Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/216

 a thousand horsemen, what was the result, and what he accomplished! Thou wilt find me the same: is not a lion enough to overthrow a thousand kids?

"If but a man survive of thy proud host, Brand me with coward--say I'm not a warrior.  Already have I triumphed o'er Kulbád,  And now I'll take thee prisoner, yea, alive!  And send thee to Káús--there thou wilt be  Slain to avenge the death of Saiáwush;  Túrán shall perish, and Afrásiyáb,  And every earthly hope extinguished quite." Hearing this awful threat, Pírán turned pale And shook with terror--trembling like a reed; And saying: "Go, I will not fight with thee!" But Gíw asked fiercely: "Why?" And on he rushed Against the foe, who fled--but 'twas in vain. The kamund round the old man's neck was thrown, And he was taken captive. Then his troops Showered their sharp arrows on triumphant Gíw, To free their master, who was quickly brought Before Kai-khosráu, and the kamund placed Within his royal hands. This service done, Gíw sped against the Tartars, and full soon Defeated and dispersed them.

On his return, Gíw expressed his astonishment that Pírán was still alive; when Ferangís interposed, and weeping, said how much she had been indebted to his interposition and the most active humanity on various occasions, and particularly in saving herself and Kai-khosráu from the wrath of Afrásiyáb after the death of Saiáwush. "If," said she, "after so much generosity he has committed one fault, let it be forgiven.

"Let not the man of many virtues die, For being guilty of one trifling error.  Let not the friend who nobly saved my life,  And more, the dearer life of Kai-khosráu,  Suffer from us. O, he must never, never,  Feel the sharp pang of foul ingratitude,  From a true prince of the Kaiánian race."

But Gíw paused, and said, "I have sworn to crimson the earth with his blood, and I must not pass from my oath." Khosráu then suggested to him to pierce the lobes of Pírán's ears, and drop the blood on the ground to stain it, in order that he might not depart from his word; and this humane fraud