Bahman Meets Rostam

A mountain stood before the young man, and the champion urged his horse ahead. Bahman looked out toward the hunting ground and saw the great champion of the army there. He had grasped a tree in his fist, and many spits of meat were laid upon it. He had spitted a wild male onager on that tree, and set down his mace and gear beside him. In his other hand a cup full of wine, and his son stood serving before him. Rakhsh grazed there in the meadow, where there were trees, grass, and a running stream. Bahman said to himself: this is Rostam, or else the very sun of dawn. No one in the world has ever seen such a man, nor heard of his like among past heroes. I fear that even the champion Esfandiar could not stand against him, and would turn his head from battle. With a single stone I will leave him lifeless, and wring the hearts of Zal and Rudabeh. He tore a boulder from that granite mountain and sent it rolling down from the high peak. From the hunting ground Zavareh saw it, and heard the roar of the granite stone. He cried out: noble lord, a boulder is tumbling down from the mountain! Rostam did not stir, nor set down the onager, though Zavareh kept raising the alarm. He stayed as he was until the stone drew near, and its rolling darkened the mountainside. He struck it with his heel and hurled it far off; Zavareh and his son praised him. Bahman's heart sank at this deed, when he saw such greatness and such strength. He kept saying: if the blessed Esfandiar makes war upon so renowned a man, he will disgrace himself in the fight; better that he deal gently with him. And if it turns out that he wins in battle, he will seize the whole land of Iran in his grip. He mounted his swift steed and, lost in thought, went back down from the mountain. He told the priest of the wonder he had seen, and then took the easy road onward. When he drew near the hunting ground, Rostam at once caught sight of him from afar. He said to the priest: who is this man? I think he must be of Goshtasp's line. He went out to meet him, Zavareh at his side, and with them everyone in the hunting camp. Bahman dismounted swift as smoke, greeted him, and showered him with courtesies. Rostam said to him: until you tell me your name, you will get nothing you desire from me. He replied: I am the son of Esfandiar, chief of the righteous, the renowned Bahman. The champion at once took him in his arms and began to apologize for his late welcome. They both went to the place of sitting, he and the noble servants of the king. When Bahman sat, he gave his greeting and spoke well of the king and the Iranians. Then he said: Esfandiar set out like fire from the court of the sovereign, and pitched his tent on the bank of the Helmand, by command of the blessed and lofty king. I bring a message from Esfandiar, if the mounted champion will hear it. Rostam said: I hold the king's command higher than the sun and moon. First let us eat what we have; after that the world is at your command. He spread soft bread on the cloth and brought a whole onager roasted warm. When he set the tablecloth before Bahman, he recalled to him the tales of old. He seated his brother beside him too, but called none of the other nobles. He set another onager before himself, for his portion each time was a whole one. He sprinkled salt, cut, and ate, while the proud young man watched him. Bahman ate only a little of the onager, not a hundredth of what Rostam ate. Rostam laughed and said: so the prince keeps this manner at his eating. If you eat so lightly at the table, how did you pass through the Seven Trials? How did you wield the lance in battle, my prince, if this is how you eat? Bahman said: one of royal blood should be talkative and not a heavy eater. Let eating be little and effort and fighting much; in that hour we lay our very lives in our palms. Rostam laughed and said aloud: a man's courage cannot be hidden from other men. He filled a golden cup with wine and drank to the memory of noble, free-hearted men. He placed another cup in Bahman's hand: take it, and drink to whomever you wish to remember. Bahman feared the cup of wine, so Zavareh took the first draught. He said to him: son of the sovereign, may the wine and the wine-pourer gladden you. Bahman took that cup into his hand, though his heart was uneasy and he lingered over the wine. He remained amazed at Rostam, at his eating, his neck, his arms, and his shoulders. The two horsemen mounted, and Bahman rode along beside the renowned one. He delivered, one by one, the greeting and the message from Esfandiar, that hero of good name.