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Khosrow's Arrow Fells Bahram's Charger at the Bridge

Khosrow's Arrow Fells Bahram's Charger at the Bridge

From E6.7, Khosrow Flees the Night Attack. It illustrates E6.7.40–51:

  • E6.7.40
    The youthful king then reached the bridge in pain,Pursued by Bahram, vengeance in his brain.
  • E6.7.41
    Khosrow beheld him, stopped, and called his guide,The seasoned Gostaham, to stand by his side.
  • E6.7.42
    “Bring me my bow,” he cried, “whose tongue shall tellMy words in battle, where it serves me well.”
  • E6.7.43
    The treasurer brought the bow at his command;For Gostaham directed what was planned.
  • E6.7.44
    The Shah poured arrows forth, and darkness spread;One shaft would stitch a helmet to a head.
  • E6.7.45
    Then Bahram charged with kamand raised on high,A dragon under him against the sky.
  • E6.7.46
    His horse was bare of armor in the fight;The king turned back and saw him with delight.
  • E6.7.47
    He strung his bow and struck the charger’s chest;The wounded horse collapsed and lay at rest.
  • E6.7.48
    The sepahbod, on foot, then raised his shield;He grasped his head, distressed upon the field.
  • E6.7.49
    Then Yalan-sina charged; the king, in scorn,Shot at the horse by which the chief was borne.
  • E6.7.50
    On foot he left the bridge, his charger lame;The troops withdrew along the way they came.
  • E6.7.51
    When Bahram drew away from bridge and fight,Khosrow destroyed the bridge and took to flight.

In the picture

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