And when 'tis truce, then in Afrasiab's From their black tents, long files of horse, towns. they streamed: And played with it; but Gudurz came and stood Before him; and he looked, and saw him stand, And with a cry sprang up, and dropped the bird, And greeted Gudurz with both hands, and said: "Welcome! these eyes could see no better sight. 205 What news? but sit down first, and eat and drink." And I to tarry with the snow-haired Zal, My father, whom the robber Afghans vex, And clip his borders short, and drive his herds, And he has none to guard his weak old age. 235 There would I go, and hang my armor up, And with my great name fence that weak old man, And spend the goodly treasures I have got, And rest my age, and hear of Sohrab's fame, But Gudurz stood in the tent-door, and And leave to death the hosts of thankless said: kings, 240 So armed, he issued forth; and Ruksh, Sohrab come forth, and eyed him as he his horse, 270 Followed him like a faithful hound at heel came. As some rich woman, on a winter's morn, Ruksh, whose renown was noised through Eyes through her silken curtains the poor all the earth, "Ah me, I muse what this young fox may mean! False, wily, boastful, are these Tartar boys. For if I now confess this thing he asks, And hide it not, but say: Rustum is here! 350 He will not yield indeed, nor quit our foes, But he will find some pretext not to fight, And praise my fame, and proffer courteous gifts, A belt or sword perhaps, and go his way. And on a feast day, in Afrasiab's hall, 355 In Samarcand, he will arise and cry: 'I challenged once, when the two armies camped Beside the Oxus, all the Persian lords To cope with me in single fight; but they Shrank, only Rustum dared; then he and I 360 Changed gifts, and went on equal terms away.' And thou art proved, I know, and I am young But yet success sways with the breath of Heaven. And though thou thinkest that thou knowest sure Thy victory, yet thou canst not surely know. For we are all, like swimmers in the sea, 390 Poised on the top of a huge wave of fate, Which hangs uncertain to which side to fall. |