English
Section 6
After that the army rested for two days, and on the third, when the sun that lights the world rose bright,
the king had no chance to fight, yet out of desperation he had to make war.
Facing Nozar's army stood Afrasiab, like a boiling sea, his forces a flooding river.
From the royal pavilion came a roar, mingled with the wail of war drums and Indian bells.
The kettledrum sounded from the king's court, and they set helmets of iron on their heads.
In the pavilion of the brave Afrasiab, no head found rest in sleep.
All night long the army prepared, sharpening their swords and javelins.
From mountain to mountain the armored men marched out with heavy maces.
The mountains were lost among the sand and rocks; from sea to sea they stretched their measuring lines.
Qaren took his place in the center, to stand as a pillar for the army beside the king.
On the king's left rose the warrior Taliman, and on the right stood the tireless Shapur.
From dawn until the sun wheeled across the sky, no mountain, sea, or plain could be seen.
You'd say the heart of every sword swelled with joy, while the earth beneath the horses groaned aloud.
When the spears cast their shadows over the ground, a breach opened toward the heart of the host.
When darkness fell upon their fortune, the Turks gained the upper hand over them.
On the side where tireless Shapur stood, whatever had been massed was scattered.
Shapur held on until he was killed, and the fortune of the Iranians was overturned.
Pressed by the throng of war seeking Turks, they turned their faces toward Dehestan.
Day and night there was fighting at its passes, and this too dragged on for some while.
When Nozar withdrew into the fortress, the road for mounted battle was closed to him.
Afrasiab arranged his horsemen; his haste for battle turned to a pause.
He called to mind a renowned Turk, a commander named Karokhan of the Visa line.
He ordered him to march toward Pars, taking the road through the desert.
For on that side lay the Iranians' baggage and families; let this vile man seek out the baggage.
When Qaren heard that Afrasiab had dispatched an army at the hour of sleep,
he boiled with fury, his heart tightened, and he came to Nozar like a raging leopard.
He said: that dishonorable man, the king of Turan, look what he has done to the king of Iran.
Toward the veiled women of our army he has sent a countless force on the road.
If he seizes the household of Magar, he will bring ruin upon these famous men.
Our heads will sink into shame; someone must ride after Karokhan.
You have food and running water, and an army whose souls hold love for you.
Stay here and do not trouble your heart, for courage befits a king.
Now I will go after this army and block their every path.
Nozar said to him: this is not wise; the army has no commander like you.
Gostaham and Tus went after the baggage the moment the drum's voice arose.
They will reach the household soon and set their affairs in order, as is right.
They sat at the table and called for wine, and for a while cleared their hearts of sorrow.
Then they went to Qaren's tent, their eyes weeping like the clouds of winter.
They weighed the matter from every angle and finally settled on one plan:
that they must set out for Pars and not linger in this place.
For if the veiled women of Iran's army become captives to the cruel enemy,
who then would take up a spear on this plain, and who would find any rest or place to sit?
So Shidush and Keshvad and Qaren together debated this plan, its greater and lesser points.
When half of the long night had passed, the brave men prepared to set out.
On this side Gazhdaham guarded the fort, with vigilant warriors beside him.
And on that side of the fort stood Barman with his army, waiting on the road with drums and elephants.
By whose hand the warrior Qaren had been wounded, so he had girded himself to avenge his brother's blood.
He fell upon Barman like a lion, giving him no time to seek escape.
He drove a spear into his belt so hard that it tore apart his frame and every joint.
The whole enemy army was crushed in spirit; each man broke away from the next.
The commander set his face toward Pars, together with the renowned, war seeking army.