When Gudarz rose, and seized his courser's rein, A crowd of heroes followed in his train.

To Rustem, now (respectful homage paid), The royal prayer he anxious thus conveyed.

"The King, repentant, seeks thy aid again, Grieved to the heart that he has given thee pain; But though his anger was unjust and strong, Thy country still is guiltless of the wrong, And, therefore, why abandoned thus by thee?

Thy help the King himself implores through me."

Rustem rejoined: "Unworthy the pretence, And scorn and insult all my recompense?

Must I be galled by his capricious mood?

I, who have still his firmest champion stood?

But all is past, to heaven alone resigned, No human cares shall more disturb my mind!"

Then Gudarz thus (consummate art inspired His prudent tongue, with all that zeal required); "When Rustem dreads Sohrab's resistless power, Well may inferiors fly the trying hour!

The dire suspicion now pervades us all, Thus, unavenged, shall beauteous Persia fall!

Yet, generous still, avert the lasting shame, O, still preserve thy country's glorious fame!

Or wilt thou, deaf to all our fears excite, Forsake thy friends, and shun the pending fight?

And worse, O grief! in thy declining days, Forfeit the honours of thy country's praise?"

This artful censure set his soul on fire, But patriot firmness calm'd his burning ire; And thus he said--"Inured to war's alarms, Did ever Rustem shun the din of arms?

Though frowns from Kaus I disdain to bear, My threatened country claims a warrior's care."

He ceased, and prudent joined the circling throng, And in the public good forgot the private wrong.

From far the King the generous Champion viewed, And rising, mildly thus his speech pursued:-- "Since various tempers govern all mankind, Me, nature fashioned of a froward mind;[25]

And what the heavens spontaneously bestow, Sown by their bounty must for ever grow.

The fit of wrath which burst within me, soon Shrunk up my heart as thin as the new moon;[26]

Else had I deemed thee still my army's boast, Source of my regal power, beloved the most, Unequalled. Every day, remembering thee, I drain the wine cup, thou art all to me; I wished thee to perform that lofty part, Claimed by thy valour, sanctioned by my heart; Hence thy delay my better thoughts supprest, And boisterous pa.s.sions revelled in my breast; But when I saw thee from my Court retire In wrath, repentance quenched my burning ire.

O, let me now my keen contrition prove, Again enjoy thy fellowship and love: And while to thee my grat.i.tude is known, Still be the pride and glory of my throne."

Rustem, thus answering said:--"Thou art the King, Source of command, pure honour's sacred spring; And here I stand to follow thy behest, Obedient ever--be thy will expressed, And services required--Old age shall see My loins still bound in fealty to thee."

To this the King:--"Rejoice we then to-day, And on the morrow marshal our array."

The monarch quick commands the feast of joy, And social cares his buoyant mind employ, Within a bower, beside a crystal spring,[27]

Where opening flowers, refreshing odours fling, Cheerful he sits, and forms the banquet scene, In regal splendour on the crowded green; And as around he greets his valiant bands, Showers golden presents from his bounteous hands;[28]

Voluptuous damsels trill the sportive lay, Whose sparkling glances beam celestial day; Fill'd with delight the heroes closer join, And quaff till midnight cups of generous wine.

Soon as the Sun had pierced the veil of night, And o'er the prospect shed his earliest light, Kaus, impatient, bids the clarions sound, The sprightly notes from hills and rocks rebound; His treasure gates are opened:--and to all A largess given; obedient to the call, His subjects gathering crowd the mountain's brow, And following thousands shade the vales below; With shields, in armor, numerous legions bend; And troops of horse the threatening lines extend.

Beneath the tread of heroes fierce and strong, By war's tumultuous fury borne along, The firm earth shook: the dust, in eddies driven, Whirled high in air, obscured the face of heaven; Nor earth, nor sky appeared--all, seeming lost, And swallowed up by that wide-spreading host.

The steely armour glitter'd o'er the fields,[29]

And lightnings flash'd from gold emblazoned shields; Thou wouldst have said, the clouds had burst in showers, Of sparkling amber o'er the martial powers.[30]

Thus, close embodied, they pursued their way, And reached the Barrier-fort in terrible array.

The legions of Turan, with dread surprise, Saw o'er the plain successive myriads rise; And showed them to Sohrab; he, mounting high The fort, surveyed them with a fearless eye; To Human, who, with withering terror pale, Had marked their progress through the distant vale, He pointed out the sight, and ardent said:-- "Dispel these woe-fraught broodings from thy head, I wage the war, Afrasiyab! for thee, And make this desert seem a rolling sea."

Thus, while amazement every bosom quell'd, Sohrab, unmoved, the coming storm beheld, And boldly gazing on the camp around, Raised high the cup with wine nectareous crowned: O'er him no dreams of woe insidious stole, No thought but joy engaged his ardent soul.

The Persian legions had restrained their course, Tents and pavilions, countless foot and horse, Clothed all the s.p.a.cious plain, and gleaming threw Terrific splendours on the gazer's view.

But when the Sun had faded in the west, And night a.s.sumed her ebon-coloured vest, The mighty Chief approached the sacred throne, And generous thus made danger all his own: "The rules of war demand a previous task, To watch this dreadful foe I boldly ask; With wary step the wondrous youth to view, And mark the heroes who his path pursue."

The King a.s.sents: "The task is justly thine, Favourite of heaven, inspired by power divine."

In Turkish habit, secretly arrayed, The lurking Champion wandered through the shade And, cautious, standing near the palace gate, Saw how the chiefs were ranged in princely state.

What time Sohrab his thoughts to battle turned, And for the first proud fruits of conquest burned, His mother called a warrior to his aid, And Zinda-ruzm his sister's call obeyed.

To him Tahmineh gave her only joy, And bade him shield the bold adventurous boy: "But, in the dreadful strife, should danger rise, Present my child before his father's eyes!

By him protected, war may rage in vain, Though he may never bless these arms again!"

This guardian prince sat on the stripling's right, Viewing the imperial banquet with delight.

Human and Barman, near the hero placed, In joyous pomp the full a.s.sembly graced; A hundred valiant Chiefs begirt the throne, And, all elate, were chaunting his renown.

Closely concealed, the gay and splendid scene, Rustem contemplates with astonished mien; When Zind, retiring, marks the listener nigh, Watching the festal train with curious eye; And well he knew, amongst his Tartar host, Such towering stature not a Chief could boast-- "What spy is here, close shrouded by the night?

Art thou afraid to face the beams of light?"

But scarcely from his lips these words had past, Ere, fell'd to earth, he groaning breathed his last; Unseen he perish'd, fate decreed the blow, To add fresh keenness to a parent's woe.

Meantime Sohrab, perceiving the delay In Zind's return, looked round him with dismay; The seat still vacant--but the bitter truth, Full soon was known to the distracted youth; Full soon he found that Zinda-ruzm was gone, His day of feasting and of glory done; Speedful towards the fatal spot he ran, Where slept in b.l.o.o.d.y vest the slaughtered man.

The lighted torches now displayed the dead, Stiff on the ground his graceful limbs were spread; Sad sight to him who knew his guardian care, Now doom'd a kinsman's early loss to bear; Anguish and rage devour his breast by turns, He vows revenge, then o'er the warrior mourns: And thus exclaims to each afflicted Chief:-- "No time, to-night, my friends, for useless grief; The ravenous wolf has watched his helpless prey, Sprung o'er the fold, and borne its flower away; But if the heavens my lifted arm befriend, Upon the guilty shall my wrath descend-- Unsheathed, this sword shall dire revenge pursue, And Persian blood the thirsty land bedew."

Frowning he paused, and check'd the spreading woe, Resumed the feast, and bid the wine-cup flow!

The valiant Giw was sentinel that night, And marking dimly by the dubious light, A warrior form approach, he claps his hands, With naked sword and lifted shield he stands, To front the foe; but Rustem now appears, And Giw the secret tale astonished hears; From thence the Champion on the Monarch waits.

The power and splendour of Sohrab relates: "Circled by Chiefs this glorious youth was seen, Of lofty stature and majestic mien; No Tartar region gave the hero birth: Some happier portion of the s.p.a.cious earth; Tall, as the graceful cypress he appears; Like Sam, the brave, his warrior-front he rears!"

Then having told how, while the banquet shone, Unhappy Zind had sunk, without a groan; He forms his conquering bands in close array, And, cheer'd by wine, awaits the coming day.

When now the Sun his golden buckler raised, And genial light through heaven diffusive blazed, Sohrab in mail his nervous limbs attired, For dreadful wrath his soul to vengeance fired; With anxious haste he bent the yielding cord, Ring within ring, more fateful than the sword; Around his brows a regal helm he bound; His dappled steed impatient stampt the ground.

Thus armed, ascending where the eye could trace The hostile force, and mark each leader's place, He called Hujir, the captive Chief addressed, And anxious thus, his soul's desire expressed: "A prisoner thou, if freedom's voice can charm, And dungeon darkness fill thee with alarm, That freedom merit, shun severest woe, And truly answer what I ask to know!

If rigid truth thy ready speech attend, Honours and wealth shall dignify my friend."

"Obedient to thy wish," Hujir replied, "Truth thou shalt hear, whatever chance betide; For what on earth to praise has better claim?

Falsehood but leads to sorrow and to shame!"

"Then say, what heroes lead the adverse host, Where they command, what dignities they boast; Say, where does Kaus hold his kingly state, Where Tus, and Gudarz, on his bidding wait; Giw, Gust'hem, and Bahram--all known to thee, And where is mighty Rustem, where is he?

Look round with care, their names and power display Or instant death shall end thy vital day."

"Where yonder splendid tapestries extend, And o'er pavilions bright infolding bend, A throne triumphal shines with sapphire rays, And golden suns upon the banners blaze; Full in the centre of the hosts--and round The tent a hundred elephants are bound, As if, in pomp, he mocked the power of fate; There royal Kaus holds his kingly state.

"In yonder tent which numerous guards protect, Where front and rear ill.u.s.trious Chiefs collect; Where hors.e.m.e.n wheeling seem prepared for fight, Their golden armour glittering in the light; Tus lifts his banners, deck'd with royal pride, Feared by the brave, the soldier's friend and guide.[31]

"That crimson tent where spear-men frowning stand, And steel-clad veterans form a threatening band, Holds mighty Gudarz, famed for martial fire, Of eighty valiant sons the valiant sire; Yet strong in arms, he shuns inglorious ease, His lion-banners floating in the breeze.

"But mark, that green pavilion; girt around By Persian n.o.bles, speaks the Chief renowned; Fierce on the standard, worked with curious art, A hideous dragon writhing seems to start; Throned in his tent the warrior's form is seen, Towering above the a.s.sembled host between!

A generous horse before him snorts and neighs, The trembling earth the echoing sound conveys.

Like him no Champion ever met my eyes, No horse like that for majesty and size; What Chief ill.u.s.trious bears a port so high?

Mark, how his standard flickers through the sky!"

Thus ardent spoke Sohrab. Hujir dismayed, Paused ere reply the dangerous truth betrayed.

Trembling for Rustem's life the captive groaned; Basely his country's glorious boast disowned, And said the Chief from distant China came-- Sohrab abrupt demands the hero's name; The name unknown, grief wrings his aching heart, And yearning anguish speeds her venom'd dart; To him his mother gave the tokens true, He sees them all, and all but mock his view.

When gloomy fate descends in evil hour, Can human wisdom bribe her favouring power?

Yet, gathering hope, again with restless mien He marks the Chiefs who crowd the warlike scene.

"Where numerous heroes, horse and foot, appear, And brazen trumpets thrill the listening ear, Behold the proud pavilion of the brave!

With wolves emboss'd the silken banners wave.

The throne's bright gems with radiant l.u.s.tre glow, Slaves rank'd around with duteous homage bow.

What mighty Chieftain rules his cohorts there?

His name and lineage, free from guile, declare!"

"Giw, son of Gudarz, long a glorious name, Whose prowess even transcends his father's fame."[32]

"Mark yonder tent of pure and dazzling white, Whose rich brocade reflects a quivering light; An ebon seat surmounts the ivory throne; There frowns in state a warrior of renown.

The crowding slaves his awful nod obey, And silver moons around his banners play; What Chief, or Prince, has grasped the hostile sword?

Friburz, the son of Persia's mighty lord."