ABSTRACT
He strung his bow, he chose Shafts dipped in bane of milk,1 and ’gan to shower them Down on the dragon, wheeling all the while, Like horsemen in the fray, to left and right. He sewed up with steel points the dragon’s mouth, Whose venom scorched the brambles, then he shot Four arrows at its head, and blood and poison Poured down its breast. The dragon’s body failed By reason of those shafts, and all the ground Ean with its gore and bane. Then lightly drew Bahrám his sword of watered steel and pierced The dragon’s heart right dourly, hacked its neck With sword and battle-ax, and flung to earth Its lifeless form. The dragon overthrown, He turned in duty to the Lord and said :— “ O Judge who judgest righteously ! ’tis Thou That slewest this great dragon, for who else
