341
Kehrdash saw his feats of arms, he knew that he was stout of heart and concluded that he was the phœnix of the champions and heroes of the age: so he feared death and said to Kanmakan, “I give thee thy life and pardon thee the blood of my comrades, for I have compassion on thee by reason of thy fair youth. So take what thou wilt of the cattle and go thy ways, for life is better for thee [than death].” “Thou lackest not of the generosity of the noble,”[1] replied Kanmakan; “but leave this talk and flee for thy life and reck not of blame nor think to get back the booty; but take the straight path for thine own safety.” When Kehrdash heard this, he waxed exceeding wroth and his anger moved him to that which was the cause of his death; so he said to Kanmakan, “Out on thee! Knewest thou who I am, thou wouldst not talk thus in the open field. I am the doughty lion known as Kehrdash, he who despoils great kings and waylays all the travellers and seizes the merchants’ goods. Yonder steed under thee is what I am seeking and I call upon thee to tell me how thou camest by it.” “Know,” replied Kanmakan, “that this steed was being carried to my uncle King Sasan in the company of a certain old woman, attended by ten slaves, when thou fellest upon her and tookest the horse from her; and I have a debt of blood against this old woman for the sake of my grandfather King Omar ben Ennuman and my uncle King Sherkan.” “Out on thee!” said Kehrdash. “Who is thy father, O thou that hast no (known) mother?” “Know,” answered the prince, “that I am Kanmakan, son of Zoulmekan, son of Omar ben Ennuman.” Quoth Kehrdash, “Thy perfection cannot be denied, nor yet the union in thee of martial virtue and comeliness: but go in peace, for thy father showed us favour and bounty.” “By Allah, O vile wretch,” rejoined Kanmakan, “I will not so far honour thee as to overcome
- ↑ Ironical.
