A mountain lay before the youth who urged
His gallant charger thither, then looked down
Upon the chase. The captain of the host
Appeared in sight—a man like Mount Bístún.
He held a sapling in one hand whereon
An onager was spitted. By his side
Were placed his iron mace and other gear.

Within his other hand he held a goblet
A-brim with wine; his son was in attendance;
Rakhsh roamed about the meadow. There were trees,
Grass, and a stream withal.

“'Tis either Rustam,”

Bahman said, “or the rising sun, for none
In all the world hath looked on such another,
Or heard of such from famous men of old.
I fear me that the brave Asfandiyár
Will not stand up to him, but quit the combat.
So let me kill him with a crag and make
The hearts of Zál and of Rúdába writhe.”
He loosed a flinty boulder from the height,
And sent it downward from the lofty peak.
Zawára from the hunting-ground beheld it,
And heard the rumble that it made withal.
He shouted: “Paladin and cavalier!
A stone is rolling from the mountain-top!”
But Rustam to Zawára's wonderment
Ne'er moved nor laid aside the onager;
He waited till the stone was close to him,
While all the mountain darkened by its dust,
Then with a kick dispatched it far away,
Whereat Zawára praised him joyfully.
Bahman was sick at heart at Rustam's deed
And, marking both his majesty and mien,
Said: “If the glorious Asfandiyár
Should fight against a man of such renown
He would be vanquished vilely. It were better
For him to deal with Rustam courteously,
Who, if he overcame Asfandiyár,
Would seize on all the country of Írán.”
He gat upon his wind-swift steed and quitted
The mountain in a muse, informed the archmages
About the wonder that he had beheld,
And quietly proceeded on his way
When he was hard upon the hunting-ground
The peerless Rustam spied him as he came,

And asked an archimage: “What man is this?
I take him for a kinsman of Gushtásp.”
Then Rustam with Zawára and the rest,
Both great and small, went forth to meet Bahman,
Who swift as smoke alighted from his steed,
Exchanging greetings and all courtesies,
And Rustam said to him: “Until thou tellest
Thy name thou wilt not get thy will of me.”
The youth replied: “Renowned Bahman am I,
Son of Asfandiyár, that upright prince.”
The paladin embraced him on the spot,
And made excuses for his tardy coming.
Then both with their respective retinues
Set forth for Rustam's camp. Now when Bahman
Was seated he gave greetings for himself
And for the Sháh and the Íránians.
“Asfandiyár,” he then went on to say,
“Hath journeyed from the court as quick as fire
And, as the Sháh, victorious and exalted,
Enjoined him, pitched his camp on the Hírmund.
Now if the noble cavalier will hear me
I have a message from Asfandiyár.”
“The Sháh's son,” Rustam answered, “hath endured
Much and hath travelled far; so first of all
Let us partake of what we have, and then
The world is at thy bidding.”

On the board

He laid new bread and hot roast onager;
Slaves helped Bahman and matchless Rustam parled.
He placed his brother by the prince but summoned
No other nobles to the feast. He put
A second onager before himself—
His customary portion at each meal.
He sprinkled salt, cut up the meat, and ate;
Meanwhile the exalted prince could not but gaze.

He ate a little of his onager,
But not a hundredth part of Rustam's meal,
While Rustam smiled upon him, saying: “Sháhs
Possess the state in order to enjoy.
If thou art such a feeble trencherman
How ever didst thou pass the Seven Stages?
In what sort dost thou wield the spear in battle
Who hast, O prince! so little appetite?”
Bahman said: “God forbid a prince should talk
Or eat much. Eating little he is great
In war and ever hath his life in hand.”
Then Rustam smiled and cried: “One should not veil
One's manhood from mankind.”

Then he filled up

A golden bowl with wine and drank “The free.”
He gave another to Bahman, and said:—
“Take this and drink it unto whom thou wilt.”
Bahman was frayed thereat, and so Zawára
First took a draught thereof and said to him:—
“O scion of the Sháh! may wine and drinker
Rejoice in thee.”

Bahman took back the bowl

At once, but that sweet youth was temperate,
And Rustam's appetite, neck, arms, and shoulders
Astounded him. Both mounted, and Bahman
Set forth with noble Rustam and then gave
The message of the prince fair-famed and brave,