#1
یکی نامه‌ای بر حریر سپید
✦
بدو اندرون چند بیم و امید
“A letter was written upon white silk, containing within it much fear and hope.”
#2
دبیری خردمند بنوشت خوب
✦
پدید آورید اندرو زشت و خوب
“A wise scribe recorded it beautifully, setting forth clearly both the good and the bad.”
#3
نخست آفرین کرد بر دادگر
✦
کزو دید پیدا به گیتی هنر
“First, he praised the Just Creator, from whom all wisdom and excellence in the world manifest.”
#4
خرد داد و گردان سپهر آفرید
✦
درشتی و تندی و مهر آفرید
“He who bestowed intellect and created the turning sphere, who fashioned sternness, fury, and love.”
#5
به نیک و به بد دادمان دستگاه
✦
خداوند گردنده خورشید و ماه
“He gave us free will for good and evil, the Lord of the turning sun and moon.”
#6
اگر دادگر باشی و پاک دین
✦
ز هر کس نیابی به جز آفرین
“If you are righteous and pure of faith, you shall receive nothing from anyone except praise.”
#7
وگر بدنشان باشی و بدکنش
✦
ز چرخ بلند آیدت سرزنش
“But if you are evil-natured and malevolent, reproof shall rain down upon you from the high heavens.”
#8
جهاندار اگر دادگر باشدی
✦
ز فرمان او کی گذر باشدی
“If the ruler of the world is just, who would ever stray from his divine command?”
#9
سزای تو دیدی که یزدان چه کرد
✦
ز دیو و ز جادو برآورد گرد
“You saw what God deservedly wrought: how He raised dust from the demons and sorcerers.”
#10
کنون گر شوی آگه از روزگار
✦
روان و خرد بادت آموزگار
“Now, if you become aware of the turn of times, let wisdom and soul be your true teachers.”
#11
همانجا بمان تاج مازندران
✦
بدین بارگاه آی چون کهتران
“Leave the crown of Mazandaran where it is, and come to this court as a humble servant,”
#12
که با چنگ رستم ندارید تاو
✦
بده زود بر کام ما باژ و ساو
“For you have no power against Rostam's claw; surrender your tribute and tax willingly and swiftly.”
#13
وگر گاه مازندران بایدت
✦
مگر زین نشان راه بگشایدت
“And if you wish to retain the throne of Mazandaran, perhaps this path of submission will open the way for you.”
#14
وگرنه چو ارژنگ و دیو سپید
✦
دلت کرد باید ز جان ناامید
“Otherwise, like Arzhang and the White Demon, you must sever all hope from your life.”
#15
بخواند آن زمان شاه فرهاد را
✦
گرایندهٔ تیغ پولاد را
“Then the king summoned Farhad, the fierce wielder of the steel sword.”
#16
گزین بزرگان آن شهر بود
✦
ز بی‌کاری و رنج بی‌بهر بود
“He was among the elite grandees of that city, untainted by weakness or hardship.”
#17
بدو گفت کاین نامهٔ پندمند
✦
ببر سوی آن دیو جسته ز بند
“Kavus said to him: 'Carry this counsel-filled letter to that demon who has escaped his bounds.'”
#18
چو از شاه بشنید فرهاد گرد
✦
زمین را ببوسید و نامه ببرد
“When warrior Farhad heard the king's command, he kissed the ground and took the letter.”
#19
به شهری کجا سست پایان بدند
✦
سواران پولادخایان بدند
“He rode toward a city where even weak riders became steel-chewing horsemen,”
#20
هم آنکس که بودند پا از دوال
✦
لقبشان چنین بود بسیار سال
“Where men were bound so constantly to the stirrup strap that this epithet remained with them for years.”
#21
بدان شهر بد شاه مازندران
✦
هم آنجا دلیران و کندآوران
“In that city dwelt the King of Mazandaran, surrounded by valiant and formidable champions.”
#22
چو بشنید کز نزد کاووس شاه
✦
فرستاده‌ای باهش آمد ز راه
“When he heard that an intelligent envoy had arrived from King Kay Kavus,”
#23
پذیره شدن را سپاه گران
✦
دلیران و شیران مازندران
“A heavy host of warriors and fierce lions of Mazandaran went out to greet him.”
#24
ز لشکر یکایک همه برگزید
✦
ازیشان هنر خواست کاید پدید
“The king selected them one by one from the army, seeking to display their martial prowess.”
#25
چنین گفت کامروز فرزانگی
✦
جدا کرد نتوان ز دیوانگی
“He spoke thus: 'Today wisdom cannot be sundered from demonic wildness.'”
#26
همه راه و رسم پلنگ آورید
✦
سر هوشمندان به چنگ آورید
“'Adopt the fearsome custom of leopards, and capture the heart of this wise envoy in your grip.'”
#27
پذیره شدندش پر از چین به روی
✦
سخنشان نرفت ایچ بر آرزوی
“They met him with deeply cut frowns upon their faces, their words offering no warm welcome.”
#28
یکی دست بگرفت و بفشاردش
✦
پی و استخوانها بیازاردش
“One demon seized Farhad's hand and squeezed it so hard that his sinews and bones were agonized.”
#29
نگشت ایچ فرهاد را روی زرد
✦
نیامد برو رنج بسیار و درد
“Yet Farhad's face did not turn pale at all, nor did he display any mark of great pain or suffering.”
#30
ببردند فرهاد را نزد شاه
✦
ز کاووس پرسید و ز رنج راه
“They brought Farhad before the king, who inquired about Kavus and the hardships of his journey.”
#31
پس آن نامه بنهاد پیش دبیر
✦
می و مشک انداخته پر حریر
“Then Farhad placed that letter before the scribe—a silk scroll steeped in wine and fragrant musk.”
#32
چو آگه شد از رستم و کار دیو
✦
پر از خون شدش دیده دل پرغریو
“When the king learned of Rostam and the fate of the demon lords, his eyes filled with blood and his heart with turmoil.”
#33
به دل گفت پنهان شود آفتاب
✦
شب آید بود گاه آرام و خواب
“He said secretly in his heart: 'The sun will hide itself, and night shall come for rest and sleep.'”
#34
ز رستم نخواهد جهان آرمید
✦
نخواهد شدن نام او ناپدید
“'Yet the world will find no rest from Rostam, nor will his glorious name ever vanish.'”
#35
غمی گشت از ارژنگ و دیو سپید
✦
که شد کشته پولاد غندی و بید
“He grew deeply grieved for Arzhang and the White Demon, that Pulad-Ghandi and Bid had been slain.”
#36
چو آن نامهٔ شاه یکسر بخواند
✦
دو دیده به خون دل اندر نشاند
“When he had read the king's letter completely from end to end, his two eyes wept the blood of his heavy heart.”