th terror, and behind a tree
Shielded himself, but nothing could avail;
The arrow pierced both tree and him, and they
Were thus transfixed together--thus the hour
Of death afforded one bright gleam of joy
To Rustem, who, with lifted eyes to Heaven,
Exclaimed: "Thanksgivings to the great Creator,
For granting me the power, with my own hand,
To be revenged upon my murderer!"
So saying, the great champion breathed his last,
And not a knightly follower remained,
Zuara, and the rest, in other pits,
Dug by the traitor-king, and traitor-brother,
Had sunk and perished, all, save one, who fled,
And to the afflicted veteran at Sistan
Told the sad tidings. Zal, in agony,
Tore his white hair, and wildly rent his garments,
And cried: "Why did not I die for him, why
Was I not present, fighting by his side?
But he, alas! is gone! Oh! gone forever."

Then the old man despatched Feramurz with a numerous force to Kabul, to
bring away the dead body of Rustem. Upon his approach, the king of Kabul
and his army retired to the mountains, and Feramurz laid waste the
country. He found only the skeletons of Rustem and Zuara, the beasts of
prey having stripped them of their flesh: he however gathered the bones
together and conveyed them home and buried them, amidst the lamentations
of the people. After that, he returned to Kabul with his army, and
encountered the king, captured the cruel wretch, and carried him to
Sistan, where he was put to death.

Gushtasp having become old and infirm, bequeathed his empire to Bahman,
and then died. He reigned one hundred and eight years.

BAHMAN

Bahman, the grandson of Gushtasp, having at the commencement of his
sovereignty obtained the approbation of his people, by the clemency of
his conduct and the apparent generosity of his disposition, was not long
in meditating vindictive measures against the family of Rustem. "Did not
Kai-khosrau," said he to his warriors, "revenge himself on Afrasiyab for
the murder of Saiawush; and have not all my glorious ancestors pursued a
similar course? Why, then, should not I be revenged on the father of
Rustem for the death of Isfendiyar?" The warriors, as usual, approved of
the king's resolution, and in consequence one hundred thousand veteran
troops were assembled for the immediate invasion of Sistan. When Bahman
had arrived on the borders of the river Behermund, he sent a message to
Zal, frankly declaring his purpose, and