Will feel the cruel Tartar's sway!"

Púladwund wishing to follow up the blow by a final stroke of his sword,
found to his amazement that it recoiled from the armor of Rustem, and
thence he proposed another mode of fighting, which he hoped would be
more successful. He wished to try his power in wrestling. The challenge
was accepted. By agreement both armies retired, and left the space of a
farsang between them, and no one was allowed to afford assistance to
either combatant. Afrásiyáb was present, and sent word to Púladwund, the
moment he got Rustem under him, to plunge a sword in his heart. The
contest began, but Púladwund had no opportunity of fulfilling the wishes
of Afrásiyáb. Rustem grasped him with such vigor, lifted him up in his
arms, and dashed him so furiously on the plain, that the boaster seemed
to be killed on the spot. Rustem indeed thought he had put a period to
his life; and with that impression left him, and remounted Rakush: but
the crafty Púladwund only pretended to be dead: and as soon as he found
himself released, sprang up and escaped, flying like an arrow to his own
side. He then told Afrásiyáb how he had saved his life by counterfeiting
death, and assured him that it was useless to contend against Rustem.
The champion having witnessed this subterfuge, turned round in pursuit,
and the Tartars received him with a shower of arrows; but the attack was
well answered, Púladwund being so alarmed that, without saying a word to
Afrásiyáb, he fled from the field. Pírán now counselled Afrásiyáb to
escape also to the remotest part of Tartary. As the flight of Púladwund
had disheartened the Túránian troops, and there was no chance of
profiting by further resistance, Afrásiyáb took his advice, and so
precipitate was his retreat, that he entirely abandoned his standards,
tents, horses, arms, and treasure to an immense amount. The most
valuable booty was sent by Rustem to the king of Irán, and a
considerable portion of it was divided among the chiefs and the soldiers