Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/81

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THE SHÁH NÁMEH
47
The warriors of renown assembled straightWith ponderous clubs; each like a lion fierce,Girded his loins impatient. In their frontThe sacred banner of the blacksmith waved;Bright scimitars were brandished in the air;Beneath them pranced their steeds, all armed for fight,And so incased in iron were the chiefsFrom top to toe, their eyes were only seen.
When Kárun drew his hundred thousand troops.Upon the field, the battle-word was given,And Minúchihr was, like the cypress tall,Engaged along the centre of the hosts;And like the moon he shone, amid the groupsOf congregated clouds, or as the sunGlittering upon the mountain of Alberz.The squadrons in advance Kabád commanded,Garshasp the left, and Sám upon the right.
The shedders of a brother’s blood had nowBrought their innumerous legions to the strife,And formed them in magnificent array:The picket guards were almost thrown together,When Túr sprung forward, and with sharp reproach,And haughty gesture, thus addressed Kabád:“Ask this new king, this Minúchihr, since HeavenTo Irij gave a daughter, who on himBestowed the mail, the battle-axe, and sword?”To this insulting speech, Kabád replied:“The message shall be given, and I will bringThe answer, too. Ye know what ye have done;Have ye not murdered him who, trusting, soughtProtection from ye? All mankind for thisMust curse your memory till the day of doom;If savage monsters were to fly your presence,It would not be surprising. Those who dieIn this most righteous cause will go to Heaven,With all their sins forgotten!” Then KabádWent to the king, and told the speech of Túr:A smile played o’er the cheek of MinúchihrAs thus he spoke: “A boaster he must be,Or a vain fool, for when engaged in battle,Vigour of arm and the enduring soul,Will best be proved. I ask but for revenge—Vengeance for Irij slain. Meanwhile, return;We shall not fight to-day.”            He too retired,And in his tent upon the sandy plain,Ordered the festive board to be prepared,And wine and music whiled the hours away.
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