English
Section 13: Ardeshir at War
He led a countless army out of Estakhr, ready and equipped to make war on the Kurds.
He sought a reward from God for good deeds, hoping to shed the blood of thieves across that land.
When King Ardeshir pressed forward into the narrow pass, the Kurds came out in vast numbers to meet him in battle.
It turned into a grim and brutal fight, for the whole region had joined the Kurds as allies.
The Persian force was small; the enemy warriors outnumbered them thirty to one.
They clashed from dawn until nightfall, and at last the king's army fled.
With so many dead and wounded across the battlefield, the whole killing ground grew cramped.
Only the king and a meager band remained; no famous champions were left on that field.
From the blazing sun and the swirling dust, their tongues cracked with thirst.
Just then night raised its banner and stilled the roar and turmoil of battle.
He saw a fire on the mountainside, and the king went toward it with his troop.
Ardeshir turned his face toward the fire, with only a few men, young and old.
When he drew near he saw shepherds keeping watch over sheep and goats.
The king and his men dismounted, their mouths full of the dust of the battlefield.
Ardeshir quickly asked them for water, and at once they brought water and yogurt.
He rested and ate a little of what he found, then in the dark night he pulled his armor over his head.
His armor served well enough as bedding, and that king laid his helmet as his pillow.
When dawn broke over the sea of water, the king of Iran raised his head from sleep.
The chief shepherd came to his bedside and said: may your days and nights be happy.
What has happened that your road led you here, to a place unworthy of your resting?
The king asked that chief shepherd about the way: where can I find a proper resting place from here?
He answered: you will not find a settled place unless you have a guide.
From here it is a road of four leagues; once you have gone that far, a resting place will appear.
Beyond that, villages join one after another, and in each village there is a well-known headman.
When Ardeshir heard this from the chief shepherd, he took several elders from the flock as guides.
The commander came down from the mountain into the village, and the headman quickly came out to meet him.
He sent riders, young and old, from that town toward the district of Ardeshir.
When his army got word of the king, all with glad hearts set out on the road.
He sent scouts among the Kurds to secretly find out what they were doing.
They went off swiftly and returned, coming back to the king of Iran.
They reported: the Kurds are all seeking glory and rejoicing; not one of them gives the king a thought.
They believe that Ardeshir has grown old in Estakhr and that his youthful fortune has aged.
When the king heard this he grew glad, and the memory of what had passed blew from his heart like wind.
From that famous army he chose thirty thousand sword-wielding riders.
The king also brought with him a thousand archers with their bows and quivers.