"Is praise like this to Rustem due? And what, if all thou say'st be true? Are his large limbs of iron made? Will they resist my trenchant blade? His head may now his shoulders grace, But will it long retain its place? Let me but meet him in the fight, And thou shalt see Kamus's might!" Pírán's spirits rose at this bold speech, and encouraged by its effects, he repaired to the Khakán of Chín, with whom he settled the necessary arrangements for commencing battle on the following day. Early in the morning the different armies under Kámús, the Khakán, and Pírán-wísah, were drawn out, and Rustem was also prepared with the troops under his command for the impending conflict. He saw that the force arrayed against him was prodigious, and most tremendous in aspect; and offering a prayer to the Creator, he plunged into the battle. 'Twas at mid-day the strife began, With steed to steed and man to man; The clouds of dust which rolled on high, Threw darkness o'er the earth and sky. Each soldier on the other rushed, And every blade with crimson blushed; And valiant hearts were trod upon, Like sand beneath the horse's feet, And when the warrior's life was gone, His mail became his winding sheet. The first leader who advanced conspicuously from among the Tartar army was Ushkabús, against whom Rehám boldly opposed himself; but after a short conflict, in which he had some difficulty in defending his life from the assaults of his antagonist, he thought it prudent to retire. When Ushkabús saw this he turned round with the intention of rejoining his own troops; but Rustem having witnessed the triumph over his friend, sallied forth on foot, taking up his bow, and placing a few arrows in his girdle, and asked him whither he was going.