SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
Where host meets host, and many names are sunk ;
But of a single combat fame speaks clear."
He spoke: and Peran-Wisa took the hand
Of the young man in his, and sigh'd, and said : —
"O Sohrab, an unquiet heart is thine! gc
Canst thou not rest among the Tartar chiefs,
And share the battle's common chance with us
Who love thee, but must press forever first,
In single fight incurring single risk,
To find a father thou hast never seen ? 70'
That were far best, my son, to stay with us
Unmurmuring; in our tents, while it is war,
And when 'tis truce, then in Afrasiab.'s towns.
But, if this one desire indeed rules all,
To seek out 'Rustum—seek him not through fight! 75
Seek him in peace, and carry to his arms,
O Sohrab, carry an unwounded son!
But far hence seek him, for he is not here.
For now it is not as when I was young,
When Rustum was in front of every fray; go
But now he keeps apart, and sits at home,
In Seistan, with Zal, his father old.
Whether that his own mighty strength at last
Feels the abhorr'd approaches of old age,
Or in some quarrel with the Persian King. 85
There go!—Thou wilt not? Yet my heart forbodes
Danger or death awaits thee on this field.
Fain would I know thee safe and well, though lost
To us; fain therefore send thee hence, in peace
To seek thy father, not seek single fights " 90
In vain;—but who can keep the lion's cub
From ravening, and who govern Rustum's son ?
Go, J will grant thee what thy heart desires/'
So said he, and dropp'd Sohrab's hand, and left
280