They wrote to the Faghfúr of Chín a letter,
And, after paying countless compliments,
Thus said Afrásiyáb: “Revolving time
Affordeth naught to me excepting war.
Him whom I should have slain I tendered dearly,
And now through him my life is one of hardship.
If the Faghfúr of Chín would come himself
'Twere well, my soul is protestant of friendship;
But if he cannot still let him dispatch
A host to march with us against the foe.”
The messenger arrived in Chín by night;
The great Faghfúr received him graciously,
And ?? for him a pleasant residence.
Afrásiyáb for his own part at Gang
Abandoned quiet, banqueting, and sleep,
Arranged his catapults upon the walls,
And fitted up the towers to stand a siege.
He bade magicians*

bring up mighty stones
Upon the walls, he summoned many experts
From Rúm, and stationed troops upon the ramparts.
A prelate shrewd of heart*

set up thereon
Ballistas, catapults, and arbalists,
And shields of wolf-hide. All the towers were filled
With coats of mail and helms. He kept a troop
Of smiths at work to fashion claws of steel
On every side and bind them to long spears
To grapple any that adventured nigh,
Or, if not that, to make him shun the hold.

In all his dealings he was just; he gave
His troops their pay and well entreated them.
He gave moreover helms and scimitars,
Mail for the chargers, shields from Chín, with bows
And arrows to his men past reckoning,
Especially to all the warriors;
When that was done he and his faithful lords
Reposed. A hundred harpers fair of face
Met daily in his halls to make him mirth,
And day and night while holding festival
He called for native Turkman songs and wine.
Each day he threw a treasure to the winds,
And recked not of the morrow. So away,
Since fate is fixed, with sadness and be gay!
He lived two sennights thus exempt from sorrow,
But who can tell who will rejoice to-morrow?