Bijan and Palashan

For three days he waited in his tent; on the fourth the trumpet blew. He raised the army and sounded the drums and pipes; from mountain to mountain the earth turned black as ebony. Whoever he saw from the army of Turan, he killed and threw the body onto the road. He left the borderlands ruined and undone, and marched on in triumph toward Kaseh Rud. He set his army down in that region, and the ground vanished beneath the tents. Word reached the Turks that the Iranian army had come marching toward Kaseh Rud. From among the Turks came a bold young man, Palashan, a vigilant, warlike champion. He came to observe the army and to count the banners of its commanders. In the camp there stood a mountain, high and set apart from the crowd. Giv and Bijan sat there together, talking over every matter, great and small. The banner of Palashan of Turan's army came into their view along the road. When brave Giv saw it from afar, he reached out and drew his sword from its sheath. He said: Palashan the lion has come, a renowned and daring horseman. I will go and cut his head from his body, or bring him bound to this gathering. Bijan said to him: Since the king gave me a robe of honor for this battle, By his command I must fasten my belt and fight against warlike Palashan. Brave Giv said to Bijan: Do not rush into the claws of this fierce lion. You must not fail to hold your own against him and make this day of battle hard for me. Palashan is like a lion in the meadow; he hunts nothing but seasoned warriors. Bijan said to him: Do not shame me with such words before the world's ruler. Give me Siyavash's armor for the fight, then watch me hunt the leopard. Brave Giv handed him that coat of mail, and Bijan fastened its clasps. He mounted a swift steed and rode onto the plain, spear in hand. Palashan had brought down a deer and was roasting its flesh over a fire. He was eating while his horse grazed and wandered; Palashan sat with his bow on his arm. When his horse saw Bijan's horse from afar, it let out a cry and snorted. Palashan knew a rider had come, and he made ready for combat. He shouted loudly at Bijan: I am the one who slays lions and binds demons. Say openly, what is your name? For fate will soon weep over you. The brave one said: I am Bijan; in battle I am an elephant, a body of bronze. My grandfather is the war-lion, my father the hero Giv; right now you will taste my strength. On the day of calamity, in the heat of battle, you sit on the mountain like a wolf craving carrion. You feed on smoke and ash and blood; the time has come to drag your army to the plain. Palashan gave no answer at all; he spurred that mighty steed on like the wind. The two riders clashed with their spears and raised a dark cloud of dust. The tips of their spears shattered against each other, and the heroes reached for their swords. In the blows the blades were hacked to pieces, and the two trembled like branches of a tree. Their horses were drenched in sweat, and both champions grew weary at once. The two proud lions, both masters of war, drew up their heavy maces again. So it went, until Bijan let out a roar, his heavy mace lifted on his shoulder. He struck the middle of mighty Palashan and shattered every bone of his spine. His body toppled from the horse's back; his helmet and armor turned upside down. Bijan sprang down from his mount like dust and cut the warrior's head from his body. He took the armor, head, and horse of that famous man and turned toward his father. Giv's heart had been full of pain, wondering how that whirlwind fared on the day of battle. He stood on the lookout, roaring and burning, waiting for when Bijan would come along the road. The young son came along the road with the head, armor, and horse of that champion. He brought them and laid them before his father, who said: Be victorious, my son. They set off joyfully from that place and turned toward the royal pavilion. He brought before the commander the head, and the horse with its armor and helmet. The champion was so overjoyed at the news that it was as if his soul would take flight. He said to him: O son, the backbone of the army, chief of the renowned and crown of the king, May you always live happily and high of spirit; may the evil of the wicked stay far from you.