immediately followed, and
Afrasiyab was not long in pursuing him. The Turanians at length came up
with Nauder, and attacked him with great vigor. The unfortunate king,
unable to parry the onset, fell into the hands of his enemies, together
with upwards of one thousand of his famous warriors.

Long fought they, Nauder and the Tartar-chief,
And the thick dust which rose from either host,
Darkened the rolling Heavens. Afrasiyab
Seized by the girdle-belt the Persian king,
And furious, dragged him from his foaming horse.
With him a thousand warriors, high in name,
Were taken on the field; and every legion,
Captured whilst flying from the victor's brand.

Such are the freaks of Fortune: friend and foe
Alternate wear the crown. The world itself
Is an ingenious juggler--every moment
Playing some novel trick; exalting one
In pomp and splendour, crushing down another,
As if in sport,--and death the end of all!

After the achievement of this victory Afrasiyab directed that Karun
should be pursued and attacked wherever he might be found; but when he
heard that he had hurried on for the protection of the shubistan, and
had conquered and slain Barman, he gnawed his hands with rage. The reign
of Nauder lasted only seven years. After him Afrasiyab was the master of
Persia.

AFRASIYAB

It has already been said that Shimasas and Khazervan were sent by
Afrasiyab with thirty thousand men against Kabul and Zabul, and when Zal
heard of this movement he forthwith united with Mihrab the chief of
Kabul, and having first collected a large army in Sistan, had a conflict
with the two Tartar generals.

Zal promptly donned himself in war attire,
And, mounted like a hero, to the field
Hastened, his soldiers frowning on their steeds.
Now Khazervan grasps his huge battle-axe,
And, his broad shield extending, at one blow
Shivers the mail of Zal, who calls aloud
As, like a lion, to the fight he springs,
Armed with his father's mace. Sternly he looks
And with the fury of a dragon, drives
The weapon through his adversary's head,
Staining the ground with streaks of blood, resembling
The waving stripes upon a tiger's back.

At this time Rustem was confined at home with the smallpox. Upon the
death of Khazervan, Shimasas thirsted to be revenged; but when Zal
meeting him raised his mace, and began to close, the chief became
alarmed and turned back, and all his squadrons followed his examp