
Afrasiab Watches His City Burn
From C4.22, Afrasiab Flees from Gang-Behesht. It illustrates C4.22.1–10:
- C4.22.1Afrasiab went weeping to his hall,His heart brimmed full with grief at Gang’s great fall.
- C4.22.2He climbed his palace wall, and there could see:Two-thirds lay dead; the rest had turned to flee.
- C4.22.3The horsemen cried, the chieftains shouted loud,And elephant tabiras shook the crowd.
- C4.22.4They drove the elephants across the throng;Backs struck the earth as beasts were urged along.
- C4.22.5The city filled with smoke and cries of woe;He watched the fire and plunder spread below.
- C4.22.6So does this passing world divide its share:One heart knows joy, another dark despair.
- C4.22.7Afrasiab saw terror drawing near,And fortune’s overthrow lay stark and clear.
- C4.22.8No Jahan, brother, land, or royal state;No crown, throne, belt remained to mark him great.
- C4.22.9“How wantonly has heaven dealt this blow;My heart is seared with sorrow and with woe.
- C4.22.10My eyes have seen such anguish here that INow think it little to be slain and die.”
In the picture
Previous · C4.21Rostam Casts Down the Sable StandardNext · C4.23Afrasiab's Women Come Before Khosrow
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