English
The Ten Champions
The commander of the Turks made his plans, and from his army he chose ten riders.
With horses, gear, and full weapons, every one a lion of a man, every one renowned.
At that same moment the Persian commander called out ten young riders.
They galloped out from the ranks and rode straight to the field of combat.
No eye had ever seen such a thing: two leaders testing battle in this way.
For each rider of the Persian army, one from Turan rose to challenge him.
They matched Giv against Gorui, for both were equal in strength and eager for the fight.
Gorui Zereh, upon whom, throughout the army, the king's curse fully rested,
who had seized Siyavash's beard in his hand and cut his head from his pure body.
Next, swift Fariborz, son of Kavus, went to face Kalbad son of Viseh in combat.
Then Roham son of Gudarz and Barman went out against each other, each wary of the other.
Garazeh went to fight Siyamak, like a raging lion against a snorting crocodile.
Then Gorgin, the battle-seasoned rider, who would wage war against Andariman.
Against Bizhan son of Giv came the hero Ruin, who in battle stole the light of the world.
When he was ready, he faced Zangeh son of Shavaran; then Barteh went against Kahram among the allies.
The next were Foruhel and Zangeleh; they galloped out from the midst of the throng.
Hojir and Sepahram, like lions, entered that battlefield with courage.
Then Gudarz son of Keshvad and Piran together, both hearts hardened for pain and cruelty.
Both commanders girded themselves for vengeance, one for his kingdom, the other for his faith.
They swore an oath to one another that no one would turn his face from this feud.
So that it would be settled this very day whose task would be done, who would ride away victorious from the battle.
There were two high hills, one on each side of the armies, from which one could look out in every direction.
One faced Persia, the other faced Turan, so that the troops could be seen from afar.
Before them lay open plain and desert, over which a living man could ride across.
The commander Gudarz gave this sign: whoever among the proud, defiant champions
brought a foe down like smoke should at once raise a banner high upon the hill.
The commander Piran set the same sign, doing the same upon the other hill.
After that they turned toward the plain, the champions girded to spill blood.
With sword and mace, with arrow and lasso, they tried every kind of hold and stroke.
The brave men of Turan and their warriors, with mace and sword and gleaming blades,
such that if a mountain had stood before them on the day of battle, they would not have paused in the fight.
Yet all their hands fell useless and slack, for God's power had bound them fast.
They were caught in the snare of disaster, because they had spilled so much blood in cruelty.
Their war-horses stood frozen in place, as though their legs were tied to their forelegs.
For them all fortune turned upside down, for the day turned against them and blood surged.
So the Creator of souls willed it, as if the earth itself had seized those warriors.
For all the courage that stood with their fortune, they had thrown themselves into war for the sake of their throne.
The chiefs went to battle for the sake of a kingdom and gave up their lives for honor and shame.
They came roaring onto the field of combat, each set against the other, thirsting for revenge.