When bright Sol topped the mountains, and the head
And crown of white day showed, the scattered troops
Began to gather, and their converse ran:—
“Full many of the Íránian host are slain!
Our leader's fortune hath deserted him,
So mighty were the Turkmans' hands in fight!
The army must not tarry longer here:
We verily must go before the Sháh,
And see how fortune turneth. If his heart
Be not intent on war then thou and I
Have no occasion to exert ourselves.
The sires have lost their sons, the sons their sires,
And most are wounded or in sore distress;
But if the Sháh shall bid us to engage,
And shall equip a noble host, then we
Will march, our hearts filled with revenge and strife,
And make the world too narrow for our foes.”
Thus minded they retreated from those marches,
Their eyes surcharged with tears, their hearts with
anguish,

As brother sorrowed over brother's blood,
And sighs were on their tongues for kinsmen slain.
They marched together to the Kása rúd,
Farewelling with their tongues their fallen friends.
The scouts that went forth from the Turkman host
Saw none remaining on the battlefield,
And tidings reached Pírán the son of Wísa:—
“The land is cleared of the Íránians.”
Pírán, on hearing this, without delay
Sent forth spies secretly on every side
And, being certified that that proud foe
Was gone indeed, released his heart from care.
He set forth with an escort at the dawn,
And went about to view the battlefield.
The plain and mountains, valleys and ravines,
Had tents and tent-enclosures numberless.
He gave them to the soldiers, marched away,
And marvelled at the process of the world:
One day a rise, another day a fall,
Now all is gladness and then terror all,
In sooth our best course is the cup to raise
That maketh earth look bright, and fleet the days.
Pírán sent one to tell Afrásiyáb,
Who heard and joyed released from care and trouble.
The multitude light-hearted in their gladness
Adorned the road whereby Pírán must pass;
They decorated all the roofs and doors,
And poured out drachms in showers upon his head.
As soon as he approached Afrásiyáb
The king went forth with gifts to welcome him,
And called down many a blessing on him, saying:—
“Thou hast no peer among the paladins.”
Then from the palace of Afrásiyáb
For two weeks rose the sounds of harp and rebeck,
While on the third Pírán resolved to go
Rejoicing to his home. The Turkman king
Made ready presents for him: thou wouldst be
Impatient if I told of the dínárs,
The royal jewels, belts of gold with gems,
The Arab steeds with golden furniture,
The Indian scimitars with golden sheaths,
The splendid throne of teak and ivory,
The couch of turquoise and the amber crown,
The girls from Chín, the boys from Rúm, with beakers
Of turquoise filled with musk and spicery.
This wealth Afrásiyáb sent to Pírán,
And added many other gifts beside,
While as the general left the royal presence
The king addressed him thus: “My loyal hero!
Be prudent, keep the fellowship of priests,
And guard the army from the enemy.
Dispatch in all directions trusty men
To act as spies and privily withal,
For Kai Khusrau is now possessed of wealth;
Beneficence and justice deck his land.
Since noble lineage and crown and throne
Are thine desire not any good beside.
Be not secure because the foe hath gone,
But seek fresh tidings as occasion serveth.
Thy soul will suffer if thou sleep'st at ease
So long as Rustam is the paladin—
The only man that giveth me concern—
For his whole business is to seek revenge.
I fear that he will rouse himself and lead
The armies of Írán against Túrán.”
Pírán, as captain of the host and kinsman,
Accepted all the counsel of the king,
And set forth with his troops toward Khutan.

Now that the story of Farúd is ended
Hear the campaign wherein Kámús contended.