Khusrau, on hearing ancient Rustam's words,
Approved thereof and answered thus the envoy:—

“So this malignant man would fight with me!
He gave with guileful tongue and heart intent
On wrong a greater pledge to Siyáwush.
Go hence, and say thus to that evil-doer:—
‘Speak not henceforth in such a strain as this:
Chiefs get no glory out of knavery;
Thy mind is strangely warped, thy heart deceitful.
If thou art set on fight, and fight alone,
There are antagonists besides myself;
There are the matchless Rustam and brave Gív,
Who both are eager to contend with Lions;
Besides if monarchs are to challenge monarchs
What need is there for army and for mellay?
Henceforth I will not fight with thee myself,
But thou shalt see a day of gloom and straitness.’”
The messenger withdrew, returned like wind,
And advertised his lord of what had passed,
Who in his dudgeon made no haste to battle,
But when the Sháh moved forward to the attack
The other army was obliged to stir;
One host was eager, one had fain delayed,
While earth was all in motion like the sea.
Such were the showers of shafts that thou hadst said:—
“The clouds rain hail from mighty lions' maws!”
From dawn until the sun grew dim the earth
Was soaked with blood beneath the warriors' feet.
When night was closing in the hosts withdrew
Because the horsemen's sight was failing them,
And, when the king of kings returned to camp
In all his glory, pomp, and circumstance,
He said to Tús: “Afrásiyáb to-day
Did not engage in battle willingly.
Methinketh he will make a night-attack
To free his heart of long-enduring griefs.”
He bade a trench be dug across the road,
Whereby the army of Túrán would come,
And issued orders: “Let none kindle fires,
And let no jingling camel-bells be heard.”
Then from the host Khusrau chose cavaliers
Of valour, putting them in Rustam's charge,
And chose moreover from the Íránians
Another force of men girt up for war,
Committing them to Tús the general
With orders to set forward toward the hills,
While matchless Rustam's way was toward the plain.
The Sháh bade: “Let them march with all dispatch
To left and right still keeping on the level,
One toward the plain the other toward the heights,
And not make use of outposts, lamps, or torches;
So if it chanceth that Afrásiyáb
Shall fall upon us at the time of sleep,
Our warriors may take his in the rear
To cut him off from help. Our troops will be
Behind him and the ditch in front, and then
The Sháh with all his elephants and men.”