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The Turks Storm the Elephant Towers

The Turks Storm the Elephant Towers

From C4.10, The Armies Meet in Battle. It illustrates C4.10.38–44:

  • C4.10.38
    They struck the archers’ towers, citadels high,That rode on elephants beneath the sky.
  • C4.10.39
    The beasts stood like a fortress in the way,Before the center of Iran’s array.
  • C4.10.40
    Within their towers the archers held their place,And met the coming warriors face to face.
  • C4.10.41
    A rain of arrows poured from tower and frame;The cries of battle rose as foemen came.
  • C4.10.42
    The spearmen and the elephants came on,With countless warriors from the center drawn.
  • C4.10.43
    Two farsang off, Afrasiab surveyedThe towered elephants, their ranks displayed.
  • C4.10.44
    He brought his own huge elephants ahead;The world grew dark; the last of light had fled.

In the picture

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