Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/100

62 The Tartars built there Peran-Wisa's tent,

A dome of laths, and o'er it felts were spread.

And Sohrab came there, and went in, and stood

Upon the thick piled carpets in the tent,

And found the old man sleeping on his bed

Of rugs and felts, and near him lay his arms.

And Peran-Wisa heard him, though the step

Was dulled; for he slept light, an old man's sleep;

And he rose quickly on one arm, and said,—

"Who art thou? for it is not yet clear dawn.

Speak! is there news, or any night alarm?"

But Sohrab came to the bedside, and said,—

"Thou know'st me, Peran-Wisa! it is I.

The sun has not yet risen, and the foe

Sleep: but I sleep not; all night long I lie

Tossing and wakeful, and I come to thee.

For so did King Afrasiab bid me seek

Thy counsel, and to heed thee as thy son,

In Samarcand, before the army marched;

And I will tell thee what my heart desires.

Thou know'st if, since from Ader-baijan first

I came among the Tartars, and bore arms,

I have still served Afrasiab well, and shown,

At my boy's years, the courage of a man.

This too thou know'st, that while I still bear on

The conquering Tartar ensigns through the world,

And beat the Persians back on every field,

I seek one man, one man, and one alone,—

Rustum, my father; who I hoped should greet,

Should one day greet, upon some well-fought field,

His not unworthy, not inglorious son.

So I long hoped, but him I never find.

Come then, hear now, and grant me what I ask.

Let the two armies rest to-day; but I