Gushtasp II: The Story of the Seven Stages

The Seven Stages will I next set forth'
In words both novel and of dainty worth.
Oh ! may the world's Shah live for ever, may
Its potentates be slaves beneath his sway !
He showed his visage like bright Sol above,
And graced the surface of the earth with love.

Sol was in Aries when first he wore
The crown, and East and West rejoiced therefore.

The thunder-peal is rolling o'er the hills,
And tulip and narcissus throng the rills,
The patient tulip, arch narcissus, yea
And awesome spikenard and pomegranate gay.
The clouds have hearts of fire and tearful eyes,
And bursts of anger mix with melodies.
The levin flasheth and the waters leap
Till at the din thou rousest from thy sleep.
Thus wakened look abroad and call the scene
Brocade or painted by Mam' in Chin,
A scene that, bright in sunshine, having spied
The tulip and narcissus still wet-eyed,
Will laugh and cry : " Ye minxes ! thus again
I weep for love of you, not wrath or pain."

Earth hath no laughter while the heaven is dry.
I do not call our great king's hand the sky,
Which only giveth forth its rains in spring,
For such is not the usance of a king.
As Sol, when it ariseth gloriously
In Aries, such shall the Shah's hand be,
For whensoe'er there cometh to his hand
A wealth of pearls or musk from sea or land,
The radiance that is his he doth not scant
To proud-necked monarch and to mendicant.
Abu'l Kasim ! our great Shah's hand is still
Thus generous alike to good and ill.
He never slackeneth in bounteousness,
And never resteth on the day of stress,
Delivereth battle when the times demand,
And taketh heads of monarchs in his hand,
But largesseth the humble with his spoils,
And maketh no account of his own toils.
Oh ! may Mahmud still rule the world, still be
The source of bounty and of equity !

Now list to what an ancient sage hath told,
And learn the legend of the Brazen Hold.

A rustic bard hath spread the board and there
Set forth " The Seven Stages " as the fare.
He took within his hand a cup of gold,
And of Gushtasp and of the Brazen Hold,
And of the doings of Asfandiyar,
His journey and the counsels of Gurgsar,
Spake thus : — Now when embittered, tongue and soul,
Asfandiyar reached Balkh he left his sire,
And set out with Gurgsar toward Turan.
He marched until he came where two roads met,
And camped there with his host, bade spread the board,
And furnish wine and harp and minstrelsy,
While all the captains of the host drew near,
And sat at table with the king of men,
By whose directions presently Gurgsar,
In miserable plight, was brought before him,
And furnished with a golden goblet filled
Four times successively. Thereafter said
Asfandiyar to him : " Thou luckless one !
I will advance thee to the crown and throne,
Will give thee all the kingdom of the Turkmans,
And will exalt thee to the shining sun,
As soon as I return victorious,
If thou wilt tell me truly what I ask,
Nor will I harm thy children, kith or kin;
But if thou go about to utter lies
In any way they will not pass with me,
My sword shall cleave thee, and the hearts of all
Shall tremble at thy fate."

Gurgsar replied : —
"O famous, glorious Asfandiyar !
From me the king shall hear naught but the truth,
And be it thine to act the kingly part."

"Where is the Brazen Hold," Asfandiyar
Said, " for its marches march not with Iran ?
What roads are there to it ? How many leagues ?
How can it be approached without mishap ?
Say too how many troops there are within it,
And tell me what thou knowest of its height."

"O kind and glorious Asfandiyar ! "
Gurgsar replied, " three roads lead hence to what
Arjasp hath titled ' Battlestead.' One route
Will take thy troops three months, the second two.
The first hath water, grass, and towns, and chiefly
Pertaineth to the chieftains of Turan.
The second road, that which will take two months,
Will furnish for the troops but little provand ;
There is no grass or water for the beasts,
And thou wilt find no camping-grounds. The third
Will occupy but seven days ; the troops
Will reach the Brazen Hold upon the eighth,
But that road is all lions, wolves, and dragons,
And none can scape their claws ; yet mightier
Than lion, wolf, and savage dragon are
A witch's charms, who raiseth from the deep
One to the moon and flingeth to the abyss
Another headlong. There are wastes, simurghs,
And bitter frosts which rise like blasts and cut
The trees. Then will appear the Brazen Hold,
And none e'er saw, or heard of, such another.
It toppeth the dark cloud-rack. Arms and troops
Abound within it. Waters and a river —
A sight to cheer the soul — environ it.
The monarch crosseth to the plain by boat
When he will hunt, but should he stay within
For five score years the plain could furnish naught
That he would need, because inside the hold
Are tilth and pasture, fruit-trees and a mill."
Asfandiyar, on hearing this, was troubled
Awhile and sighed, but said : " There is no way
For us save this ; the short road is the best
In this world," and Gurgsar retorted thus : —
"O king ! none e'er by puissance and pains
Hath made the passage of the Seven Stages
Without foregoing life."
The chieftain answered : —
If thou art with me thou shalt see the heart
And strength of Ahriman. What, sayest thou,
Will meet me first ? What must I fight for passage ? "

Gurgsar replied : " O famed and fearless man !
Two wolves, each like a lusty elephant,
A male and female, having horns like stags
And all a-gog to make a fight of lions,
Broad in the neck and breast and thin of flank,
With monstrous elephants' tusks, first will confront thee."

Asfandiyar then bade lead back Gurgsar
Bound as he was in miserable plight,
And blithe himself assumed his Kaian casque,
And held his court.

When Sol displayed its crown
On high, and heaven showed earth its mysteries,
The din of drums rose from the royal tent,
Earth turned to iron, air to ebony,
While in high spirits and with fair array
The prince set forward toward the Seven Stages,
And toward Turan. When he approached the First
He chose a veteran among the host,
A watchful man, hight Bishutan, who guarded
The army from the foe, and said to him : —
"Maintain good discipline among the troops.
I am disturbed by what Gurgsar hath said,
And will go on. If evil shall befall me
It must not come upon my followers."

He went and armed ; they girthed his night-hued steed.

The chief, when he had drawn anigh the wolves,
Sat firmly like a mighty elephant.
The wolves beheld his breast and neck, his waist,
His warrior-handgrip, and his iron mace,
And like grim elephants and keen for fight
Made at him from the plain. The hero strung
His bow and, roaring like a rending lion,
Rained arrows down upon those Ahrimans,
And hardily employed the horsemen's sleights.

The steel-tipped shafts disabled both the beasts,
And neither could approach unscathed. With joy
Asfandiyar perceived them growing weak
And sore distressed, unsheathed his watered glaive,
And charged. He hacked their heads and made the dust
Mire with their blood, lit from his noble steed,
Acknowledging his helplessness to God,
And washed the wolves' gore from his arms and person,
Then sought a spot that had not been defiled
Upon the sand and turning toward the sun,
With troubled heart and cheeks besmirched with dust,
Exclaimed : " O righteous Judge ! Thou hast bestowed
Upon me strength, Grace, process. Thou hast laid
These beasts upon the dust and to all good
Art Guide."

When Bishutan came with the host
They saw the hero at the place of prayer.
The warriors were astonied at his exploit,
And all the troops thought : " Shall we call these wolves
Or lusty elephants ? May such a heart
And sword and hand live ever ! Never may
The throne of kingship, majesty, and feast,
And host lack him."

The wary warriors
Approached and pitched the tent-enclosure round him ;
They set a golden board whereat to dine,
Partook of victuals and called out for wine.

As for Gurgsar his portion was chagrin
About those fierce wolves and Asfandiyar,
Who bade the prisoner be brought before him.
They brought him quaking, with his face all tears.
The prince bestowed on him three cups of wine,
And asked : " What wonder shall I next behold
By thine account ? "

He answered thus the chief:—
"O monarch crowned and leonine of heart !
Upon the next stage lions will assail thee,
Such as no crocodile would dare encounter ;
The lusty eagle, valiant though it be,
Will fly not in their path."

Asfandiyar
Laughed with light heart, and said : " O feckless Turkman !

Tomorrow thou shalt see a valiant man
Address the lion with the scimitar."

When night grew dark the monarch gave command,
And they resumed the march. He led the host
Apace amid the gloom, blood in his eyes,
Despite at heart, and when the sun had doffed
Its dusky cloak and donned brocade of gold
He reached the station for the brave — the plain
Where he must fight the lions. He commanded
That Bishutan should come to him, advised him
At large, and said : " I go to fight in person,
Committing this exalted host to thee."

He went his way, and drawing near the lions
Turned all the world to darkness in their hearts.

There were a lion and a lioness,
And bravely both came forth to fight with him,
The lion first. He smote it with his sword ;
Its face grew coral-hued ; 'twas cloven from head
To midriff, which appalled the lioness,
Yet, like her mate, she came on savagely.

The chieftain smote her on the head, which fell
And rolled upon the sand. Her paws and breast
Were tulip-hued with blood. He bathed himself
And, looking to all-holy God alone
As his Protector, said : " O righteous Judge !

Thou hast destroyed these creatures by my hand."

Meanwhile the troops came up, and Bishutan
Surveyed the lions' breasts and limbs while all
Acclaimed Asfandiyar. That valiant leader
Thereafter went to his pavilion where
They served to that pure prince delicious fare.

Asfandiyar then ordered to his presence
The luckless and malevolent Gurgsar,
Gave him three goblets filled with rosy wine,
And, when the wine had cheered that Ahriman,
Addressed him thus and said : " Ill-fated wretch
Tell what thou knowest of tomorrow's sight."

Gurgsar returned reply : " High-minded king
May evil-doers ne'er approach to harm thee.
Gone hast thou into battle like a fire,
And made a shift to over-pass these bales,
But know'st not what will come on thee tomorrow.
Have mercy then upon thy wakeful fortune,
For when tomorrow thou shalt reach the stage
A greater task by far confronteth thee.

There will encounter thee an awesome dragon,
Whose breath doth draw forth from the deep the fish.

A flame of fire proceedeth from its maw ;
Its body is a mountain made of flint.

Now if thou wilt retrace thy steps 'tis well ;
My very soul is pleading in this counsel.

Thou hast not any pity for thyself,
And by that token came this host together."

Asfandiyar replied : " Thou evil one !
I mean to drag thee in thy chains with me
To be a witness that this sharp-clawed dragon
Escapeth not my trenchant scimitar."

At his command some carpenters were fetched,
And therewithal some long and heavy beams.
He had a goodly wooden carriage built
All set about with swords and with a box,
Framed by a clever carpenter, whereon
That seeker of the diadem sat down,
And harnessed to the break two noble steeds
To put it to the proof. He drove awhile
In mail, armed with a falchion of Kabul,
And helmed for fight. Or ever all was ready
For battle with the dragon night grew dark,
As 'twere a negro's face, while Luna showed
Her crown in Aries. Asfandiyar
Gat on his steed Shulak ; his noble host
Marched after him. Next day when it was light,
And night's black flag was furled, the heroic world-lord
Assumed his breastplate and resigned the host
To glorious Bishutan, had break and box,
Wherein he sat, brought forth, attached two steeds
Of noble stock, and sped toward the dragon.

Afar it heard the rumble and beheld
The prancing of the battle-steeds. It came,
Like some black mountain, and thou wouldst have said : —
"The sun and moon are darkened." Its two eyes
Seemed fountains bright with blood, while from its gullet
Fire issued, and like some dark cavern gaped
Its jaws. It bellowed at Asfandiyar,
Who, seeing the monster, drew his breath and turned
To God for help. The horses strove to 'scape
The dragon's mischief, but it sucked them in,
Them and the break, and in his box dismayed
The warrior. In the dragon's gullet stuck
The sword-blades, and blood poured forth like a sea ;
It could not free its gullet, for the swords
Were sheathed within it. Tortured by the points
And chariot the dragon by degrees
Grew weak, and then the gallant warrior,
Arising from the box, clutched his keen glaive
With lion-grip and hacked the dragon's brains
Till fumes of venom rising from the dust
O'erpowered him ; he tumbled mountain-like,
And swooned away. Then Bishutan and all
His mighty host came up in tears and grief
Lest ill should have befallen Asfandiyar,
The troops all wailed, dismounted, and advanced
Afoot while Bishutan came hurrying,
And poured rose-water o'er the hero's head.
Now when the atheling had oped his eyes
He thus addressed the exalted warriors : —
"The venom's fumes o'ercame me, for the dragon
Ne'er struck me.".

Rising from the ground like one
Awakening from a drunken drowse he sought
The water, plunged therein, and bathed, bespeaking
A change of raiment from his treasurer.
Then in the presence of all-holy God
He wallowed in the dust and wept, exclaiming : —
"Who could have slain that dragon if the World-lord
Had not assisted him ? "

His soldiers too
Bent to the earth and praised the righteous Judge ;
But thus to find alive Asfandiyar,
Whom he thought dead, was grievous to Gurgsar.

Asfandiyar pitched by the water-side
His tent-enclosure while the troops camped round him.

He set forth wine, called boon-companions,
Rose to his feet, and drank to Shah Gushtasp,
Commanding too to bring Gurgsar who came
Before him, quaking. Then Asfandiyar
Gave him to drink three cups of royal wine,
Spake laughingly with him about the dragon,
And said : " Thou worthless fellow ! now behold
How with its breath that dragon sucked us in !

When I go forward for another stage
What greater toils and troubles are in store ? "

Gurgsar replied : " O conquering prince ! thou hast
The fruit of thy good star. When thou alightest
Tomorrow at the stage a witch will come
To greet thee. She hath looked on many a host ,
But quailed at none. She turneth waste to sea
At will and maketh sunset at mid day.
Men call her Ghul, O Shah ! Face not her toil
In these thy days of youth. Thou hast o'ercome
The dragon ; now turn back ; thou shouldst not bring
Thy name to dust."

The atheling replied : —
"i Tomorrow, knave ! thou shalt recount my prowess,
For I will break the warlocks' backs and hearts,
So will I maul that witch, and trample down
Their heads by might of Him, the one just God."

When day donned yellow weeds, and this world's
Lustre
Sank in the west, he marched on, packed the loads,
With prayer to God, the Giver of all good,
And led the army onward through the night.

When Sol had raised its golden casque, begemming
The Ram's face, and the champaign was all smiles,
The prince gave up the host to Bishutan,
And took a golden goblet filled with wine,
Called for a costly lute and, though he went
To battle, dight himself as for a feast.
He had in view a wood like Paradise ;
Thou wouldst have said : " The sky sowed tulips there."

The sun saw not within it for the trees,
And streamlets like rose-water flowed around.

He lighted from his steed as seemed him good,
And, having chosen him a fountain's marge
Within the forest, grasped the golden goblet.
Now when his heart was gladdened with the wine
The hero took the lute upon his lap,
And out of all the fulness of his heart
Began to troll this ditty to himself : —
"Oh ! never is it mine to see
Both wine and one to quaff with me,
But mine 'tis ever to behold
The lion and the dragon bold,
And not, from bales' clutch, liberty.

Tis not my lot to look upon
On earth some glorious fay-cheeked one,
Yet now if God will but impart
A winsome breaker of the heart
The longing of mine own is won."

Now when she heard Asfandiyar the witch
Grew like a rose in springtide, saying thus : —
"The mighty Lion cometh to the toils
With robe and lute and goblet filled with wine."

Foul, wrinkled, and malevolent she plied
Her magic arts amid the gloom and grew
As beauteous as a Turkman maid, with cheek
As 'twere brocade of Chin and musk-perfumed,
Of cypress-height, a sun to look upon,
With musky tresses falling to her feet.
Her cheeks like rosaries, she drew anear
Asfandiyar, with roses in her breast.
The atheling, when he beheld her face,
Plied song and wine and harp more ardently,
And said : " O just and only God ! Thou art
Our Guide upon the mountain and the waste.
I wanted even now a fair-faced maid
Of beauteous form as my companion ;
The just Creator hath bestowed her on me,
Oh ! may my heart and pure soul worship Him."

He plied her with musk-scented wine and made
Her face a tulip-red. Now he possessed
A goodly chain of steel which he had kept
Concealed from her. Zarduhsht, who brought it down
From Paradise for Shah Gushtasp, had bound it
About the prince's arm. Asfandiyar
Flung it around her neck ; her strength was gone ;
She took a lion's form. The atheling
Made at her with his scimitar, and said : —
"Thou wilt not injure me though thou hast reared
An iron mountain. Take thy proper shape,
For now the answer that I make to thee .
Is with the scimitar."

Within the chain
There was a fetid hag, calamitous,
With head and hair like snow, and black of face.

With trenchant sword he smote her on the head,
Which with her body came down to the dust.

Sight failed, so loured the sky when that witch died,
While blast and black cloud veiled the sun and moon.

The atheling clomb to a hill and shouted
As 'twere a thunder-clap. Then Bishutan
Came quickly with the host, and said : " Famed prince !

No crocodile or witch, wolf, pard and lion,
Can stand thy blows, and by that token thou
Wilt be exalted still. Oh ! may the world
Desire thy love ! "

The head-piece of Gurgsar
Flamed at these triumphs of Asfandiyar.

The atheling laid face upon the ground
Awhile before the Maker of the world,
Then pitched his camp-enclosure in the wood.

They spread the board in fitting mode and then
Asfandiyar gave orders to the deathsman : —
"Bring hither in his bonds that wretch Gurgsar."

They brought him to the prince who, seeing him,
Gave him three cups of royal wine. Now when
The ruddy wine had gladdened him thus said
Asfandiyar : " Thou wretched Turkman ! mark
Upon the tree the head of that old witch,
Who turneth,' so thou saidst, ' the plain to sea,
And doth exalt her o'er the Pleiades.'
And now what marvel shall I see next stage.

Judged by the standard of this witch ? "

He answered : —
"O Elephant of war in battle-time !
Upon this stage thou hast a harder task :
Be more than ever cautious and alert,
Thou wilt behold a mount, with head in air,
And thereupon a bird imperious,
One like a flying mountain, combative,
And called Simurgh by merchants. With its claws
It beareth off the elephant at sight,
The pard on land, the crocodile from water,
And feeleth not the effort. Weigh it not
With wolf and witch. Upon its mountain-home
It hath two young, their wills to hers affined,
And when it flieth the earth is impotent,
The sun is put to shame. 'Twill profit thee
To turn back for thou canst not strive against
Simurgh and mountain-height."

The hero laughed.

"A wonder ! " he exclaimed. " I will sew up
Its shoulders with mine arrows, cleave its breast
With Indian scimitar, and bring its head
From height to dust."

When bright Sol showed its back,
Which ruffled all the bosom of the west,
The chief of warriors led the army forth,
And pondered that account of the Simurgh.
Thus he and host fared onward all the night.

Whenas the shining sun rose o'er the mountains
The Lamp of time gave freshness to the earth,
Transforming dale and plain. Asfandiyar
Gave up the army to its chief and took
To steed and box and break. He sped along,
Like an imperious blast, and spying in air
A peak stayed in its shadow break and steed,
Absorbed in contemplation. The Simurgh
Marked from the mount the box, the troops behind it,
And all their trumpeting, and, swooping down
Like some dark cloud obscuring sun and moon,
Essayed to seize the chariot with its talons,
As leopard seizeth quarry, but transfixed
Its legs and pinions with the swords, and all
Its might and glory passed away. It beat
Awhile with claws and beak while strength remained,
And then was still. On seeing this its young
Flew off with screams and weeping tears of blood
Down from the eyry, blurring every eye
Beneath their shade. When the Simurgh thus sank
With all its wounds and bathed steeds, box, and break
In blood, Asfandiyar, all armed and shouting,
Emerged and hewed to pieces with his sword
That bird now mastered, once so masterful ;
Then prayed thus to the Maker who had given
Such mastery to him in good and ill,
And said : " O righteous Judge ! Thou hast bestowed
Upon me wisdom, puissance, and prowess,
Hast driven out the sorcerers and been
My Guide to every good."

With that arose
The sound of clarions, and Bishutan
Set forward with the host. None could behold
The desert for the bird, but only saw
Its form and talons bathed in blood which covered
The earth from range to range, and thou wouldst say :
"The plain was lost in plumes ! " Men saw the prince
Blood-boltered, 'twas a sight to fray the moon,
And all the captains, cavaliers of war,
And mighty men applauded him. Anon
Gurgsar heard tidings of that famed chiefs triumph,
Quaked, paled, and fared with tears and heart all anguish.

The world's king had the tent-enclosure pitched,
His joyous warriors round him. Then to dine
They spread brocade, took seat, and called for wine.

Asfandiyar, the illustrious prince, then bade
Gurgsar to come and gave him in succession
Three cups of wine whereat his cheeks became
Like bloom of fenugreek, and then the prince
Addressed him : " Miscreant in mind and body !
Observe the doings of this whirling world !
Evanished are Simurgh and lion, wolf
And dragon sharp of claw and valorous ! "

Gurgsar then lifted up his voice and said : —
"O famous, glorious Asfandiyar !
God is thy Helper, O most fortunate !
The royal Tree hath come to fruit ; howbeit
Tomorrow there confronteth thee a task
That none in war expecteth. Thou wilt take
No thought of mace or bow or sword, and see
No opening for fight, no way of flight,
For snow, a spear's length deep, will come upon thee,
A crisis will confront thee, thou with all
Thy famous army wilt be lost therein,
O glorious Asfandiyar ! No marvel
If thou turn back, nor need my words offend thee ;
Thou wilt be guiltless of this army's blood,
And quit this road for other. Sure am I
That earth will rive beneath a mighty blast,
The trees be levelled. E'en if thou shalt make
At last thy way through to the plain beyond
The next stage will be thirty leagues across,
An arid wilderness of dust and sand,
Which birds and ants and locusts traverse not.

Thou wilt not see a drop of water there ;
Its soil is ever seething with the sun.

A lion cannot pass that sandy waste,
Nor swift-winged vulture fly across the sky.

No herbage groweth in the arid soil,
And that is tutty-like, all shifting sands.

Thus wilt thou fare along for forty leagues ;
Men's souls will fail and horses lose all heart.

Thy host then will approach the Brazen Hold,
Which thou wilt find upon no fruitful spot.

Its soil is in the maw of poverty ;
Its summit holdeth conclave with the sun.

Outside the castle beasts look not for food,
The army will not have a horseman left.

Though there should come a hundred thousand men,
Sword-wielders from Iran and from Turan,
And should beleaguer it a hundred years,
And shower arrows there, it recketh not
How many enemies or few there be ;
They are but as a knocker on the door."

The Iranians heard Gurgsar, were pained, and said : —
"O noble prince ! forbear with all thy might
To compass thine own ruin. If things are
As said Gurgsar we cannot blink that we
Came hither to our death and not to wreck
The Turkmans. Thou hast traversed this rough road,
And 'scaped disaster from wild beasts. Not one
Of all our warriors and heroic Shahs
Can reckon up so great a tale of toils
As thou hast met with in these Seven Stages.
So thank the Maker for it all, and since
Thou wilt return victorious thou mayst go
Light-hearted to the Shah, while if thou marchest
To war elsewhere the whole state of Iran
Will homage thee. So, as Gurgsar saith, hold not
Thy person cheaply and involve not all
A host in slaughter, for this ancient sky
Will play new tricks. Now that we are triumphant
And glad there is no need for thee to fling
Thine own head to the winds."

On hearing this
That young, heroic paladin replied : —
"Why fray me thus and open for yourselves
The door of terror ? Came ye from Iran
To counsel then and not for high renown ?
If this was then the mind of all of you
Why did ye gird yourselves to fare with me
Since at this miserable Turkman's Words
Ye tremble like a tree ? Where then are all
The counsels and the presents of the Shah,
The golden girdles, thrones, and diadems,
Where all your oaths, your bonds, and covenants
By God 'neath favouring stars that now your feet
Should falter thus and one march wreck your plans ?
Turn back then happy and victorious,
But as for me may I seek naught but fight.
The World-lord is my conquering ally,
And fortune's head reclineth on my breast.
Now by my manhood I will none of you
As comrades whether I am slain or slay,
And by my manhood, might of hand, and triumph
Will show the foe what prowess is. Withal
Ye shall not lack for tidings of my Grace
Imperial, famed, and that which I have wrought
In His name, who is Lord of Sun and Saturn,
Upon this stronghold by my might and manhood."

The Iranians looked upon Asfandiyar,
Beheld his eyes all wrath, and went before him
To make excuses: "Let the prince forgive '
Our fault if he see fit. Oh ! may our souls
And bodies be thy ransom, such hath been,
And will remain, our covenant with thee.

We grieve for thee, O prince ! Our toil and strife
Have not reduced us to extremities,
And, while a chief surviveth, none of us
Will shrink from fight."

Their leader, hearing this,
Grieved for his words and praised the Iranians.

"Prowess,"
He said, " will show itself. If we return
Victorious we shall enjoy the fruits
Of our past toil ; it will not be forgotten,
And your own treasuries shall not be void."

The prince took counsel till the world grew cool,
And zephyrs wafted from the mountain-top,
Then trump and clarion sounded from the court-gate,
And all the host set forward, sped like fire,
And called upon the Maker. When the dawn
Rose o'er the mountain-tops, and night drew o'er
Her head her filmy wimple as a veil
Against the blazing sun which pressed behind,
That mighty host — all mace-men clad in armour —
Reached their next stage. It was a glorious day
In spring, a day to gladden heart and world.
The prince bade pitch the tent and tent-enclosure,
Then had the board spread and the wine brought forth.
With that there came a fierce blast from the mountains,
And sore dismayed him. All the world became
Like ravens' plumes, and none knew plain from upland.
From that dark cloud descended showers of snow ;
The earth was filled with snow and raging blast,
And o'er the desert for three days and nights
The fury of the wind was measureless.

The tents and tent-enclosure were soaked through,
An,d not a man could stand or stir for cold.

The air was woof, the snow was like the warp ;
The chief, resourceless, called to Bishutan : —
"This plight of ours is one with misery.

I met the dragon's fumings like a man,
But strength and manhood now avail us not.

Make supplication, all of you, to God !

Call ye upon Him, offer to Him praise,
That He may cause these ills to pass from us,
Else we are naught henceforth."

Then Bishutan
Made prayer to God, who is the Guide to good,
While all the soldiers lifted up their hands,
And offered supplications numberless.
Thereon a gentle breeze arose which bare
The clouds away and heaven became serene,
And when the Iranians had taken heart
They offered thanks to God. They stayed three days
And, when the world's Light shone upon the fourth,
The leader called the officers to him,
And spake to them at large and graciously : —
"Leave baggage here and take but gear of war.
Let every chief that hath a hundred beasts
Load half of them with water and supplies,
The other half with means of serving them.
Leave all the other baggage here, for now
The door of God is opened unto us.
When any man hath lost all hope in God
His portion of success is small indeed ;
But we by help of God shall overcome
That evil-doer and idolater,
While ye shall be the richer for yon hold,
And all have crowns and treasures."

When the sun
Drew o'er its head its yellow veil, and when
The west became like flower of fenugreek,
The warriors, having loaded up the beasts,
Marched with the king of men. Now in the night
A sound of cranes came from the sky above.

Asfandiyar was wrathful at the sound,
And sent this message to Gurgsar : " Thou said'st :—
There is no water for thee on this stage,
Nor rest nor sleep withal. Yet cranes give note
Above ! Why didst thou make us dread a drought ? "

Gurgsar replied : " The baggage-beasts will get
But brackish water here, and thou wilt find
The fountains poisonous, though birds and beasts
Use them."

The chief said : " In Gurgsar have I
A hostile guide."

He bade the host proceed.
Invoking God they hurried on at speed.

When one watch of the darksome night had passed
There rose a clamour from the plain in front.

The young prince, smiling on his charger, rode
Forth from the centre of the army vanward.

When he had ridden past the troops he saw
A deep, unfathomed river. Now a camel,
One of the caravan whose cameleer
Had kept it in the front, had tumbled in.

The chieftain seized and dragged it from the mud,
And that malignant Turkman of Chigil
Quaked. At the bidding of the prince he came —
That fell Gurgsar — both seared of heart and fettered.

"Base villain ! " said the prince, " why hast thou used
This snake-like subtlety ? Didst thou not say : —
Here thou wilt find no water, and the sun
Will burn thee up ? Why didst thou make out water
To be but dust and wouldst have wrecked the host,
Thou miscreant ? "

He said: "Thy host's destruction
Would be as bright to me as sun and moon.
I get from thee but fetters ; what should I
Wish but thy bale and loss ? "

The chieftain laughed,
Stared, was amazed at him, but showed no wrath,
And said : " Gurgsar, thou man of little wit !
When I return victorious from the fight
Thou shalt be captain of the Brazen Hold :
Far be from me to harm thee. All the realm
Is thine if thou wilt give rne honest counsel.
I will not hurt thy children, kith, or kin."

Gurgsar grew hopeful at the words. In wonder
He kissed the ground and asked to be forgiven.

The prince replied : " Thy words are passed, but water
Hath not been turned to land by thy wild talk.
Where is the ford ? Thou must direct us right."

Gurgsar rejoined : " No arrow plumed and pointed,
When ironed thus, can find its way across.
Thou shalt work magic with the mighty stream
If thou wilt but unfetter me."

The hero
Astonished bade to loose him, and Gurgsar,
When he had seized a camel by the halter,
Descended to the stream and at a spot
That was within his depth essayed the passage.
The soldiers followed him in single file.
Inflating at Asfandiyar's behest
Their water-skins forthwith, and binding them
Along the barrels of their beasts of burden,
They all plunged in. The host and baggage reached
Land, and reforming to the left and right
Marched till the Brazen Hold was ten leagues off.

The captain of the host sat down to meat,
The slaves attended him with cups of wine
And, at that mighty Lion's bidding, brought
His tunic, helmet, coat of mail, and sword.

In merry pin the hero gave command,
And when they brought Gurgsar thus said to him : —
"Now that thou hast escaped calamity
Good words and truthful will become thee well.

When I behead Arjasp and make rejoice
The spirit of Luhrasp ; when I behead
Kuhram, who slaughtered Farshidward and troubled
My soldiers' hearts ; behead Nariman,
Who slaughtered eight and thirty of our chiefs
When he prevailed ; when for my grandsire's death
I take revenge in all ways ; when I make
The lions' maws their tombs and gratify
The Iranian warriors' lust ; when I stitch up
Their livers with mine arrows and take captive
Their wives and children, shall I call thee glad
Or grieved thereat ? Tell all thy heart to me."

Heart-straitened, hostile both in speech and soul,
Gurgsar retorted : " How long wilt thou use
Such converse ? Be accursed and justly so.
May every evil star control thy life,
Thy waist be cut asunder with the sword,
Thy gory body flung upon the dust,
The earth thy bed, the grave thy winding-sheet."

Roused by his words, and raging at the oaf,
The prince smote with an Indian sword his head,
And clave him, crown to midriff'. To the river
They flung him presently, and that malignant
Grew food for fishes. Then Asfandiyar
Gat on his steed, girt up his warrior-loins
In wrath, and mounted on a height to view
The hold. He saw a mighty iron rampart
Extending over forty leagues by three,
But saw not any earth or water there.
The wall was broad enough for cavaliers
To gallop round upon it four abreast.
Whenas Asfandiyar beheld that wonder
He heaved a sigh, and said : " I cannot capture
A place like that ! I suffer for my sins.
Alas for all my fighting and my toil !
Repentance is the only fruit thereof."

He looked around upon the waste and saw
Two Turkmans coursing with four hounds. Descending
With spear in hand he unhorsed both the Turkmans,
Brought them upon the heights and questioned them : —
"What is this splendid hold ? How many horsemen
Are there within ? "

They told about Arjasp
At large and of the hold. " Observe," they said,
"How long and wide it is ! One gate is toward
Iran and one toward Chin, while in it are
A hundred thousand swordsmen — all renowned,
Exalted cavaliers — yet all of them
Are slaves before Arjasp and bow the head
To his command and counsel. There is provand
Past all compute with stores of grain in case
Fresh food should fail, while if the monarch closed
The gates for ten years there is food enough,
Great though his host is, while, if he so willed,
A hundred thousand noble cavaliers
Would come to him from Chin and from Machin.
He hath no need of aught from any one,
For he possesseth provand and defenders."

They spake. His Indian sword the chieftain drew,
And put to death the simple-minded two.

Thence he departed to his camp-enclosure.
They cleared the place of strangers, Bishutan
Came to Asfandiyar, and they discussed
The war. That warrior said : " We might assail
This hold in vain for years unless indeed
I take upon me to demean myself,
And try a stratagem against the foe.
Be thou upon the watch here night and day,
And guard the army from the enemy.
A man, I ween, is held in high esteem,
And worthy of a realm and lofty throne,
Who feareth not a host of enemies
In battle, pard on mount or crocodile
In water, but proceedeth now by craft
And now by force, whiles mounting, whiles descending.
I shall approach the hold in merchants' guise,
And none will know me for a paladin.
All craft will I employ and con all lore.
Dispense not thou with watchmen and with scouts,
And never let thy vigilance relax.
If in the day the watch shall spy a smoke,
Or in the night a bonfire like the sun,
The Lustre of the world, then be assured
That 'tis my doing, not my foeman's ruse ;
So order thou the army and march hence,
With coat of mail, with helm, and massive mace ;
Set up my flag without delay and take
Thy station at the centre of the host ;
Charge with the ox-head mace, and bear thee so
That folk will hail thee as Asfandiyar."
He called the head-man of the cameleers,
Caused him to kneel to Bishutan, and said : —
"Bring me a hundred beasts with ruddy hair,
Beasts fit to carry burdens, sound and strong."

Ten of these beasts he loaded up with gold,
Upon five more he put brocade of Chin,
Another five had various kinds of gems,
A golden throne and massive crown. He brought
Forth eighty pairs of chests, whose fastenings
Were all concealed from sight, and therewithal
Made choice of eight score of his mighty men —
Such men as would not make his purpose known —
And, having hidden them within the chests,
Bound on the baggage and set forth. He bade
Some twenty of his nobles skilled in sword-play
To take the conduct of the caravan,
And turned these nobles into cameleers.

With slippered feet, a blanket thrown about him,
And freighted with the jewels, gold, and silver,
The chieftain went in haste toward the hold,
And journeyed in the guise of chaff erers.
He led the way, and when the sound of bells
Rose from the caravan the chiefs inside
The hold grew ware of it, held talk at large,
Were all a-gog, and said : " A merchantman,
Who selleth a dinar's worth for a drachm,
Hath come."

The dealers and the nobles -went ;
To buy, and asked the owner : " What hast thou
Of use within these bales ? "

He made reply : —
"The first thing is for me to see your king,
And show my wares to him. When he commandeth
I will display them to your eyes."

He loaded
One of the camels and himself proceeded-
To see how he could make his market quickly.
He took a goblet filled with royal gems,
And many a piece of gold to give in largess,
Some signets set with ruby and with turquoise,
A steed, and ten bales of brocade of Chin.
He draped the goblet in a piece of silk,
Perfumed throughout with musk and spicery,
He donned a dress of beautiful brocade,
Sought for an introduction to Arjasp,
And at the interview strewed gold, and said : —
"May wisdom mate with kings ! A merchant I :
My sire was Turkman and my mother Persian.
I purchase from Turan, bear to Iran,
And also to the desert of the brave. '
I have with me a caravan of camels,
And deal in stuffs, in clothes, and furniture,
In jewels, crowns, and other valuables.
I left my goods outside the hold, assured
That all are safe with thee. If thou wilt let
The cameleers conduct the caravan
Within the hold thy fortune will protect me
From every ill, and I shall sleep beneath
The shadow of thy love."
Arjasp replied : —
"Be happy and secure from every ill ;
No one shall do thee hurt within Turan,
Nor when thou goest to Machin and Chin."
At his command they gave Asfandiyar
Within the Brazen Hold a spacious dwelling —
A warehouse with a mansion at its back —
And thither brought the baggage from the plain
That he might make the warehouse a bazar,
And keep his goods in safety. They departed,
And led the camels, after loading them.

A shrewd man asked : " What is inside the chests ? "

A cameleer replied : " Our wits, for we
Must carry them themselves."

Asfandiyar
Prepared the warehouse, decking it to look
Like flowers in spring. On all side buyers sprang up,
And there was busy trafficking within it.
The night passed by. At dawn Asfandiyar
Went to the palace to the king, there kissed
The ground before him, praised him much, and said : —
"I and my cameleers have made all haste
To bring the caravan and baggage in,
And there are crowns and bracelets suitable
For an exalted king, so let him bid
His treasurer inspect my stock, for all
The warehouse is in order. I shall be
Content if he will take what seemeth best ;
The king's part is acceptance and the merchant's
Excuse and praise."

Arjasp smiled, showed him favour,
Assigned him a more honourable seat,
And asked : " What is thy name ? "

He said : " Kharrad,
A merchant, traveller, and well to do."

The king replied : " O noble man ! concern not
Thyself with more excuses. Ask no longer
For audience through the chamberlain, but come
Before me when thou wilt."

He then inquired
About the labours of the road, Iran,
The Shah, and host. Asfandiyar replied :—
"My journey hath been five months' pain and toil."

The king said : " In Iran what tidings were there
Both of Asfandiyar and of Gurgsar ? "

He said : " My gracious lord ! folk speak of them,
Each as his fancy is : ' Asfandiyar,'
Said one, ' is in revolt for injuries
Inflicted by his sire.' Another said : —
He is advancing by the Seven Stages
In haste to fight Arjasp ; he will attempt
War with Turan and boldly seek revenge.' "

Arjasp replied with smiles : " No man of age
And knowledge of the world would talk like that !
If vultures e'en approach the Seven Stages
Then call me Ahriman and not a man."

The warrior heard and, having kissed the ground,
Came from the palace of Arjasp rejoicing,
Then opening the noted warehouse-doors
He filled the hold with din of chaffering,
And seemed so occupied that he deceived
The eyes of all. Scarce for dinars took he
The worth of drachms and traded recklessly.

Now when the bright sun set and buying ceased
The sisters of Asfandiyar descended
Lamenting from the palace to the street,
And bearing water-jars upon their shoulders.
They came heart-broken and in deep dejection
Toward Asfandiyar who, when he saw
That monstrous spectacle, concealed from view
His features from his sisters, for his heart
Misdoubted how they might comport themselves,
And so he hid his face behind his sleeve.
They both drew near him and the cheeks of each
Were running with the torrents from their eyes.
The hapless ones began to question him —
That wealthy man of merchandise — and said : —
"May all thy days and nights be prosperous,
The nobles be before thee as thy slaves !
What tidings hast thou from Iran, brave chief !
Both of Gushtasp and of Asfandiyar ?
We twain, the daughters of the king of kings,
Are captives in the hands of wicked men,
And carry water, bare-foot and unveiled.
Our sire hath merry days and peaceful nights,
While we fare naked in the throng. How blest
Is she that hath a shroud to cover her !
The tears that we are shedding are of blood :
Be our physician and relieve our pain.
If thou canst tell us aught of Shah and home
Our bane here will be changed to antidote."
He gave a cry beneath his robe that made
The damsels shake with terror : thus he said : —
"I would that there were no Asfandiyar,
And no one in the world to care for him.
Would there were no Gushtasp, that unjust Shah
May crown and girdle never see his like !
Perceive ye not that I am trading here,
And toiling that I may support myself ? "

When glorious Humai had heard his voice
She recognised him and took heart again,
But, though she recognised his voice, she kept
The knowledge to herself and stood before him
As stricken to the heart as theretofore,
And pouring down the tear-drops on her cheeks.
Her feet and countenance were foul with dust,
Her soul was filled with terror of Arjasp.
The gentle warrior saw that Humai
Had recognised him and he thereupon
Revealed his countenance, his tearful eyes,
His heaving breast, and visage like the sun.
The process of the world astonished him,
He bit his lips in dudgeon and addressed
His sisters thus: "Restrain your tongues awhile,
For hither have I come to war and win
Renown by toil. Can any's sleep be sweet
Whose daughter is a water-bearing slave ?
May heaven father, and earth mother, her :
This lot I praise not I."

The young man left
The warehouse, hurried to Arjasp, and said : —
"O king ! be happy, master of the world,
And live for ever. While upon my journey
I chanced upon a deep sea all unknown
To merchantmen. A whirlwind rose thereon ;
The boatman said : ' I mind me of no like.'
On board we all were wretched and in tears,
Consuming for our persons and our lives.
I swore by God, the one and only Judge : —
If I escape from this with life to shore
Then will I hold a feast in every realm
That hath a monarch to rule over it,
Invite all cordially to be my guests,
And pour my very soul out for their sakes.
I will give more or less to all who ask,
And hold the mendicant exceeding dear.'
Now let the monarch show me special favour,
And honour this request of mine today ;
I have arranged to make his army's chiefs —
Those whom the world's king honoureth — my guests,
And by so doing set my mind at ease."

Arjasp, that witless man, was well content
On hearing this ; his head was filled with folly.
He bade : " Let every one of high degree,
And all the noblest of the army, visit
The dwelling of Kharrad today as guests,
And, if he giveth wine, bemuse yourselves.'

Then said Asfandiyar : " King, hero, sage
The high-priest and the ruler of the world !

My house is small, thy palace is too grand.
The rampart of the hold will do for us ;
Tis early summer. I will light a fire,
And glad the nobles', hearts with wine."

Arjasp
Said : " Go the way that pleaseth thee ; the host
Is king at home."

The paladin rejoicing
Conveyed a mass of firewood to the ramparts.
They slaughtered steeds and sheep, and carried them
Up to the summit of the hold. The wood
Sent up a smother that obscured the sky.
He brought forth wine and, when they had partaken,
Each reveller became a slave thereto.
The chiefs all left bemused ; to steady them,
While in their cups, each clutched a narciss-stem.

The night came and a conflagration blazed,
Whose burning scorched the sky. When from the look-out
The watchman saw the flames by night, and day
Made thick with smoke, he left his post and came
Exultingly, and " mated to the wind,"
Thou wouldst have said. On reaching Bishutan
He told what he had seen of fire and fume.
Said Bishutan : " A valiant warrior
In courage passeth elephants and lions."

He sounded corn-pipe, flute, and brazen cymbal ;
The blare of trumpets went up from his door.
The army from the plain approached the hold,
And bright Sol gloomed with dust. The troops were all
In mail and helm, their livers seethed with blood.

When news spread in the hold : " A host hath come,
And all the world is hidden by dark dust,"
The place rang with the name " Asfandiyar " ;
The tree of bale was bearing colocynth.

Arjasp armed for the fray and rubbed his hands
Together vehemently. " Let Kuhram,
The lion-catcher," thus he bade, " take troops,
Mace, scimitar, and shaft."

He told Turkman :—
"Exalted chief ! speed forth with troops for fight.
Take thou ten thousand of the garrison,
All men of name and battle-loving swordsmen,
Discover who are our antagonists,
And why it is that they attack us thus."

Turkman, the chief, with an interpreter
Went in all haste to that side of the hold.
He saw a host equipped with arms and armour,
Their flag a leopard on a sable ground.

Their leader Bishutan was at the centre,
And all his troops' hands had been bathed in blood.
He held Asfandiyar 's own mace and rode
A noble steed ; he seemed to be none other
Than brave Asfandiyar, and there was none
But hailed him monarch of Iran. He ranked
The troops to right and left till none saw daylight.
Such were the blows of spears with flashing points
That thou hadst said : " Blood raineth from the clouds."
The forces on both sides advanced to battle,
All who were men of war and loved the fray.
Then Nush Azar, the swordsman, galloped forth,
And offered combat to the enemy.
The noble chief Turkman went out to him
To bring his head clown trunkless to the ground.
When Nush Azar beheld him on the field
He clapped his hand upon his sword and drew it ;
He cut Turkman asunder at the waist,
And filled Kuhram's heart with dismay and anguish ;
Then in like fashion fell upon the centre,
Where great and small were all alike to him,
Thus those two armies battled, each with each,
While dust collected in a cloud above them.
In full flight from the host the chief Kuhram
Made for the hold, and said before his sire :—
"O famous monarch, glorious as the sun !
A mighty host hath come forth from Iran ;
Their leader is a doughty warrior,
Who by his stature is Asfandiyar.
None like him hath approached the hold before.
He beareth in his hand the spear which thou
Beheld'st him grasping at fort Gumbadan."
The words distressed the heart of king Arjasp,
Because the old feud had revived again.
He gave the Turkmans orders : " Go ye forth
Upon the plain in mass, surround the foe,
Roar like great lions, let none live, and name not
Iran again."
The soldiers marched away
With wounded hearts and eager for the fray.

Asfandiyar, when night was growing dark,
Arrayed himself again in fighting-gear,
Undid the chest-lids that more air might come
To those inside, and brought kabab and wine
With other provand, battle-mail, and raiment.
When they had eaten he supplied to each
Three cups of wine, which gladdened them, and said : —
"This night is one of bale. Hence we may well
Win fame. Put forth your powers. Quit you like men,
And from calamities make God your refuge."

Then of those warriors adventurous
He formed three troops, one in the stronghold's midst
To combat any that they met, the second
To move upon the gate and take no rest
From strife and bloodshed, while he told the third :—
"I must not find hereafter any trace
Of those that revelled with me yesternight,
So take your daggers and behead them all."

He went with twenty valiant men of war
In haste, committing to them other work,
Went boldly to the palace of Arjasp,
Arrayed in mail and roaring like a lion.
Humai, when these shouts reached her in the palace,
Came rushing with her sister Bih Afrid,
Their cheeks all hid by tears, to meet the chiefs.
Asfandiyar perceived that spring-like pair
As he approached. " Like flying dust-clouds speed,"
Thus spake that lion-man, " to my bazar
With all its wealth, for 'tis upon my way,
And wait till in this fight I lose my head
Or win a crown."

This said, he turned from them,
And vengeful sought the palace of Arjasp.
He entered with an Indian sword in hand,
And slaughtered all the nobles that he saw.
The audience-chamber of that famous court
Was blocked, its floor was like a billowing sea,
So many were the wounded, stunned, and slain.

Arjasp awoke, was troubled at the din,
Arose in fury, donned his coat of mail
And Ruman helm, a, bright glaive in his hand,
The war-cry on his lips and rage at heart.

Asfandiyar rushed from the palace-gate,
And, clutching with his hand a glittering sword,
Cried to Arjasp : " Now will this merchantman
Supply thee with a sword that cost dinars.

I give it as a present from Luhrasp,
And on it is impressed Gushtasp's own seal.

When thou shalt take it thine heart's blood will flow,
And thy next stage will be beneath the dust."

They closed in strife outrageous, foot to foot
With sword and dagger, striking whiles at waist
And whiles at head. Arjasp failed 'neath the blows ;
He was a mass of wounds ; his huge form sank,
And then Asfandiyar beheaded him.

Such is the fashion of life's changeful day !
Thou hast by turns its sweetness and its bane.
Why dote upon this Hostel by the Way?

Grieve not, thou canst not, as thou know'st, remain.

Asfandiyar, freed from Arjasp, commanded
To kindle torches and to fire the palace :
He raised its reek to Saturn. Having charged
The eunuchs with the womenfolk he carried
Them all away — the Lustre of the place —
And set a seal upon the treasury-door,
No one opposing him. He sought the stables,
He mounted there with Indian sword in hand,
And of the Arab horses bade his men
To saddle such as liked him. There went forth
A cavalcade of eight score warriors,
Approven horsemen on the day of battle.
He furnished mounts, moreover, for his sisters,
And marched forth from the court-gate of Arjasp,
But left a few Iranians, men of name,
With noble Sawa in the hold. " When we,"
He said, " have gone outside the walls, have gone,
I and my noble warriors, to the plain,
Secure the gate against the Turkman troops,
And may my good star aid me. When ye think
That I have joined our noble troops outside,
Then let the watchmen from the look-out cry : —
Blessed be the head and crown of Shah Gushtasp.'
And when the Turkman troops come toward the hold,
In flight retreating from the battlefield,
Then ye shall throw the head of king Arjasp
Before them from the tower of the watch."

The valiant hero rushed upon the plain,
And slaughtered all the Turkmans that he found.
As he approached the troops of Bishutan
They saw and praised him in amaze that he,
Who was so young, should show such bravery.

Whenas the moon had left her silvern throne,
And when three watches of the night had passed,
The watchman shouted lustily, proclaiming : —
"Gushtasp, the Shah, hath gained the victory,
And may Asfandiyar be ever young.

May heaven, moon, and fortune be his helpers,
Who hath in vengeance for Luhrasp beheaded
Arjasp and, adding lustre to our Grace
And customs, cast him down from throne to dust, :
And made the name and fortune of Gushtasp
Resplendent."

Hearing such a cry the Turkmans
All listened while Kuhram grew dark of heart
By reason of that watchman, was astonied, —
And spake thus to Nariman : " How clear
This cry is in the night ! What, sayest thou,
Can be the cause ? Let us consult, for who
Would dare to bawl thus by the monarch's couch
And after dark ? What tricks might such an one
Play in the day of battle and thus bring
Our nobles into straits ! So send and have
His head cut off, whoever he may be.
If one of our own household is our foe,
And he is backing up our enemies
With evil words and evil presages,
Then will we brain him with an evil mace."

Now when the cry went on persistently
Kuhram was stricken to the heart with anger
Against the watch whose utterance, spread abroad
In such a fashion, filled the nobles' ears.
The soldiers said : " The shouts increase, beyond
A watchman's ! Let us drive the foemen forth
And after take this host."

Kuhram was straitened
At heart about that watchman, writhed, and frowned.
He told the troops : " These men have filled my heart
With dread about the king. We must return
At once, past question. What may happen after
I know not."

So that night they left the field,
Whereat Asfandiyar, with ox-head mace
And mailed, pursued them. When Kuhram had reached
The portal of the hold, and saw the Iranians
Pursuing, " What is left us," he exclaimed,
"Unless to fight with brave Asfandiyar ?
Unsheathe and send your message by the sword."

But fortune frowned and those famed chiefs fared ill.
The two hosts raged and smote each other's heads
Till morning came, and then the chiefs of Chin
Had had their day. Ascending to the ramparts
The warriors of Asfandiyar inside
The hold flung down therefrom the severed head
Of brave Arjasp — the king that slew Luhrasp.
The Turkmans fought no longer, from their host
Arose a cry, and all the troops unhelmed.
The two sons of Arjasp wept and consumed
As in fierce fire, while all the army knew
What they must weep for on that evil day.
They said : " Alas ! thou gallant heart, thou prince,
Thou chief of lions, hero, warrior !
May he who slew thee perish on the field
Of vengeance, may his day be gone for ever !
To whom shall we intrust our families ?
Whose standard shall we have upon our right ?
Now that the dais is bereaved of king
Let crown and host not be."
The soldiers longed
For death, and from Khallukh up to Taraz
Was universal anguish. In the end
They all of them advanced to certain death,
Advanced in armour with their helms and casques.
Rose from the battlefield the sound of strife,
The air above was like a dusky cloud.
The slain lay everywhere in heaps, the plain
Was thick with trunkless heads and limbs ; elsewhere
Lay hands and maces, while a wave of blood
Rose at the portal of the hold, and who
Could tell left hand from right ? Asfandiyar
Advanced ; Kuhram, the captain of the host,
Opposed- him ; and those warriors grappled so
That thou hadst said : " They are one ! " The peerless chief
Took by the waist Kuhram, whirled him aloft —
A wondrous feat — and dashed him to the ground
While all the Iranian army roared applause.
They bound his hands and bore him off in shame,
And all his splendid armament dispersed.

Then maces fell like hail, the earth was full
Of Turkmans, and the air was charged with death ;
Heads showered beneath the swords like leaves from trees ;
One side lost all, the other gained a throne ;
Blood dashed in billows on the battlefield ;
Here heads were trampled and there heads were crowned.

The world is fain to keep its secret still,
And no man really wotteth of its will.

Those that had noble chargers fled the field,
Those in the Dragon's gullet strove in vain.
Few of Turan or Chin were left and none
Of name. All flung away their mail and helms,
And all had blood-drops in their eyes. They made
All haste to come before Asfandiyar
With eyes like early spring. The general
Shed blood unmercifully, and the host
Approved the want of mercy that he showed ;
He gave no quarter to a warrior,
And had the wounded slaughtered past account ;
No noted warrior of Chin remained,
No prince was left surviving in Turan.
They moved the camp-enclosure and the tents,
And left the whole field to the slain. He reared
Before the palace-gate two lofty gibbets
Whence twisted lassos fell. From one he hung
Nariman head-downward, from the other
His brother living, sent out troops on all sides,
And when they lighted on some chieftain's seat
His orders were that they should burn it down :
They wrecked thus all the cities of Turan ;
No man of name was left in any place,
And not a horseman in Turan or Chin.

Thou wouldst have said : " There rose a murky cloud,
And poured down fire upon the battlefield."
The atheling, with matters in this trim,
Brought wine and gathered all the chiefs to him.

Asfandiyar called for a scribe and told
The story of his stratagem and fight.
The illustrious scribe sat on the throne and bade
His Turkman slave to bring him silk of Chin
And pen which having inked, he lauded first
The Master of the Moon, the Lord of Saturn,
Of Venus and the Sun, of elephant,
Of ant, of victory, and Grace divine,
The Lord of the imperial diadem,
The Lord of right direction and good gifts,
The Lord of place and counsel : " May the name
Of Shah Gushtasp for ever live through Him,
Luhrasp have all his will in Paradise !
I reached Turan and by a road which I
Shall never praise. If I narrated all
Youth's locks would age with grief, but when the Shah
Is so disposed I will expound the plan
Of my campaign ; his sight will gladden me,
And I shall revel in these longsome toils.
The Brazen Hold, by means of the devices
That I employed to compass my revenge,
Is void both of Arjasp and of Kuhram,
Is void of all save wailing, grief, and mourning.
I have spared none ; the herbs upon the plain
No longer bear ; the lion and wolf devour
The brains, and lusty pards the hearts, of men.
Oh ! may the crown of Shah Gushtasp illume
The sky, and Shah Luhrasp make earth a rosebed."

They set the signet of Asfandiyar
Upon the letter and made choice of riders,
Whom that young ruler sent forth to ran
On beasts that went apace with lips afoam.
He tarried till he should receive the answer,
Repressing all a self-willed man's impatience,
And in a little while the answer came,
A key whereby his fetters were unlocked.
It opened thus : " Established may he be
That seeketh good. The rightly minded sage
Will compass in adversity God's praise."
It further said : " I pray the one just God
That He may guide thee ever. I have planted
In Paradise a Tree that is more bearing
Than any set by Faridun. Its fruit
Is gold and rubies and its leafage beauty
And Grace. Its summit chafeth on high heaven ;
Its roots withal are precious. May this Tree
Abide for ever, flourishing of stem,
And glad of heart — the favourite of fortune !

As for thy words : ' By craft and subtlety
I sought for vengeance for my grandsire's death,
And then for thy description of the bloodshed,
And of thine exploits in the fight — the persons
Of kings are precious though renown may come
From strife and travail. Guard thy person well
And wisdom too, for wisdom nourisheth
The mind with knowledge. Thirdly thou hast said
Of all these thousands I have spared not one.'

Be thy heart ever warm and merciful,
Be temperate in soul and soft in voice.

Let it not be thy business to shed blood,
Or fight with chieftains, saving for revenge,
Because the bloodshed hath surpassed all bounds
In this thy wreak for eight and thirty brothers.

But in that, though thy grandsire in old age
Had banished craft and ill will from his heart,
Since they shed his blood thou hast shed theirs too,
And closed with them like lions when they fight,
For that be ever fortunate and happy,
And do the dictates of thy soul and wisdom.

I long to look upon thy face and mind
So doughty and so shrewd. On reading this
Bid thy troops mount, and come back with thy chiefs
To court."

The speedy dromedaries went,
And all Iran re-echoed with the news.
Now when they had returned the cameleers
Came to the exalted chief who had no peers.

Asfandiyar, when he had read the letter,
Distributed dinars and made an end,
Reserving but the treasure of Arjasp,
While lavishing the treasures of his kinsmen :
The troops were all enriched beyond compute.
On plain and mountain there were steeds and camels,
All brand-marked by the monarch of Turan.
Ten thousand head of these Asfandiyar
Collected from the plain and mountain-top,
And bade his men to load of them a thousand
With gold out of the royal treasury,
Three hundred with brocade and thrones and casques,
Five score with musk, with ambergris, and jewels,
Five score with crowns and splendid diadems,
One thousand with brocaded tapestries,
Three hundred with the native stuffs of Chin,
With hides both raw and tanned and painted silks
He furnished litters with brocaded curtains,
And carried off from Chin two troops of girls,
With cheeks like spring and tall as cypress-trees,
With reed-like waists and pheasant-like in gait.
A hundred ladies, beautiful as idols,
Went with the sisters of Asfandiyar.
Five ladies of the kindred of Arjasp —
His mother, his two sisters, and two daughters—
Toiled on in misery and wretchedness,
In pain and grief and stricken to the heart,
And, finally, he fired the Brazen Hold;
The tongue of flame ascended to high heaven.

He razed the castle-ramparts to the ground,
And sent the dust up from the land of Chin.

He gave his three young sons a force each, saying :—
"Take various roads, and fortune be with you.

If any shall insult you on your way
Cut off the head of such remorselessly.

March ye in haste toward the desert-track,
And raise your spear-points to the shining sun.

I shall myself go by the Seven Stages
To hunt the lion. Make what speed ye may,
But I shall take my time, shall occupy
The road's end, and expect you in a month."

Asfandiyar went with his famous troops
To hunt along the Seven Stages' route.
As soon as he approached the frozen stage
He saw his baggage lying all about.
The air was sweet, the earth was beautiful :
Thou wouldst have said : " 'Tis spring in summertime ! "
He gathered all the goods that he had left,
And marvelled that he was so fortunate.
As he was drawing nearer to Iran —
The land of Lions and of warriors —
He whiled away two weeks with hawks and cheetahs,
Distressed with travail and the longsome road,
And kept a watch for his three noble sons,
Whose long delay in coming angered him,
But when the armies and the sons arrived
He smiled on all, and said : " My journey done,
I was anangered at your tarrying."

The three sons kissed the ground and made reply :—
"Who hath a father in the world like thee ? "

He went thence toward Iran and bare off all
The treasures to his valiant countrymen.
The folk decked all the cities of the land,
And called for wine, for harp, and for musicians.
They draped the walls with hangings and showered musk
And ambergris from overhead. The air
Resounded with the voice of minstrelsy, .

And earth was full of horsemen armed with spears.
Gushtasp made merry when he heard the news,
And pledged the tidings in a cup of wine.
At his command all that were with the host,
And all the great men of the provinces,
Assembled at the palace-gate with drums.
The chiefs went out to meet Asfandiyar.
His sire, moreover, with illustrious sages,
The great, the wise, and the archmages, went
With beaming countenance toward his son,
And all the city talked of little else.
Now when the prince beheld his father's face
His heart grew merry and his spirit bright.
He urged his black steed forward from the ranks,
That steed which set a-blaze the flames of war,
And, having lighted down, embraced his sire,
Who, wondering at his exploits, praised him much,
Thus saying : " Ne'er may time and earth lack thee."

Thence went they to the palace of the Shah
In popularity with all the world.
Gushtasp prepared the palace and the throne ;
His great good fortune made his heart rejoice.
They spread the banquet in the halls. The Shah
Said to the chamberlain : " Invite the lords."

The boon-companions came from every side
To that imperial Shah. The royal wine
In crystal goblets gave to those that quaffed
A lustre like the sun's ; upon their cheeks
The flush of wine was burning, and the hearts
Of evil wishers died and were consumed.
The son drank modestly his father's health,
The father in like manner pledged his son,
And asked him how he passed the Seven Stages.
Asfandiyar replied : " Nay, ask me not
Such questions in the banquet-hall. Tomorrow
Will I relate the story in thy presence,
Wise king of men ! Tomorrow thou wilt hear
In soberness and own that God hath triumphed."

Each one among the guests that grew bemused
Went homeward clinging to a moon-faced page.

Told is the story of the Stages Seven,
Peruse it in His name — the Lord of Heaven,
Lord of the sun and of the shining moon,
Him who alone hath power for bale or boon.
If this tale please our conquering monarch's eye
I set my saddle on the circling sky.

The time to quaff delicious wine is now,
For musky scents breathe from the mountain-brow,
The air resoundeth and earth travaileth,
And blest is he whose heart drink gladdeneth,
He that hath wine and money, bread and sweets,
And can behead a sheep to make him meats.
These have not I. Who hath them, well is he.
Oh ! pity one that is in poverty !

The garth is strewn with rose-leaves and each hill
With tulip and with hyacinth, and still
The nightingale complaineth in the close,
And at its plaining burgeoneth the rose.
At night it never ceaseth to complain ;
The rose is overcharged by wind and rain.
I see the cloud's sighs and its tears, but why
The narciss should be sad I know not I.
The nightingale bemocketh rose and cloud ;
Perched on the rose it carolleth aloud.
I wist not which of them it holdeth dear,
But from the cloud a lion's roar I hear.
The cloud's robe sundereth and from its form
Fire flasheth, and the tear-drops of the storm
Bear witness for themselves upon the ground
Before the imperious sun. Who shall expound
The descant of the nightingale, disclose
The purport of its quest beneath the rose ?
But mark it at the dawning of the day,
If thou wouldst list to its heroic lay,
Bewailing dead Asfandiyar, for he
Surviveth only in that threnody.
A-nights the cloud with Rustam's voice doth flaw
The heart of elephant and lion's claw.