But when the army reached that awful fort, The ground seemed all in flames on every side; One universal fire raged round and round, And the hot wind was like the scorching breath Which issues from red furnaces, where spirits Infernal dwell. Full many a warrior brave, And many a soldier perished in that heat, Consumed to ashes. Nearer to the fort Advancing, they beheld it in mid-air, But not a living thing--nor gate, nor door; Yet they remained one week, hoping to find Some hidden inlet, suffering cruel loss Hour after hour--but none could they descry.

At length, despairing, they returned, worn out, Scorched, and half-dead with watching, care, and toil.

And thus Friburz and Tus, discomfited And sad, appeared before the Persian king.

Then was it Khosrau's turn, and him Kaus Despatched with Giw, and Gudarz, and the troops Appointed for that enterprise, and blessed them.

When the young prince approached the destined scene Of his exploit, he saw the blazing fort Reddening the sky and earth, and well he knew This was the work of sorcery, the spell Of demon-spirits. In a heavenly dream, He had been taught how to destroy the charms Of fell magicians, and defy their power, Though by the devil, the devil himself, sustained, He wrote the name of G.o.d, and piously Bound it upon his javelin's point, and pressed Fearlessly forward, showing it on high; And Giw displayed it on the magic walls Of that proud fortress--breathing forth a prayer Craving the aid of the Almighty arm; When suddenly the red fires died away, And all the world was darkness, Khosrau's troops Following the orders of their prince, then shot Thick clouds of arrows from ten thousand bows, In the direction of the enchanted tower.

The arrows fell like rain, and quickly slew A host of demons--presently bright light Dispelled the gloom, and as the mist rolled off In sulphury circles, the surviving fiends Were seen in rapid flight; the fortress, too, Distinctly shone, and its prodigious gate, Through which the conquerors pa.s.sed. Great wealth they found, And having sacked the place, Khosrau erected A lofty temple, to commemorate His name and victory there, then back returned Triumphantly to gladden king Kaus, Whose heart expanded at the joyous news.

The result of Kai-khosrau's expedition against the enchanted castle, compared with that of Friburz, was sufficient of itself to establish the former in the king's estimation, and accordingly it was announced to the princes and n.o.bles and warriors of the land, that he should succeed to the throne, and be crowned on a fortunate day. A short time afterwards the coronation took place with great pomp and splendor; and Khosrau conducted himself towards men of every rank and station with such perfect kindness and benevolence, that he gained the affections of all and never failed daily to pay a visit to his grandfather Kaus, and to familiarize himself with the affairs of the kingdom which he was destined to govern.

Justice he spread with equal hand, Rooting oppression from the land; And every desert, wood, and wild, With early cultivation smiled; And every plain, with verdure clad, And every Persian heart was glad.

KAI-KHOSRaU

The tidings of Khosrau's accession to the throne were received at Sistan by Zal and Rustem with heartfelt pleasure, and they forthwith hastened to court with rich presents, to pay him their homage, and congratulate him on the occasion of his elevation. The heroes were met on the road with suitable honors, and Khosrau embracing Rustem affectionately, lost no time in asking for his a.s.sistance in taking vengeance for the death of Saiawush. The request was no sooner made than granted, and the champion having delivered his presents, then proceeded with his father Zal to wait upon Kaus, who prepared a royal banquet, and entertained Khosrau and them in the most sumptuous manner. It was there agreed to march a large army against Afrasiyab; and all the warriors zealously came forward with their best services, except Zal, who on account of his age requested to remain tranquilly in his own province. Khosrau said to Kaus:

"The throne can yield no happiness for me, Nor can I sleep the sleep of health and joy Till I have been revenged on that destroyer.

The tyrant of Turan; to please the spirit Of my poor butchered father."

Kaus, on delivering over to him the imperial army, made him acquainted with the character and merits of every individual of importance. He appointed Friburz, and a hundred warriors, who were the prince's friends and relatives, to situations of trust and command, and Tus was among them. Gudarz and his seventy-eight sons and grandsons were placed on the right, and Gustahem, the brother of Tus, with an immense levy on the left. There were also close to Khosrau's person, in the centre of the hosts, thirty-three warriors of the race of Poshang, and a separate guard under Byzun.

In their progress Khosrau said to Friburz and Tus, "Ferud, who is my brother, has built a strong fort in Bokhara, called Kullab, which stands on the way to the enemy, and there he resides with his mother, Gulshaher. Let him not be molested, for he is also the son of Saiawush, but pa.s.s on one side of his possessions." Friburz did pa.s.s on one side as requested; but Tus, not liking to proceed by the way of the desert, and preferring a cultivated and pleasant country, went directly on through the places which led to the very fort in question. When Ferud was informed of the approach of Tus with an armed force, he naturally concluded that he was coming to fight him, and consequently determined to oppose his progress. Tus, however, sent Riu, his son-in-law, to explain to Ferud that he had no quarrel or business with him, and only wished to pa.s.s peaceably through his province; but Ferud thought this was merely an idle pretext, and proceeding to hostilities, Riu was killed by him in the conflict that ensued. Tus, upon being informed of this result, drew up his army, and besieged the fort into which Ferud had precipitately retired. When Ferud, however, found that Tus himself was in the field, he sallied forth from his fastness, and a.s.sailed him with his bow and arrows. One of the darts struck and killed the horse of Tus, and tumbled his rider to the ground. Upon this occurrence Giw rushed forward in the hopes of capturing the prince; but it so happened that he was unhorsed in the same way. Byzun, the son of Giw, seeing with great indignation this signal overthrow, wished to be revenged on the victor; and though his father endeavored to restrain him, nothing could control his wrath. He sprung speedily forward to fulfil his menace, but by the bravery and expertness of Ferud, his horse was killed, and he too was thrown headlong from his saddle. Unsubdued, however, he rose upon his feet, and invited his antagonist to single combat. In consequence of this challenge, they fought a short time with spears till Ferud deemed it advisable to retire into his fort, from the lofty walls of which he cast down so many stones, that Byzun was desperately wounded, and compelled to leave the place. When he informed Tus of the misfortune which had befallen him, that warrior vowed that on the following day not a man should remain alive in the fort. The mother of Ferud, who was the daughter of Wisah, had at this period a dream which informed her that the fortress had taken fire, and that the whole of the inhabitants had been consumed to death. This dream she communicated to Ferud, who said in reply:--

"Mother! I have no dread of death; What is there in this vital breath?

My sire was wounded, and he died; And fate may lay me by his side!

Was ever man immortal?--never!

We cannot, mother, live for ever.

Mine be the task in life to claim In war a bright and spotless name.

What boots it to be pale with fear, And dread each grief that waits us here?

Protected by the power divine, Our lot is written--why repine?"

Tus, according to his threat, attacked the fort, and burst open the gates. Ferud defended himself with great valor against Byzun; and whilst they were engaged in deadly battle, Bahram, the hero, sprang up from his ambuscade, and striking furiously upon the head of Ferud, killed that unfortunate youth on the spot. The mother, the beautiful Gulshaher, seeing what had befallen her son, rushed out of the fort in a state of frenzy, and flying to him, clasped him in her arms in an agony of grief.

Unable to survive his loss, she plunged a dagger in her own breast, and died at his feet. The Persians then burst open the gates, and plundered the city. Bahram, when he saw what had been done, reproached Tus with being the cause of this melancholy tragedy, and asked him what account he would give of his conduct to Kai-khosrau. Tus was extremely concerned, and remaining three days at that place, erected a lofty monument to the memory of the unfortunate youth, and scented it with musk and camphor. He then pushed forward his army to attack another fort. That fort gave way, the commandant being killed in the attack; and he then hastened on toward Afrasiyab, who had ordered Nizad with thirty thousand hors.e.m.e.n to meet him. Byzun distinguished himself in the contest which followed, but would have fallen into the hands of the enemy if he had not been rescued by his men, and conveyed from the field of battle. Afrasiyab pushed forward another force of forty thousand hors.e.m.e.n under Piran-wisah, who suffered considerable loss in an engagement with Giw; and in consequence fell back for the purpose of retrieving himself by a shubkhun, or night attack. The resolution proved to be a good one; for when night came on, the Persians were found off their guard, many of them being intoxicated, and the havoc and destruction committed among them by the Tartars was dreadful. The survivors were in a miserable state of despondency, but it was not till morning dawned that Tus beheld the full extent of his defeat and the ruin that surrounded him. When Kai-khosrau heard of this heavy reverse, he wrote to Friburz, saying, "I warned Tus not to proceed by the way of Kullab, because my brother and his mother dwelt in that place, and their residence ought to have been kept sacred. He has not only despised my orders, but he has cruelly occasioned the untimely death of both. Let him be bound, and sent to me a prisoner, and do thou a.s.sume the command of the army." Friburz accordingly placed Tus in confinement, and sent him to Khosrau, who received and treated him with reproaches and wrath, and consigned him to a dungeon. He then wrote to Piran, reproaching him for resorting to a night attack so unworthy of a brave man, and challenging him to resume the battle with him. Piran said that he would meet him after the lapse of a month, and at the expiration of that period both armies were opposed to each other. The contest commenced with arrows, then swords, and then with javelins; and Giw and Byzun were the foremost in bearing down the warriors of the enemy, who suffered so severely that they turned aside to attack Friburz, against whom they hoped to be more successful. The a.s.sault which they made was overwhelming, and vast numbers were slain, so that Friburz, finding himself driven to extremity, was obliged to shelter himself and his remaining troops on the skirts of a mountain. In the meantime Gudarz and Giw determined to keep their ground or perish, and sent Byzun to Friburz to desire him to join them, or if that was impracticable, to save the imperial banner by despatching it to their care. To this message, Friburz replied: "The traitors are triumphant over me on every side, and I cannot go, nor will I give up the imperial banner, but tell Gudarz to come to my aid." Upon receiving this answer, Byzun struck the standard-bearer dead, and s.n.a.t.c.hing up the Derafsh Gavahni, conveyed it to Gudarz, who, raising it on high, directed his troops against the enemy; and so impetuous was the charge, that the carnage on both sides was prodigious. Only eight of the sons of Gudarz remained alive, seventy of his kindred having been slain on that day, and many of the family of Kaus were also killed. Nor did the relations of Afrasiyab and Piran suffer in a less degree, nine hundred of them, warriors and cavaliers, were sent out of the world; yet victory remained with the Turanians.

When Afrasiyab was informed of the result of this battle, he sent presents and honorary dresses to his officers, saying, "We must not be contented with this triumph; you have yet to obscure the martial glory of Rustem and Khosrau." Piran replied, "No doubt that object will be accomplished with equal facility."

After the defeat of the Persian army, Friburz retired under the cover of night, and at length arrived at the court of Khosrau, who was afflicted with the deepest sorrow, both on account of his loss in battle and the death of his brother Ferud. Rustem was now as usual applied to for the purpose of consoling the king, and extricating the empire from its present misfortunes. Khosrau was induced to liberate Tus from his confinement, and requested Rustem to head the army against Piran, but Tus offered his services, and the champion observed, "He is fully competent to oppose the arms of Piran; but if Afrasiyab takes the field, I will myself instantly follow to the war." Khosrau accordingly deputed Tus and Gudarz with a large army, and the two hostile powers were soon placed in opposition to each other. It is said that they were engaged seven days and nights, and that on the eighth Human came forward, and challenged several warriors to fight singly, all of whom he successively slew. He then called upon Tus, but Gudarz not permitting him to accept the challenge, sent Giw in his stead. The combatants met; and after being wounded and exhausted by their struggles for mastery, each returned to his own post. The armies again engaged with arrows, and again the carnage was great, but the battle remained undecided.

Piran had now recourse to supernatural agency, and sent Baru, a renowned magician, perfect in his art, upon the neighboring mountains, to involve them in darkness, and produce by his conjuration tempestuous showers of snow and hail. He ordered him to direct all their intense severity against the enemy, and to avoid giving any annoyance to the Turanian army. Accordingly when Human and Piran-wisah made their attack, they had the co-operation of the elements, and the consequence was a desperate overthrow of the Persian army.

So dreadful was the carnage, that the plain Was crimsoned with the blood of warriors slain.

In this extremity, Tus and Gudarz piously put up a prayer to G.o.d, earnestly soliciting protection from the horrors with which they were surrounded.

O Thou! the clement, the compa.s.sionate, We are thy servants, succor our distress, And save us from the sorcery that now Yields triumph to the foe. In thee alone We place our trust; graciously hear our prayer!

Scarcely had this pet.i.tion been uttered, when a mysterious person appeared to Reham from the invisible world, and pointed to the mountain from whence the tempest descended. Reham immediately attended to the sign, and galloped forward to the mountain, where he discovered the magician upon its summit, deeply engaged in incantations and witchcraft.

Forthwith he drew his sword and cut off this wizard's arms. Suddenly a whirlwind arose, which dissipated the utter darkness that prevailed; and then nothing remained of the preternatural gloom, not a particle of the hail or snow was to be seen: Reham, however, brought him down from the mountain and after presenting him before Tus, put an end to his wicked existence. The armies were now on a more equal footing: they beheld more clearly the ravages that had been committed by each, and each had great need of rest. They accordingly retired till the following day, and then again opposed each other with renewed vigor and animosity. But fortune would not smile on the exertions of the Persian hosts, they being obliged to fall back upon the mountain Hamawun, and in the fortress situated there Tus deposited all his sick and wounded, continuing himself in advance to ensure their protection. Piran seeing this, ordered his troops to besiege the place where Tus had posted himself.

This was objected to by Human, but Piran was resolved upon the measure, and had several conflicts with the enemy without obtaining any advantage over them. In the mountain-fortress there happened to be wells of water and abundance of grain and provisions, so that the Persians were in no danger of being reduced by starvation. Khosrau, however, being informed of their situation, sent Rustem, accompanied by Friburz, to their a.s.sistance, and they were both welcomed, and received with rejoicing, and cordial satisfaction. The fortress gates were thrown open, and Rustem was presently seen seated upon a throne in the public hall, deliberating on the state of affairs, surrounded by the most distinguished leaders of the army.

In the meanwhile Piran-wisah had written to Afrasiyab, informing him that he had reduced the Persian army to great distress, had forced them to take refuge in a mountain fort, and requested a further reinforcement to complete the victory, and make them all prisoners. Afrasiyab in consequence despatched three ill.u.s.trious confederates from different regions. There was Shinkul of Sugsar, the Khakan of Chin, whose crown was the starry heavens, and Kamus of Kushan, a hero of high renown and wondrous in every deed.

For when he frowned, the air grew freezing cold; And when he smiled, the genial spring showered down Roses and hyacinths, and all was brightness!

Piran went first to pay a visit to Kamus, to whom he, almost trembling, described the amazing strength and courage of Rustem: but Kamus was too powerful to express alarm; on the contrary, he said:

"Is praise like this to Rustem due?

And what, if all thou say'st be true?

Are his large limbs of iron made?

Will they resist my trenchant blade?

His head may now his shoulders grace, But will it long retain its place?

Let me but meet him in the fight, And thou shalt see Kamus's might!"

Piran's spirits rose at this bold speech, and encouraged by its effects, he repaired to the Khakan of Chin, with whom he settled the necessary arrangements for commencing battle on the following day. Early in the morning the different armies under Kamus, the Khakan, and Piran-wisah, were drawn out, and Rustem was also prepared with the troops under his command for the impending conflict. He saw that the force arrayed against him was prodigious, and most tremendous in aspect; and offering a prayer to the Creator, he plunged into the battle.

'Twas at mid-day the strife began, With steed to steed and man to man; The clouds of dust which rolled on high, Threw darkness o'er the earth and sky.

Each soldier on the other rushed, And every blade with crimson blushed; And valiant hearts were trod upon, Like sand beneath the horse's feet, And when the warrior's life was gone, His mail became his winding sheet.

The first leader who advanced conspicuously from among the Tartar army was Ushkabus, against whom Reham boldly opposed himself; but after a short conflict, in which he had some difficulty in defending his life from the a.s.saults of his antagonist, he thought it prudent to retire.

When Ushkabus saw this he turned round with the intention of rejoining his own troops; but Rustem having witnessed the triumph over his friend, sallied forth on foot, taking up his bow, and placing a few arrows in his girdle, and asked him whither he was going.

Astonished, Ushkabus cried, "Who art thou?

What kindred hast thou to lament thy fall?"

Rustem replied:--"Why madly seek to know That which can never yield thee benefit?

My name is death to thee, thy hour is come!"

"Indeed! and thou on foot, mid mounted warriors, To talk so bravely!"--"Yes," the champion said; "And hast thou never heard of men on foot, Who conquered hors.e.m.e.n? I am sent by Tus, To take for him the horse of Ushkabus."

"What! and unarmed?" inquired the Tartar chief; "No!" cried the champion, "Mark, my bow and arrow!

Mark, too, with what effect they may be used!"

So saying, Rustem drew the string, and straight The arrow flew, and faithful to its aim, Struck dead the foeman's horse. This done, he laughed, But Ushkabus was wroth, and showered upon His bold antagonist his quivered store-- Then Rustem raised his bow, with eager eye Choosing a dart, and placed it on the string, A thong of elk-skin; to his ear he drew The feathered notch, and when the point had touched The other hand, the bended horn recoiled, And tw.a.n.g the arrow sped, piercing the breast Of Ushkabus, who fell a lifeless corse, As if he never had been born! Erect, And firm, the champion stood upon the plain, Towering like mount Alberz, immovable, The gaze and wonder of the adverse host!

When Rustem, still unknown to the Turanian forces, returned to his own army, the Tartars carried away the body of Ushkabus, and took it to the Khakan of Chin, who ordered the arrow to be drawn out before him; and when he and Kamus saw how deeply it had penetrated, and that the feathered end was wet with blood, they were amazed at the immense power which had driven it from the bow; they had never witnessed or heard of anything so astonishing. The fight was, in consequence, suspended till the following day. The Khakan of Chin then inquired who was disposed or ready to be revenged on the enemy for the death of Ushkabus, when Kamus advanced, and, soliciting permission, urged forward his horse to the middle of the plain. He then called aloud for Rustem, but a Kabul hero, named Alwund, a pupil of Rustem's, asked his master's permission to oppose the challenger, which being granted, he rushed headlong to the combat. Luckless however were his efforts, for he was soon overthrown and slain, and then Rustem appeared in arms before the conqueror, who hearing his voice, cried: "Why this arrogance and clamor! I am not like Ushkabus, a trembler in thy presence." Rustem replied:

"When the lion sees his prey, Sees the elk-deer cross his way, Roars he not? The very ground Trembles at the dreadful sound.

And art thou from terror free, When opposed in fight to me?"

Kamus now examined him with a stern eye, and was satisfied that he had to contend against a powerful warrior: he therefore with the utmost alacrity threw his kamund, which Rustem avoided, but it fell over the head of his horse Rakush. Anxious to extricate himself from this dilemma, Rustem dexterously caught hold of one end of the kamund, whilst Kamus dragged and strained at the other; and so much strength was applied that the line broke in the middle, and Kamus in consequence tumbled backwards to the ground. The boaster had almost succeeded in remounting his horse, when he was secured round the neck by Rustem's own kamund, and conveyed a prisoner to the Persian army, where he was put to death!

The fate of Kamus produced a deep sensation among the Turanians, and Piran-wisah, partaking of the general alarm, and thinking it impossible to resist the power of Rustem, proposed to retire from the contest, but the Khakan of Chin was of a different opinion, and offered himself to remedy the evil which threatened them all. Moreover the warrior, Chingush, volunteered to fight with Rustem; and having obtained the Khakan's permission, he took the field, and boldly challenged the champion. Rustem received the foe with a smiling countenance, and the struggle began with arrows. After a smart attack on both sides, Chingush thought it prudent to fly from the overwhelming force of Rustem, who, however, steadily pursued him, and adroitly seizing the horse by the tail, hurled him from his saddle.

He grasped the charger's flowing tail, And all were struck with terror pale, To see a sight so strange; the foe, Dismounted by one desperate blow; The captive asked for life in vain, His recreant blood bedewed the plain.

His head was from his shoulders wrung, His body to the vultures flung.

Rustem, after this exploit, invited some other hero to single combat; but at the moment not one replied to his challenge. At last Human came forward, not however to fight, but to remonstrate, and make an effort to put an end to the war which threatened total destruction to his country.

"Why such bitter enmity? why such a whirlwind of resentment?" said he; "to this I ascribe the calamities under which we suffer; but is there no way by which this sanguinary career of vengeance can be checked or moderated?" Rustem, in answer, enumerated the aggressions and the crimes of Afrasiyab, and especially dwelt on the atrocious murder of Saiawush, which he declared could never be pardoned. Human wished to know his name; but Rustem refused to tell him, and requested Piran-wisah might be sent to him, to whom he would communicate his thoughts, and the secrets of his heart freely. Human accordingly returned, and informed Piran of the champion's wishes.

"This must be Rustem, stronger than the pard, The lion, or the Egyptian crocodile, Or fell Iblis; dreams never painted hero Half so tremendous on the battle plain."