Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/105

Rh And crossed the camp which lay behind, and reached,

Out on the sands beyond it, Rustum's tents.

Of scarlet cloth they were, and glittering gay,

Just pitched; the high pavilion in the midst

Was Rustum's, and his men lay camped around.

And Gudurz entered Rustum's tent, and found

Rustum; his morning meal was done, but still

The table stood before him, charged with food,—

A side of roasted sheep, and cakes of bread,

And dark-green melons; and there Rustum sate

Listless, and held a falcon on his wrist,

And played with it; but Gudurz came and stood

Before him; and he looked, and saw him stand,

And with a cry sprang up, and dropped the bird,

And greeted Gudurz with both hands, and said,—

"Welcome! these eyes could see no better sight.

What news? but sit down first, and eat and drink."

But Gudurz stood in the tent-door, and said,—

"Not now. A time will come to eat and drink,

But not to-day: to-day has other needs.

The armies are drawn out, and stand at gaze;

For, from the Tartars is a challenge brought

To pick a champion from the Persian lords

To fight their champion—and thou know'st his name:

Sohrab men call him, but his birth is hid.

O Rustum, like thy might is this young man's!

He has the wild stag's foot, the lion's heart;

And he is young, and Iran's chiefs are old,

Or else too weak; and all eyes turn to thee.

Come down and help us, Rustum, or we lose!"

He spoke; but Rustum answered with a smile,—

"Go to! if Iran's chiefs are old, then I

Am older. If the young are weak, the king

Errs strangely; for the king, for Kai Khosroo,