From that realm, Alexander advanced like the radiant sun until he reached the borders of Habash. The ground there was black with a dense host of people, looking like the feathers of a raven, their eyes glowing like lamps amidst the darkness. They were a powerful, towering folk of massive build, their bodies entirely naked. As the dust of Alexander's vanguard rose in the distance, a terrifying roar echoed from the dark throng, vibrating through the sky.
Without hesitation, the giant warriors of Habash surged toward Alexander's army. Using long bones instead of iron spearheads, they drove their weapons deep into the bodies of the Macedonian and Persian fighters, slaying many renowned champions. Seeing his ranks hard-pressed, King Alexander ordered his troops to brace themselves and unleash the full might of their arsenal. Though the naked warriors fought with the fierceness of lions, the imperial host overwhelmed them, cutting down countless thousands until the rest fled in dismay. So much blood was spilled that the plains turned red as the China Sea, and mounds of corpses piled up across the landscape. To clear the land, Alexander commanded that brushwood be heaped over the dead and set ablaze.
As night descended, a roaring sound shook the encampment. Alexander at once donned his mail and helm. Out of the darkness emerged the Karg—a colossal, horrific creature larger than an elephant, bearing a single indigo horn upon its head. Like a moving mountain of iron, the beast rampaged through the ranks, striking down champion after champion without ever retreating. Seeing its immense strength, Alexander ordered his archers to rain arrows upon it. A storm of shafts pierced the hide of the elephant-killing monster until it finally collapsed in death. Having overcome this night terror, Alexander gave boundless thanks to Yazdan, the Creator of the World, and swiftly led his army onward.
#1
وزان جایگه رفت خورشیدفش
✦
بیامد دمان تا زمین حبش
“From that place he departed radiant as the sun, advancing swiftly until he reached the land of Habash.”
#2
ز مردم زمین بود چون پر زاغ
✦
سیه گشته و چشمها چون چراغ
“The ground was black with people like raven feathers, their eyes shining bright like lamps.”
#3
تناور یکی لشکری زورمند
✦
برهنه تن و پوست و بالابلند
“A powerful army of massive stature, naked-bodied, dark-skinned, and tall of height.”
#4
چو از دور دیدند گرد سپاه
✦
خروشی برآمد ز ابر سیاه
“When they saw from afar the dust of the army, a mighty shout arose as if from a dark cloud.”
#5
سپاه انجمن شد هزاران هزار
✦
وران تیره شد دیدهٔ شهریار
“The host gathered by thousands upon thousands, so vast that it darkened the eyes of the king.”
#6
به سوی سکندر نهادند سر
✦
بکشتند بسیار پرخاشخر
“They charged headlong toward Alexander, slaying many of his warlike warriors.”
#7
به جای سنان استخوان داشتند
✦
همی بر تن مرد بگذاشتند
“Instead of spearheads they held sharp bones, which they plunged deep into the bodies of men.”
#8
به لشکر بفرمود پس شهریار
✦
که برداشتند آلت کارزار
“Then the king commanded his host to take up their weapons of battle.”
#9
برهنه به جنگ اندر آمد حبش
✦
غمی گشت زان لشکر شیرفش
“The men of Habash entered battle naked; Alexander's lion-like army grew weary and distressed by their fierce attack.”
#10
بکشتند زیشان فزون از شمار
✦
بپیچید دیگر سر از کارزار
“They slew beyond counting of them, until the survivors turned their faces away from the field of battle.”
#11
ز خون ریختن گشت روی زمین
✦
سراسر به کردار دریای چین
“From the pouring of blood, the face of the earth became entirely like the red Sea of China.”
#12
چو از خون در و دشت آلوده شد
✦
ز کشته به هر جای بر توده شد
“When valley and plain were stained with blood, mounds of the slain arose in every place.”
#13
چو بر توده خاشاکها برزدند
✦
بفرمود تا آتش اندر زدند
“When they had piled brushwood over the heaps of dead, he ordered them to set them all ablaze.”
#14
چو شب گشت بشنید آواز کرگ
✦
سکندر بپوشید خفتان و ترگ
“When night fell, he heard the roar of the Karg; Alexander donned his body armor and helm.”
#15
یکی پیش رو بود مهتر ز پیل
✦
به سر بر سرو داشت همرنگ نیل
“A leader in front, greater than an elephant, bearing upon its head a horn of indigo hue.”
#16
ازین نامداران فراوان بکشت
✦
بسی حمله بردند و ننمود پشت
“It slew many of the renowned warriors; though they launched attack after attack, it never turned its back.”
#17
بکشتند فرجام کارش به تیر
✦
یکی آهنین کوه بد پیل گیر
“In the end, they killed it with a rain of arrows—an iron mountain capable of seizing elephants.”
#18
وزان جایگه تیز لشکر براند
✦
بسی نام دادار گیهان بخواند
“From that place he swiftly marched his host onward, offering much praise to the Creator of the world.”