English
Part 7
He settled the army and set down the baggage, and often called to mind the ones who had fallen.
So the days and nights kept passing, with hearts full of grief and lips that had not tasted food.
Every eye brimming with blood, every heart branded, worn down until their souls were as dark as a crow's feather.
When he drew near Mount Hamavan, he led the army onto that mountain's skirt.
The commander Tus said to Giv: You, wise and famous champion.
For three days you have ridden hard like this, without pausing to sleep or eat.
Come, rest, take some food, take off your armor and give yourself some ease.
For I have no doubt Piran means to fight; he will come after us now without delay.
Whoever among this group is the more rested, leave to Bizhan, and you go up the mountain.
He drew all the wounded up toward the peak, and from those still fresh he chose a force.
He said: This mountaintop is our place; now we must set ourselves in order.
The vanguard came down from the mountain to the plain, so that none could slip past against them.
The watchmen's shouts and the ring of bells: you would think the very rock had begun to boil.
Just then the sun rose in the sky, and the world became like a sea of light.
From Piran's court a great clamor rose, as if the earth itself had begun to seethe.
He said to Human: Now, for the fight, we surely must not wait too long.
The enemy's riders are all slain, or, wounded, they have turned back from the battle.
He struck the war drum and an uproar rose from the plain; the vanguard moved out ahead of the army.
The Turks reached that battlefield, and found the whole field only tents, without any troops.
A messenger went to Piran with the news that there was no Iranian army left there.
A shout of joy rose from the army, and they turned their ears to Piran's command.
The commander said to his wise men: You renowned and skillful counselors.
What shall we do, what is your judgment on this, now that the place stands empty of the enemy?
The army's riders, old and young alike, all spoke eagerly to their chief.
That their army has fled before us; defeat has fallen on our ill wisher.
A battlefield full of blood and dust: from them there is no cause now for fear or dread.
We must set out in pursuit of the enemy; it would be strange indeed if you were to linger.
One who flees before the wind ends up in the water; better to hurry now than to hang back.
Piran said: In time of war, the foot of haste grows weak from delay.
An army like a sea of water has gathered before Afrasiab.
Let us wait until that great host, the heroes and warriors, arrives.
After that we will leave not a single man alive in Iran; this alone is the counsel of the wise.
Human said to him: O chief, do not trouble your soul so much over this matter.
An army of such force, such fury and fierce breath that the sea's face grew grim before it.
Now their tents, their thrones, their royal pavilions all stand abandoned, and they have fled the field.
Know that their flight comes from helplessness; showing us their backs is nothing but utter surrender.
Let us not allow them to reach Khosrow and gather a fresh army at his court.
Rostam will come from Zabolestan to fight; from this delay a dreadful loss would come.
Now is the time to make ready and to charge, to devise strategies and cunning tricks.
So that Gudarz, along with the commander Tus, the royal banner, the war elephants and drums.
We may seize them all without doubt; harm will come if we linger here.
The chief answered him: Be sharp of mind and clear of soul.
Do as your good fortune and judgment tell you, for the turning heaven is beneath your wing.
Then the army set out on its way, the commander Piran and the host of Turan.
He ordered Lahhak: Do not stop now; turn your reins with two hundred riders.
He said to him: Do not loosen the belt from your waist; go and see where the Iranians are.
Lahhak rode off like the wind, giving no thought to sleep or food.
When half the dark night had passed, he saw the vanguard on the shadowed plain.
A shout came from the mountain and the ring of bells; Lahhak saw no place to linger.
He came back to Piran by the road and gave him word of the Iranian army.
That they are on Mount Hamavan, and have blocked the road ahead against any harm.
Piran ordered Human: Quickly, your reins and stirrup must be put to use.
Take with you as many riders as needed, from the proud and renowned champions.
For the Iranians, with banner and army, have taken refuge on Mount Hamavan.
This battle will bring hardship now; sharpen your wits and find a remedy for the task.
If you can capture that man with the Kaviani banner, their faces will turn purple with despair.
If you get the chance with your keen sword, cut the banner and all their spears to pieces.
I will come up behind, roaring like the wind, and lose no moment of time.
Human chose from the army thirty thousand riders, shield bearers and swordsmen.
When the shining sun raised its crown and spread camphor over its ivory throne.
From afar the army's dust appeared, and the watchman's cry came from the lookout.
That a Turkish army had appeared, their dust raised up like a black cloud.
When Tus heard it he put on his mail; the horns sounded and the drums roared out.
The riders of Iran, all together, drew up their ranks before the mountain.
When Human saw that great army, and the chiefs' hefting of mace and blade.
Human said to Gudarz and Tus: You came out of Iran with elephants and drums.
To take vengeance on the land of the Turks, to drive your army out that way.
Now you have picked out this like mountain prey; you have grown worn out by the champions of Turan.
Does no shame or disgrace come to you from this? Eating, sleeping, resting on rock and stone.
When the sun rises over the mountain tomorrow, I will turn this stronghold of yours into a sea of water.
You will know this is a place of helplessness; on this hard granite peak you will have to weep.
He quickly sent a swift camel to Piran: My thinking has turned out otherwise.
What we had planned has turned out different; we were preparing to charge upon them.
The whole mountain is one mass of army and drums, with banners rising behind Gudarz and Tus.
Arrange it so that when daybreak breaks and the world lighting sun appears from the sky.
You will be here, drawn up with your army, and the face of the plain will be black with troops.