Rustam and the Hidden Pits

When that ill-starred man left the city of Kabul, the king hurried toward that hunting ground. He had taken with him well diggers from among his men, whose names had been noted in that gathering. All across the hunting plain, beneath the paths, pits had been dug. They planted the butts of spears deep in the earth, along with javelins and vengeful swords. They covered the mouths of the blind pits with brushwood, so that no man's eye and no beast's eye could see them. When mighty Rustam set out to ride away, Shaghad sent a rider galloping ahead, saying: the elephant bodied hero has come without an army; go before him and beg his pardon. The lord of Kabul came out from the city, his tongue full of words, his heart full of hatred and poison. When his eyes fell upon Rustam's face, the moment he saw him he dismounted from his horse. He took the Indian scarf from his head, bared it, and placed his hands upon it in shame. He pulled the boots off his feet as well, and wept blood from his lashes in his grief. He pressed both cheeks to the dark earth, apologizing for what Shaghad had done, saying: if this servant got drunk and lost his senses, and in that drunkenness showed defiance, it would be right for you to forgive my sin, and renew for me my custom and my way. He walked before him with both feet bare, his head full of malice, his heart full of scheming. Rustam forgave his sin, and even raised his rank higher than before. He ordered him to cover his head and feet; then he mounted his saddle and rode off. Near the city of Kabul there was a place, made lovely by the greenness of its ground. It held springs and trees, and everywhere they gladly set out couches. The king brought much food and joyfully prepared a feasting ground. He brought wine and called the musicians, and seated the nobles upon the seat of honor. After that the king spoke to Rustam like this: since your banner has come to the hunting ground, I know a place upon this plain and mountain where game has gathered in every quarter. The whole plain is full of wild sheep, gazelle, and onager, for anyone who has a swift mount. Onager and gazelle come within his grasp on that plain; one should not pass by that delightful field. Rustam grew eager at his words, at that plain full of water and wild onager. When a person's fated hour comes upon them in some matter, their heart twists and their judgment goes blind. Such is the way of the world, this world; it will not lay its secrets open to us. The crocodile in the sea, the leopard on the plain, and the fierce clawed warrior lion, with the gnat and the elephant, all are alike in death's grip; being here is no shelter. He ordered Rakhsh to be saddled, and the whole plain filled with falcons and hawks. He strung his royal bow and rode out across the plain with Shaghad. Zavareh went along with the elephant bodied hero, together with a few of that renowned company. The party scattered to the hunt, some toward the dug ground, some toward the filled. Zavareh and mighty Rustam were on that road, for the sake of the hour that lay hidden in that pit. Rakhsh caught the scent from that soil and drew his body tight like a ball. He leaped and grew frightened at the smell of the earth, tearing the ground with his hooves. The swift Rakhsh took a step onto the path, and so came between two pits. Rustam's heart filled with anger at Rakhsh; fate had blinded the eyes of his reason. He raised a gentle whip and struck him well, warming Rakhsh's spirit. When the horse was pressed between the two pits, he sought a way out of the clutch of fate. Both his feet sank into one pit; there was no room to struggle or to fight. The bottom of the pit was full of spears and sharp blades; there was no place for courage and no road for escape. The mighty Rakhsh's flank was torn open, and so were the chest and legs of that great champion. With sheer strength he hauled his own body up, and brave as he was, climbed from the bottom of the pit.