بخش 1

Rustam spurred Rakhsh forward in hot pursuit of Afrasiyab. He spoke to his horse, "O my good companion, do not falter now! I intend to take the life of the King and dye the rocks coral-red with his blood." Rakhsh, fiery in spirit, moved so fast it seemed as if he had sprouted wings. Rustam uncoiled his lasso from his saddle strap, intending to capture Afrasiyab. The loop of the lasso fell over the Turk's helmet, but the commander of the Turks ducked his head, and his horse, swift as fire, leaped away. Afrasiyab escaped the hero's lasso, his mouth dry and his body drenched in sweat from the strain. Of the Turan army, two-thirds of the warriors did not return to their camp; they were either killed, wounded, or captured. The Iranians seized immense booty: valuable horses with golden bridles, helmets, swords with golden scabbards, and many other precious items. They didn't even bother to strip the dead or search for the fallen, as there was so much wealth to be had. The victorious Iranians returned to the hunting ground, rich and satisfied. They wrote a letter to King Kavus, reporting on the battle with the Turks and the events at the hunting ground. They mentioned that no Iranian hero was killed, only Zavareh had fallen from his horse but survived. The heroes stayed happily on that blessed plain for two weeks. On the third week, they returned to the King's court to see his royal crown. Such is the way of this fleeting world: one lives in ease, another in pain, but both days pass. Why should a wise person grieve? The words of this story have come to an end; now I will tell the tale of Sohrab and Rustam.