English
Section 6
He commanded that loyal Qaran go back and carry the king's answer,
saying: This affair of ours has dragged on and grown hard; the talk has gone far beyond measure.
A man skilled and steady in battle does not linger so long when the fighting comes.
Now let us see whom the Lord of sun and moon will grant joy on this battlefield.
I do not want horses, gold, or treasure from you, for this fleeting inn of a world stays with no one.
By the might of the Creator who fashioned the world, by the crown of Kavus and the Lord who nurtures him,
I will give you no more time than a fierce autumn gale gives to a flower.
We have no need of wealth that was piled up through cruelty and injustice.
Whoever leans on God for strength keeps his heart and fortune smiling always.
Your land, your soil, your treasure and your army are mine; your throne and golden crown are mine as well.
Peshang came and demanded battle of me, armored but without army, wealth, or gain.
At dawn he is my guest; he will see how my sword scatters heads.
I want no one from the army of Iran to face him on the field of combat.
It is me, Shideh, the open plain, and a sharp sword; in the end I will raise a doomsday against him.
If I come out the victor in this fight, I will not stall the way you have described.
We will send roaring champions out from both sides, until the plain is filled with the color and scent of blood.
After that we will bring all the warriors together, hurling them into battle like a mountain.
When you have said this, tell Shideh: You reckless, ambitious lord,
you did not come here for your own desire, nor to seek out honor and a name,
nor for Afrasiyab's message; it was your own evil deeds that hurried you here.
The Lord of the world drove you out from the gathering; your grave will be right here, and your shroud with it.
Harm will reach you from that harmless head, one they slaughtered from its body like a sheep.
Qaran came galloping back from the king toward that black banner,
and told him everything he had heard, hiding nothing, good or bad.
Shideh went off to Afrasiyab, his heart roasting like meat set over fire.
The king of the Turks turned grim at the answer, grew sorrowful, and let out a sharp, hot sigh,
over the dream he had seen long ago and kept secret from everyone.
His head spun and his heart filled with dread; he knew a hard descent had come upon him.
He said: Tomorrow on this battlefield, no path will be found through the fallen men.
He told Shideh: From tomorrow morning, my son, do not speak of war for two days.
This coming battle has, it seems, broken my heart; I feel as if my very soul is being torn from my body.
The son said: King of the Turks and China, do not sicken your own heart on the day of vengeance.
When tomorrow the sun raises its banner and turns the face of the sky to gleaming violet,
it will be me, Khosrow, and the field of battle; I will raise a black dust storm against the king.