English
Section 16: The Eve Before the Duel
They set out, and the sky above turned dark; even the heavens were stunned by Sohrab.
You would think the sky was made of his fury, never resting from the charge for a moment.
Even if his mount had iron beneath it, still, wondrous is his spirit and his body seems cast in bronze.
The dark night came, and he returned to his army, his body worn from battle and the dagger's work.
He said to Human: today the sun rose and filled the world with clashing and uproar.
What did that bold rider do to you, the one with a hero's shoulders and a lion's charge?
Human answered him: the king's command was that the army should not stir from here.
All our arrangements were badly off; how could battle even have begun?
A single warlike man came forward and set his face against this vast army.
You would think he had risen fresh from wine, or that he had come dressed for single combat.
Sohrab said: from this army, he brought down none of the champions to ruin.
I have killed many of the Iranians; I have soaked the earth with blood and mire.
Now the feast should be spread; we must ease the grief from our hearts with wine.
On the other side, Rostam surveyed the army and talked it over with Giv, speaking and listening.
He asked how Sohrab, that battle-tester, set foot into the fight today.
Brave Giv said to Rostam: we have never seen a warrior like this before.
He came thundering to the heart of the army and sought vengeance against Tus from the ranks.
Tus was on his saddle, lance in hand; when Gorgin dismounted, Tus took his place.
Sohrab came, and when he saw him with his lance, he roared like a raging lion.
He struck a curved mace against his chest; the blow's force sent the helmet flying from his head.
Tus could not stand against him and turned away; many of our champions rose to fight.
Not one of the warriors had his mettle; none matched his rank except the mighty Rostam.
We kept to our old custom and set a simple line of soldiers against him.
No rider dared face him alone; he charged from the center to the right flank.
Rostam grew troubled at Giv's report and set out toward King Kavus.
When King Kavus saw the champion, he seated him at his own side.
Rostam spoke of Sohrab, describing his height and his broad frame.
He said: no one in the world has ever seen such lion-hearted courage in an untried boy.
In stature he seems to touch the stars, and his body could crush the very earth.
His two arms and thighs are thicker, it seems, than the flanks of a war camel.
With mace and sword, with arrow and lasso, I tested him in every kind of contest.
At last I told myself: before this I have lifted many a champion clean out of his saddle.
I gripped the strap of his belt and pressed hard on his sturdy frame.
I meant to tear him from his saddle and throw him to the dust like all the others.
Even if a thorny mountain would sway in the wind, that renowned one did not budge on his saddle.
When tomorrow comes to the field of battle, I must find my remedy in wrestling.
I will strive, but I do not know who will win; let us see what God intends.
For from Him come victory and glory and strength; He is the maker of the moon and the sun.
Kavus said to him: may the pure God rip the heart of your ill-wisher to shreds.
Tonight I will press both my cheeks long against the ground before the Creator of the world.
For from Him come victory and dominion; by His command the moon shines from the sky.
May He renew your desire this time and raise your name up to the sun.
Rostam replied: with the king's good fortune, every wish of a well-wisher comes true.
He set out toward his own camp, his mind full of thought and his head bent on vengeance.
Zavareh came with an anxious heart, asking how the champion had fared that day.
First Rostam asked for food, then he washed the worries from his heart.
He spoke these words to his brother: keep your mind alert and do not act rashly.
At dawn, when I go to the battlefield to face that Turk who demands single combat,
bring out my army and my banner, my throne and my golden boots.
Stay before the royal tent as the shining sun climbs into place.
If I turn out to be victorious in the fight, I will not linger on the battlefield.
But if things should turn out otherwise, do not begin your mourning and do not act rashly.
Let not one man stay on this battleground; make no move to head into the fight.
One by one, go toward Zabolestan; from here go on to Dastan, my father.
You must console my mother's heart; tell her this is the fate God set upon my head.
Tell her: do not tie your heart to me, for it does you no good to be grief-stricken.
No one in this world remains forever; I have no special claim to escape the sky's turning.
Many a lion and demon, panther and dragon fell ruined in my grip in the hour of battle.
Many a wall and fortress we have leveled; no one ever brought my hand beneath his own.
Whoever sets foot in the stirrup and rides forth from his place knocks upon the door of death.
Even if the years passed beyond a thousand, the end of it all would still be just this.
When she has grown resigned, tell Dastan: do not turn your face from the king of the world.
If he calls you to war, do not be slack; do as he says, down to the last word.
We are all bound for death, old and young; no one in this world remains forever.
It is said Sohrab was awake through half the night; the other half was rest and sleep.