Following the tragic death of Rivniz, Tus turned to his own brave son Zarasp, urging him to kindle his heart like the sacred fire of Adar Gushasp. He bade him don warrior's steel, guard his life, and ride forth to avenge his fallen kin. Zarasp strapped on his helmet, his heart surging with vengeance, and spurred his horse forward like a leaping flame toward the mountain citadel.
From the heights above, young Prince Forud observed the approaching champion and asked Tokhar to identify this new warrior. Tokhar recognized him at once as Zarasp, the valiant son of Tus and brother-in-law to Rivniz—a warrior so formidable he would never turn his horse away even from a war elephant. Tokhar warned Forud that time was short: he must loose a deadly poplar shaft at once, pinning the champion to his mount so that the reckless commander Tus would understand the deadly peril of Sepid-Kuh.
Forud drew his bow to its full arc and released a lightning shaft. The arrow struck Zarasp full in the waist, stitching his flesh to the wooden pommel of his saddle. Zarasp fell lifeless to the earth as his riderless steed galloped wildly back to the Iranian camp. A lamentation erupted among the Iranian host, and warriors removed their helmets in mourning. Filled with grief and burning fury, Tus wept bitterly, then hastily strapped on his armor. Mounting his warhorse like a towering mountain, he turned his reins toward Forud, his mind consumed by terrible vengeance.
#1
چنین گفت پس پهلوان با زرسپ
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که بفروز دل را چو آذرگشسپ
“Then the commander spoke to Zarasp: 'Kindle your heart like the flame of Adar Gushasp.'”
#2
سلیح سواران جنگی بپوش
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بجان و تن خویشتن دار گوش
“'Don the armor of battle warriors, and take good care of your body and soul.'”
#3
تو خواهی مگر کین آن نامدار
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وگرنه نبینم کسی خواستار
“'For perhaps you will seek vengeance for that illustrious chieftain, as I see no one else stepping forward.'”
#4
زرسپ آمد و ترگ بر سر نهاد
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دلی پر ز کین و لبی پر ز باد
“Zarasp advanced and placed the helmet upon his head, his heart full of fury and his lips heavy with breath.”
#5
خروشان باسپ اندر آورد پای
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بکردار آتش درآمد ز جای
“Roaring, he drove his spurs into his steed, leaping forward in the manner of a blaze of fire.”
#6
چنین گفت شیر ژیان با تخوار
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که آمد دگرگون یکی نامدار
“The ferocious lion Forud said to Tokhar: 'Another renowned warrior has come forth in altered guise.'”
#7
ببین تا شناسی که این مرد کیست
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یکی شهریار است اگر لشکریست
“'Look closely to recognize who this man is—whether he be a king or a captain of the host.'”
#8
چنین گفت با شاه جنگی تخوار
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که آمد گه گردش روزگار
“Tokhar said to the warlike king: 'The turn of fortune's wheel has arrived.'”
#9
که این پور طوسست نامش زرسپ
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که از پیل جنگی نگرداند اسپ
“'This is the son of Tus, named Zarasp, who never turns his horse away even from a war-elephant.'”
#10
که جفتست با خواهر ریونیز
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بکین آمدست این جهانجوی نیز
“'He is wedded to Rivniz's sister; this seeker of world-renown has also come out for revenge.'”
#11
چو بیند بر و بازوی و مغفرت
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خدنگی بباید گشاد از برت
“'When you mark his chest, his arms, and his helmet, loose a sharp poplar shaft from your side.'”
#12
بدان تا بخاک اندر آید سرش
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نگون اندر آید ز باره برش
“'So that his head sinks into the dust, and his body tumbles headlong from his charger.'”
#13
بداند سپهدار دیوانه طوس
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که ایدر نبودیم ما بر فسوس
“'Thus that foolish chieftain Tus shall know that we stand here not in idle jest.'”
#14
فرود دلاور برانگیخت اسپ
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یکی تیر زد بر میان زرسپ
“The brave Forud spurred his horse, and shot a sharp arrow straight at Zarasp's waist.”
#15
که با کوههٔ زین تنش را بدوخت
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روانش ز پیکان او برفروخت
“It stitched his body fast to the saddle-pommel, and his soul flared away from the arrow's tip.”
#16
بیفتاد و برگشت ازو بادپای
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همی شد دمان و دنان باز جای
“He fell, and his swift charger turned back from him, galloping and snorting toward the camp.”
#17
خروشی برآمد ز ایران سپاه
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زسر برگرفتند گردان کلاه
“A roar of wailing rose from the Iranian army; the champions removed their helmets in grief.”
#18
دل طوس پرخون و دیده پراب
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بپوشید جوشن هم اندر شتاب
“Tus's heart was filled with blood and his eyes with tears; he hastily donned his coat of mail.”
#19
ز گردان جنگی بنالید سخت
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بلرزید برسان برگ درخت
“He lamented bitterly over the slain warriors, trembling all over like the leaf of a tree.”
#20
نشست از بر زین چو کوهی بزرگ
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که بنهند بر پشت پیلی سترگ
“He settled upon his saddle like a mighty mountain loaded upon the back of a huge war-elephant.”
#21
عنان را بپیچید سوی فرود
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دلش پر ز کین و سرش پر ز دود
“He turned his reins toward Forud, his heart swelling with vengeance and his mind full of fury.”