Section 13

The young prince said to Tokhar: A famous warrior has just come into view. Look and see what his name is, this fighting man who is about to weep. Tokhar the reciter answered Khosrow: In all of Iran there is no equal to this one. He is the son of Giv, a brave man, victorious in battle like a lion. Giv has no other child but him; he is dearer to Giv than any treasure or possession. Now turn your hand toward your horse and hold back; you should not break the heart of Iran's king. And besides, he wears that armor, the very mail Giv fastened at his waist. No arrow or javelin can pierce it; better that he fight this man on foot. You are no match for him in combat; look, he has a blade like diamond in his grip. Forud shot an arrow at Bizhan's horse; you would have said no life was left in the beast. It fell, and Bizhan sprang clear of it, turning sword to sword toward the fight. He gave a shout: You bold horseman, stay and watch now how a lion fights. Don't you know that men of war, though horseless, come forward with an Indian sword in hand? You will see what I am, if you hold your ground; after this you will lose all taste for battle. When Bizhan would not turn back from Forud, Forud grew fierce in the contest. The lion loosed another arrow; the brave man raised his shield over his head. It tore the shield but did not reach the mail, and Bizhan did not turn his face away. When he had climbed that steep slope, he reached out and drew the sword from its sheath. The noble Forud turned back from him, and the whole fortress wall filled with clamor. Bizhan came running behind him, a sharp blade held in his fist. He struck the horse's armor and split it open, and the noble steed crashed to the ground. Forud reached the fortress gate, and the brave men inside quickly barred it shut. From the ramparts they rained down many stones, and Bizhan knew this was no place to linger. Bizhan cried out: You famous one, so brave on foot and on horseback, you turned back like this and felt no shame? A pity, Forud, on that courage and warrior's name. He came from the battlefield to Tus and said: Commander of the army, it is fitting that in battle such a brave man become renowned across a whole plain of lions. If solid granite were struck by his arrowhead, it would turn to water, and the sea itself would be his mine. The commander should not be amazed; no finer measure of skill than this can be found. The commander swore by the Creator: I will raise dust from this fortress up to the sun. To avenge the beloved Zarasp and the army, I will rise up and make a battlefield of it. I will make the body of that wicked Turk lifeless, and with his blood turn the stone's heart into coral.