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For though thy head be exalted to the skies, thou wert, and still art, but a dependent on the Kais. And was thy Heft-khan equal in terrible danger to mine? Was the capture of Mázinderán equal in valorous exertion to the capture of the Brazen Fortress?
"Thou wilt attend me," said the dauntless prince; And thus Kurugsar, without a pause, replied: "Undoubtedly, if by the two months' way, And do thee ample service; but if this Heft-khan be thy election; if thy choice Be fixed on that which leads to certain death, My presence must be useless. Can I go Where bird has never dared to wing its flight?"
This request being permitted, he was desired to bring away all the immense booty, and return by the road of the Heft-khan.
At this description of the terrors of the Heft-khan, Isfendiyár became thoughtful for awhile, and then, resigning himself to the providence of God, resolved to take the shortest route. "No man can die before his time," said he; "heaven is my protector, and I will fearlessly encounter every difficulty on the road."
"In thy Heft-khan thou hadst twelve thousand men Completely armed, with ample stores and treasure, Whilst Rakush and my sword, my conquering sword, Were all the aid I had, and all I sought, In that prodigious enterprise of mine. Two sisters thou released no arduous task, Whilst I recovered from the demon's grasp The mighty Káús, and the monsters slew, Roaring like thunder in their dismal caves.
"There never appeared in the world," said she, "so brave and so perfect a hero as Isfendiyár. The favor of Heaven is with him, for in his Heft-khan he, by some artifice, succeeded in killing a Símúrgh, and the further thou art removed from his invincible arm, the greater will be thy safety."
The second is less attractive, the prospects less agreeable, and will only employ two months; the third, however, may be accomplished in seven days, and is thence called the Heft-khan, or seven stages; but at every stage some monster, or terrible difficulty, must be overcome.
What wouldst thou have more? He who has conquered the terrific obstacles of the Heft-khan, and has slain Arjásp and subdued his entire kingdom, can have no cause to fear the prowess of Rustem, or any other chief." Isfendiyár replied that he had no fear of Rustem's prowess; he was now old, and therefore not equal to himself in strength; still he had no wish to oppose him:
The next day Gushtásp, seated upon his throne, and Isfendiyár placed before him on a golden chair, again asked for the prince's description of his triumphant progress by the Heft-khan, and according to his wish every incident that merited notice was faithfully detailed to him.
The hero in disguise replied that it was five months since he left Persia; but he had heard on the road from many persons that Isfendiyár intended proceeding by the way of the Heft-khan with a vast army, towards the Brazen Fortress.