The Armies Meet

When Giv came before his father, he reported everything, point by point. He said to Gudarz: Bring the army forward to the place where you plan to make your battlefield. For Piran has no thought of peace; there is no room for justice in his heart. I argued with him in every way, and laid before him all that you had said. When their treachery became clear, he sent a swift courier to the king. Saying: Gudarz and Giv have come to war; I need reinforcements here without delay. An army has come from Afrasiyab; once we withdrew, it crossed the river. Now vengeance has strapped its drums to the elephants; he rushes to strike the first blow against us. Then the commander said to Giv: Piran has grown weary of his own life. I always expected this hidden malice, but by the command of the world's king we had to go, there was no other way; now the sovereign has tested Piran's heart. I told the king a saying once, when he ordered the army onto the road: Cut your heart free from love for anyone whose heart does not match his tongue. All Piran's loyalty lies with the Turks; let the king wash his hands clean of him. When Piran marched his army out of Kanabad, no daylight was left in the day. A hundred thousand armored riders, Turks with their belts girded for battle, set out with their belts strapped for war, all with spears and Indian swords in hand. When Gudarz knew the army was coming, he struck the war drum and set out from Zibad. He came down from the mountain to the plain, and they drew the army across that broad field. Both armies stood like mountains, with helmets of iron upon their heads. The blare of trumpets rose so loud you would think the mountains shook from their place. From Zibad all the way to Kanabad the troops stretched; their masses turned valley and plain dark and black. The army's dust left no bright daylight; the sky was nothing but a wall of spears and armor. From the noise of the horses and the dust of the host, the light went out of both sun and moon. The spear tips were stars, the swords a sun; the ground was of iron, the maces its storm clouds. The earth trembled from the roar of the warriors; the sky itself turned to iron with helmets and spears. When Gudarz saw the Turanian army, the ground heaving up like a surging sea, banner packed against banner, mass against mass, unbroken, until night rose over the mountain. When the dark of night fell, they brought the elephants to the front of the army and blocked the way. They lit fires on both sides, amid the shouting of the battle-hungry warriors. You would say the whole world had become a demon, with the enemy lurking close inside your own sleeve. The war drums thundered against the mountains, and hearts ached through the pitch-black night. Dawn broke over the dark mountain, and Iran's commander rode out before his troops. He set his fresh horse in motion, assigning each hero his position on every side. The mountain guarded the army's right flank, so the brave felt no worry about the fight. A flowing river ran along the left, fitting the army as the soul fits the body. He ordered the foot soldiers skilled in combat to stand out in front of the cavalry. The spearmen formed a line, alongside the mace-bearers and the mighty warriors. Likewise many spear-carrying infantry, armed with quivers, arrows, and armor-piercing gear. Bows slung across their arms, their hearts boiling over with battle-lust. Behind them stood the war-riders, whose daggers had stolen the very color of fire. Behind the whole army came the herd of elephants; the ground itself groaned beneath their tread. The blessed banner stood at the army's center, blazing with gems like the moon. The earth turned the gray of elephants everywhere, and the dust of the riders dyed the air deep blue. Violet blades gleamed in the shadow of the royal banner of Kaveh. You would say that on a dark-faced night the heavens were scattering stars. He arranged the army like paradise, planting the cypress of vengeance in the garden of loyalty. He gave the right flank to Fariborz, and placed the baggage train and defenses at the rear. Garaza, of the line of the Giv clan, and Zavara, guardian of the royal throne, rose to support Fariborz, and together arrayed one wing of the army. Then the commander said to Rohham: 'You, who are the very soul of crown, throne, and wisdom, go with your riders to the left flank; keep the wolf's claws away from the lamb.' Light up the camp with your own glory, and hold the army close to your side. With that gleaming, hero-slaying dagger, wage war among the champions like a raging lion. His comrades went along with him; among the army's champions was Gostaham, and Gazhdaham, indispensable in battle, and Foruhel, whose arrows pierced through stone. He ordered that two thousand armored riders go out with Giv. He then entrusted the army's rear to him, the station of the battle-seeking champions. Warriors went with Giv, men like Gorgin and Zangeh of Shavaran. He sent a banner and three hundred riders to guard the army along the riverside. He sent toward the mountain a banner and three hundred picked warriors. A lookout stood atop the heights, watching by day and counting stars by night. Night and day he kept his neck stretched high, made into a sentinel at that watchpost. He searched so keenly that if the Turanian army left even an ant's track on the road, he would spot it. From his post he would raise a cry, report to Gudarz, and rouse the camp. He arranged that battlefield so finely that the sun and moon themselves longed to join the fight. When the commander is fit for war, the army does not fear even a fearless crocodile of an enemy. After that he came to the commander's station to guard the troops against the foe. He raised the heart cheering banner and set the army firm in the center. He summoned all the chiefs close: Shidush guarding the rear, Farhad at the front. On his left the battle tested Hajir, on his right the lion catching Katmareh. They ringed his position with an iron wall, and set the war elephants standing at the rear. Commander Gudarz stood among them, the Kaviani banner casting its shade above him, borrowing light from the moon and sun. From afar Piran gazed at the host. Seeing that array and that ordered army, he cleared his heart of shame and grief. Over pass and plain, mountain and desert, spear was woven with spear, rein braided with rein. Commander Piran grew deeply troubled, and raged against his dark, ill fated luck. Then he studied the enemy's ground and found the battlefield not as he had wished. He saw no room for a proper clash, no space to form his ranks; in fury he wrung his hands. He would have to make do with things as they were, since he had to draw the sword against these heroes. Then, from among Afrasiab's famous men, those whose heads race quickest toward vengeance, he chose thirty thousand swordsmen fit and ready for the fight. He gave the center then to Human, a lion slaying, battle hungry force. He called Andariman and Khast, and set them to the left and right of the army. He entrusted his left wing to them, with thirty thousand bold and gallant men. And warlike Lahhak and Farshidvard, with thirty thousand daring warriors, took their place on the right wing; the whole world turned black with iron. Zanguleh, and Garad and Kalbad, and Sepahram, who was a man for the day of alarm, went out with ten thousand spearmen behind the dagger wielding horsemen. Ruyin of the brazen body marched forth with ten thousand heroes of Khotan. So that, like a lion in that forest, he could set an ambush with his brave warriors. He sent a scouting party toward the mountain, to wear down the commander of Iran. Whether the enemy advanced a step from the battlefield, or moved out on his own too far, Then the commander Rouyin, fierce as a lion, would fall upon his rear. He posted a lookout on the mountaintop, one who could watch the horsemen fight without fear. If a single Iranian rider from afar turned his reins toward battle with Tur, The watchman would raise a cry, and the whole battlefield would boil into motion. The two armies stood face to face, all famous men, hungry for the fight. They stood like this three days and three nights, and no one moved his lips to speak. Gudarz kept saying: if I turn my back to them and set my foot forward, Their army will come in behind me, and nothing but wind will be left in my grip. Night and day, standing before the army, he watched the sun and moon for a lucky star, Wondering which day would be the fortunate one, and whose move would fare the best, And when the wind would rise on the day of battle to blind the horsemen's eyes with dust, So that perhaps he might gain the upper hand and drive his army in like the wind. The commander Piran, too, kept both eyes fixed, hoping Gudarz's heart would boil with rage, That he would turn his back to the plain and drive his troops, army pressing behind army.