enemy." Accordingly Gudarz, accompanied by Giw, and Tus,
and Byzun, and an immense army, proceeded towards Turan. Feramurz was
directed previously to invade and conquer Hindustan, and from thence to
march to the borders of Chin and Ma-chin, for the purpose of uniting and
co-operating with the army under Gudarz, and, finally, to capture
Afrasiyab.

As soon as it was known in Turan that Gudarz was in motion to resume
hostilities against the king, Human was appointed with a large force to
resist his progress, and a second army of reserve was gathered together
under the command of Piran. The first conflict which occurred was
between the troops of Gudarz and Human. Gudarz directed Byzun to attack
Human. The two chiefs joined in battle, when Human fell under the sword
of his adversary, and his army, being defeated, retired, and united in
the rear with the legions of Piran. The enemy thus became of formidable
strength, and in consequence it was thought proper to communicate the
inequality to Kai-khosrau, that reinforcements might be sent without
loss of time. The king immediately complied, and also wrote to Sistan to
request the aid of Rustem. The war lasted two years, the army on each
side being continually recruited as necessity required, so that the
numbers were regularly kept up, till a great battle took place, in which
the venerable Piran was killed, and nearly the whole of his army
destroyed. This victory was obtained without the assistance of Rustem,
who, notwithstanding the message of the king, had still remained in
Sistan. The loss of Piran, the counsellor and warrior, proved to be a
great affliction to Afrasiyab: he felt as if his whole support was taken
away, and deemed it the signal of approaching ruin to his cause.

"Thou wert my refuge, thou my friend and brother;
Wise in thy counsel, gallant in the field,
My monitor and guide--and thou art gone!
The glory of my kingdom is eclipsed,
Since thou hast vanished from this world, and left me
All wretched to myself. But food, nor sleep
Nor rest will I indulge in, till just vengeance
Has been inflicted on the cruel foe."

When the news of Piran's death reached Kai-khosrau, he rapidly marched
forward, crossed the Jihun without delay, and passed through Samerkand
and Bokhara, to encounter the Turanians. Afrasiyab, in the meantime, had
not been neglectful. He had all his hidden treasure dug up, with which
he assembled a prodigious army, and appointed hi