Amir Hamza cried,
“The Commander of the Arabs, the lion-hearted Hamza
Whose mighty hand puts Sohrab and Rustam to shame!”
From another corner Landhoor shouted,
“O fugitives, I am Hamza’s deputy, the supreme master of lance,
Emperor of India, the Champion of the Times, Landhoor!”
Malik Azhdar, the master of the two-pronged spear, the slave of the holy prophet and Ali, proclaimed from another corner,
“I am Malik Azhdar the wrathful
Commander of the armies of the faithful!”
The blades of the warriors on both sides clashed mightily, and for some time nothing could be heard except their cling-clang. The injured found neither quarter nor water. Swords flashed like lightning bolts and arrows fell like rain. Heads came down like hailstones, separated from their torsos they littered the ground, and a river of blood surged in waves on the battlefield. Garlands of wounds were distributed. Manly warriors sought congress with the pansies as a bridegroom seeks congress with the bride. As the poet has described,
Blood flowed from every armor chink
The warriors washed their hands of life’s hopes
They shot their bows with mighty effort
And hearts broke into bloodied smiles, pierced with arrows
The curved sword blades bartered with life’s blood
And a rainbow of gore spread into the sky
As a strong wind scatters about dry leaves
The horde of infidels in the field were strewn
The braves now reached for and drew their daggers
And vigorously pursued the evil-hearted foe
Of blood a brave tiger can never have enough
A lion on his hunt none can dare stop
How to describe the fate of the enemy horde
Written on the swords of the rank-destroying braves
They made screams aplenty, the evil foe
And their hearts and senses speedily lost
The armies of the True Believers fought bravely and Laqa and Suleiman Amber-Hair’s forces were routed. Unable to bear the intensity of the battle, the enemy retreated. Bakhtiarak realized that once again they had been denied hope of victory and might be forced to find another refuge. Taking that into consideration, he ordered that the drums of retreat be beaten. The trumpet’s blast declared cessation of hostilities and the combatants separated.
While Amir Hamza’s champions returned to their camp flying on the wings of victory, the ill-fated enemy crawled back to its camp in ignominy and shame. Amir ordered the dead to be carried away. Three thousand men from Amir Hamza’s camp had tasted martyrdom while three hundred thousand foes had been dispatched to hell. The martyred received burials while the infidels were interred like dogs. The wounds of the injured were sutured and their cuts and lesions bandaged.
Amir Hamza did not hold court that day. The next day he sent for the false Ijlal and asked him, “Tell me whether or not you recognize the True Master of Both Worlds!”33 The false Ijlal answered, “For as long as I live I shall be His slave!” Amir Hamza then rewarded him with a robe of honor. The false Ijlal rode back to his army and sent for his commanders and announced, “I have yielded to Hamza and you too must follow suit and not defy my wishes.” Some sorcerers, whose evil hearts were cast with darkness, returned to Afrasiyab after hearing their commander’s resolve, but most of them offered their continued allegiance. They returned with the false Ijlal to be inducted into Amir Hamza’s service and receive robes of honor.
Then Amar Ayyar produced the real Ijlal from his zambil and tied him to a column of the Pavilion of Hashsham in the court. He pulled out his tongue and stuck a needle in it so that he could not cast spells, and gave him restorative salts to smell. When Ijlal opened his eyes he found himself a captive and was terrified to see before him another man who looked like his exact copy. Amar said, “O Ijlal, open your eyes and regard your circumstances. I am the chief of the commanders, the lord of the kings of Arabs and non-Arabs, a fearless runner who gives pause to manly sprinters and leaves the unmanly limping behind in a cloud of dust. I am the Sun of the Sky of Trickery, the Moon of the Sky of Dagger Fighting, the Prince of Tricksters, and the accomplished disguiser, Amar Ayyar the worthy. Did you witness how easily I caught you by the Almighty’s grace? It was not Suleiman Amber-Hair’s daughter but this abject slave of God whom you sent for from the palace roof and who took you captive. Your entire army has submitted and joined Amir Hamza’s ranks. I also hold your beloved princess prisoner. If you were to submit allegiance, you would be united with her and find reprieve. And if you are concerned about the loss of your kingdom, Amir Hamza would give you one which is four time vaster than your own.”
Witnessing the circumstances and hearing Amar Ayyar’s speech, Ijlal became convinced that Laqa was indeed a false God. He reasoned that, had it been otherwise, Laqa would not have fared so ill, and his well wishers would not have come to harm at Amar’s hands. Ijlal signalled that he was willing to submit. Amar removed the needle from his tongue and untied him. Ijlal came forward and threw himself at the feet of Amir Hamza who blessed him and conferred a robe of honor on him.
Amir Hamza said to Ijlal, “Take a seat where you wish. In this court the commanders are free to choose their station.” Ijlal felt a desire to sit with the warriors of the left flank and made his request. The commander of the left flank warriors, Malik Azhdar, welcomed him with honor and affection.
Amir Hamza said to Ijlal, “You must renounce sorcery because it is not our custom to indulge in magic. All of us here are men of the sword.” In deference to Amir Hamza’s wishes, Ijlal renounced sorcery and Laqa worship and converted to the True Faith.
Amir Hamza ordered celebrations and an assembly of revelry was organized. Coquettish cupbearers carrying goblets of sense-ravishing wine arrived. The roseate wine was drunk and the cheerful cries of ‘Drink and be merry!’ rose from all corners.
Amir Hamza drank alongside his men. A dance recital had begun, and everyone occupied themselves with merrymaking. Suddenly, the pavilion’s screens rose and a comely maiden, whose beauty recalled the moon’s allure and whose charming airs could be likened to Venus, arrived in the assembly dressed in a lavish costume and curtsied before Amir Hamza. Ijlal recognized his beloved, Princess Nasreen Amber-Hair, and was embarrassed by her immodesty at entering a congregation of men. Amir Hamza, too, was surprised to see the princess before him.
The princess said, “O Amir, I am Amar Ayyar’s son, Chalak!” Ijlal marvelled at how the trickster had deceived everyone in the princess’s guise. Chalak narrated how he learned that the false Ijlal had been taken captive by Amir Hamza’s camp, and Suleiman Amber-Hair had returned to the camp after the cessation of hostilities. He rode out of the city in a palanquin on the excuse of visiting Suleiman Amber-Hair. Once his conveyance came out of the fort, however, the false princess tore out of the palanquin and scurried toward Amir Hamza’s camp. The princess’s attendants, servants and palanquin bearers were caught by surprise. They gave chase but the false Nasreen ran at great speed and soon disappeared from sight.
Amir Hamza asked Amar to produce the real Princess Nasreen from the zambil and take her into the women’s quarters. Amar replied, “I will produce her from the zambil only if my palm is greased. As you know well, the zambil’s function is to gorge, not disgorge. What goes inside the zambil becomes part of it; just like whatever falls inside a salt mine becomes salt.” Amir Hamza laughed at Amar’s speech and awarded him several hundred thousand rupees.
Amar first collected the amount from the treasurer then took Princess Nasreen out of his zambil. He provided her with a pavilion and Amir Hamza sent a royal dress for her.
The bewildered princess wondered how she had got there and sat puzzling when Amir Hamza presented himself. He told her about Amar Ayyar and the circumstances of her arrival, and said, “Your lover, Ijlal, is present in my court. Now you are free to decide whether to marry him and reside in this ca
mp or not. If you decide against it, I shall have you conducted back to your father in safety.” Witnessing such munificence on Amir Hamza’s part, the princess replied, “I wish to convert to your faith.”
Amir Hamza presided over the wedding of Ijlal and his willing princess and conferred riches and estates on them.
When Suleiman Amber-Hair’s servants brought news that his daughter had eloped, he drew his sword and vowed to follow her to Hamza’s camp to kill her. But Bakhtiarak held him back, saying, “You are not alone in this misfortune. Two of Lord Laqa’s own daughters have eloped with Hamza’s sons.”34
Suleiman Amber-Hair finally relented, but Laqa said to Bakhtiarak, “O bastard and devil, why did you have to mention what passed with my daughters?” Bakhtiarak answered, “My Lord, there is no cause for you to become vexed. I mentioned them only to illustrate the wondrous ways of your providence.” Amidst such banter the subject was dismissed.
Before long, the king’s spies returned and gave an account of what had passed in Amir Hamza’s court. Everybody learned the true identities of Princess Nasreen and Ijlal. Bakhtiarak roared with laughter and said to Suleiman Amber-Hair, “His Excellency Ijlal had arrived from Hoshruba with great fanfare. All praise to my lord and master Amar Ayyar, who carried him away before he even had a chance to do battle. Bravo! You, O Suleiman, have no control over events in your own household. How can you be trusted with the command of an army and the administration of a kingdom? How could you fight a courageous and alert man like Hamza?” Suleiman answered, “I shall write another note to Afrasiyab and ask for assistance again. This time I will conduct myself with greater caution.”
Suleiman wrote another note to Afrasiyab giving a complete account of Ijlal and requesting him to send some mighty sorcerer to Laqa’s aid. He sent the message to the mountaintop according to custom.
SORCERESS HASINA MAGIC-BEAUTY
When Afrasiyab heard the gong he sent the magic claw to fetch the letter. Afrasiyab became livid upon reading it and said to his courtiers, “You have now learned that Ijlal has turned traitor. He has renounced Lord Laqa’s religion and joined the True Believers. I would that a sorcerer or sorceress among you should go to Lord Laqa’s aid and bring that ingrate Ijlal captive to me.”
As Afrasiyab ended his speech, sorceress Princess Hasina Magic-Beauty rose and said, “Your slave girl shall undertake this mission.” Afrasiyab bestowed a robe of honor on her and said, “I place you in the protection of lords Sameri and Jamshed. Go forth and be wary of the tricksters!”
Princess Hasina retired to her land and ordered the twenty thousand sorceresses under her command to get ready for war and prepare to depart for Mount Agate. While the sorceresses began their preparations, Afrasiyab dispatched a reply to Suleiman’s letter. Suleiman Amber-Hair was greatly pleased by the favorable reply and the news of Princess Hasina’s impending arrival.
THE CONQUEROR OF THE TILISM
Amir Hamza’s spies brought news that Afrasiyab had responded to Suleiman’s request and a sorceress was on her way to aid Laqa.
Amir Hamza said, “Until the tilism is conquered, there will be no end to sorcerers. My son, Badiuz Zaman, will also remain incarcerated.” Amir then sent for the diviners. He received them with honor and said, “I would that you determine the name of the Conqueror of Hoshruba35 by your calculations, and find out whose hand will strike down Afrasiyab.”
In obedience to Amir Hamza’s wishes, the diviners made their calculations, drew the horoscope and considered the auspicious and inauspicious points on the table of geomancy. After much reflection and pause, they said, “O Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction! Nobody except God knows what lies in the future. We can only determine according to the calculations of geomancy that your maternal grandson, Prince Asad, should depart to conquer the tilism. He should be accompanied by five tricksters: Qiran the Ethiope, Burq the Frank, Jansoz, Zargham the Lion-Hearted, and a fifth one whose name we cannot reveal, but it starts with the letter A. Amar Ayyar immediately understood that they aluded to him. He called out, “The tricksters alone would not suffice. A diviner must also make the entourage.”
The diviners protested to Amir Hamza that they had not wished to identify Amar because they knew he would make objections. They told Amir Hamza that it was their duty to tell him the result of their calculations, and now he may deal with the matter as he saw fit. Amir Hamza said to Amar, “You must go since your name is revealed by the calculations of geomancy.” Amar answered, “I will do no such thing!”
Amir Hamza rewarded the diviners and dismissed them after presenting them with robes of honor. He then said to Prince Asad, “My dear child, prepare for the campaign and depart to conquer Hoshruba!” Prince Asad rose from his seat, saluted Amir Hamza, and returned to his pavilion to prepare for the journey.
Amir Hamza sent for a million rupees and, dividing it into two halves, distributed one half for travelling expenses among the four tricksters named by the diviners, and offered the other half to Amar Ayyar for the campaign’s expenses. When Amar saw such largesse, he said, “O Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction, I have no appetite for money and riches. I would never have consented to step foot into the tilism, but I find I have no choice since your son is being held prisoner and I must secure his release. However, you did wrong in corrupting my disciples with money.”
Amar said to the four tricksters, “O worthless creatures, you will foolishly squander this half million rupees in no time. It will be safer with me and would be available to you in time of need. Indeed, how can you claim to be a trickster if you need to spend your own money to journey to the tilism? Instead of taking money to the tilism you ought to bring money from Hoshruba. If I accept money it is because I have numerous other expenses besides.” The tricksters realized that Amar had caught sight of the money and would not rest without grabbing all of it. In the end, they could do little else but present their own share to Amar, who stuffed it into his zambil and returned to his pavilion to make arrangements for the journey.
Once Amar’s back was turned, however, Amir Hamza gave more money to the four tricksters who busied themselves with preparations for departure.
OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE LION OF THE FOREST OF VALOR PRINCE ASAD TO CONQUER HOSHRUBA ALONG WITH AMAR AYYAR AND HIS DISCIPLES, AND OF THEIR TAKING SEPARATE ROUTES INTO THE TILISM
The travellers to the path of meaning, the conquerors of the tilism of eloquence, the explorers of marvellous lands and scribes of singular discourse, conquer the wonders of the tilism of inventions with the tablet and pen and set foot into the realm of imagination with wondering minds thus:
After arriving in his pavilion, Prince Asad ordered forty thousand intrepid troopers to prepare to depart for the campaign to conquer Hoshruba. At the command of the prince, who was equal to the heavens in dignity, the tents and pavilions were loaded onto carts and the brave commanders armed and readied themselves for departure. Prince Asad visited his kind mother and Hamza’s daughter, Zubaida Sher, in the women’s quarters. He placed his head at her esteemed feet and kissed them with reverence. He said, “My venerable mother, your slave is ready to depart for the tilism to secure the release of his uncle, Prince Badiuz Zaman. Grant me leave with a happy heart and forgive all my voluntary and involuntary misdemeanors.”
Princess Zubaida Sher was already suffering pangs of grief over the loss of her brother Badiuz Zaman. When she heard of her son’s departure, her eyes welled up with tears. She embraced Asad and kissed his forehead.
The news spread in the women’s quarters that Prince Asad was going away to secure Prince Badiuz Zaman’s release. Princess Gardiya Bano, his maternal grandmother, broke into tears upon hearing the news of his planned departure. All the wives of Amir Hamza blessed Prince Asad by tying gold pieces pledged to Imam Zamin36 to his arm. They sent him away with their good wishes, reciting the prayer to ward off the evil eye.
From there, Asad went to the armory and decorated himself with arms and armor. Forty thousand turqu
oise-encrusted suits of armor and sharp and shining swords were handed out to the warriors from the armory. Several thousand pairs of gold and silver kettledrums were loaded on elephants and camels. Cartloads of gold and silver pieces were procured for the journey. The prince spent a day in the camp taking his leave of the commanders. All the nobles and chiefs of Amir Hamza’s court visited his pavilion to embrace him and wish him Godspeed. He remained busy with these engagements for one day and one night.
When the Westbound Traveler37 appeared from the mansion of the east, resolved to trek the stages of the heavens, the clarion of departure was sounded in Prince Asad’s camp. The drums were struck, the trumpets and the kettledrums sounded and Prince Asad set out after saying his morning prayers.
When Amir Hamza finished praying in the Roving Prayer Tent, he inquired, “Why are the trumpets sounding?” His companions answered, “They announce the departure of Prince Asad.” Amir Hamza said, “I wish to witness his departure and behold his dear face once again.” He came out and stood with all his nobles at a vantage point along the way.
Presently, elephants fitted with steel mirrors and draped with sheets of gold-brocade came into view. Atop them sat the standard-bearers with unfurled banners inscribed with the praises of the Eternal God. Every flag was the augur of the line, “Verily, we have conferred clear victory upon you.”38 Behind them came the cannons mounted on camels and elephants, and the gold and silver kettledrums. Clad in shining gold cloth, brocade short-coats, red turbans and gold-embroidered belts, the kettledrummers marched past, striking and thunderously beating the drums mounted on elephants and camels. They were followed by rocket bearers on camelback, sitting on jewel-encrusted seats. The gold-draped, spirited camels wearing woven necklaces of gold and silver thread advanced with lofty air and elegant gait. Thousands of foot-soldiers walked alongside, ready for battle. Wearing dark red turbans, attired in long tunics and khurdnok shoes,39 holding lion-headed muskets on their shoulders sheathed in gold cloth, they marched in groups and clusters and, although only five thousand in number, appeared a force twenty times as many.
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