at length stretched him
lifeless on the sand. He then impelled Rakush towards the Turanian army,
and aided by Zal and Barzu, committed tremendous havoc among them.

So thick the arrows fell, helmet, and mail,
And shield, pierced through, looked like a field of reeds.

In the meantime Susen, the sorceress, escaped from the fort, and fled to
Afrasiyab.

Another cloud of dust spreading from earth to heaven, was observed in
the direction of Persia, and the waving banners becoming more distinct,
presently showed the approach of the king, Kai-khosrau.

The steely javelins sparkled in the sun,
Helmet and shield, and joyous seemed the sight.
Banners, all gorgeous, floating on the breeze,
And horns shrill echoing, and the tramp of steeds,
Proclaimed to dazzled eye and half-stunned ear,
The mighty preparation.

The hostile armies soon met, and there was a sanguinary conflict, but
the Turanians were obliged to give way. Upon this common result,
Piran-wisah declared to Afrasiyab that perseverance was as ridiculous as
unprofitable. "Our army has no heart, nor confidence, when opposed to
Rustem; how often have we been defeated by him--how often have we been
scattered like sheep before that lion in battle! We have just lost the
aid of Barzu, and now is it not deplorable to put any trust in the
dreams of a singing-girl, to accelerate on her account the ruin of the
country, and to hazard thy own personal safety.

"What! risk an empire on a woman's word!"

Afrasiyab replied, "So it is;" and instantly urged his horse into the
middle of the plain, where he loudly challenged Kai-khosrau to single
combat, saying, "Why should we uselessly shed the blood of our warriors
and people. Let us ourselves decide the day. God will give the triumph
to him who merits it." Kai-khosrau was ashamed to refuse this challenge,
and descending from his elephant, mounted his horse and prepared for the
onset. But his warriors seized the bridle, and would not allow him to
fight. He declared, however, that he would himself take revenge for the
blood of Saiawush, and struggled to overcome the friends who were
opposing his progress. "Forbear awhile," said Rustem, "Afrasiyab is
expert in all the arts of the warrior, fighting with the sword, the
dagger, in archery, and wrestling. When I wrestled with him, and held
him down, he could not have escaped, excepting by the exercise of the
most consummate dexterity. Allow thy warriors to fight for t