English
Section 3: The Muster for War
Then word reached King Piruz that an army had come from Turan against Iran.
The cruel, base-natured Afrasiab, driven by hatred, could find no sleep by night or day.
Meaning to wash away his shame, he had sent troops to war from every direction.
He was grinding poison onto the tips of his spears, hoping to turn his reins toward Iran.
Some three hundred thousand warriors on horseback were about to cross the Oxus.
An army that, in the hour of pride and battle, raised dust from the Oxus up to the heavens.
At Afrasiab's court the brave men could not sleep for the thunder of the war drums.
From the blare of trumpets and the clash of bells, you would think the heart would leap from the chest.
If that army marches into Iran for battle, even the bravest lion would not stand in its path.
He gave the Turan frontier to Piran and sent a considerable army with him.
Toward the Khwarazm border, fifty thousand men set out girded for war.
Their commander was the lionhearted Shideh, who could snatch a heart from fire with his sword.
An army like drunken war elephants, whose onslaught could flatten a mountain.
When he heard the report of the scouts, the king of the world sat sunk in thought.
He said to the scouts, 'O wise ones, I have heard this from the priests:'
'That when the moon of the Turks rises high, it will bring harm from the sun of Iran.'
The black snake whose head is meant to be crushed will writhe out of its hole toward the stick.
When a king sows the seed of injustice, his throne and kingship turn against him.
He summoned all the priests to him and laid before them the words he had heard.
The great, the wise, and the seasoned warriors sat in council with the king of Iran.
Men like Dastan son of Sam, Gudarz and Giv, like Shidush, Farhad, and brave Roham.
Like Tus and Rustam, the champion hero, Fariborz and Shapur, the roaring lion.
And Bizhan son of Giv with Gostaham, like Gorgin and Zangeh and Gazhdaham.
And besides these renowned ones, the whole army who were the king's own flock.
The king spoke to the champions: 'The Turks are seeking battle and their moment.'
'Since the enemy has raised an army and turned fierce, we too must prepare for war.'
He ordered the horns and the great war trumpets sounded and the brass war drums fastened.
The king strode from his palace to the field, and they arrayed the royal seat upon the elephant.
He cast the signal-stone into the cup on the elephant's back; you would say the earth had been washed with indigo.
The sky turned indigo and the earth grew many-colored, the army's brave men fierce as leopards.
Maces in their fists, hearts full of vengeance; the ground churned with warriors like a boiling sea.
A cry rose from the king's court: 'O champions of the army of Iran!'
'Whoever can grip rein and stirrup must not rest at home.'
He commanded that from Rome and from India, chosen warriors and brave fighters be gathered.
And the proud, defiant riders of the Arabs, prepared for battle like raging lions.
Three hundred thousand girded men would come, spear-wielding riders from the plains.
'Whoever does not reach the king within forty days will not keep the crown upon his head.'
Riders scattered across the realm, sent bearing the king's letters.
Two weeks passed, and by the king's command the army of the kingdom began to stir.
The whole realm surged with soldiers, and a roar rose up across the world.
At dawn, at the hour the cock crows, the sound of war drums rose from every side.
The nobles of every province, with their troops, set their faces toward the king's court.
He opened the ancient treasuries and began to give out coin to the army.
From the king's treasury and gold, all the soldiers set jeweled helmets on their heads.
In armor and mail like mountains, the whole army gathered together.
When the army's preparations were all complete and the king's mind was set at ease over them,
First, from that renowned army, thirty thousand sword-wielding riders,
Khosrow chose and handed over to Rustam, saying, 'O famous hero,'
'Take the road to Sistan and set out early; lead the army into India.'
'Go from Ghazni along this route until crown, throne, and signet come into your hands.'
'When that kingdom is wholly won, leopard and lamb shall drink together at the water's edge.'
'Give Faramarz the crown and signet, and whomever he chooses from the elite of the army.'
'Sound the brass drum, the trumpet and the flute; do not linger in Kashmir and Kabul longer than this.'
'For because of the war with Afrasiab, we can find no food, no rest, no sleep.'
He gave the Alans and Ghazdazh to Lohrasp, saying, 'O hero of royal blood,'
'Go with an army like a mountain; choose a body of warriors for your force.'
'Take riders fit for battle, until you utterly destroy the enemy.'
He commanded Ashkash to take thirty thousand roaring, spear-wielding lions.
And carry the great war drum toward Khwarazm, an army like ravening wolves,
To strike at the gate of the city of Khwarazm, together with the battling, vengeful Shideh.
The fourth army he gave to Gudarz, and gave him much counsel and advice:
'Go with the great men of Iran together, like Gorgin and Zangeh and Gostaham,'
'Zavareh, Fariborz, Farhad, and Giv, the commander Garazeh, and brave Roham.'
He ordered them to gird themselves for war and to march at once to fight Turan.
The commander Gudarz, son of Keshvad, and all the champions and noble free men,
Mounted their saddles at the king's command, with Gudarz leading the army.
Then the king said to Gudarz, 'When you go girded for battle,'
'Take care not to stretch your hand toward injustice, nor lay flourishing halls to ruin.'
'Toward one who does not gird himself to fight you, act so that no harm comes from you.'
'For the just God does not approve of evil from us; the world is a passing inn, and we are only travelers.'
'When you lead the army to the border of Turan, do not let your quick heart rush into fire.'
'Take care not to boil over as Tus does, nor bind the war drum on the elephant for every trifle.'
'Send a worldly-wise envoy to Piran, a prudent man, and send one of the seasoned ones.'
'Open your ear to his abundant counsel and cast the cloak of kindness over him.'
'In every matter, deal justly with everyone, and keep in mind God's gift of goodness.'
The army's commander said to the king, 'Your command stands higher than the sun and moon.'
'I will act just as you command; you are the world-ruling king, and I am your servant.'
A great cry rose from the commander's court; the earth trembled with the beat of the drums.
The troops came pouring into the camp; the world went dark with the dust of riders.
At the head of the army marched sixty elephants; the world was crushed beneath those drunken beasts.
And of those mighty war elephants, four were adorned by the king's order.
They set golden thrones on their backs, seats for the king in splendor and glory.
He ordered Gudarz to mount upon that golden throne atop the drunken elephant.
He urged the elephants on and the dust rose; he took it for a good omen, saying,
'May we raise smoke from Piran's life the way this dust rises from the elephants' tread.'