The Turkman chief selected from the host
Two veterans and sent the Sháh a message:—
“Thou hast destroyed a multitude of troops.
In truth between Irán and Gang, O king!
There are a thousand leagues of hill and plain,
Of sandy wastes and hard, and our two armies
Have been like ants and locusts while the soils
From Gang and Chín until thou reach Írán,
Are like an ocean with the blood of feud;
So that if holy God drew from the dust
To some abyss the blood of all the slain
'Twould make a Red Sea that would drown both hosts!
If thou wilt have my treasure or my troops,
The country of Túrán, the throne and crown,
I will resign them to thee and be gone,
But yield my life up only to the sword.
Attempt not that; I am thy mother's sire,
Descended from the warlock Farídún,
And if thy heart is troubled to avenge
Thy father, and thou hast no reverence left
For me, the fault was all with Siyáwush
In that he filled my heart with grief and care;
Besides the stars which circle over us
Are both our shelter and our bane at whiles.
But Rustam answered him: “O Sháh!
Have not the flame of battle in thy heart:
'Tis a dishonour for the Sháh to combat
Although a Leopard be thine opposite.
As for his saying: ‘Fight not with my host,
Nor yet against my family and realm,’
Thine army stretcheth out from sea to sea,
And never will consent. If thou wouldst make
A treaty with thy grandsire in God's sight
'Tis needful that his heart be free from guile.
Now let a general attack be made
In force; speak not of things that cannot aid.”