Page:Man in the Panther's Skin.djvu/176

 shot and shouted, they mowed down beasts like standing corn.

957. He met a man, he asked him tidings of that host; he said: "Whose is this sound of trampling and stir?" He answered: "P'hridon the monarch, King of Mulghazanzar, hunts, he holds the edge of the sedgy plain engirt."

958. Matchless in mien he went towards the troops, he became merry, how can I ever tell the beauty of that knight! Those who are parted from him he makes to freeze, like the sun he burns them that are met with him; he renews, if they look on him, those who gaze, his form sways like a tree.

959. In the very midst of the hosts an eagle soared from somewhere. The knight urged on his horse, he emboldened himself, he feared not; he drew his bow and let the arrow fly; (the eagle) fell and blood flowed (from it); he dismounted and clipped its wings; calmly he remounted, he panted not.

960. When they saw him, the archers ceased to shoot; they broke the circle, they came, they pressed upon him, they fainted, from all sides they surrounded him, some followed behind. They dared not ask him: "Who art thou?" nor could they say aught to him.

961. In the meadow was a hill, on it stood P'hridon; forty men worthy to shoot with him attended him; thither Avt'handil made his way, after him followed the centre of the host. P'hridon marvelled. "What are they doing?" said he; he was angry with his armies.

962. P'hridon sent out a slave, saying: " Go, see the armies, what they are doing, why they have broken the circle, whither blind like they go." The slave swiftly reached them, he saw the cypress, the sapling form: he