The old man said to him:

"If this be Rustem, then the time has come, Dreaded so long--for what but fire and sword, Can now await us? Every town laid waste, Soldier and peasant, husband, wife, and child, Sharing the miseries of a ravaged land!"

With tears in his eyes and a heavy heart, Piran repaired to the Khakan, who, after some discussion, permitted him in these terms to go and confer with Rustem.

"Depart then speedful on thy emba.s.sy, And if he seeks for peace, adjust the terms, And presents to be sent us. If he talks Of war and vengeance, and is clothed in mail, No sign of peace, why we must trust in Heaven For strength to crush his hopes of victory.

He is not formed of iron, nor of bra.s.s, But flesh and blood, with human nerves and hair, He does not in the battle tread the clouds, Nor can he vanish, like the demon race-- Then why this sorrow, why these marks of grief?

He is not stronger than an elephant; Not he, but I will show him what it is To fight or gambol with an elephant!

Besides, for every man his army boasts, We have three hundred--wherefore then be sad?"

Notwithstanding these expressions of confidence, Piran's heart was full of alarm and terror; but he hastened to the Persian camp, and made himself known to the champion of the host, who frankly said, after he had heard Piran's name, "I am Rustem of Zabul, armed as thou seest for battle!" Upon which Piran respectfully dismounted, and paid the usual homage to his ill.u.s.trious rank and distinction. Rustem said to him, "I bring thee the blessings of Kai-khosrau and Ferangis, his mother, who nightly see thy face in their dreams."

"Blessings from me, upon that royal youth!"

Exclaimed the good old man. "Blessings on her, The daughter of Afrasiyab, his mother, Who saved my life--and blessings upon thee, Thou matchless hero! Thou hast come for vengeance, In the dear name of gallant Saiawush, Of Saiawush, the husband of my child, (The beautiful Gulshaher), of him who loved me As I had been his father. His brave son, Ferud, was slaughtered, and his mother too, And Khosrau was his brother, now the king, By whom he fell, or if not by his sword, Whose was the guilty hand? Has punishment Been meted to the offender? I protected, In mine own house, the princess Ferangis; And when her son was born, Kai-khosrau, still I, at the risk of my existence, kept them Safe from the fury of Afrasiyab, Who would have sacrificed the child, or both!

And night and day I watched them, till the hour When they escaped and crossed the boundary-stream.

Enough of this! Now let us speak of peace, Since the confederates in this mighty war Are guiltless of the blood of Saiawush!"

Rustem, in answer to Piran, observed, that in negotiating the terms of pacification, several important points were to be considered, and several indispensable matters to be attended to. No peace could be made unless the princ.i.p.al actors in the b.l.o.o.d.y tragedy of Saiawush's death were first given up, particularly Gersiwaz; vast sums of money were also required to be presented to the king of kings; and, moreover, Rustem said he would disdain making peace at all, but that it enabled Piran to do service to Kai-khosrau. Piran saw the difficulty of acceding to these demands, but he speedily laid them before the Khakan, who consulted his confederates on the subject, and after due consideration, their pride and shame resisted the overtures, which they thought ignominious.

Shinkul, a king of Ind, was a violent opposer of the terms, and declared against peace on any such conditions. Several other warriors expressed their readiness to contend against Rustem, and they flattered themselves that by a rapid succession of attacks, one after the other, they would easily overpower him. The Khakan was pleased with this conceit and permitted Shinkul to begin the struggle. Accordingly he entered the plain, and summoned Rustem to renew the fight. The champion came and struck him with a spear, which, penetrating his breast, threw him off his horse to the ground. The dagger was already raised to finish his career, but he sprang on his feet, and quickly ran away to tell his misfortune to the Khakan of Chin.

And thus he cried, in look forlorn, "This foe is not of mortal born; A furious elephant in fight, A very mountain to the sight; No warrior of the human race, That ever wielded spear or mace, Alone this dragon could withstand, Or live beneath his conquering brand!"

The Khakan reminded him how different were his feelings and sentiments in the morning, and having asked him what he now proposed to do, he said that without a considerable force it would be useless to return to the field; five thousand men were therefore a.s.signed to him, and with them he proceeded to engage the champion. Rustem had also been joined by his valiant companions, and a general battle ensued. The heavens were obscured by the dust which ascended from the tramp of the horses, and the plain was crimsoned with the blood of the slain. In the midst of the contest, Sawa, a relation of Kamus, burst forward and sought to be revenged on Rustem for the fate of his friend. The champion raised his battle-axe, and giving Rakush the rein, with one blow of his mace removed him to the other world. No sooner had he killed this a.s.sailant than he was attacked by another of the kindred of Kamus, named Kahar, whom he also slew, and thus humbled the pride of the Kushanians. Elated with his success, and having further displayed his valor among the enemy's troops, he vowed that he would now encounter the Khakan himself, and despoil him of all his pomp and treasure. For this purpose he selected a thousand hors.e.m.e.n, and thus supported, approached the kulub-gah, or headquarters of the monarch of Chin. The clamor of the cavalry, and the clash of spears and swords, resounded afar. The air became as dark as the visage of an Ethiopian, and the field was covered with several heads, broken armor, and the bodies of the slain. Amidst the conflict Rustem called aloud to the Khakan:--

"Surrender to my arms those elephants, That ivory throne, that crown, and chain of gold; Fit trophies for Kai-khosrau, Persia's king; For what hast thou to do with diadem And sovereign power! My noose shall soon secure thee, And I will send thee living to his presence; Since, looking on my valour and my strength, Life is enough to grant thee. If thou wilt not Resign thy crown and throne--thy doom is sealed."

The Khakan, filled with indignation at these haughty words, cautioned Rustem to parry off his own danger, and then commanded his troops to a.s.sail the enemy with a shower of arrows. The attack was so tremendous and terrifying, even beyond the picturings of a dream, that Gudarz was alarmed for the safety of Rustem, and sent Reham and Giw to his aid.

Rustem said to Reham:--"I fear that my horse Rakush is becoming weary of exertion, in which case what shall I do in this conflict with the enemy?

I must attack on foot the Khakan of Chin, though he has an army here as countless as legions of ants or locusts; but if Heaven continues my friend, I shall stretch many of them in the dust, and take many prisoners. The captives I will send to Khosrau, and all the spoils of Chin." Saying this he pushed forward, roaring like a tiger, towards the Khakan, and exclaiming with a stern voice:--"The Turks are allied to the devil, and the wicked are always unprosperous. Thou hast not yet fallen in with Rustem, or thy brain would have been bewildered. He is a never-dying dragon, always seeking the strongest in battle. But thou hast not yet had enough of even me!" He then drew his kamund from the saddle-strap, and praying to G.o.d to grant him victory over his foes, urged on Rakush, and wherever he threw the noose, his aim was successful. Great was the slaughter, and the Khakan, seeing from the back of his white elephant the extent of his loss, and beginning to be apprehensive about his own safety, ordered one of his warriors, well acquainted with the language of Iran, to solicit from the enemy a cessation of hostilities.

"Say whence this wrath on us, this keen revenge?

We never injured Saiawush; the kings Of Ind and Chin are guiltless of his blood; Then why this wrath on strangers? Spells and charms, Used by Afrasiyab--the cause of all-- Have brought us. .h.i.ther to contend against The champion Rustem; and since peace is better Than war and bloodshed, let us part in peace."

The messenger having delivered his message, Rustem replied:--

"My words are few. Let him give up his crown, His golden collar, throne, and elephants; These are the terms I grant. He came for plunder, And now he asks for peace. Tell him again, Till all his treasure and his crown are mine, His throne and elephants, he seeks in vain For peace with Rustem, or the Persian king!"

When the Khakan was informed of these reiterated conditions, he burst out into bitter reproaches and abuse; and with so loud a voice, that the wind conveyed them distinctly to Rustem's ear. The champion immediately prepared for the attack; and approaching the enemy, flung his kamund, by which he at once dragged the Khakan from his white elephant. The hands of the captured monarch were straightway bound behind his back. Degraded and helpless he stood, and a single stroke deprived him of his crown, and throne, and life.

Such are, since time began, the ways of Heaven; Such the decrees of fate! Sometimes raised up, And sometimes hunted down by enemies, Men, struggling, pa.s.s through this precarious life, Exalted now to sovereign power; and now Steeped in the gulf of poverty and sorrow.

To one is given the affluence of Karun; Another dies in want. How little know we What form our future fortune may a.s.sume!

The world is all deceit, deception all!

Piran-wisah beheld the disasters of the day, he saw the Khakan of Chin delivered over to Tus, his death, and the banners of the confederates overthrown; and sorrowing said:--"This day is the day of flight, not of victory to us! This is no time for son to protect father, nor father son--we must fly!" In the meanwhile Rustem, animated by feelings of a very different kind, gave a banquet to his warrior friends, in celebration of the triumph.

When the intelligence of the overthrow and death of Kamus and the Khakan of Chin, and the dispersion of their armies, reached Afrasiyab, he was overwhelmed with distress and consternation, and expressed his determination to be revenged on the conquerors. Not an Iranian, he said, should remain alive; and the doors of his treasury were thrown open to equip and reward the new army, which was to consist of a hundred thousand men.

Rustem having communicated to Kai-khosrau, through Friburz, the account of his success, received the most satisfactory marks of his sovereign's applause; but still anxious to promote the glory of his country, he engaged in new exploits. He went against Kafur, the king of the city of Bidad, a cannibal, who feasted on human flesh, especially on the young women of his country, and those of the greatest beauty, being the richest morsels, were first destroyed. He soon overpowered and slew the monster, and having given his body to be devoured by dogs, plundered and razed his castle to the ground. After this he invaded and ravaged the province of Khoten, one of the dependencies of Turan, and recently the possession of Saiawush, which was a new affliction to Afrasiyab, who, alarmed about his own empire, dispatched a trusty person secretly to Rustem's camp, to obtain private intelligence of his hostile movements.

The answer of the spy added considerably to his distress, and in the dilemma he consulted with Piran-wisah, that he might have the benefit of the old man's experience and wisdom. Piran told him that he had failed to make an impression upon the Persians, even a.s.sisted by Kamus the Kashanian, and the Khakan of Chin; both had been slain in battle, and therefore it would be in vain to attempt further offensive measures without the most powerful aid. There was, he added, a neighboring king, named Puladwund, who alone seemed equal to contend with Rustem. He was of immense stature, and of prodigious strength, and might by the favor of heaven, be able to subdue him. Afrasiyab was pleased with this information, and immediately invited Puladwund, by letter, to a.s.sist him in exterminating the champion of Persia. Puladwund was proud of the honor conferred upon him, and readily complied; hastening the preparation of his own army to cooperate with that of Afrasiyab. He presently joined him, and the whole of the combined forces rapidly marched against the enemy. The first warrior he encountered was Giw, whom he caught with his kamund. Reham and Byzun seeing this, instantly rushed forward to extricate their brother and champion in arms; but they too were also secured in the same manner! In the struggle, however, the kamunds gave way, and then Puladwund drew his sword, and by several strokes wounded them all. The father, Gudarz, apprised of this disaster, which had unfortunately happened to three of his sons, applied to Rustem for succor. The champion, the refuge, the protector of all, was, as usual, ready to repel the enemy. He forthwith advanced, liberated his friends, and dreadful was the conflict which followed. The club was used with great dexterity on both sides; but at length Puladwund struck his antagonist such a blow that the sound of it was heard by the troops at a distance, and Rustem, stunned by its severity, thought himself opposed with so much vigor, that he prayed to the Almighty for a prosperous issue to the engagement.

"Should I be in this struggle slain, What stay for Persia will be left?

None to defend Kai-khosrau's reign, Of me, his warrior-chief, bereft.

Then village, town, and city gay, Will feel the cruel Tartar's sway!"

Puladwund wishing to follow up the blow by a final stroke of his sword, found to his amazement that it recoiled from the armor of Rustem, and thence he proposed another mode of fighting, which he hoped would be more successful. He wished to try his power in wrestling. The challenge was accepted. By agreement both armies retired, and left the s.p.a.ce of a farsang between them, and no one was allowed to afford a.s.sistance to either combatant. Afrasiyab was present, and sent word to Puladwund, the moment he got Rustem under him, to plunge a sword in his heart. The contest began, but Puladwund had no opportunity of fulfilling the wishes of Afrasiyab. Rustem grasped him with such vigor, lifted him up in his arms, and dashed him so furiously on the plain, that the boaster seemed to be killed on the spot. Rustem indeed thought he had put a period to his life; and with that impression left him, and remounted Rakush: but the crafty Puladwund only pretended to be dead: and as soon as he found himself released, sprang up and escaped, flying like an arrow to his own side. He then told Afrasiyab how he had saved his life by counterfeiting death, and a.s.sured him that it was useless to contend against Rustem.

The champion having witnessed this subterfuge, turned round in pursuit, and the Tartars received him with a shower of arrows; but the attack was well answered, Puladwund being so alarmed that, without saying a word to Afrasiyab, he fled from the field. Piran now counselled Afrasiyab to escape also to the remotest part of Tartary. As the flight of Puladwund had disheartened the Turanian troops, and there was no chance of profiting by further resistance, Afrasiyab took his advice, and so precipitate was his retreat, that he entirely abandoned his standards, tents, horses, arms, and treasure to an immense amount. The most valuable booty was sent by Rustem to the king of Iran, and a considerable portion of it was divided among the chiefs and the soldiers of the army. He then mounted Rakush, and proceeded to the court of Kai-khosrau, where he was received with the highest honors and with unbounded rejoicings. The king opened his jewel chamber, and gave him the richest rubies, and vessels of gold filled with musk and aloes, and also splendid garments; a hundred beautiful damsels wearing crowns and ear-rings, a hundred horses, and a hundred camels. Having thus terminated triumphantly the campaign, Rustem carried with him to Zabul the blessings and admiration of his country.

AKWaN DiW

And now we come to Akwan Diw, Whom Rustem next in combat slew.

One day as Kai-khosrau was sitting in his beautiful garden, abounding in roses and the balmy luxuriance of spring, surrounded by his warriors, and enjoying the pleasures of the banquet with music and singing, a peasant approached, and informed him of a most mysterious apparition. A wild a.s.s, he said, had come in from the neighboring forest; it had at least the external appearance of a wild a.s.s, but possessed such supernatural strength, that it had rushed among the horses in the royal stables with the ferocity of a lion or a demon, doing extensive injury, and in fact appeared to be an evil spirit! Kai-khosrau felt a.s.sured that it was something more than it seemed to be, and looked round among his warriors to know what should be done. It was soon found that Rustem was the only person capable of giving effectual a.s.sistance in this emergency, and accordingly a message was forwarded to request his services. The champion instantly complied, and it was not long before he occupied himself upon the important enterprise. Guided by the peasant, he proceeded in the first place towards the spot where the mysterious animal had been seen; but it was not till the fourth day of his search that he fell in with him, and then, being anxious to secure him alive, and send him as a trophy to Kai-khosrau, he threw his kamund; but it was in vain: the wild a.s.s in a moment vanished out of sight! From this circ.u.mstance Rustem observed, "This can be no other than Akwan Diw, and my weapon must now be either dagger or sword." The next time the wild a.s.s appeared he pursued him with his drawn sword: but on lifting it up to strike, nothing was to be seen. He tried again, when he came near him, both spear and arrow: still the animal vanished, disappointing his blow; and thus three days and nights he continued fighting, as it were against a shadow. Wearied at length with his exertions, he dismounted, and leading Rakush to a green spot near a limpid fountain or rivulet of spring water, allowed him to graze, and then went to sleep. Akwan Diw seeing from a distance that Rustem had fallen asleep, rushed towards him like a whirlwind, and rapidly digging up the ground on every side of him, took up the plot of ground and the champion together, placed them upon his head, and walked away with them. Rustem being awakened with the motion, he was thus addressed by the giant-demon:--

"Warrior! now no longer free!

Tell me what thy wish may be; Shall I plunge thee in the sea, Or leave thee on the mountain drear, None to give thee succour, near?

Tell thy wish to me!"

Rustem, thus deplorably in the power of the demon, began to consider what was best to be done, and recollecting that it was customary with that supernatural race to act by the rule of contraries, in opposition to an expressed desire, said in reply, for he knew that if he was thrown into the sea there would be a good chance of escape:--

"O, plunge me not in the roaring sea, The maw of a fish is no home for me; But cast me forth on the mountain; there Is the lion's haunt and the tiger's lair; And for them I shall be a morsel of food, They will eat my flesh and drink my blood; But my bones will be left, to show the place Where this form was devoured by the feline race; Yes, something will then remain of me, Whilst nothing escapes from the roaring sea!"

Akwan Diw having heard this particular desire of Rustem, determined at once to thwart him, and for this purpose he raised him up with his hands, and flung him from his lofty position headlong into the deep and roaring ocean. Down he fell, and a crocodile speedily darted upon him with the eager intention of devouring him alive; but Rustem drew his sword with alacrity, and severed the monster's head from his body.

Another came, and was put to death in the same manner, and the water was crimsoned with blood. At last he succeeded in swimming safely on sh.o.r.e, and instantly returned thanks to Heaven for the signal protection he had experienced.

Breasting the wave, with fearless skill He used his glittering brand; And glorious and triumphant still, He quickly reached the strand.

He then moved towards the fountain where he had left Rakush; but, to his great alarm and vexation his matchless horse was not there. He wandered about for some time, and in the end found him among a herd of horses belonging to Afrasiyab. Having first caught him, and resumed his seat in the saddle, he resolved upon capturing and driving away the whole herd, and conveying them to Kai-khosrau. He was carrying into effect this resolution when the noise awoke the keepers specially employed by Afrasiyab, and they, indignant at this outrageous proceeding, called together a strong party to pursue the aggressor. When they had nearly reached him, he turned boldly round, and said aloud:--"I am Rustem, the descendant of Sam. I have conquered Afrasiyab in battle, and after that dost thou presume to oppose me?" Hearing this, the keepers of the Tartar stud instantly turned their backs, and ran away.

It so happened that at this period Afrasiyab paid his annual visit to his nursery of horses, and on his coming to the meadows in which they were kept, neither horses nor keepers were to be seen. In a short time, however, he was informed by those who had returned from the pursuit, that Rustem was the person who had carried off the herd, and upon hearing of this outrage, he proceeded with his troops at once to attack him. Impatient at the indignity, he approached Rustem with great fury, but was presently compelled to fly to save his life, and thus allow his herd of favorite steeds, together with four elephants, to be placed in the possession of Kai-khosrau. Rustem then returned to the meadows and the fountain near the habitation of Akwan Diw; and there he again met the demon, who thus accosted him:--

"What! art thou then aroused from death's dark sleep?

Hast thou escaped the monsters of the deep?

And dost thou seek upon the dusty plain To struggle with a demon's power again?

Of flint, or bra.s.s, or iron is thy form?

Or canst thou, like the demons, raise the dreadful battle storm?"

Rustem, hearing this taunt from the tongue of Akwan Diw, prepared for fight, and threw his kamund with such precision and force, that the demon was entangled in it, and then he struck him such a mighty blow with his sword, that it severed the head from the body. The severed head of the unclean monster he transmitted as a trophy to Kai-khosrau, by whom it was regarded with amazement, on account of its hideous expression and its vast size. After this extraordinary feat, Rustem paid his respects to the king, and was received as usual with distinguished honor and affection; and having enjoyed the magnificent hospitality of the court for some time, he returned to Zabulistan, accompanied part of the way by Kai-khosrau himself and a crowd of valiant warriors, ever anxious to acknowledge his superior worth and prodigious strength.

THE STORY OF BYZUN AND MANiJEH[49]

One day the people of Arman pet.i.tioned Kai-khosrau to remove from them a grievous calamity. The country they inhabited was overrun with herds of wild boars, which not only destroyed the produce of their fields, but the fruit and flowers in their orchards and gardens, and so extreme was the ferocity of the animals that it was dangerous to go abroad; they therefore solicited protection from this disastrous visitation, and hoped for relief. The king was at the time enjoying himself amidst his warriors at a banquet, drinking wine, and listening to music and the songs of bewitching damsels.

The glance of beauty, and the charm Of heavenly sounds, so soft and thrilling, And ruby wine, must ever warm The heart, with love and rapture filling.

Can aught more sweet, more genial prove, Than melting music, wine, and love?