#1
ازان پس چنین کرد کاووس رای
✦
که در پادشاهی بجنبد ز جای
“Thereafter did Kavus resolve in his heart to move forth and inspect his kingdom.”
#2
از ایران بشد تا به توران و چین
✦
گذر کرد ازان پس به مکران زمین
“He journeyed from Iran to Turan and China, and thence passed through the land of Makran.”
#3
ز مکران شد آراسته تا زره
✦
میانها ندید ایچ رنج از گره
“From Makran he traveled in full splendour unto Zareh, experiencing no hardship or barrier along the way.”
#4
پذیرفت هر مهتری باژ و ساو
✦
نکرد آزمون گاو با شیر تاو
“Every chieftain readily yielded tribute and tax, for no bull dares to test the strength of a lion.”
#5
چنین هم گرازان به بربر شدند
✦
جهانجوی با تخت و افسر شدند
“Thus triumphantly the world-conquering king advanced with his throne and crown into Barbaristan.”
#6
شه بربرستان بیاراست جنگ
✦
زمانه دگرگونه‌تر شد به رنگ
“The king of Barbaristan prepared for battle, and the face of time took on a darker hue.”
#7
سپاهی بیامد ز بربر به رزم
✦
که برخاست از لشکر شاه بزم
“An army marched out from Barbaristan so mighty that feasting vanished from the King's host.”
#8
هوا گفتی از نیزه چون بیشه گشت
✦
خور از گرد اسپان پراندیشه گشت
“You would say the sky became a dense forest of spears, and the sun grew troubled by the horses' dust.”
#9
ز گرد سپه پیل شد ناپدید
✦
کس از خاک دست و عنان را ندید
“War-elephants vanished beneath the dust of the army, and none could discern hand or rein through the dirt.”
#10
به زخم اندر آمد همی فوج فوج
✦
بران سان که برخیزد از آب موج
“Troop after troop fell into violent clash, rising like the crashing waves of the sea.”
#11
چو گودرز گیتی بران گونه دید
✦
عمود گران از میان برکشید
“When Goudarz beheld the world in such turmoil, he drew his heavy mace from his waist.”
#12
بزد اسپ با نامداران هزار
✦
ابا نیزه و تیر جوشن گذار
“He spurred his steed beside a thousand renowned warriors, armed with spears and armor-piercing arrows.”
#13
برآویخت و بدرید قلب سپاه
✦
دمان از پس اندر همی رفت شاه
“He engaged the enemy and ripped through the heart of their host, while the King swept closely behind.”
#14
تو گفتی ز بربر سواری نماند
✦
به گرد اندرون نیزه‌داری نماند
“You would say no rider remained in Barbaristan, nor any spearman standing in the dust.”
#15
به شهر اندرون هرکه بد سالخورد
✦
چو برگشته دیدند باد نبرد
“When the elders within the city saw the tide of battle turned against them,”
#16
همه پیش کاووس شاه آمدند
✦
جگرخسته و پرگناه آمدند
“They all came before King Kavus, heart-stricken and confessing their fault,”
#17
که ما شاه را چاکر و بنده‌ایم
✦
همه باژ را گردن افگنده‌ایم
“Saying: 'We are servants and slaves unto the Shah, and we bow our necks to pay tribute.”
#18
به جای درم زر و گوهر دهیم
✦
سپاسی ز گنجور بر سر نهیم
“Instead of silver, we shall give gold and jewels, counting it a favor from thy treasurer.'”
#19
ببخشود کاووس و بنواختشان
✦
یکی راه و آیین نو ساختشان
“Kavus showed mercy, treated them with favor, and established a new order and law among them.”
#20
وزان جایگه بانگ سنج و درای
✦
برآمد ابا نالهٔ کره‌نای
“From that place arose the sound of cymbals and clarions, mingled with the wail of war-horns.”
#21
چو آمد بر شهر مکران گذر
✦
سوی کوه قاف آمد و باختر
“When he passed by the city of Makran, he turned toward Mount Qaf and Bakhtar.”
#22
چو آگاهی آمد بریشان ز شاه
✦
نیایش‌کنان برگرفتند راه
“When news of the Shah reached the lords of those lands, they set out toward him offering prayers.”
#23
پذیره شدندش همه مهتران
✦
به سر برنهادند باژ گران
“All the chieftains came to welcome him, bearing heavy tribute upon their heads.”
#24
چو فرمان گزیدند بگرفت راه
✦
بی‌آزار رفتند شاه و سپاه
“When they obeyed his royal command, the Shah and his army moved on without harming anyone.”
#25
سپه ره سوی زابلستان کشید
✦
به مهمانی پور دستان کشید
“The host then directed its path toward Zabulistan, to be guests of the son of Dastan.”
#26
ببد شاه یک ماه در نیمروز
✦
گهی رود و می خواست گه باز و یوز
“For a month the Shah abode in Nimruz, at times calling for wine and music, at times for falcons and cheetahs.”
#27
برین برنیامد بسی روزگار
✦
که بر گوشهٔ گلستان رست خار
“Not long did this peaceful time endure before a thorn sprouted beside the rose-garden.”
#28
کس از آزمایش نیابد جواز
✦
نشیب آیدش چون شود بر فراز
“None can escape the trials of fortune; when one reaches the summit, a descent inevitably follows.”
#29
چو شد کار گیتی بران راستی
✦
پدید آمد از تازیان کاستی
“While the world's affairs seemed upright, rebellion and flaw arose from among the Arabs.”
#30
یکی با گهر مرد با گنج و نام
✦
درفشی برافراخت از مصر و شام
“A noble lord of treasure and fame raised the banner of defiance in Egypt and Syria.”
#31
ز کاووس کی روی برتافتند
✦
در کهتری خوار بگذاشتند
“They turned their faces from Kay Kavus and cast off the humiliating yoke of servitude.”
#32
چو آمد به شاه جهان آگهی
✦
که انباز دارد به شاهنشهی
“When news reached the King of the World that a rival claimed equal sovereignty,”
#33
بزد کوس و برداشت از نیمروز
✦
سپه شاد دل شاه گیتی‌فروز
“He sounded the war-drums and marched from Nimruz, leading a joyful host as the world-illuminating King.”
#34
همه بر سپرها نبشتند نام
✦
بجوشید شمشیرها در نیام
“All carved their names upon their shields, and swords boiled within their scabbards.”
#35
سپه را ز هامون به دریا کشید
✦
بدان سو کجا دشمن آمد پدید
“He led his army from the dry plain into the sea, toward the quarter where the enemy had appeared.”
#36
بی‌اندازه کشتی و زورق بساخت
✦
برآشفت و بر آب لشکر نشاخت
“He built countless ships and boats, and in hot haste launched his host upon the waters.”
#37
همانا که فرسنگ بودی هزار
✦
اگر پای با راه کردی شمار
“Truly, it was a distance of a thousand leagues had it been measured by land journey.”
#38
همی راند تا در میان سه شهر
✦
ز گیتی برین‌گونه جویند بهر
“He sailed until he arrived between three cities, for in such wise men seek their share of the world.”
#39
به دست چپش مصر و بربر به راست
✦
زره در میانه بر آن سو که خواست
“On his left lay Egypt, on his right Barbaristan, with the gulf in between as he desired.”
#40
به پیش اندرون شهر هاماوران
✦
به هر کشوری در سپاهی گران
“Before him lay the realm of Hamavaran, with vast armies gathered in every region.”
#41
خبر شد بدیشان که کاووس شاه
✦
برآمد ز آب زره با سپاه
“Word reached them that King Kavus had crossed the sea with his host.”
#42
هم‌آواز گشتند یک با دگر
✦
سپه را سوی بربر آمد گذر
“They joined voices together, and their army crossed over into Barbaristan.”
#43
یکی گشت چندان یل تیغ‌زن
✦
به بربرستان در شدند انجمن
“So many sword-wielding warriors united as one, gathering together in Barbaristan.”
#44
سپاهی که دریا و صحرا و کوه
✦
شد از نعل اسپان ایشان ستوه
“An army whose horse-hooves exhausted the sea, the desert, and the mountains.”
#45
نبد شیر درنده را خوابگاه
✦
نه گور ژیان یافت بر دشت راه
“No ravenous lion found resting place, nor did fierce wild asses find path across the plains.”
#46
پلنگ از بر سنگ و ماهی در آب
✦
هم اندر هوا ابر و پران عقاب
“The leopard upon the rock, the fish within the water, the cloud floating in the air, and the swift-flying eagle—”
#47
همی راه جستند و کی بود راه
✦
دد و دام را بر چنان رزمگاه
“All sought a path of escape, yet where was there a path for wild beasts and creatures in such a battleground?”
#48
چو کاووس لشکر به خشکی کشید
✦
کس اندر جهان کوه و صحرا ندید
“When Kay Kavus drew his army onto dry land, none in the world could discern mountain or desert through their vast ranks.”
#49
جهان گفتی از تیغ وز جوشن است
✦
ستاره ز نوک سنان روشن است
“You would say the world was fashioned solely of swords and coats of mail, while stars themselves were lit by the gleaming tips of spears.”
#50
ز بس خود زرین و زرین سپر
✦
به گردن برآورده رخشان تبر
“So many golden helmets and golden shields were raised, with gleaming battle-axes borne upon warriors' shoulders.”
#51
تو گفتی زمین شد سپهر روان
✦
همی بارد از تیغ هندی روان
“You would say the earth had turned into a revolving sphere of heavens, raining souls from the edge of Indian blades.”
#52
ز مغفر هوا گشت چون سندروس
✦
زمین سر به سر تیره چون آبنوس
“From the flash of helmets the air turned yellow as amber resin, while the ground became entirely dark as ebony under foot.”
#53
بدرید کوه از دم گاودم
✦
زمین آمد از سم اسپان به خم
“The mountains split from the roar of the cow-headed trumpets, and the earth groaned and bent under the trampling hooves of warhorses.”
#54
ز بانگ تبیره به بربرستان
✦
تو گفتی زمین گشت لشکرستان
“From the thunder of war-drums echoing across Barbaristan, you would say the whole earth had become a vast camp of armies.”
#55
برآمد ز ایران سپه بوق و کوس
✦
برون رفت گرگین و فرهاد و طوس
“Trumpets and drums resounded from the Iranian host, as Gorgin, Farhad, and Tus rode forth into battle.”
#56
وزان سوی گودرز کشواد بود
✦
چو گیو و چو شیدوش و میلاد بود
“And on that side stood Goudarz, son of Kashvad, alongside heroes such as Gev, Sheydoush, and Milad.”
#57
فگندند بر یال اسپان عنان
✦
به زهر آب دادند نوک سنان
“They cast the reins upon their horses' manes and dipped the tips of their spearheads in deadly poison.”
#58
چو بر کوههٔ زین نهادند سر
✦
خروش آمد و چاک چاک تبر
“As they bent low over the pommels of their saddles, a mighty roar arose along with the clashing stroke of battle-axes.”
#59
تو گفتی همی سنگ آهن کنند
✦
وگر آسمان بر زمین برزنند
“You would say they were rending iron from stone, or that the high heavens were being smashed against the earth.”
#60
بجنبید کاووس در قلب‌گاه
✦
سپاه اندرآمد به پیش سپاه
“Kay Kavus stirred at the center of the host, as army surged against army in full confrontation.”
#61
جهان گشت تاری سراسر ز گرد
✦
ببارید شنگرف بر لاژورد
“The world grew pitch dark from rising dust, while cinnabar blood rained down upon the lapis-lazuli blue of the field.”
#62
تو گفتی هوا ژاله بارد همی
✦
به سنگ اندرون لاله کارد همی
“You would say the air rained down hail, planting red tulips of blood deep within the solid rocks.”
#63
ز چشم سنان آتش آمد برون
✦
زمین شد به کردار دریای خون
“Fire erupted from the tips of spears, and the earth became like a surging sea of blood.”
#64
سه لشکر چنان شد ز ایرانیان
✦
که سر باز نشناختند از میان
“The three opposing armies were so crushed by the Iranians that none could distinguish head from waist in the carnage.”
#65
نخستین سپهدار هاماوران
✦
بیفگند شمشیر و گرز گران
“First of all, the ruler of Hamavaran cast down his sword and heavy mace in defeat.”
#66
غمی گشت وز شاه زنهار خواست
✦
بدانست کان روزگار بلاست
“Sorrowful, he pleaded for quarter from the King, knowing full well that this was a day of doom.”
#67
به پیمان که از شهر هاماوران
✦
سپهبد دهد ساو و باژ گران
“On the solemn pledge that from the realm of Hamavaran, the commander would pay heavy tribute and taxes,”
#68
ز اسپ و سلیح و ز تخت و کلاه
✦
فرستد به نزدیک کاووس شاه
“Sending warhorses, weapons, thrones, and crowns to the presence of King Kavus.”
#69
چو این داده باشد برو بگذرد
✦
سپاهش بروبوم او نسپرد
“Once these were delivered, Kavus would spare him, and his host would not trample his land.”
#70
ز گوینده بشنید کاووس کی
✦
برین گفتها پاسخ افگند پی
“Kay Kavus heard these words from the envoy, and laid the foundation of his reply to these proposals.”
#71
که یکسر همه در پناه منید
✦
پرستندهٔ تاج و گاه منید
“Saying: "You all now abide under my protection, as servants of my crown and my throne."”