114
FIRDUSI
That I may take that despot’s life;
And with my mace and javelin, flood
This dusty plain with foe-man’s blood.”
And with my mace and javelin, flood
This dusty plain with foe-man’s blood.”
Excited by his master’s cry,
The war-horse bounded o’er the plain,
So swiftly that he seemed to fly,
Snorting with pride, and tossing high
His streaming mane.
The war-horse bounded o’er the plain,
So swiftly that he seemed to fly,
Snorting with pride, and tossing high
His streaming mane.
And soon he reached that despot’s side,
“Now is the time!” the Champion cried,
“This is the hour to victory given,”
And flung his noose—which bound the king
Fast for a moment in its ring;
But soon, alas! the bond was riven.
“Now is the time!” the Champion cried,
“This is the hour to victory given,”
And flung his noose—which bound the king
Fast for a moment in its ring;
But soon, alas! the bond was riven.
Haply the Tartar-monarch slipt away,
Not doomed to suffer on that bloody day;
And freed from thrall, he hurrying led
His legions cross the boundary-stream,
Leaving his countless heaps of dead
To rot beneath the solar beam.
Not doomed to suffer on that bloody day;
And freed from thrall, he hurrying led
His legions cross the boundary-stream,
Leaving his countless heaps of dead
To rot beneath the solar beam.
Onward he rushed with heart opprest,
And broken fortunes; he had quaffed
Bright pleasure’s cup-but now, unblest,
Poison was mingled with the draught!
And broken fortunes; he had quaffed
Bright pleasure’s cup-but now, unblest,
Poison was mingled with the draught!
The booty in horses, treasure, armor, pavilions, and tents, was immense; and when the whole was secured, Rustem and his companions fell back to the sporting-grounds already mentioned, from whence he informed Kái-káús by letter of the victory that had been gained. After remaining two weeks there, resting from the toils of war and enjoying the pleasures of hunting, the party returned home to pay their respects to the Persian king:
And this is life! Thus conquest and defeat,
Vary the lights and shades of human scenes,
And human thought. Whilst some, immersed in pleasure,
Enjoy the sweets, others again endure
The miseries of the world. Hope is deceived
In this frail dwelling; certainty and safety
Are only dreams which mock the credulous mind;
Time sweeps o’er all things; why then should the wise
Mourn o’er events which roll resistless on,
And set at nought all mortal opposition?
Vary the lights and shades of human scenes,
And human thought. Whilst some, immersed in pleasure,
Enjoy the sweets, others again endure
The miseries of the world. Hope is deceived
In this frail dwelling; certainty and safety
Are only dreams which mock the credulous mind;
Time sweeps o’er all things; why then should the wise
Mourn o’er events which roll resistless on,
And set at nought all mortal opposition?
