Part 16: Enough of War

The commander did what he judged best, and saw that his hand was too short for this battle. Now that Rustam has come, I have no ground to stand on; there is no choice but to retreat before him. I must go all the way to the borders of China, if there is any patch of earth left to hide me. They left his banner behind, and he himself fled, hurrying toward China and beyond. Army closed against army, and the ground turned dark like a black storm cloud. Then mighty Rustam called out: put aside the spear, the arrow, and the bow. Fight instead with sword and mace; show your skill hand to hand, up close. The leopard turns fierce with rage only when it sees its prey at its very pillow. The whole army raised a war cry and threw down their spears among the hills. The plain and the battlefield became so choked that no one could find a path through the slain. One group came begging for mercy; another fled in terror down the road. Like a flock without a shepherd they were ruined and scattered; the whole plain was strewn with bodies, without arm or shoulder. Rustam said: enough of killing, for each moment belongs to someone else. One moment fate brings a load of poison, the next it brings the cure. Take off all your battle gear, and do more and more good deeds. Why fix your heart on this passing lodging, where even the wise cannot tell one from five? One moment life comes at you like a demon in war, the next like a bride full of scent and color. Choose a life free of harm and a cup of wine; who would call a curse better than a blessing? Enjoy what you have and carry no grief, for the world is a passing inn and we are only travelers. Do not hurt anyone for the sake of coin; as long as you can, do no wrong to another. On that plain he searched out whatever was there, all the untouched gold and jewels. He sent it all to the king: the servants, the horses, the swords, and the crowns. He took his own share, keeping the diadems, the musk, and the ambergris. The rest of the spoils from that battlefield he divided among his troops. He sought word of the king of Turan; they searched everywhere, on roads and off them. But no trace of Afrasiab appeared, not on mountain or sea, not on dry land or water.