
The Turks Storm the Elephant Towers
From C4.10, The Armies Meet in Battle. It illustrates C4.10.38–44:
- C4.10.38They struck the archers’ towers, citadels high,That rode on elephants beneath the sky.
- C4.10.39The beasts stood like a fortress in the way,Before the center of Iran’s array.
- C4.10.40Within their towers the archers held their place,And met the coming warriors face to face.
- C4.10.41A rain of arrows poured from tower and frame;The cries of battle rose as foemen came.
- C4.10.42The spearmen and the elephants came on,With countless warriors from the center drawn.
- C4.10.43Two farsang off, Afrasiab surveyedThe towered elephants, their ranks displayed.
- C4.10.44He brought his own huge elephants ahead;The world grew dark; the last of light had fled.
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