Matthew Arnold's Sohrab and Rustum and Other Poems Part 22

=232. snow-haired Zal.= According to tradition, Zal was born with snow-white hair. His father Lahm, believing this an ill omen, doomed the unfortunate babe to be exposed on the loftiest summit of the Elburz Mountains. The Simurgh, a great bird or griffin, found him and cared for him till grown, then restored him to his repentant parent.

He subsequently married the Princess Rudabeh of Seistan, by whom he became father of Rustum.

=243-248. He spoke ... men.= Note carefully Gudurz's argument. Why so effective with Rustum?

=257. But I will fight unknown and in plain arms.= The s.h.i.+elds and arms of the champions were emblazoned with mottoes and devices. Why does Rustum determine to lay aside his accustomed arms and fight incognito? What effect does this determination have upon the ultimate outcome of the situation? Read the story of the arming of Achilles (Book XIX., Homer's _Iliad_), and compare with Rustum's preparation for battle. [160]

=266. device.= See note, l. 257.

=277. Dight.= Adorned, dressed.

"The clouds in thousand liveries dight."

--MILTON. _L'Allegro,_ l. 62.

=286. Bahrein= or Aval. A group of islands in the Persian Gulf, celebrated for its pearl fisheries.

=288. tale.= Beckoning, number.

"And every shepherd tells his _tale_, Under the hawthorn in the dale."

--MILTON. _L'Allegro,_ ll. 67-68.

=306. flowers.= Decorates, beautifies with floral designs.

=311. perused.= Studied, observed closely.

=318.= In a letter dated November, 1852, Mr. Arnold speaks of the figures in his poem as follows: "I can only say that I took a great deal of trouble to orientalize them, because I thought they looked strange, and jarred, if western." What is gained by their use?

=325. vast.= Large, mighty.

=326. tried.= Proved, experienced.

=328. Never was that field lost or that foe saved.= Note the power gained in this line by the use of the alliteration.

=330. Be govern'd.= Be influenced, persuaded.

=343. by thy father's head!= Such oaths are common to the extravagant speech of the oriental peoples.

=344. Art thou not Rustum?= See introductory note to poem.

=367. vaunt.= Boast implied in the challenge.

=380. Thou wilt not fright me so!= That is, by such talk.

=401. tower'd.= Remained stationary, poised.

=406. full struck.= Struck squarely.

[161]

=412. Hyphasis, Hydaspes.= Two of the rivers of the Punjab in northern India, now known as the Beas and Jhylum. In 326 B.C. Alexander defeated Porus on the banks of the latter stream.

=414. wrack.= Ruin, havoc. (Poetical.)

=418. glancing.= In the sense of darting aside.

=435. hollow.= Unnatural in tone.

=452. like that autumn-star.= Probably Sirius, the Dog Star, under whose ascendency, according to ancient beliefs, epidemic diseases prevailed.

=454. crest.= That is, helmet and plume.

=466. Remember all thy valour.= That is, summon up all your courage.

=469. girl's wiles.= Explain the line.

=470. kindled.= Roused, angered.

=481. unnatural.= because of the kins.h.i.+p of the combatants.

=481-486. for a cloud=, etc. A distinctly Homeric imitation. Cf. the cloud that enveloped Paris--Book III., ll. 465-469, of the _Iliad_.

=489. And the sun sparkled=, etc. Why this reference to the clear Oxus stream at this moment of intense tragedy?

=495. helm.= Helmet; defensive armor for the head.

=497. sh.o.r.e.= Past tense of _shear_, to cut.

=499. bow'd his head:= because of the force of the blow.

=508. curdled.= Thickened as with fear.

=516. Rustum!= Why did this word so affect Sohrab? Note the author's skill in working up to this climax in the narrative.

=527-539. Then with a bitter smile=, etc. Compare these words of the victor, Rustum, with the words of Sohrab, ll. 427-447, when the advantage was with him.

=536. glad.= Make happy.

"That which _gladded_ all the warrior train."

--DRYDEN.

[162]

=538. Dearer to the red jackals=, etc. Cf. I. Sam. xvii. 44: "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field." Careful investigation will show the poem to abound with Biblical as well as cla.s.sical parallelisms.

=556-575. As when some hunter, etc.= One of the truly great similes in the English language.

=563. sole.= Alone, solitary. From the Latin _solus_.

=570. gla.s.s.= Reflect as in a mirror.

=596. bruited up.= Noised abroad.

=613. the style.= The name or t.i.tle.