night;
And thus he said: "Why didst thou, why didst _thou_
In power supreme, without pretence of guilt,
With thy own hand his precious life destroy?
Why hast thou shed thy innocent brother's blood?
In this life thou art nothing now to me;
Away, I must not see thy face again."

Afrasiyab continued offensive and despicable in the mind of his father
till he heard that Garshasp was unequal to rule over Persia, and then
thinking he could turn the warlike spirit of Afrasiyab to advantage, he
forgave the crime of his son. He forthwith collected an immense army,
and sent him again to effect the conquest of Iran, under the pretext of
avenging the death of Silim and Tur.

Afrasiyab a mighty army raised,
And passing plain and river, mountain high,
And desert wild, filled all the Persian realm
With consternation, universal dread.

The chief authorities of the country applied to Zal as their only remedy
against the invasion of Afrasiyab.

They said to Zal, "How easy is the task
For thee to grasp the world--then, since thou canst
Afford us succour, yield the blessing now;
For, lo! the King Afrasiyab has come,
In all his power and overwhelming might."

Zal replied that he had on this occasion appointed Rustem to command the
army, and to oppose the invasion of Afrasiyab.

And thus the warrior Zal to Rustem spoke--
"Strong as an elephant thou art, my son,
Surpassing thy companions, and I now
Forewarn thee that a difficult emprize,
Hostile to ease or sleep, demands thy care.
'Tis true, of battles thou canst nothing know,
But what am I to do? This is no time
For banquetting, and yet thy lips still breathe
The scent of milk, a proof of infancy;
Thy heart pants after gladness and the sweet
Endearments of domestic life; can I
Then send thee to the war to cope with heroes
Burning with wrath and vengeance?" Rustem said--
"Mistake me not, I have no wish, not I,
For soft endearments, nor domestic life,
Nor home-felt joys. This chest, these nervous limbs,
Denote far other objects of pursuit,
Than a luxurious life of ease and pleasure."

Zal having taken great pains in the instruction of Rustem in warlike
exercises, and the rules of battle, found infinite aptitude in the boy,
and his activity and skill seemed to be superior to his own. He thanked
God for the comfort it gave him, and was glad. Then Rustem asked his
father for a suitable mace; and seeing the huge wea