t Human came up,
and said: "O, king! do not bring thyself into jeopardy by contending
against a person of no account; thy proper adversary is Kai-khosrau, and
not him, for if thou gainest the victory, it can only be a victory over
a fatherless soldier, and if thou art killed, the whole of Turan will be
at the feet of Persia." Both Piran and Human dissuaded the king from
continuing the engagement singly, and directed the Turanians to commence
a general attack. Afrasiyab told them that if Barzu was not slain, it
would be a great misfortune to their country; in consequence, they
surrounded him, and inflicted on him many severe wounds. But Rustem and
Feramurz, beholding the dilemma into which Barzu was thrown, hastened to
his support, and many of the enemy were killed by them, and great
carnage followed the advance of the Persian army.

The noise of clashing swords, and ponderous maces
Ringing upon the iron mail, seemed like
The busy work-shop of an armorer;
Tumultuous as the sea the field appeared,
All crimsoned with the blood of heroes slain.

Kai-khosrau himself hurried to the assistance of Barzu, and the powerful
force which he brought along with him soon put the Turanians to flight.
Afrasiyab too made his escape in the confusion that prevailed. The king
wished to pursue the enemy, but Rustem observed that their defeat and
dispersion was enough. The battle having ceased, and the army being in
the neighborhood of Sistan, the champion solicited permission to return
to his home; "for I am now," said he, "four hundred years old, and
require a little rest. In the meantime Feramurz and Barzu may take my
place." The king consented, and distributing his favors to each of his
distinguished warriors for their prodigious exertions, left Zal and
Rustem to proceed to Sistan, and returned to the capital of his kingdom.

THE EXPEDITION OF GUDARZ

The overthrow of the sovereign of Turan had only a temporary effect, as
it was not long before he was enabled to collect further supplies, and
another army for the defence of his kingdom; and Kai-khosrau's ambition
to reduce the power of his rival being animated by new hopes of success,
another expedition was entrusted to the command of Gudarz. Rustem, he
said, had done his duty in repeated campaigns against Afrasiyab, and the
extraordinary gallantry and wisdom with which they were conducted,
entitled him to the highest applause. "It is now, Gudarz, thy turn to
vanquish the