Then Amir sent Qunduz into the battlefield. Qunduz and Aljosh were engaged in combat until evening, when the drums were sounded to suspend combat for the day and both armies returned to their resting places.
The next day, Aljosh entered the battlefield and called out, “O Hamza, come out and display your bravery and courage.” Amir Hamza spurred on Ashqar Devzad and rode out to skirmish. Aljosh attacked Amir Hamza twice, but Amir did not return the strikes and stood quietly watching. When Aljosh attacked him a third time and aimed to kick him, Amir caught his leg and spun him above his head. Aljosh grew limp and Amir slammed him to the ground and pinioned him, fastening his arms securely behind his back. Then Amir Hamza gave him to Amar’s custody to be imprisoned.
That evening Amir had Aljosh appear in his court and asked him, “Tell me, what are your intentions now?” Aljosh answered, “For as long as I live, I shall remain your slave.” Amir Hamza converted him to the True Faith and Amar put the hoop of slavery in Aljosh’s ear and enrolled him in the ranks of Amir Hamza’s slaves.
The narrators tell that in the midst of the revelries that night, a palace attendant presented himself and gave news of the birth of a son to Amir Hamza by Naranj Peri. Amir ordered the musicians to play festive tunes and conferred gifts and rewards on everyone. He ordered a gold necklace weighing one maund and put it around his son’s neck and named him Tauq-e Zarrin.
Amir Hamza then rode with his companions into the battlefield. One of the warriors of the Aadi tribe who had come to aid Naushervan descended into the arena and sought combat by loudly challenging Amir Hamza’s camp, whereupon Istaftanosh went to answer his challenge. At that time, a dust cloud rose from the direction of the forest. Ayyars from both camps exerted themselves to investigate it, and informed their respective armies of the arrival of the prince of Greece with a vast force he had brought to fight the champions of both armies. While the ayyars were making these reports, the Greek prince formed his battle arrays in between the two armies, and then rode his horse into the battlefield with great majesty and grandeur. He turned his face toward Naushervan’s army and called out, “O Naushervan, send someone to fight me so that he may be acquainted with the mettle of the swords of brave men and may witness the courage and pluck of valiant warriors.”
One of the Aadi warriors entered the arena and weighed his mace, aiming to bring it down on the head of the prince. The prince snatched the mace from his hands and, securing his hold on the Aadi’s horse’s saddle and martingale, lifted the horse along with its rider and slammed them both so hard on the ground that their bones were crushed. Shouts of “Bravo!” and “Well done!” rose from both camps at this show of might, and the tongues that had wagged before in making tall claims were silenced. The scribe of the dastan writes that in a matter of a few hours, well over a hundred Aadi warriors were killed by the prince. Naushervan’s entire camp sank into disquiet and distress, and his fighters lost their hearts from fear. The prince challenged Naushervan’s army, but none would come forward to answer his challenge.
The prince was obliged to turn toward the camp of the followers of the True Faith, and called out to them in a loud voice, “O Arabs, any man among you who dares to combat me should come forward.”
The first to answer the challenge was Farhad bin Landhoor. The prince of Greece killed his elephant, and when he rode out against him on another elephant, the prince lifted Farhad bin Landhoor along with his elephant. Farhad returned injured to his camp. The next warrior to fight the prince of Greece was Landhoor. The prince proved his strength against Landhoor too and sought another warrior for combat. Then Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza fought him and they remained equal in combat. Finally, Amir Hamza himself rode out to face the prince.
Landhoor said to Amir, “O Sahibqiran! I believe that this prince is your son, for his features and physiognomy reveal that.” Amir responded, “If he were my son, he would not battle with my companions.” Landhoor answered, “Amar Hamza also fought with you. This prince also might desire to test his strength against yours.”
In the arena, Amir brought his steed next to the prince’s mount. The prince secured a hold on Amir’s cummerbund and Amir caught hold of the prince’s belt. They exerted themselves and, in the end, Amir Hamza bellowed his war cry and lifted the prince into the air. He was about to slam him to the ground when he heard a voice from the heavens and an angel brought him these auspicious tidings: “O Hamza, do not throw him down cruelly, for he is your own son.” Upon hearing that voice, Amir Hamza put the prince down lightly on the ground and asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “I am Alam Shah Roomi.” He then kissed Amir Hamza’s feet, and his father embraced him and kissed his face. They returned to Amir’s camp and Hamza ordered festive music, most jubilant to have met the prince. He gave the prince the titles of Rustam-e Peel-Tan9 and Sher-e Saf-Shikan.10
Amir then said to him, “You committed a grave wrong by humiliating my friends in the battlefield and fighting me.” The prince answered, “Brother Amar Hamza was guilty of the same wrong that I committed. Your obedient servant was obliged to introduce himself thus.” Amir Hamza introduced the prince to all his friends and companions and made the prince offer apologies to them. Considering that Alam Sher was Amir Hamza’s dear son, everyone met the prince with great kindness, and for seven nights and seven days festivities were held to celebrate his arrival.
On the eighth day, when the drums of war were sounded in the camp of the infidels, Alam Shah answered the challenge. The narrator says that Rustam-e Peel-Tan killed fifty enemy warriors that day and slew many notable commanders with his glittering sword. Then Alam Shah charged the enemy ranks. The foe retreated and Alam Shah chased them for a distance of four kos.
Meanwhile, Naushervan said to Bakhtak, “We were handed a resounding defeat. Where should we go and what strategy can we employ?” Bakhtak answered, “The city of Khavar is nearby, and its ruler, Qeemaz Shah Khavari, is known for his bravery. The whole world rings with the renown of his courage and chivalry. If you were to take refuge with him and describe your troubles to him, he would exert himself fully in obeying your commands.” Thus Naushervan headed for the city of Khavar. When he approached there, messengers alerted Qeemaz Shah Khavari of his arrival. Qeemaz Shah rode out with great magnificence to receive Naushervan and inquired of his welfare. After comforting and consoling him, Qeemaz Shah said, “If Hamza heads in this direction, he will receive the just deserts for his sins.”
OF AMIR’S DEPARTURE TOWARD THE CITY OF KHAVAR IN PURSUIT OF NAUSHERVAN, AND OF HIS CONVERTING QEEMAZ SHAH, THE RULER OF KHAVAR, TO THE TRUE FAITH
The storytellers have it that after Amir had finished with the festivities, he asked Amar, “Do you have any news of Naushervan’s whereabouts?” Amar answered, “It is said that he has gone to the city of Qeemaz Shah Khavari.” Amir said, “Order our advance camp to head for the city of Khavar.” Nearing the city, Amir sent a missive to Qeemaz Shah that read:
O Qeemaz Shah, know that Naushervan is my archenemy, and this time I am determined to punish him. Now I hear that he has sought refuge with you. It is incumbent on you to send him and the ill-starred Bakhtak to me as prisoners immediately upon reading this letter. Otherwise, you will find your place in the coffin instead of on the throne.
Amar carried Amir Hamza’s letter to Qeemaz Shah’s court. When Amar gave the letter into Qeemaz Shah’s hands and he read it, he tore it up immediately and said, “I neither pay vassalage to Hamza nor do I have any awe for him that I would carry out his orders to arrest Naushervan and Bakhtak and send them to him.” Amar answered, “O Qeemaz Shah, the Sahibqiran did not order me to do so, otherwise I would have ripped up your belly in the same way that you tore up that letter.”
Qeemaz Shah turned to his slaves, who stood before him with folded arms, and said, “Catch this foul-mouthed messenger!” The slaves surrounded Amar on all sides. Amar drew a steel dagger from his scabbard and released countless slaves from the misery of attending to Qeemaz Shah. Then Amar slapped Qe
emaz Shah, snatched his crown, and left after thoroughly humiliating him. Many ran to catch him, but Amar was not one to be caught and overpowered so easily.
Bakhtak said to Qeemaz Shah, “Perhaps Your Honor is unfamiliar with this attendant of Hamza. He is such a monster that the eyes of heaven have never seen his equal.” Qeemaz Shah answered, “You will see how I treat him and his master and quench my sword in his blood.”
The next day Qeemaz Shah marched into the battlefield to the sound of war drums, and Amir arranged his army opposite him. First to arrive on the battlefield was Qeemaz Shah’s sister, Khurshid Khavari, who was a master lance thrower and unsurpassed in martial arts. She called out with great vanity and pride, “O champion warriors, come out and show me what you own in the name of valor.”
Within an hour she injured several champions from Amir’s camp. Rustam-e Peel-Tan could not hold back his fury any longer. He took to the field and descended into the arena like lightning. The prince caught hold of her lance, and despite her exertions, she was unable to wrench it from his hands. The prince snatched the lance from her and removed the poison from its tip, and then dealt her a blow of its shaft that threw her from her horse. When the prince dismounted and tried to fasten her up, he discovered that this warrior was a woman. He carried her off on his horse in his lap, and produced her before Amir and everyone in the camp. Amir Hamza asked her, “O woman, who are you and what is your name?” She answered, “My name is Khurshid Khavari, and I am the sister of Qeemaz Shah.” Amir ordered that she be conducted to the mother of Rustam-e Peel-Tan and given into her care. That day Rustam-e Peel-Tan fought Qeemaz Shah’s brother, his father, Nim-Tan Khavari, and Qeemaz Shah’s elder son, Homan Khavari, who were all overpowered and taken prisoner when they sought battle with the prince.
Qeemaz Shah sounded the drums to announce the day’s end and returned to his pavilion. Both armies went back to their resting places and took refuge from the hardships of the battlefield.
Amir embraced Rustam-e Peel-Tan and offered gold and jewels as a sacrifice of his life, and gave away even more in charity in gratitude for his safe return from the battlefield. Amir Hamza sent a message to Khurshid Khavari to inquire if she was willing and happy to accept Rustam-e Peel-Tan as her husband. She answered, “I would envy my own stars if I were granted such an illustrious husband and his company in which to enjoy life’s pleasures.” Amir Hamza engaged Rustam-e Peel-Tan and Khurshid Khavari in matrimony at an auspicious moment and then took part in the festivities.
For seven days and seven nights Rustam-e Peel-Tan remained in the palace, and on the eighth day he emerged to the sound of the drums of war and decorated himself with his arms and armor. Amir Hamza took to the battlefield and organized his army. Qeemaz Shah brought his horse into the arena and called out, “O Arab lad, come out and face me so that I can instruct you in the intricacies of combat.”
Rustam-e Peel-Tan spurred on his horse and when he came within reach Qeemaz Shah dealt him a blow with his eight-hundred-maund mace with all his might. The prince escaped the blow by stopping it with his shield, but his steed was injured. The prince dismounted and cut off the legs of Qeemaz Shah’s horse. The two of them changed horses and resumed fighting. Until noon the two of them fought with maces and then drew swords. When their swords grew blunt they wielded lances. They fought so mightily that their lances broke apart inch by inch.
Finally, Qeemaz Shah sounded the drums to announce the day’s end, and the following day the armies again faced each other. Landhoor took Amir’s leave and went to fight Qeemaz Shah. Qeemaz dealt him a blow of his mace that Landhoor parried with great effort and answered with his own mace.
Both warriors fought with such ferocity that the two armies constantly exclaimed “Bravo!” and “Well done!” With night falling, the trumpeters sounded the end of combat for the day. Amir asked Alam Shah Roomi and Landhoor, “How did you find Qeemaz Shah?” They answered, “If there is anyone who can be said to have a claim to power and strength after you, it is Qeemaz Shah.”
The following day the two armies again faced each other in the battleground. A warrior had yet to enter the field from either side when a forty-yard-tall youth covered in steel came forward from the direction of the forest and stood between the two armies. He turned his face toward the infidel army and roared like a lion, “O Naushervan, send one of your champions to fight me.” Naushervan sent an Aadi warrior to combat with him. The rider lifted the Aadi warrior up and slammed him to the ground so fiercely that every bone in his body was crushed and he never rose to his feet again. A second Aadi warrior came into the field and suffered the same fate. Then nobody dared to confront and skirmish with the stranger. After waiting for an hour for someone from Naushervan’s camp to challenge him, he turned toward the camp of the followers of the True Faith and challenged them. Sarkob Turk took Amir Hamza’s leave and confronted the youth, who threw Sarkob on the ground but allowed him to leave, saying to him, “Go and send me someone else to fight with me.”
Qunduz Sar-Shaban next took Amir Hamza’s leave and went to fight. That ferocious warrior caught Qunduz Sar-Shaban and separated him from his mount but left him unharmed and did not strike or injure him. The giant said, “Go back now and send me another man to fight.” Qunduz returned and told Amir Hamza all he had undergone. Amir said to him, “From his face and features it seems to me that he is your son.” Qunduz said, “If he is indeed my own blood, nothing will keep me from killing him and smashing his head with my mace for disgracing me in this manner before both camps and robbing me of my prestige.”
Then Rustam-e Peel-Tan and Alam Shah Roomi went into combat against that desert warrior. The youth caught hold of Rustam’s cummerbund and exerted himself to the last iota of his strength to lift the prince, but he did not budge even slightly from his place. Rustam caught hold of the mysterious youth, bellowed his war cry, and lifted him clear out of the saddle several handspans into the air. Then Rustam put him lightly on the ground and asked, “Tell me truthfully who you are and what your name is and of which place are you a native.” He answered: “My name is Shaban Taifi, and I am the son of Qunduz Sar-Shaban.”
Rustam-e Peel-Tan brought him along and produced him into Amir Hamza’s service. After he had made Shaban Taifi kiss Amir’s feet, he explained his particulars. Amir Hamza embraced him and showed him much affection, and then sounded the drums to announce the day’s end and returned to his pavilion. Amir Hamza gave Shaban Taifi the title of the Latter-day Hamza and seated him on the throne of his son Amar Hamza, augmenting his rank before the whole court.
On the eighth day the two armies again faced each other. Shaban Taifi fought Qeemaz Shah Khavari, but despite remaining engaged in combat the whole day neither was able to overpower the other. Each soldier returned to his pavilion at the end of the day. The next morning the battle arrays were formed again. Qeemaz Shah came out onto the field and challenged Amir Hamza who rode Ashqar Devzad into the battlefield. Qeemaz Shah brought down his mace with all his strength, but Amir blocked it and then dealt a mace blow to Qeemaz Shah who stopped it with his head. Although Qeemaz survived the blow, sweat streamed from every pore in his body and all four legs of his horse were broken from the impact. Qeemaz Shah jumped from his horse and tried to hamstring Ashqar Devzad, but Amir quickly left his saddle to face Qeemaz. They fought until noon with maces and then they drew swords to continue the fight, but neither of them was able to achieve his end and secure victory over the other by any device.
Qeemaz Shah then praised Amir Hamza, who replied, “We have tried our weapons, and now only one thing remains. I will catch hold of you by your waist and you should do the same and we will both try to raise each other from the ground. The one who loses must pay allegiance to the other and give himself unto the other’s service for the rest of his life.” Qeemaz Shah accepted the condition. Thus speaking, Qeemaz Shah caught hold of Amir’s cummerbund and exerted all his power and might to lift him, yet he was unable to raise Amir Hamza from the ground. Amir let ou
t his war cry and lifted Qeemaz Shah above his head. After turning him seven times above his head, Amir threw him to the ground and pinioned him and gave him into Amar’s custody.
Amir Hamza returned to his camp to the sound of festive music and ordered that all the Khavaris be brought before him. When Amar had done this, Amir Hamza said to Qeemaz Shah, “I won the wager and you are the loser. Therefore you must convert to the True Faith.” He answered, “It is far more preferable for me to be killed than to convert to the True Faith. It is not the tradition of our forefathers to give up our ancestral faith.” Amir was enraged and ordered Landhoor and Madi-Karib to kill him with their maces and dispatch the infidel to Hell. However, Qeemaz Shah remained unaffected by the mace blows showered on him by the two champions. Witnessing this, Amir Hamza became most sorrowful that a mighty warrior of Qeemaz’s caliber should be lost to him for not obeying his commands. He said, “Give him into the custody of Madi-Karib.” Qeemaz Shah asked, “How long will you keep me captive, and what will you achieve by imprisoning me?” Amir said, “I will not give up tormenting you. As long as you are alive, you will rot in prison.”
At that moment Qeemaz Shah asked for water. Amir ordered sherbet made for him and had the Book of Ibrahim11 recited over it. The moment Qeemaz Shah drank the sherbet, it melted his stony heart and he realized the truthfulness of the True Faith. He said to Amir, “Why do you not kill me?” Amir answered, “I am sorry for your plight, and I am rueful that a mighty warrior and a courageous and brave man like yourself should die in complete blindness to his own good.” Then Qeemaz Shah laughed heartily and said, “O Hamza, I am now convinced that you are a great connoisseur of brave men and show mercy to the slaves of God. I am ready to submit to your every command since it would be against all wisdom to turn away from doing so. Tell me now, what is your pleasure?” Amir said, “That you should convert to the faith of Ibrahim.” That very instant Qeemaz Shah ennobled himself with the True Faith, along with his father, brother, and son. Amir Hamza conferred robes of honor on all of them and, after conferring a Jamshedi robe of honor on Qeemaz Shah, seated him by his side on his throne and ordered revels to be arranged to celebrate the occasion.
The Adventures of Amir Hamza Page 49