Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/129

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THE SHÁH NÁMEH
95

Third Stage.—At midnight a monstrous dragon-serpent issued from the forest; it was eighty yards in length, and so fierce, that neither elephant, nor demon, nor lion, ever ventured to pass by its lair. It came forth, and seeing the champion asleep, and a horse near him, the latter was the first object of attack. But Rakush retired towards his master, and neighed and beat the ground so furiously, that Rustem soon awoke; looking around on every side, however, he saw nothing—the dragon had vanished, and he went to sleep again. Again the dragon burst out of the thick darkness, and again Rakush was at the pillow of his master, who rose up at the alarm: but anxiously trying to penetrate the dreary gloom, he saw nothing—all was a blank; and annoyed at this apparently vexatious conduct of his horse, he spoke sharply:—

“Why thus again disturb my rest,When sleep had softly soothed my breast?I told thee, if thou chanced to seeAnother dangerous enemy,To sound the alarm; but not to keepDepriving me of needful sleep;When nothing meets the eye nor ear,Nothing to cause a moment’s fear!But if again my rest is broke,On thee shall fall the fatal stroke,And I myself will drag this loadOf ponderous arms along the road;Yes, I will go, a lonely man,Without thee, to Mázinderán.”

Rustem again went to sleep, and Rakush was resolved this time not to move a step from his side, for his heart was grieved and afflicted by the harsh words that had been addressed to him. The dragon again appeared, and the faithful horse almost tore up the earth with his heels, to rouse his sleeping master. Rustem again awoke, and sprang to his feet, and was again angry; but fortunately at that moment sufficient light was providentially given for him to see the prodigious cause of alarm.

Then swift he drew his sword, and closed in strifeWith that huge monster.—Dreadful was the shockAnd perilous to Rustem; but when RakushPerceived the contest doubtful, furiously,With his keen teeth, he bit and tore awayThe dragon’s scaly hide; whilst quick as thought
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