1

The next day, when this soldier of sultán-pomp (the sun)
Struck up his mountain-like hump (arose) from the sea of Chín (his place of rising),

Both armies inclined to blood;
They upreared the standard like (the mountain) Besitún,

The cloud (the troop of warriors) from the sea (the two armies) began to thunder;
The lion (the warrior) put forth his head from every forest (body of troops).

The (scream of the) brazen trumpet of the warriors went to the zenith;
Blood flowed, wave on wave, from every corner.

5

From the Rúmish army an elephant, mace-seizer,
Drew forth the sword and bound the arrow:

Sought out a man for battle-essaying;
A warrior (of Russia) went forth in a yellow khaftán.

The Rúmí let go mace from his hand,
He shattered altogether the head and foot of the Russian.

He sought another; to him, this also happened;
He (the Rúmí) knew nothing, save brain-beating.

An Alání, a horseman, by name Firanja,
Skilled as to sword (war) and as to cup (peace),

10

Came,—a mace raised to the shoulder,—
From seeing whom the sense of the brain departed.

This one (Firanja) displayed his mace in rage;
That one (the Rúmí) placed a mace on his shoulder.

Their maces became together a (narrow) door of two leaves,
In that door, their striving became great.

When the Alání knew that in his path
His (Rúmish) enemy remained fortuneless (the mace let fall from his hand),

He raised the mace and struck at his head;
He scattered his head (brains) from his body.

12

In Pahlaví, “dar” signifies—strife.

Otherwise:—

Their maces became together a strife of two maces;

In that strife their striving became great.

When two persons attempt to enter by a narrow door of two leaves, there is certainly pushing and striving.

15

When he drew the poll of his enemy's head in blood,—
By that head-drawing, he raised his head to the sphere.

Of the heroes of Arman a fierce lion—
In slaying, stout of heart; in manliness, bold:

By name Shirváh, lions surpassed,
In the battle-field completely proved:

A crocodile, two swords uplifted;
The head of crocodiles with the sword severed—

Urged his steed for battle with the Alání;
And kindled lightning with the flashing sword.

20

When Firanja beheld such pre-eminence of force (shown by the two uplifted swords),
He stitched his shield to his shoulder like the ant's wing.

On him, Shirvah struck the sharp sword, in such a way
That the bird of his life made flight from the cage (of his body).

From this side a neck-extender, loin-girt,
Whipped forth his steed like a fierce fire:

Strove and displayed acts of manliness;
—With Shirvah in lionishness how profited he?—

When he (the Russian) beheld the powerful enemy, he exalted his neck;
He also laid his neck low with one blow of his (Shirvah's) sword.

25

One—mountain-like, from the mountain Lákan, by name Jaram,
Came, from seeing whom the world became distressed.

20

His shield appeared to grow from his shoulder as does the ant's wing.

On his head,—a helmet of iron-surface,
Which repelled contest from his form.

On his body,—a coat of mail flashing
Like luminous mercury; like polished silver.

Like the raging lion he came against Shirvah;
Gave him not a moment's respite as regards the world:

Drove the sword against the lion man, in such a way
That he brought forth the dust (of destruction) from that ravening lion.

30

When the enemy (Shirvah) in that foot-stumble fell,—
His brain with the hoof of the noble steed, he ground.

Of many (Rúmish) heroes of those neck-extenders,
The mark he struck on ice (effaced) from cold love.

When Daválí saw such a great champion (Jaram),
Verily, not (merely) a warrior but a neck-striker (of warriors),

He writhed (with rage) and called for the habiliments of battle;
Prepared to go straight into battle:

Raised to his head the terrible iron-face,
A helmet, thick (having eye-holes) with iron of Chín:

26

Otherwise:—

(a) On his head a helmet made of brass and iron, That repelled contest from its form.

(b) On his head a helmet with (a terrible) iron face.

See couplet 34.

34

If sufta be read for sifta, the second line will then be:—

A helmet resplendent with steel of Chín.

The couplet may be:—

Raised to his head the (composite metal) brass and iron
Of a helmet thick …

35

A sword slung, poison-possessing;
A noose like the ringlet of lovely ones, coil-possessing:

Cast the war-housings on the steed;
Came to the saddle like the moving mountain:

Came cheerful of face towards the enemy,
As to the street comes a boy from the school.

When Jaram looked at that adorned grandeur,
He saw his own heart patient of battle with lions.

But for him was no door of returning;
He became helplessly fellow-companion with Death:

40

He came boldly to Daválí;
Played deceit with the lion-hand (Daválí).

From the enemy's turning, Daválí
Writhed (in rage) on himself like the leather strap.

They brought much quickness into play;
They learned not a single word of mercy.

Daválí bound his loins like the male lion;
Struck a sword-blow on the leather (sword-belt) of his waist.

Without any trouble the sword became the penetrator;
That mountain (Jaram), steel (-armour) weighing (on his body) became two halves.

45

He had a brother like the raging elephant;
The brother bound his loins for malice.

42

Before striking with the sword or the spear, warriors used to boast of their own courage and to utter the names of their ancestors.

43

If davál (a sword, in the language of Abkház) be read for Daválí, the first line will be:—

A sword girt to his loins like the male lion,

He struck …

When from Daválí, he tasted the wound of (struck upon) the leather (of his sword-belt),
He drew his chattels towards the chattels of his brother (expired).

In this way, that mountain of steel back-bone (Daválí)
Shattered many a (Russian) warrior, army-shattering.

Was a Russian,—his name, Jawdara,
To whom the male lion was a fawn;

Fierce, strong, strength-essaying;
Alone, enemy-binding; and territory-subduing;

50

Much blood to his neck adhering;
Much blood of those neck-exalting, spilling,—

Tightened the knot on the leather (sword-belt) of his waist;
Moved his horse for battle with Daválí.

They discharged against each other the sharp sword,
So that, for the foot, the door was closed against flight.

Against each other, often passed their blows;
Effective they became not on account of their skilfulness.

The Russian raised the sword, the penetrator;
He struck, remorselessly, at that mountain of steel (Daválí).

55

It (Jawdara's sword) came from the steel-helmet to the poll of the head;
The shattered body became drowned in a river of blood.

48

Observe that—

Rús is the plural of Rúsí	Turk is the plural of Turkí
Rúm Rús is the plural of Rúsí Rúmí	Jinn Turk is the plural of Turkí Jinní
Hind Rús is the plural of Rúsí Hindí

Rús, Turk, and Jinn may be applied to one person, but Rúm and Hind never.

Through that langour of limbs, the wound-experiencer (Daválí)
Made theft of the reins and returned to his place:

Alighted from his horse, and bound up his head.
The king's heart, at that head-shattering, broke.

He ordered the sage that even on the road,—
He should put an electuary on that wound-place:

Should cherish him, so that at leisure
Daválí might rest from his woundedness.

60

When night brought over its head the silken cloth of collyrium hue (lay in the ambush of darkness),
The head of the moon (its beloved) came (captive) to the musky noose (of its darkness),

The two lines of the army kept watch;
They allowed not a fly to pass around the royal tent.

56

“'Inán duzdí kardan” signifies—to return.

58

“Nosh-dárú” is nearly the same as tiryáḳ.

60

“Kahl” signifies—the sky.

“Kuhl” and “surmah” signify—collyrium.