Thence Rustam sought the other wing, while all
The foe were in dismay, where stood Gahár
The warrior of Gahán, a lion-man
Who had a dusky banner. He was wroth
On seeing Rustam's helm, roared lion-like,
And said to him: “I will avenge Túrán
And Chín upon this Sigzian on this field;
To fight him is my part among the chiefs:
A lion's heart and massive mace are mine.”

He spurred forth to encounter mighty Rustam,
But turned like flower of fenugreek on seeing
The helm of Rustam close, and thought: “As well
Plunge in the river Nile as fight against
This furious Elephant! Thou saidst: ‘The fight
Will profit thee,’ but others said: ‘Not so.’
Both courses are not well. To flee and save
One's head is better than to have it trampled
By showing prowess.”

Then he fled toward

The centre in the sight of all the troops,
While like a tree upon a mountain-top
Rose Rustam's standard mid the host. He followed
Gahár like dust, earth reddened, air grew dark;
He speared and pierced the girdle of his foe,
Rent both the corslet and its clasps, then flung him
Down as the leafage falleth from a bough
Struck by a mighty blast. He overthrew
That dusky flag, and thou hadst said: “Gahár—
He of Gahán—ne'er lived.” The Íránians marked
That deed, to right and left the dust of battle
Rose, they advanced the drums and glorious standard,
Illustrious Gúdarz and Tús came on,
The trumpets' blare hailed Rustam's victory.
“Send me a thousand noble cavaliers,”
He bade, “and I will take yon elephants,
That ivory throne, the gold, torques, pearls, and crown
From him of Chín and give them to Írán,
To the victorious monarch of the brave.”
A thousand warriors of Írán advanced
In mail with ox-head maces. Rustam cried,
That they might gird them for revenge: “I swear

By our Sháh's life and head, the sun and moon,
Írán's host, and the dust of Siyáwush,
That if one flee before the prince of Chín
He shall experience bonds, or pit and gibbet,
And have a paper cap set on his head.”
The troops knew Rustam's lion-appetite,
Which longed to claw the haunches of the stag,
And made toward the Khán, men seared in heart,
Whose leader aimed at crowns. He led the charge,
Let fleet Rakhsh have the reins, and spurted blood
Up to the moon. The stars looked down upon
That battlefield whence such a dust-cloud rose
That none could see the ground. What with the
shouts
Of cavaliers and thud of lances none
Discerned 'twixt rein and stirrup; thou hadst said:—
“The sun is veiled, earth tortured 'neath the horse-
hoofs!”
The air grew black, black as an Ethiop's face;
They saw no way for slain; mails, helms, and saddles
Filled all the field, and heads farewelled their bodies.
The horsemen's dust went down the wind, the earth
Rang with the clash of steel, and many a chief
Exposed his head for glory. Rustam shouted,
And thou hadst said: “It is the raging sea!”
“These elephants, the bracelets, ivory throne,
Crowns, diadems, and torques will in Írán
Be worthy Kai Khusrau, the world's young king.
What business can ye have with crown and pomp,
Who, spite of all your might and toil and prowess,
Will only set the shackles on your hands,
And bring a twisted lasso round your loins?
Then will I send you to the king of earth:
I will not spare Manshúr or yet the Khán
Of Chín. I give you life and that is all;
Your crowns and signet-rings are for another;
Else with our horse-hoofs I, unless ye yield,
Will send dust moonward from this battlefield.”