Rakush secures. Meanwhile the furious mare
Attacks him, eager with her pointed teeth
To crush his brain--but, stunned by his loud cry,
She stops in wonder. Then with clenched hand
He smites her on the head and neck, and down
She tumbles, struggling in the pangs of death.

Rakush, however, though with the noose round his neck, was not so easily
subdued; but kept dragging and pulling Rustem, as if by a tether, and it
was a considerable time before the animal could be reduced to
subjection. At last, Rustem thanked Heaven that he had obtained the very
horse he wanted.

"Now am I with my horse prepared to join
The field of warriors!" Thus the hero said,
And placed the saddle on his charger. Zál
Beheld him with delight,--his withered heart
Glowing with summer freshness. Open then
He threw his treasury--thoughtless of the past
Or future--present joy absorbing all
His faculties, and thrilling every nerve.

In a short time Zál sent Rustem with a prodigious army against
Afrásiyáb, and two days afterwards set off himself and joined his son.
Afrásiyáb said, "The son is but a boy, and the father is old; I shall
have no difficulty in recovering the empire of Persia." These
observations having reached Zál, he pondered deeply, considering that
Garshásp would not be able to contend against Afrásiyáb, and that no
other prince of the race of Feridún was known to be in existence.
However, he despatched people in every quarter to gather information on