When from the sign of Cancer Sol reached out,
And rent the musk-hued Veil, a messenger
Came from the monarch to Pírán and said:—
“Troops throng from every side—a host whose dust
Would make a desert of the sea of Chín
Upon the battle-day. A chief is there
From Má wara 'u'n-Nahr; his head is raised
O'er circling heaven; a hundred lions' strength
Is his; he quelleth mighty elephants!
In height a cypress and in looks a moon,
A potentate whose toys are crowns and thrones,
Kámús, this chief of chiefs, will have his will
Upon Gúdarz and Tús. The troops comprise
All those that dwell 'twixt Sipanjáb and Rúm.
I reckon first the Khán of Chín, whose crown
Is heaven, his throne the earth, next brave Manshúr,
Whose falchion layeth warriors' heads in dust,
And next Kámús, the swordsman of Kashán,
Whose eyes ne'er saw defeat. His works all prosper;
When he is wroth he bringeth blast and snow.”
Pírán harangued the army of Turán,
And said: “Ye chiefs and warriors of the king!
Rejoice ye, young and old! at this good news,
Sent by the king, and be ye bright of soul;
Now must we wash the trouble from our hearts
I will not leave Írán field, fell, or crop.
The pains and troubles of the king are over
In seeking vengeance and arraying troops,

And ye shall see Afrásiyáb supreme
By land and sea, at home and in Írán.”
From those approaching powers fresh messengers
Kept coming to the captain of the host
With joyful news: “O famous paladin!
Live glad and bright of soul for evermore.
Be thy heart joyful to behold these kings,
And may thy soul cease troubling. From Kashmír
All, till thou comest to the river Shahd,
Is elephants and litters, flags and troops,
While from Sakláb Kundur the lion-man
Is coming with that warring Heaven Bíward
Of Kát, with Garcha from Sagsár, Shangul
From Hind. Flags fill the air and swords the earth.
Chaghán hath sent Fartús, the Light of hosts,
Gahán hath sent Gahár, who scorcheth heroes,
With Shamírán of Shakn, first of the age,
Who scattereth poison with his spear and sword.
Now lift thy head and take thy pleasure here,
For this glad news would make an old man young.”
Pírán laughed out with all his heart and soul,
Thou wouldst have said: “He that was dead reviveth!”
Thus spake he to Húmán: “I will go forth
To meet them. They have had a longsome march,
Equipped for fight and full of care. They hold
Their heads as high as doth Afrásiyáb,
For they have treasure, lustre, throne, and state.
I will go forth and see what men they are,
How many, with what chiefs and warriors,
Will do obeisance to the Khán of Chín,
And kiss the ground before his throne withal:
I will behold Kámús, the exalted one,
And find Tús an opponent in Shangul.
Returning hither I will gird myself
To rob the Íránians of the breath of life,
And, if they cannot hold their own, will make
Day dark and strait to them. I will secure
With heavy bonds about their feet and necks
Those that survive among the Íránian chiefs,
And then dispatch them to Afrásiyáb,
Not taking rest or sleep till it be done,
Behead the common soldiers that I capture,
Burn them, commit their ashes to the winds,
And take no thought about the place again.
Then will I part our army into three,
And darken the Íránian monarch's day.
I will dispatch one army unto Balkh,
And make day bitter to the Íránians,
Another to Kábulistán and bring
Kábul the ashes of Zábulistán,
And lead the third compact of mighty Turkmans
And Lions 'gainst Írán. I will spare none,
Not women, little children, young or old,
But overthrow Írán, both field and fell.
May not a hand or foot be left to them!
But till I order matters seek not fight.”
Thus spake Pírán and went with wreakful heart;
Thou wouldst have said: “His very skin hath burst.”
Húmán said to the troops: “A way with care!
For two days let us labour but to keep
Watch on Mount Hamáwan, for fear our foes
Steal off by night just when our flags will fill
Completely road, plain, valley, stream, and hill.”