This said, he broke up camp and marched on Rúm.
He made Dáráb the leader of the scouts,
And issued to them lances tipped with steel.
The scouts drew near to Rúm, and from that side
The warden of those marches came to meet them.
All unawares they countered. Battle's dust
Arose forthwith. They mixed in fight and shed
Blood like a river. When Dáráb beheld
That warrior-host he came like flying dust,
And slew so many of the troops of Rúm
That thou hadst said: “The world hath grasped its
sword.”
He went forth like a lion, under him
A Dragon, in his hand a Crocodile.
Thus fared he till he reached the Rúmans' camp,
And rushed upon it like an angry lion.
Earth seemed a sea of Rúman blood; wherever
His falchion led him went the atheling.
Returning from his triumph o'er the Rúmans
He came to Rashnawád, the noble leader,
And had from him much praise: “May our Sháh's host
Ne'er lack thee. When we quit the land of Rúm,
And when the host is home, thou shalt receive
Such favours from the Sháh that thou wilt be
The richer both by treasure and a crown.”

They spent the night in ordering the troops,
And furbishing the weapons of the horsemen;
Then as the sun rose o'er the gloomy dales,
And earth became as 'twere a lamp agleam,
The two opposing armies met again,
And darkened with their dust the rising sun;
But when Dáráb advancing led the charge,
And gave his fleet steed rein, there tarried not
A single man before the Rúman lines,
While of the warrior-swordsmen few survived.
He came upon the centre like a wolf,
And scattered utterly that great array.
Assailing then the right wing of the foe
He carried off abundant arms and spoil,
And cut in pieces all the troops of Rúm:
None of their champions seemed himself at all!
The warriors of Írán came with a rush,
Like lions, in his wake right valiantly,
And slew so many of the Rúman host
That all the field was puddled into clay.
Dáráb slew forty of the Christian prelates*

Among the magnates and bare off the Cross.*

At those great deeds the heart of Rashnawád,
The paladin, swelled with delight. He blessed
And greatly praised Dáráb, and favoured him
The more while blessing him. Night came, the world
Grew pitch-like, and the host returned from fight.
The general rested in the Rúmans' camp,
And loosed the girdle from his loins. He spent
The night apportioning the ample spoil,
And all the army was enriched thereby.
He sent Dáráb a messenger to say:—
“O man of lion-heart and good at need!
Consider now what thou wilt please to take,
And of this spoil what is of use to thee:
Whatever doth not please thee give away;
Thou art more glorious than the lord of Rakhsh.
Dáráb, on seeing this, was well content,
And for form's sake retained a spear himself,

Dispatching all the rest to Rashnawád,
And said: “Mayst thou be conquering and happy.”
Whenas the sun's orb left the darksome west
The sky donned black brocade and when one watch
Had passed, and all the sentinels were set,
Their challenges ascended in a roar
As 'twere of lions loose.

Now when the sun

Took up its golden shield, and when the troops
Awoke, the warriors of Írán girt up
Their loins, were instant to pursue the Rúmans,
Made sparks flash from their trenchant scimitars,
And gave up all the cities to the flames.
They sent the dust up both from land and people;
None e'er recalled to mind those fields and fells.
A miserable wail went up from Rúm,
For men abandoned that delightful land,
While Cæsar had not wherewithal for vengeance,
And all the faces of his chiefs were wan.
An envoy came to Rashnawád to say:—
“If thou, the just, hast not abandoned justice
Our warriors have had enough of war;
The head of Rúm's good fortune is brought low.
If thou desirest tribute we will do
Thy bidding and will make new terms with thee.”
Moreover Cæsar sent abundant gifts,
With purses, captives, and all manner of wealth,
And Rashnawád received them as enough,
The money and the jewels in the rough.