Vis and Ramin

30 VISEAMIANI
rotten Moabad, and rejoice the soul of my father by slaying
him." 1
When he had spoken thus, he fell upon them, together with
his nobles, men-at-arms 2 and household troops 3 ;
like fire he
burned, and there was no help for him (? was not master of
himself) . Moabad's soldiers were like a flood rushing down a
mountain slope, for they could no longer conceal themselves.
Their caress was lance, sword, and arrow. In slaying one
another, friend was worse than foe ;
father became heedless
of his son, son of his father, and friend of his friend.
Whoever met another spared not to slay. It became so
dark that nothing could be seen before the eyes.
Brother
slew brother, and father son. The lances were like spits,
from
32 instead of roast meat there were men ; and the earth, |
the flow of blood, was like a wine-press. Death was, as
'twere, a mighty wind which blew down men's heads 4 like
leaves from a tree ;
the heads of the warriors were like balls
in the playground, and their bodies like felled trees in a
thick wood. 5 When the sun set, it seemed as if Moabad's
fate set with the sun, and fate had cut off hope of the
monarchy of Moabad.
Moabad fled even unto Ispaan and Khuarasan. And
when his soldiers saw him flee, all fled. The leader of his
soldiers was slain, and if night had not fallen Moabad him-
self could not have escaped. But Viro and his magnates
no longer pursued. They thought that Moabad was fled,
and would not fight them any more again as long as he
lived. 6
His opinion was one thing, and God's decree was other-
wise.
When Viro saw that Moabad had fled, he rejoiced, and lo !
he had not alighted from his horse before the Delamis and
1
Ch.,
"
I will deliver the soul of my father from shame and from
the rotten Moabad," and omits "and I will rejoice . . . slaying him."
2 Mona, 89, slave.
* Ch., "men " instead of " men's heads."
3 Khasagianit'ha.
5
Ch., "their bodies in the dust," instead of " in a thick wood."
6 "
: Ch., They thought Moabad is fled, and while Viro is living he
(Moabad) will fight no more against him (Viro)."