death-note awoke the trembling Afrasiyab, and he rose up, and fled in
dismay. Rustem and his companions rushed into the inner apartments, and
captured all the blooming damsels of the shubistan, and all the jewels
and golden ornaments which fell in their way. The moon-faced beauties
were sent to Zabul; but the jewels and other valuable property were
reserved for the king.

In the morning Afrasiyab hastily collected together his troops and
marched against Rustem, who, with Byzun and his thousand warriors, met
him on the plain prepared for battle. The champion challenged any one
who would come forward to single combat; but though frequently repeated,
no attention was paid to the call. At length Rustem said to
Afrasiyab:--"Art thou not ashamed to avoid a contest with so inferior
a force, a hundred thousand against one thousand? We two, and our
armies, have often met, and dost thou now shrink from the fight?" The
reproach had its effect,

For the tyrant at once, and his heroes, began
Their attack like the demons of Mazinderan.

But the valor and the bravery of Rustem were so eminently shown, that he
overthrew thousands of the enemy.

In the tempest of battle, disdaining all fear,
With his kamund, and khanjer, his garz, and shamshir,
How he bound, stabbed, and crushed, and dissevered the foe,
So mighty his arm, and so fatal his blow.

And so dreadful was the carnage, that Afrasiyab, unable to resist his
victorious career, was compelled to seek safety in flight.

The field was red with blood, the Tartar banners
Cast on the ground, and when, with grief, he saw
The face of Fortune turned, his cohorts slain,
He hurried back, and sought Turan again.

Rustem having obtained another triumph, returned to Iran with the spoils
of his conquest, and was again honored with the smiles and rewards of
his sovereign. Manijeh was not forgotten; she, too, received a present
worthy of the virtue and fidelity she had displayed, and of the
magnanimity of her spirit; and the happy conclusion of the enterprise
was celebrated with festivity and rejoicing.

BARZU, AND HIS CONFLICT WITH RUSTEM

Afrasiyab after his defeat pursued his way in despair towards Chin and
Ma-chin, and on the road happened to fall in with a man of huge and
terrific stature. Amazed at the sight of so extraordinary a being, he
asked him who and what he was. "I am a villager," replied the stranger.
"And thy father?"--"I do not know my father.