Page:Persian Literature (1900), vol. 1.djvu/300

 in framing a reply; but Zerdusht observed, that the only reply was obvious--nothing but war could be thought of. At this moment Isfendiyár gallantly offered to lead the army, but Zarír, his uncle, objected to him on account of his extreme youth, and proposed to take the command himself, which Gushtásp agreed to, and the two demon-envoys were dismissed. The answer was briefly as follows:--

"Thy boast is that thou wilt in two short months Ravage my country, scathe with fire and sword  The empire of Irán; but on thyself  Heap not destruction; pause before thy pride  Hurries thee to thy ruin. I will open  The countless treasures of the realm; my warriors,  A thousand thousand, armed with shining steel,  Shall overrun thy kingdom; I myself  Will crush that head of thine beneath my feet."

The result of these menaces was the immediate prosecution of the war, and no time was lost by Arjásp in hastening into Irán.

Plunder and devastation marked his course, The villages were all involved in flames, Palace of pride, low cot, and lofty tower; The trees dug up, and root and branch destroyed. Gushtásp then hastened to repel his foes; But to his legions they seemed wild and strange, And terrible in aspect, and no light Could struggle through the gloom they had diffused, To hide their progress.

Zerdusht said to Gushtásp, "Ask thy vizir, Jamásp, what is written in thy horoscope, that he may relate to thee the dispensations of heaven." Jamásp, in reply to the inquiry, took the king aside and whispered softly to him: "A great number of thy brethren, thy relations, and warriors will be slain in the conflict, but in the end thou wilt be victorious." Gushtásp deeply lamented the coming event, which involved the destruction of his kinsmen, but did not shrink from the battle, for he exulted in the anticipation of obtaining the victory. The contest was begun with indescribable eagerness and impetuosity.

Approaching, each a prayer addrest To Heaven, and thundering forward prest;