Pírán went full of care and pale of face
To ask the chiefs. Húmán the valiant said:—
“Wise men do not depreciate their foes.
The nobles of Írán are in good heart;
‘They would break iron,’ thou may'st say; and now
That reinforcements reach them from Írán
They raise their war-cry on the battlefield.”
Pírán replied: “Whatever cavalier
Shall come forth from Írán to succour Tús
We need not fear if Rustam be away.
I shall not break my heart about Ruhhám
Or yet about Gurgín; for be assured
That saving Tús they have no warrior;
Gurgín and Faríburz match not Kámús.

Each soldier of our host too, with so great
A fight in view, will seek his own renown.”
Thence sped he to Kámús, went to Manshúr
And to Fartús, and said: “To-day was fought
A great fight and a Wolf showed 'mongst the Sheep!
See to the cure and who hath shown himself
So harmful in the infliction of these wounds.”
Kámús replied: “Our fight to-day was such
That fame was turned to shame since Ashkabús
Was slain therein while Gív and Tús rejoiced.
My heart was riven at this man on foot
Because our troops were panic-stricken at him.
He is the tallest man on earth, we have not
One in the host to fight him. Thou didst see
His bow; the shaft is here. A savage lion
Hath not his strength; he surely is the warrior,
The man of Sigz, of whom thou spakest oft,
And he hath come upon the field afoot,
Come to give succour to the Íránian host.”
Pírán replied: “He is not like this one,
But an exalted cavalier and hero.”
Kámús, whose wary heart was all intent
Upon the matter, said: “Describe to me
How fareth on the field that lion-man.
What knowledge hast thou of his height and strength?
What language holdeth he with chiefs in fight?
What sort of man is he, and what his aspect?
On what wise shall I go to combat with him,
For if he be the one that hath arrived
I take the field myself?”

Pírán replied:—

“Forbid it, heaven! that Rustam should come hither,
And purpose fight! Thou wouldest see a hero,
Tall as a cypress, and with Grace and beauty,
From whom Afrásiyáb on many a field

Hath turned with tears; a warrior-liege is he,
The first to draw the scimitar, and fighteth
In wreak for Siyáwush his foster-child.
No one can wield his arms though many try.
In battle, when he girdeth up his loins,
His body hath a savage lion's strength.
No crocodile can lift his mace when dropped
In fight; his bow-string is of lion-hide;
His arrows, shaft and point, weigh ten sitír.
If any flint-rock should encounter him
'Twould turn to wax or something softer still.
He weareth, when he goeth forth to battle,
Chain-mail, and buckleth o'er it his cuirass,
And over that a garb of leopard-skin.
‘Babr-i-Bayán’ he calleth it; 'tis more
Than tunic and cuirass to him, not burning
With fire and wetting not with water. He
Hath wings when wearing it. The steed whereon
He rideth is, thou wouldst say, Mount Bístún
In motion, ever neighing in the fight,
And making sparks fly out of dust and stone;
But, wondrous as he is, it well may be
That thou wilt hold him not a man in battle,
And 'tis not strange that thou art worshipful
Who hast such limbs and shoulders, neck and arms.”
Whenas Kámús, the man so prudent, heard
He gave his eyes and ears up to Pírán,
Whose words in sooth proved grateful. All afire
He answered: “Paladin! be shrewd of heart
And bright of mind. Propose what oaths thou wilt—
Oaths such as kings of wakeful fortune take—
And I will swear a greater oath to thee,
One that will cheer thy wounded heart, that I,
In His strength Who is Master of the sun,
Will not take off the saddle from my steed
Till I have made thy spirit glad and bright,
And this world as a needle's eye to them.”
Pírán called many blessings down on him,
And said: “Shrewd-hearted king who sayest sooth!
We are in all things subject to thy will,
Which leaveth little of the fray to us.”
Pírán then went the circuit of the host,
And, visiting the enclosures and the tents,
Apprised the Khán and all of these events.