THE ILIAD" AND "ODYSSEY" IN "SOHRAB AND RUSTUM" 77 



.... and there Rustum sate 

 Listless, and held a falcon on his wrist, 

 And play'd with it; but Gudurz came and stood 

 Before him; and he look'd, and saw him stand, 

 And with a cry sprang up and dropp'd the bird, 

 And greeted Gudurz with both hands and said: — 

 "Welcome! these eyes could see no better sight. 

 What news ? but sit down first, and eat and drink." 



Though not a close imitation of Homer, this passage has much in com- 

 mon with the story of the embassy of Odysseus and Ajax to Achilles, 

 II. 9:182 ff. : "So the twain went along the shore of the loud-sounding 



sea They came to the huts and ships of the Myrmidons, and found 



the king taking his pleasure of a loud lyre So the twain came for- 

 ward .... and they stood before his face; and Achilles sprang up 

 amazed with the lyre in his hand, and left the seat where he was sitting. 

 .... Then Achilles .... greeted them and said: 'Welcome; verily 

 ye are friends that are come — sore indeed is the need — even ye that are 

 dearest of the Achaeans to me even in my wrath.' 



" So spake noble Achilles and led them forward, and made them sit on 

 settles and carpets of purple; and anon he spake to Patroklos being 

 near: 'Bring forth a greater bowl, thou son of Menoitios; mingle stronger 

 drink, and prepare each man a cup, for dearest of men are these that are 

 under my roof.' " 



The last line of the above quotation from "Sohrab and Rustum" 

 reflects the Homeric custom of first entertaining guests and then question- 

 ing them. Compare Ody. 3:69 ff.: "Now, then, it is more suitable to 

 prove our guests and ask them who they are, since they are refreshed 

 with food. Strangers, who are you ? Where do you come from, sailing 

 the watery ways ? Are you upon some business ? Or do you rove at 

 random, as the pirates roam the seas, risking their lives and bringing 

 ill to strangers?" 



Page 72 : 



And I to tarry with the snow-hair'd Zal 

 My father, whom the robber Afgans vex, 

 And clip his borders short, and drive his herds, 

 And he has none to guard his weak old age. 



