grandson," he said, "who refuses to do this act of justice, is unworthy
of his family. There is nothing to apprehend from the efforts of Nauder,
who is an inexperienced youth, nor from the valor of his warriors.
Afrásiyáb is brave and powerful in war, and thou must accompany him and
share the glory." After this no further observation was offered, and the
martial preparations were completed.



AFRÁSIYÁB MARCHES AGAINST NAUDER

The brazen drums on the elephants were sounded as the signal of
departure, and the army proceeded rapidly to its destination,
overshadowing the earth in its progress. Afrásiyáb had penetrated as far
as the Jihún before Nauder was aware of his approach. Upon receiving
this intelligence of the activity of the enemy, the warriors of the
Persian army immediately moved in that direction, and on their arrival
at Dehstán, prepared for battle.

Afrásiyáb despatched thirty thousand of his troops under the command of
Shimasás and Khazerván to Zábulistán, to act against Zál, having heard
on his march of the death of the illustrious Sám, and advanced himself
upon Dehstán with four hundred thousand soldiers, covering the ground
like swarms of ants and locusts. He soon discovered that Nauder's forces
did not exceed one hundred and forty thousand men, and wrote to Poshang,
his father, in high spirits, especially on account of not having to
contend against Sám, the warrior, and informed him that he had detached
Shimasás against Zábulistán. When the armies had approached to within
two leagues of each other, Bármán, one of the Túránian chiefs, offered
to challenge any one of the enemy to single combat: but Aghríras