From me the king shall hear naught but the truth,
And be it thine to act the kingly part.”
“Where is the Brazen Hold,” Asfandiyár
Said, “for its marches march not with Írán?
What roads are there to it? How many leagues?
How can it be approached without mishap?
Say too how many troops there are within it,
And tell me what thou knowest of its height.”
“O kind and glorious Asfandiyár!”
Gurgsár replied, “three roads lead hence to what
Arjásp hath titled ‘Battlestead.’ One route
Will take thy troops three months, the second two.
The first hath water, grass, and towns, and chiefly
Pertaineth to the chieftains of Túrán.
The second road, that which will take two months,
Will furnish for the troops but little provand;
There is no grass or water for the beasts,
And thou wilt find no camping-grounds. The third
Will occupy but seven days; the troops
Will reach the Brazen Hold upon the eighth,
But that road is all lions, wolves, and dragons,
And none can scape their claws; yet mightier
Than lion, wolf, and savage dragon are
A witch's charms, who raiseth from the deep
One to the moon and flingeth to the abyss
Another headlong. There are wastes, símurghs,
And bitter frosts which rise like blasts and cut
The trees. Then will appear the Brazen Hold,
And none e'er saw, or heard of, such another.
It toppeth the dark cloud-rack. Arms and troops

Abound within it. Waters and a river—
A sight to cheer the soul—environ it.
The monarch crosseth to the plain by boat
When he will hunt, but should be stay within
For five score years the plain could furnish naught
That he would need, because inside the hold
Are tilth and pasture, fruit-trees and a mill.”
Asfandiyár, on hearing this, was troubled
Awhile and sighed, but said: “There is no way
For us save this; the short road is the best
In this world,” and Gurgsár retorted thus:—
“O king! none e'er by puissance and pains
Hath made the passage of the Seven Stages
Without foregoing life.”

The chieftain answered:—

If thou art with me thou shalt see the heart
And strength of Áhriman. What, sayest thou,
Will meet me first? What must I fight for passage?”
Gurgsár replied: “O famed and fearless man!
Two wolves, each like a lusty elephant,
A male and female, having horns like stags
And all a-gog to make a fight of lions,
Broad in the neck and breast and thin of flank,
With monstrous elephants' tusks, first will confront
thee.”
Asfandiyár then bade lead back Gurgsár
Bound as he was in miserable plight,
And blithe himself assumed his Kaian casque,
And held his court.

When Sol displayed its crown

On high, and heaven showed earth its mysteries,
The din of drums rose from the royal tent,
Earth turned to iron, air to ebony,
While in high spirits and with fair array
The prince set forward toward the Seven Stages,
And toward Túrán. When he approached the First
He chose a veteran among the host,

A watchful man, hight Bishútan, who guarded
The army from the foe, and said to him:—
“Maintain good discipline among the troops.
I am disturbed by what Gurgsár hath said,
And will go on. If evil shall befall me
It must not come upon my followers.”
He went and armed; they girthed his night-hued
steed.
The chief, when he had drawn anigh the wolves,
Sat firmly like a mighty elephant.
The wolves beheld his breast and neck, his waist,
His warrior-handgrip, and his iron mace,
And like grim elephants and keen for fight
Made at him from the plain. The hero strung
His bow and, roaring like a rending lion,
Rained arrows down upon those Áhrimans,
And hardily employed the horsemen's sleights.*

The steel-tipped shafts disabled both the beasts,
And neither could approach unscathed. With joy
Asfandiyár perceived them growing weak
And sore distressed, unsheathed his watered glaive,
And charged. He hacked their heads and made the
dust
Mire with their blood, lit from his noble steed,
Acknowledging his helplessness to God,
And washed the wolves' gore from his arms and person,
Then sought a spot that had not been defiled*

Upon the sand and turning toward the sun,
With troubled heart and checks besmirched with dust,
Exclaimed: “O righteous Judge! Thou hast bestowed
Upon me strength, Grace, prowess. Thou hast laid

These beasts upon the dust and to all good
Art Guide.”

When Bishútan came with the host

They saw the hero at the place of prayer.
The warriors were astonied at his exploit,
And all the troops thought: “Shall we call these wolves
Or lusty elephants? May such a heart
And sword and hand live ever! Never may
The throne of kingship, majesty, and feast,
And host lack him.”

The wary warriors

Approached and pitched the tent-enclosure round him;
They set a golden board whereat to dine,
Partook of victuals and called out for wine.