Much grieved the Khán and raged at that mishap;
He said thus to Húmán: “Now time and place
Are straitened to us. Go, for thou art shrewd,
And learn the name of yon great paladin.”
Húmán replied: “No anvil I or ivory
In fight. Kámús the warrior had no peer
For valour and discretion, so despise not
The cavalier that lassoed him. I go

To learn whom God will favour on this field.”
As swift as wind he went inside his tent,
Took other helmet, flag, and horse, and changed
The fashion of his mail and shield, then went,
And, drawing near to Rustam, paused to scan
That hero's neck and limbs, and said: “Renowned one,
Brave lasso-flinger, warlike cavalier!
By God, I tremble for my monarch's throne
When I behold a foeman such as thou art.
In this great host I see no valiant noble
And chief like thee. One courting such a combat
Could make the dust fly from a lion's heart!
Tell me about thy country, race, and home,
Inform me of thy parentage and name.
I have not seen among the Íránian host
A man save thee who hath the heart to fight.
I love a warrior, and most of all
The man that hath the temper of a pard;
So now if thou wilt let me know thy name,
Land, stock, and home, thou wilt confer a favour,
For thou wilt ease my heart.”

The paladin

Said: “Noble warrior of ardent soul!
Why tell not thy name, country, realm, and home?

Why hast thou come with this bland courtesy,
And so much talk? If thou desirest peace,
Not further loss in war, find him that shed
The blood of Siyáwush, and so involved us
In all the fire of feud. Find in thy host
Alike the guilty and the innocent;
Find too the men, the steeds caparisoned,
And goods which Siyáwush took from Írán;
Send all to us, and I will wish no longer
To fight the Turkmans; ye shall be my friends
In all, I will not speed revenge, seek strife,
Or lay the heads of nobles in the dust.
I will communicate with Kai Khusrau,
Will purge his heart and brain of grief and vengeance,
And send to him the culprits; he may pity them,
And pardon their offence. Now will I tell thee
Their names, and may their names and schemes both
perish!
The head of the offence was Garsíwaz,
Who sought to trouble and afflict Írán;
Next any that thou knowest of Túr's seed
That made this Water brackish wantonly,
Such as Gurwí the son of Zira, born
Unjust and loveless; perish all his race!
They did the injury to Siyáwush,
Which was the key to all these bonds of bale;
Next those who wrecked their monarch's brain and
heart,
And made blood flow like water, also those
Who had no quarrel with the Íránians,
And yet have taken part in this campaign,
The mighty men that are of Wísa's race,
Men double-faced and pied to every one,
Such as Húmán, Lahhák, and Farshídward,
Kulbád and Nastíhan the lion-man.
If ye accomplish this that I demand,
And end our quest for vengeance, I will shut
The door of our revenge upon thy country;
Thou shalt not need to clothe thy breast in mail;
But if thou speakest in another sense
I will renew our quarrel by fresh wars,
And by the life and head of great Khusrau
Make reek the marches of Túrán. Shangul
Shall not survive nor yet the Khán of Chín,
Or warrior of the country of Túrán.
Thou hast essayed me on this battlefield;
My way and mode of fight is always this.
One of the nobles of Írán am I,
Wont to encounter Lions in the fray,
And many heads have I removed from bodies
Whose only winding-sheet was grimy dust.
I ne'er have spoken on this wise before,
My purpose first and last hath been revenge;
Now therefore hearken to me and embrace
These fair proposals.”

At these words Húmán

Was sore afraid and trembled like a leaf,
For hearing Rustam talk in such a strain
He saw what vengeance would befall his kin,
And answered: “Lion-hearted warrior!
With strength and form and stature such as thine
Thy proper seat is on the Íránian throne.
At least thou art a mighty paladin
Or some redoubtable Íránian chief.

Thou hast inquired about my race and name,
But not accorded what I asked of thee.
My name is Kúh. A warrior brave am I.
My sire is Búsipás—the lion-like.
I have accompanied this host from far,
And come a soldier to this scene of strife.
Now that thou hast my name and race aright
I too must ask for thine, which I require
That I may make thy wishes known to all.
So now if thou wilt let me know thy name*

I will return rejoicing to the camp.
What thou hast spoken on this battlefield
Will I detail in presence of the host,
And in the presence of Manshúr, the Khán
Of Chín, and Turkman warriors and chiefs.”
But Rustam said to him: “Seek not my name:
Say what I seemed to thee. My heart is burning
With love toward Pírán, because the slaughter
Of Siyáwush hath pierced his liver too;
He is the gentlest man in all Túrán.
Speed him to me forthwith and we will see
What time may bring.”

Húmán replied: “O great one!

Then thou art eager to behold Pírán!
What knowest thou of him or of Kulbád,
Púlád, or of Gurwí the son of Zira?”
“Why ask so many questions?” Rustam said.
“Try not to make a river run up-hill:
As for these mighty hosts, dost thou not see
That if they fight or not is left to thee?”