272 ARNOLD
That Sohrab will rejoice her sight no more, But that in battle with a nameless foe, By the far-distant Oxus, he is slain.'
THE RECOGNITION
He spoke, and as he ceased he wept aloud, Thinking of her he left, and his own death. He spoke; but Rustum listened plunged in thought. Nor did he yet believe it was his son Who spoke, although he called back names he knew; For he had had sure tidings that the babe, Which was in Ader-baijan born to him, Had been a puny girl, no boy at all So that sad mother sent him word, for fear Rustum should seek the boy, to train in arms. And as he deemed that either Sohrab took, By a false boast, the style of Rustum 's son; Or that men gave it him, to swell his fame. So deemed he; yet he listened plunged in thought; And his soul set to grief, as the vast tide Of the bright rocking Ocean sets to shore At the full moon; tears gathered in his eyes; For he remembered his own early youth, And all its bounding rapture; as, at dawn, The shepherd from his mountain-lodge descries A far, bright city, smitten by the sun, Through many rolling clouds so Rustum saw His youth; saw Sohrab's mother, in her bloom; And that old king, her father, who loved well His wandering guest, and gave him his fair child With joy; and all the pleasant life they led,
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