English
The Armies Meet at the River
He handed out coins and summoned those who provide for others, and spoke at length with the commander.
He kept planning with the mighty hero until the face of day slipped out of sight.
When the sun raised its spear from below, they hurried to set out with urgency.
The commander came before the king, along with Giv, Gudarz, and a body of troops.
The king gave him the banner of Kaveh, just as the kings of old had done by custom.
They searched the stars for a fortunate day, one right for setting out on the march.
The king went out to the plain with the royal drums, so the commander could pass before him in review.
An army like a black mountain marched past before the watchful king.
Behind the host came Tus, the general, who bowed and kissed the ground before the king.
He blessed the king, and a great cry rose up; the world seethed with the neighing of horses.
A cloud of dust rose over the horses' hooves, and the roar of the ox-headed drums went up.
So many were the coats of mail and Kaveh's banner that the whole face of the earth turned violet.
You would say the sun lay drowned in water, the sky and the stars had fallen asleep.
He set a turquoise litter upon an elephant and marched on this way toward the River of Honey.
A courier swift as the rushing wind carried word at once to Piran,
saying: I have raised my head for battle and come, ready, toward the River of Honey.
When Piran heard this he grew deeply grieved, and reluctantly loaded his gear on an elephant.
He went out with his famous men, his chosen and valiant riders,
to see what the army of Iran was like: how many proud chiefs it held, and who stood with Tus.
They drew up their ranks on the far side of the river, and he sent a greeting to the commander.
From this side Tus brought up his army, the auspicious banner, the elephants, and the drums.
General Piran sent a smooth-tongued envoy from among the Turks to him,
to say: think of all the kindness I did everywhere for Farangis and the young prince.
I wept in anguish over Siyavash's death; I was left seething as if on burning fire.
Now what should have been the antidote has become poison, and all I have gained from it is suffering.
The heart of Tus grew sad at his plight, moved by his pain and his struggle.
He answered: signs of your affection are written plainly on your face.
Free yourself, step away from all this; close this door of danger and the road to ruin.
Come over to the king of Iran with your troops, and the king will reward you well.
In Iran he will give you a hero's rank, and even a royal crown.
When he recalls your good deeds, his heart will ache with concern for your sorrow.
So spoke Gudarz and Giv and the leaders, the great ones and the grieving chiefs.
The messenger with the answer came like the wind to Piran of the house of Viseh.
He told the general all he had heard from Tus and from bright-souled Gudarz.
Piran replied: night and day I shall open my lips in praise of the commander.
I will go, and all my kin, whoever is wise enough to heed my counsel.
I will leave my land, home, and belongings for Iran; a noble name is worth more than crown and throne.
But his mind was empty of these words; he was only seeking a better turn of fortune.
At the hour of sleep he sent off a swift camel with word to Afrasiab,
saying: from Iran an army has come, with elephants and drums, and Giv, Gudarz, Rahham, and Tus.
I have sent them plenty of deceptions and laid every sort of trap.
Choose an army of warriors to mount and ride swiftly here in vengeance,
so we may tear their homeland up by the roots, and set fire to their throne and treasury.
Otherwise, over Siyavash's blood, neither the army nor the king will ever rest from war.
When Afrasiab heard this speech, he summoned the chiefs from every assembly.
Afrasiab raised such an army that the fountain of the sun went dark.
On the tenth day the host reached Piran, an army so vast the earth vanished beneath it.
When the troops had rested, he gave them a day, then took up the army and loaded the gear.
He turned from his pledge and forgot his vow, and came roaring to the bank of the River of Honey.
A scout came to Tus and said: strap the drums onto the elephants' backs,
for Piran knows no talk but trickery, once he sees the threat has closed in tight.
The banner of the treacherous one appeared, and the army drew up its ranks along the river.
General Tus arrayed his army and led the elephants and drums onto the plain.
The armies on both sides advanced like mountains, the riders of Turan and the ranks of Iran.
The sun so vanished in the dust of the host, it seemed fire had risen from a sea of water.
The flash of swords, javelins, and spears was as if the night had sown tulips in the sky.
From so many golden helmets and golden shields, from the armor of riders in golden belts,
a cloud rose up the color of amber, and the earth turned dark as ebony with dust.
Under the heavy maces the heads of chiefs became like the anvil and hammer of smiths.
You would say the river had turned into a winehouse of blood, and the air a reed-bed of spears.
Many a head was caught in the noose's snare, many a noble body was cast down in ruin.
Their shroud was armor, their bed was blood and dust, their pampered bodies torn by the sword.
The earth turned crimson, the day turned amber, the heavens and stars filled with the sound of drums.
Whether a world-seeking man wins the crown, or turns to dust on the day of battle,
he must leave this world unwillingly; what does it matter, the antidote or the poison?
I do not know what the end and outcome will be; over this passing away we can only weep.
There was a famous warrior named Arzhang, who had won renown in battle to the clouds.
He raised dust from the field of combat and sought several fights with the Iranians.
When Tus the commander saw him from afar, he roared and drew his sword from its sheath.
He said to the son of Zereh: what is your name? Which warrior of the Turks is your ally?
He answered: I am Arzhang the warrior, proud, a lion who stands his ground.
Now I will make the dust gleam with your blood and scatter your head across the battlefield.
When the son of Zereh's words came to an end, the general of Iran heard this speech.
For an answer he saw no need to delay: the keen blade that was in his hand,
he brought it down on the head and helmet of that warrior, so that his body could not hold his head at all.
From the Iranian army rose horns and drums: may the proud Tus be victorious!
Piran grieved for the army of Turan, for the battlefield was left empty of Turks.
The brave men of Turan and the champions drew their swords and heavy maces,
saying: let us all fight together and wage war, and make the world close in on the heart of Tus.
Human said: prepare for battle today, and do not let your hearts grow narrow with fear.
If some famous man among them rises from the ranks to challenge us,
we will send out a fierce warrior to meet him, and see which way fortune turns.
Do not rush hotly to war with them; just for today we must hold back.
The moment the army moves from its place and the drum sounds out from the royal tent,
we will all draw our maces together as one, and push forward from the riverbank.
We will make a hard, massed battle, if the Lord of the world and fortune stand with us.