How Rustam slew Zhanda Razm

At sunset, when night's skirt trailed o'er the day,Came Rustam girded and intent on warBefore the Sháh, and said: "Let me go forthWithout my belt and helmet. I will markWho this new worldlord is, who are the chiefs,And who is in command."

Káús replied:—"The very work for thee, and mayst thou prosperBoth soul and body. God watch o'er thee ever,And o'er thy heart's desire and loyal purpose."

Assuming Turkman garb he reached by stealthThe hold and heard the Turkmans' shouts and clamour.The gallant hero made his way inside,As 'twere a lion after antelopes,And saw and marked the chieftains one and all,Joy mantling in his visage like a rose.

Now when Suhráb was going to the warsHis mother summoned to her Zhanda Razm,For once he had seen Rustam at a feast.His father was the king of Samangán,His nephew glorious Suhráb. She said:—"O ardent warrior! be this youth's comradeThat when the hero cometh to ÍránAnd meeteth with the monarch of the brave,And when the hosts encounter in the fight,Thou mayest show my darling son his father."

Now as Suhráb appeared to Rustam's eyesEnthroned amid the feast with Zhanda RazmOn one hand, with the valiant cavalierHúmán and that illustrious Lion BármánUpon the other, thou hadst said that heFilled all the throne and seemed a verdant cypress.His arms were like a camel's thighs, his breastWas like a lion's and his visage ruddy.A hundred valiant warriors sat round,All young, illustrious, and lion-like,While fifty slaves with bracelets on their armsBefore the heart-delighting lofty throneInvoked by turns a blessing on his mien,His stature, sword, and signet-ring. As RustamCrouched at a distance watching, Zhanda RazmWent out for some occasion that he had,Perceived a warrior like a lofty cypress,To whom there was no peer among the troops,And seizing on him roughly questioned himWith sharpness, saying: "Who art thou? Speak out!Come to the light and let me see thy face."

A sudden buffet from the fist of RustamFell on his neck; he yielded up the ghost.There Zhanda Razm lay—a corpse; for himThe day of fighting and of feast was over.

Suhráb continued long in expectation,But Zhanda Razm the Lion came not back.At length the youth began to ask for himBecause his room was empty. Some went out,Beheld him vilely overthrown, at peaceFrom banquet and from battle, and returnedWith clamour, and with sorrow in their hearts.They told Suhráb that Zhanda Razm was dead.The youth sprang up and went to him like smoke,Accompanied by servants, lights, and minstrels,Beheld him lying dead and stood astound,Then called his gallant warriors and said:—"Ye men of wisdom and ye valiant chiefs!Ye must not rest to-night but whet your spears,Because a wolf hath come among the flockAnd found the dogs and shepherds off their guard.Among the mighty he hath seized one ramAnd cast him thus in scorn, but with God's help,When my bay trampleth earth, I will unstrapMy lasso in revenge for Zhanda Razm."

He took his seat again and called the nobles."Though Zhanda Razm's place beside my throneIs void," he said, "I have not done with feasting."

As Rustam was returning to the Sháh,Gív, who was outpost-guard, saw him approach,Drew, roared out like a maddened elephant,And with his shield above his head showed fight;But Rustam knowing who the outpost wasLaughed and returned the shout, whereat the guard,Who knew his voice, advanced afoot and said:—"Where hast thou been afoot and in the dark,Thou battle-loving chieftain?"

Rustam toldHis enterprise and what a lion-manHe had destroyed, while Gív applauded, saying:—"May charger, mace, and saddle ne'er lack thee."

Then Rustam going to the Sháh informed himAbout the Turkmans and their banqueting,About Suhráb, his stature and his mien,His arms and shoulders, chest and feet, and said:—"This is no Turkman born; he is as tallAnd upright as a cypress, with no peerIn either land; in short 'tis Sám himself"

Then of the blow on Zhanda Razm's neckHe said: "He came not back to feast or fight."

They talked and after called for harp and wine,But all the night the troops were ranked in line.