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Hujír shrunk back with undissembled dread, And thus communing with himself, he said "Shall I, regardless of my country, guide To Rustem's tent this furious homicide? And witness there destruction to our host? The bulwark of the land for ever lost! What Chief can then the Tartar power restrain! Káús dethroned, the mighty Rustem slain!
And he took with him Hujir, and spake to him, saying: "Seek not to deceive me, nor swerve from the paths of truth. For if thou reply unto my questions with sincerity, I will loosen thy bonds and give thee treasures; but if thou deceive me, thou shalt languish till death in thy chains." And Hujir said, "I will give answer unto thee according to my knowledge."
A flag of gold with a lion worked upon it waveth along its field." And Hujir said, "It belongeth unto Gudarz the brave. And those who stand about it are his sons, for eighty men of might are sprung from his loins." Then Sohrab said, "To whom belongeth the tent draped with green tissues? Before its doors is planted the flag of Kawah.
If rigid truth thy ready speech attend, Honours and wealth shall dignify my friend." "Obedient to thy wish," Hujír replied, "Truth thou shalt hear, whatever chance betide; For what on earth to praise has better claim? Falsehood but leads to sorrow and to shame!"
And they spread fire and dismay abroad, and they marched on unstayed until they came unto the White Castle, the fortress wherein Iran put its trust. Now the guardian of the castle was named Hujir, and there lived with him Gustahem the grave, but he was grown old, and could aid no longer save with his counsels.
So he said unto Hujir: "And thou show not unto me the tents of Rustem, I will strike thy head from off thy shoulders, and the world shall fade before thine eyes. Choose, therefore, the truth or thy life." And Hujir thought within himself, "Though five score men cannot withstand Rustem when he be roused to battle-fury, my mind misgiveth me that he may have found his equal in this boy.
Like him no Champion ever met my eyes, No horse like that for majesty and size; What Chief illustrious bears a port so high? Mark, how his standard flickers through the sky!" Thus ardent spoke Sohráb. Hujír dismayed, Paused ere reply the dangerous truth betrayed.
But Hujir answered Sohrab with taunts again, and vowed that he would sever his head from his trunk and send it for a trophy unto the Shah. Yet Sohrab only smiled when he heard these words, and he challenged Hujir to come near.
Then to his brother, groaning deep, he said "O what a curse upon a parent's head! But go and to the Tartar say no more, Let war between us steep the earth with gore." Zúára flew and wildly spoke his grief, To crafty Húmán, the Túránian Chief, Who, with dissembled sorrow, heard him tell The dismal tidings which he knew too well; "And who," he said, "has caused these tears to flow? Who, but Hujír?
The bold Hujír lies vanquished on the plain, And drags a captive's ignominious chain; Myriads of troops besiege our tottering wall, And vain the effort to suspend its fall. Haste, arm for fight, this Tartar-power withstand, Let sweeping Vengeance lift her flickering brand; Rustem alone may stem the roaring wave, And, prompt as bold, his groaning country save.
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