Nevertheless Kahrdash refused and would not contend with her，and he ceased not to abstain from her thus，till he met from Kanmakan that which hath been set down.Now he took the Prince for his beloved Fatin and was afraid； albeit indeed she loved him for what she had heard of his beauty and velour； so he went up to him and said，'Woe to thee，[101] O Fatin！ Thou comest here to show me thy prowess； but now alight from thy steed，that I may talk with thee，for I have lifted these cattle and have foiled my friends and waylaid many a brave and man of knightly race，all for the sake of thy beauty of form and face，which are without peer.So marry me now，that Kings' daughters may serve thee and thou shalt become Queen of these countries.'When Kanmakan heard these words，the fires of wrath flamed up in him and he cried out，'Woe to thee，O Persian dog！ Leave Fatin and thy trust and mistrust，and come to cut and thrust，for eftsoon thou shalt lie in the dust；'and so saying，he began to wheel about him and assail him and feel the way to prevail.But when Kahrdash observed him closely he knew him for a doughty knight and a stalwart in fight； and the error of his thought became manifest to him，whenas he saw the green down on his cheeks dispread like myrtles springing from the heart of a rose brightred.And he feared his onslaught and quoth he to those with him，'Woe to you！
Let one of you charge down upon him and show him the keen sword and the quivering spear； for know that when many do battle with one man it is foul shame，even though he be a kemperly wight and an invincible knight.'Upon this，there ran at Kanmakan a horseman like a lion in fight，mounted on a black horse with hoofs snowwhite and a star on his forehead，the bigness of a dirham，astounding wit and sight，as he were Abjar，which was Antar's destrier，even as saith of him the poet，'The courser chargeth on battling foe，Mixing heaven on high with the earth down low：[102]As though the Morning had blazed his brow，And he rends her vitals as quid pro quo.'
He rushed upon Kanmakan，and they wheeled about awhile，giving blows and taking blows such as confound the sprite and dim the sight； but Kanmakan was the first to smite the foe a swashing blow，that rove through turband and iron skull cap and reached his head，and he fell from his steed with the fall of a camel when he rolleth over.Then a second came out to him and offered battle，and in like guise a third，a fourth and a fifth，and he did with them all as he had done with the first.Thereupon the rest at once rushed upon him，for indeed they were roused by rage and wild with wrath； but it was not long before he had pierced them all with the point of his spear.When Kahrdash saw these feats of arms，he feared death； for he knew that the youth was stoutest of heart and concluded that he was unique among knights and braves； and he said to Kanmakan，'I waive my claim to thy blood and I pardon thee the blood of my comrades： so take what thou wilt of the cattle and wend thy ways，for thy firmness in fight moveth my ruth and life is better for thee than death.'
Replied Kanmakan，'Thou lackest not of the generosity of the noble！ but leave this talk and run for thy life and reck not of blame nor think to get back the booty； but take the straight path for thine own safety.'Thereupon Kahrdash waxed exceeding wroth，and rage moved him to the cause of his death； so he said to Kanmakan，'Woe to thee，an thou knew who I be，thou wouldst not wield these words in the open field.I am the lion to bash known as Kahrdash，he who spoileth great Kings and waylayeth all travellings and seizeth the merchants' preciousest things.And the steed under thee is that I am seeking； and I call upon thee to tell me how thou camest by him and hast him in thy keeping.'
Replied Kan makan，'Know thou that this steed was being carried to my uncle King Sasan，under the escort of an ancient dame high in rank attended by ten slaves，when thou fellest upon her and tookest the horse from her； and I have a debt of blood against this old woman for the sake of my grandfather King Omar bin al Nu'uman and my uncle King Sharrkan.' 'Woe to thee！'quoth Kahrdash，'who is thy father，O thou that hast no lawful mother？'
Quoth he，'Know that I am Kanmakan，bin Zau alMakan，son of Omar bin alNu'uman.'But when Kahrdash heard this address he said，'Thy perfection cannot be denied，nor yet the union in thee of knightly virtue and seemlihead，'and he added，'Fare in peace，for thy father showed us favour.'Rejoined Kanmakan，'By Allah，I will not deign to honour thee，O wretch I disdain，so far as to overcome thee in battle plain！'Upon this the Badawi waxed wroth and they drove at each other，shouting aloud，whilst their horses pricked their ears and raised their tails.[103] And they ceased not clashing together with such a crash that it seemed to each as if the firmament were split in sunder，and they continued to strive like two rams which butt，smiting and exchanging with their spears thrust and cut.Presently Kahrdash foined at Kanmakan； but he evaded it and rejoined upon him and so pierced him through the breast that the spearhead issued from his back.
Then he collected the horses and the plunder，and he cried out to the slaves，saying，'Up and be driving as hard as ye may！'
