=161. Indian Caucasus.= A lofty mountain range north of Cabool, which forms the boundary between Turkestan and Afghanistan.
=177. lion's heart.= Explain the line. Why are the terms here used so forcible in the mouth of Gudurz?
=178-183. Aloof he sits, etc.= One is reminded by Rustum's deportment here, of Achilles sulking in his tent and nursing his wrath against Agamemnon.--_Iliad_, Book I.
=199. sate.= Old form of "sat," common in poetry.
=200. falcon.= A kind of hawk trained to catch game birds.
=217. Iran.= The official name of Persia.
=221. Go to!= Hebraic expression. Frequently found in Shakespeare.
=223. Kai Khosroo.= According to the _Shah Nameh_, the thirteenth Turanian king. He reigned in the sixth century B.C., and has been identified with Cyrus the Great.
=230. Not that one slight helpless girl, etc.= See ll. 609-611, also introduction to the poem.
=232. snow-haired Zal.= According to tradition, Zal was born with snow-white hair. His father Lahm, believing this an ill omen, doomed the unfortunate babe to be exposed on the loftiest summit of the Elburz Mountains. The Simurgh, a great bird or griffin, found him and cared for him till grown, then restored him to his repentant parent. He subsequently married the Princess Rudabeh of Seistan, by whom he became father of Rustum.
=243-248. He spoke ... men.= Note carefully Gudurz's argument. Why so effective with Rustum?
=257. But I will fight unknown and in plain arms.= The shields and arms of the champions were emblazoned with mottoes and devices. Why does Rustum determine to lay aside his accustomed arms and fight incognito? What effect does this determination have upon the ultimate outcome of the situation? Read the story of the arming of Achilles (Book XIX., Homer's _Iliad_), and compare with Rustum's preparation for battle. [160]
"The clouds in thousand liveries dight." --MILTON. _L'Allegro,_ l. 62.
=286. Bahrein= or Aval. A group of islands in the Persian Gulf, celebrated for its pearl fisheries.
"And every shepherd tells his _tale_, Under the hawthorn in the dale." --MILTON. _L'Allegro,_ ll. 67-68.
=306. flowers.= Decorates, beautifies with floral designs.
=311. perused.= Studied, observed closely.
=318.= In a letter dated November, 1852, Mr. Arnold speaks of the figures in his poem as follows: "I can only say that I took a great deal of trouble to orientalize them, because I thought they looked strange, and jarred, if western." What is gained by their use?