Moreover they fell to calling upon Jesus and Mary and the abhorrent Cross and stayed their hands from the battle， whilst King Afridoun went up to King Herdoub （to consult with him）， for the two kings stood one at the head of each wing. Now there was with them also a famous cavalier named Lawiya， who was in command of the centre， and the infidels drew out in battle-array； but indeed they were full of alarm and disquiet. Meanwhile， the Muslims arrayed their forces and Sherkan came to his brother Zoulmekan and said to him， "O king of the age， doubtless they mean to joust？ and that is also what we desire； but it is my wish to set in our van-ward battle the stoutest-hearted of our men：
for wise ordering is the half of life." "As thou wilt， O man of good counsel，" replied the Sultan. "It is my wish，" added Sherkan， "to be myself in the centre of the line， with the Vizier Dendan on my left and thee on my right， whilst Behram and Rustem command the right and left wing； and thou， O mighty King， shalt be under the standards and the ensigns， for that thou art our stay and upon thee， after God， is our dependence， and we will all be thy ransom from aught that can harm thee." Zoulmekan thanked him and the battle-cries arose and the sabres were drawn， when，behold， there came forth a cavalier from the Grecian ranks； and as he drew near， they saw that he was mounted on a slow-paced mule， fleeing with her master from the shock of swords. Her housings were of white silk， surmounted by a carpet of Cashmere stuff， and on her back sat a gray-bearded old man of comely and reverend aspect， clad in a gown of white wool. He spurred her on till he came to the Muslims， to whom said he， "I am an ambassador to you， and all an ambassador has to do is to deliver his message； so give me a safe conduct and the right of speech， that I may do my errand to you." "Thou art in safety，" replied Sherkan； "fear neither stroke of sword nor thrust of lance."
Thereupon the old man dismounted and taking the cross from his neck， （laid it） before the Sultan and carried himself humbly to him， after the fashion of one who hopes for fair treatment. Then said the Muslims to him， "What is thy news？" He answered， "I am an ambassador from King Afridoun， whom I counselled to avert the destruction of all these manly bodies and images of the Compassionate； and it seemed good to him to stop the shedding of blood and limit the strife to the encounter of two horsemen in battle； so he agreed to this and says to you， "Verily， I will ransom my troops with my life； so let the Muslim king do likewise and ransom his army with his life. If he kill me， there will be no stability left in the army of the Greeks， and if I kill him，it will be the like with the Muslims."" When Sherkan heard this，he said， "O monk， we agree to this， for it is just； and behold I will joust： with him， for I am champion of the Muslims， even as he of the Christians； and if he slay me， he will have gained the victory and there will remain for the Muslim army nothing but flight. So return to him， O monk， and tell him that the combat shall be for to-morrow， seeing that to-day we are weary with our journey； but after rest there shall be neither reproach nor blame." So the monk returned， rejoicing， to King Afridoun and King Herdoub and told them what Sherkan had said， whereat Afridoun was exceeding glad and lightened of anxiety and trouble and said in himself， "No doubt but this Sherkan is the hardest hitter of them with the sword and the dourest at push of pike；
and when I have slain him， their hearts will fail them and their strength will be broken." Now Dhat ed Dewahi had written to King Afridoun of this and told him that Sherkan was a cavalier of cavaliers and a champion of champions and had warned him against him； but Afridoun was a stalwart cavalier， who fought in many a fashion； he could hurl stones and javelins and smite with the iron mace and feared not the doughtiest of prowess in the dint of war. So when he heard from the monk that Sherkan agreed to joust，he well-nigh lost his reason for stress of joy， for that he had confidence in himself and deemed that none could stand against him. Then the infidels passed the night in joy and merry-making and wine-drinking， and as soon as it was day， the two armies drew out in battle array， with their brown spears and white swords.
