Meanwhile the vengeful warriors of Írán
Descended from the hill toward the host,
Their slain opponents bound upon their saddles
According to the usages of war;
But since the paladin was not with them
A cry ascended both from old and young:—

“Perchance Gúdarz hath steeped his head in blood,
And perished by Pírán's hand, through old age.”
The troops wept bitterly, beholding not
Their paladin, but soon amid the dust
They saw his flag come flaunting from the field.
The drums beat in the camp, dust kissed the sky,
The great men, smiling and rejoicing, went
To meet him. Said the troops: “The paladin
May be returning worsted by Pírán,
Because he is a lion-hearted hero,
And hath been courting combat all his life.”
Then, while both young and old gave ear, Gúdarz
Spake, pointed with his finger to the field,
And told how fortune had entreated him,
Then bade Ruhhám to mount and fetch Pírán.
“Bind him upon the saddle, bring him down,”
He said, “from yonder height; and bring besides
His armour and his flag, just as they are,
But lay no hand upon his belt or loins.”
Ruhhám departed like a rushing wind,
Laid on the saddle that illustrious form,
Whose mail was drenched with gore, with lasso-coils
Bound it securely and conveyed it down.
Whenas the warriors and haughty chiefs
Beheld Pírán's flag from the trysting-place
All of them blessed the chief of paladins,
And said: “Grand back-bone of the Íránians,
And servant of the Kaians' crown and throne!
Thou hast made both thy body and thy soul
A ransom for the host in victory,
And in defeat.”

Gúdarz replied: “When war

Began to press methought: ‘Afrásiyáb
Will lead his host to this side of the river.
His troops have been at rest from strife and toil
While mine are spent with hurry.’ So I sent
A prudent man and gave the Sháh much counsel.
I said: ‘If now the Turkman king shall bring
His host we cannot hold our ground.’ Methought:—
‘Khusrau will hasten to this battlefield,
And when we take the bodies of the slain
Upon this scene of vengeance to the Sháh,
Just as ye have them now upon the saddles,
He will rejoice and we shall be advanced,
Because this feud of the Íránians
And Turkmans came from these now passed away.’”
All praised him: “Ne'er may earth and time lack
thee.
Whate'er we gain we gain it from thy words,
And sun and moon take lustre from thy looks.”
They went and bore the slain just as they were,
But forced Gurwí to walk, a lasso bound
His hands, a halter was about his neck.
As soon as they approached the main encampment
The troops turned out to meet their general
With Gustaham the Lion leading them.
He came before the gallant paladin,
Then kissed the ground and offered praise. He said:—
“Behold thine army safe and sound. As thou
Committed'st it to me so I restore it.”

With that the watchman's shout came to their ears
From Mount Raibad: “The plain is dark as night
With dust. A wondrous din of kettledrum
And clarion ariseth; thou wouldst say:—
‘The desert is in motion.’ Glittering,
As 'twere the azure ?? a throne of turquoise
Is borne on elephants, the air is glowing
With hues of yellow, red, and violet,
As 'twere a silken banner, while afar
A glorious standard like a cypress-tree
Appeareth, round it are mailed cavaliers,
And earth throughout is violet-hued with steel.
Flag followeth flag, and some are charged with dragons
And some with eagles. In another day
They will be here if thus they keep their way.”