Kavus Marches to War

After this Kavus made up his mind: to keep his kingdom, he would rise and move. He left Iran and went to Turan and China, then crossed into the land of Makran. From Makran he pressed on, ready for battle, to Zereh, and found no trouble binding his path anywhere. Every chieftain accepted paying tribute and tax; the ox did not dare to test its strength against the lion. Marching proudly on, they came to Berber, the world seeker with his throne and crown. The king of Berberstan made ready for war, and the times took on a darker color. An army came out from Berber for the fight, and the feasting ended in the king's own camp. You would say the air grew thick as a forest with spears, and the sun grew troubled by the dust of horses. In the army's dust the war elephant vanished; no one could see his own hand or reins through the earth thrown up. They fell upon the blows wave after wave, like waves rising from the sea. When Gudarz saw the world had turned this way, he drew his heavy mace from his side. He spurred his horse with a thousand famous warriors, with spears and arrows that pierced armor. He charged and split the enemy's center; the king came roaring right behind. You would think no rider of Berber was left, no spearman standing amid the dust. In the city, everyone who was old, seeing the wind of war had turned against them, all came before King Kavus, their hearts wounded and heavy with guilt, saying: We are the king's servants and slaves; we all bow our necks to pay tribute. Instead of coins we will give gold and jewels, and set upon our heads gratitude to the treasurer. Kavus forgave and treated them kindly, and set for them a new custom and way. From there the clash of cymbals and bells rose up with the wail of the reed-horn. When his march reached the city of Makran, he turned toward Mount Qaf and the west. When news of the king reached those people, they took to the road with prayers and praise. All the chieftains came out to meet him and laid heavy tribute before him. When they submitted to his command, he took the road, and king and army passed on peacefully. The army marched toward Zabolestan, to be the guest of the son of Dastan. The king stayed a month in Nimruz, sometimes wanting music and wine, sometimes hawk and hunting leopard. Not much time passed like this before a thorn sprouted at the edge of the rose garden. No one escapes the testing of fate; when someone rises high, a fall comes to him. Just when the affairs of the world had gone so smoothly, a decline appeared from among the Arabs. A man of noble blood, with treasure and a name, raised a banner from Egypt and Syria. They turned their faces from King Kavus, disdaining to remain his lowly subjects. When news came to the king of the world that someone claimed a share in his kingship, he beat the war drum and set out from Nimruz, glad at heart, the king who lights the world, with his army. They wrote their names upon their shields, and the swords seethed within their scabbards. He led the army from the plain to the sea, toward the side where the enemy had appeared. He built countless ships and boats, raged, and set his army upon the water. It would surely have been a thousand leagues had one measured the journey step by step. He sailed on to the midst of three cities; this is how men seek their share of the world. On his left hand Egypt, Berber on his right, and Zereh in the middle on whatever side he chose. Before him lay the city of Hamavaran, with a mighty army in every land. News reached them that King Kavus had risen up from the waters of Zereh with his army. They called out to one another, and the army's path turned toward Berber. So many sword-wielding warriors became one, gathering together in Berberstan. An army so vast that sea, desert, and mountain were worn out by the hooves of their horses. There was no resting place left for the ravening lion, nor could the fierce wild ass find a path on the plain. The leopard upon the rock, the fish in the water, and in the air the clouds and the soaring eagle, all sought a way out, but what way was there for beast and prey in such a battlefield? When Kavus led his army onto dry land, no one could see mountain or plain in all the world. You would say the world was made of swords and mail, the stars lit by the points of spears. So many golden helmets and golden shields, and gleaming axes raised over their shoulders, you would say the earth had become the turning heavens, raining down souls from Indian blades. From the helmets the air turned amber-yellow, and the earth grew dark from end to end like ebony. The mountains split at the blast of the war-trumpets, and the earth curved beneath the horses' hooves. From the sound of the drums in Berberstan, you would say the earth had become a land of armies. From the Iranian side the horns and drums rose up; out rode Gorgin and Farhad and Tus, and on that side was Gudarz son of Keshvad, with Giv and Shidush and Milad. They cast the reins over their horses' manes and dipped their spearheads in poison-water. When they bent low over their saddles, there came a roar and the clash of axes. You would say they were forging iron out of stone, or striking the sky against the earth. Kavus stirred in the center; army pressed forward against army. The world grew dark from end to end with dust; it rained vermilion upon lapis blue. You would say the air was raining hailstones, sowing red tulips upon the stones. Fire flew out from the eye of the spear; the earth became like a sea of blood. Three armies of the Iranians grew so mingled they could not tell head from midst. First the commander of Hamavaran flung down his sword and heavy mace. He grew grieved and begged the king for mercy, knowing that these were days of ruin. On the promise that the commander of Hamavaran would render heavy tax and tribute, and send horses, weapons, throne, and crown to King Kavus, so that once this was given he would pass on by, and his army would not trample their land, Kavus the king listened to the messenger, and set down his answer to these words: You are all under my protection; you are the servants of my crown and throne.