News reached Afrasiab,

That Sohrab had launched ships upon the water.

Still, the smell of milk comes from his mouth,

Yet thoughts of sword and arrow come to him.

He washes the ground with his dagger,

Now he seeks battle with Kavus.

Many troops gathered around him,

He remembers no one.

Why should the speech be drawn out like this?

Skill appeared superior to lineage.

When Afrasiab heard those words,

He was pleased, laughed, and showed joy.

From the army, he chose brave leaders,

Someone who was inclined to the heavy mace.

Twelve thousand brave warriors,

He entrusted to Homan and Mar Barman.

The commander said to the warriors of the army,

That this secret must remain hidden.

When the two of them confront each other,

Tahmtan will undoubtedly seek a solution.

The father should not know the son,

For he will bind his heart and soul to his father's love.

Unless that brave, aged hero,

Is killed by the hand of this lion-hearted man.

After that, reconcile with Sohrab,

Bind sleep upon him for one night.

The two alert warriors went,

To the presence of the bright-spirited Sohrab.

Before them, the king's gifts,

Ten horses and ten mules with saddles and baggage.

A turquoise throne and a brocade crown,

The top of the crown gold, the base of the throne ivory.

A letter with entreaty and pleasing words,

Written to that respected one.

That if you seize the throne of Iran,

The world will be at ease from judgment.

From this border to that, there is not much distance,

Samangan, Iran, and Turan are one.

I will send you as many troops as you need,

You sit on the throne and put on the crown.

In Turan, like Homan and like Barman,

There were undoubtedly no braver commanders.

I have now sent them at your command,

That they may be your guests for a while.

If you seek war, they will wage war,

They will make the world narrow for the malevolent.

Such a letter and royal robe,

So many riders carried with preparations.

News came to Sohrab from the way,

Of Homan, Barman, and the army.

He went to receive them like the wind,

He saw so many troops, his heart became happy.

When Homan saw him with his stature and shoulders,

Homan remained astonished at him.

Then he gave him the king's letter,

With gifts and horses and loaded mules.

When the world-seeker read the king's letter,

From that place, he quickly led the army.

No one had the strength to fight with him,

Whether a lion or a leopard came forward.

There was a fortress that they called White,

On that fortress was the hope of the Iranians.

The guardian of the fortress, the battle-tested Hojir,

Who was with strength and heart and with holding and seizing.

At that time, Gostaham was still young,

Inclined to youth and brave.

He had a sister, brave and a rider,

Malevolent, arrogant, and renowned.

When Sohrab reached near the fortress,

The brave Hojir saw the army.

He sat on his swift horse like dust,

He went running from the fortress to the field of battle.

When Sohrab, the warrior, saw him,

He became enraged and drew his sword of vengeance.

He charged out from the army like a lion,

The brave one came before Hojir.

He said thus to the battle-tested Hojir,

“You have come to battle alone, recklessly.”

“What is your valor, name, and lineage?

That your mother should weep for you.”

Hojir gave him this answer, that enough,

“I do not need any Turk as a helper.”

“I am Hojir, brave and a commander,

I will sever your head from your body right now.”

“I will send it to the presence of the king of the world,

I will hide your body under the earth.”

Sohrab laughed at this conversation,

It came to his ears, he quickly turned his face.

They positioned spear against spear in such a way,

That they could not distinguish one from the other.

Hojir struck a spear at his waist,

The spearhead did not penetrate into it.

Sohrab, the lion, pulled back his spear,

He struck the base of the spear at the brave one’s waist.

He lifted him from the saddle like the wind,

He did not remember anything of him in his heart.

He came down from his horse and sat on his chest,

He wanted to cut off his head from his body.

He twisted and turned to his right hand,

He became distressed by Sohrab and asked for quarter.

He released his grip on him and gave him quarter,

When he was satisfied, he gave much advice.

The warrior then tied him with bonds,

He sent him to Homan.

When they became aware of Hojir in the fortress,

That they had captured him and taken him prisoner.

Cries and wails of men and women arose,

That Hojir was lost in that assembly.