Meantime Sohráb, perceiving the delay In Zind's return, looked round him with dismay; The seat still vacant--but the bitter truth, Full soon was known to the distracted youth; Full soon he found that Zinda-ruzm was gone, His day of feasting and of glory done; Speedful towards the fatal spot he ran, Where slept in bloody vest the slaughtered man.
The lighted torches now displayed the dead, Stiff on the ground his graceful limbs were spread; Sad sight to him who knew his guardian care, Now doom'd a kinsman's early loss to bear; Anguish and rage devour his breast by turns, He vows revenge, then o'er the warrior mourns: And thus exclaims to each afflicted Chief:-- "No time, to-night, my friends, for useless grief; The ravenous wolf has watched his helpless prey, Sprung o'er the fold, and borne its flower away; But if the heavens my lifted arm befriend, Upon the guilty shall my wrath descend-- Unsheathed, this sword shall dire revenge pursue, And Persian blood the thirsty land bedew." Frowning he paused, and check'd the spreading woe, Resumed the feast, and bid the wine-cup flow!
The valiant Gíw was sentinel that night, And marking dimly by the dubious light, A warrior form approach, he claps his hands, With naked sword and lifted shield he stands, To front the foe; but Rustem now appears, And Gíw the secret tale astonished hears; From thence the Champion on the Monarch waits. The power and splendour of Sohráb relates: "Circled by Chiefs this glorious youth was seen, Of lofty stature and majestic mien; No Tartar region gave the hero birth: Some happier portion of the spacious earth; Tall, as the graceful cypress he appears; Like Sám, the brave, his warrior-front he rears!" Then having told how, while the banquet shone, Unhappy Zind had sunk, without a groan; He forms his conquering bands in close array, And, cheer'd by wine, awaits the coming day.
When now the Sun his golden buckler raised, And genial light through heaven diffusive blazed, Sohráb in mail his nervous limbs attired, For dreadful wrath his soul to vengeance fired; With anxious haste he bent the yielding cord, Ring within ring, more fateful than the sword; Around his brows a regal helm he bound; His dappled steed impatient stampt the ground. Thus armed, ascending where the eye could trace The hostile force, and mark each leader's place, He called Hujír, the captive Chief addressed, And anxious thus, his soul's desire expressed: "A prisoner thou, if freedom's voice can charm, And dungeon darkness fill thee with alarm, That freedom merit, shun severest woe, And truly answer what I ask to know! If rigid truth thy ready speech attend, Honours and wealth shall dignify my friend."