#1
فرستاده شد نزد قیصر ز شاه
✦
سواری که اندر نوردید راه
“A swift rider was dispatched by the King to the Caesar of Rum, traversing the long roads with speed.”
#2
بفرمود کز نامداران روم
✦
کسی کاو بنازد بران مرز و بوم
“He ordered that from among the nobles of Rum, whoever took pride in that realm,”
#3
جهان دیده باید عنان‌دار کس
✦
سنان و سپر بایدش یار بس
“Should be an experienced chieftain, master of the reins, with spear and shield as his sole companions.”
#4
چنین لشکری باید از مرز روم
✦
که آیند با من به آباد بوم
“"Such an army must come forth from the borders of Rum, to join me in reclaiming the prosperous lands."”
#5
پس آگاهی آمد ز هاماوران
✦
بدشت سواران نیزه‌وران
“Then tidings reached Hamavaran and the Plain of Spear-bearing Horsemen,”
#6
که رستم به مصر و به بربر چه کرد
✦
بران شهریاران به روز نبرد
“Of what Rostam had accomplished in Egypt and Barbaristan against their kings on the day of battle.”
#7
دلیری بجستند گرد و سوار
✦
عنان پیچ و مردافگن و نیزه‌دار
“The warriors and chieftains sought out valiant men—masters of horse control, warrior-slayers, and skilled spearmen.”
#8
نوشتند نامه یکی مردوار
✦
سخنهای شایسته و آبدار
“They wrote a manly letter filled with worthy, eloquent, and polished words.”
#9
چو از گرگساران بیامد سپاه
✦
که جویند گاه سرافراز شاه
“"When the host of Gurgsaran marched forth to seize the throne of the exalted King,”
#10
دل ما شد از کار ایشان بدرد
✦
که دلشان چنین برتری یاد کرد
“Our hearts burned with grief over their actions, that they dared harbor such ambitions of superiority.”
#11
همی تاج او خواست افراسیاب
✦
ز راه خرد سرش گشته شتاب
“Afrasiab sought his crown, his mind having strayed far from the path of wisdom.”
#12
برفتیم با نیزه‌های دراز
✦
برو تلخ کردیم آرام و ناز
“We marched with long spears and turned his peace and luxury into bitterness.”
#13
ازیشان و از ما بسی کشته شد
✦
زمانه به هر نیک و بد گشته شد
“Many were slain from both sides, as Time turned through good and evil fortunes.”
#14
کنون کآمد از کار او آگهی
✦
که تازه شد آن تخت شاهنشهی
“Now that news has come of his deeds, and that the imperial throne has been renewed,”
#15
همه نامداران شمشیرزن
✦
برین کینه گه بر شدند انجمن
“All the sword-wielding nobles gathered together on this battleground of vengeance.”
#16
چو شه برگراید ز بربر عنان
✦
به گردن برآریم یکسر سنان
“When the King turns his reins from Barbaristan, we shall all raise our spears upon our shoulders,”
#17
زمین کوه تا کوه پرخون کنیم
✦
ز دشمن بیابان چو جیحون کنیم
“We shall fill the earth with blood from mountain to mountain, turning the desert into a river of enemy gore."”
#18
فرستاده تازی برافگند و رفت
✦
به بربرستان روی بنهاد و تفت
“The Arab messenger set out swiftly and rode post-haste toward Barbaristan.”
#19
چو نامه بر شاه ایران رسید
✦
بران گونه گفتار بایسته دید
“When the letter reached the Shah of Iran, he saw those worthy words and loyalty.”
#20
ازیشان پسند آمدش کارکرد
✦
به افراسیاب آن زمان نامه کرد
“He approved of their allegiance and actions, and straightway wrote a letter to Afrasiab.”
#21
که ایران بپرداز و بیشی مجوی
✦
سر ما شد از تو پر از گفت‌وگوی
“"Vacate Iran and seek no more excess! Our heads are full of weary talk because of you.”
#22
ترا شهر توران بسندست خود
✦
به خیره همی دست یازی ببد
“The land of Turan is quite enough for you; in vain do you stretch out your hand to evil!”
#23
فزونی مجوی ار شدی بی‌نیاز
✦
که درد آردت پیش رنج دراز
“Seek not greed if you have enough, lest it bring you endless grief and prolonged suffering.”
#24
ترا کهتری کار بستن نکوست
✦
نگه داشتن بر تن خویش پوست
“It behoves you to observe vassalage and preserve your own skin upon your body!”
#25
ندانی که ایران نشست من‌ست
✦
جهان سر به سر زیر دست من‌ست
“Know you not that Iran is my royal seat, and the whole world lies subject beneath my command?”
#26
پلنگ ژیان گرچه باشد دلیر
✦
نیارد شدن پیش چنگال شیر
“Though the ferocious leopard be fierce and bold, it dares not step before the claws of the lion!"”
#27
چو آگاهی آمد به افراسیاب
✦
سرش پر ز کین گشت و دل پرشتاب
“When tidings of this letter reached Afrasiab, his head filled with malice and his heart with fury.”
#28
فرستاد پاسخش کاین گفت‌وگوی
✦
نزیبد جز از مردم زشت خوی
“He sent a response: "Such arrogant discourse ill becomes anyone save those of foul nature!”
#29
ترا گر سزا بودی ایران بدان
✦
نیازت نبودی به مازندران
“If Iran were truly rightfully yours, you would have had no need to wander off to Mazandaran!”
#30
چنین گفت کایران دو رویه مراست
✦
بباید شنیدن سخنهای راست
“Know the truth: Iran belongs to me by a double claim!”
#31
که پور فریدون نیای من‌ست
✦
همه شهر ایران سرای من‌ست
“For the son of Fereydun (Tur) is my forefather; hence all the land of Iran is my native home!”
#32
و دیگر به بازوی شمشیرزن
✦
تهی کردم از تازیان انجمن
“And secondly, by the strength of my sword-wielding arm, I cleared the realm of the Arab host.”
#33
به شمشیر بستانم از کوه تیغ
✦
عقاب اندر آرم ز تاریک میغ
“With my blade I shall shear the peaks off mountains and bring down eagles from the dark clouds!”
#34
کنون آمدم جنگ را ساخته
✦
درفش درفشان برافراخته
“Now I have come prepared for battle, with radiant banners unfurled!"”
#35
فرستاده برگشت مانند باد
✦
سخنها به کاووس کی کرد یاد
“The messenger returned swift as the wind and recounted all those fierce words to Kay Kavus.”
#36
چو بشنید کاووس گفتار اوی
✦
بیاراست لشکر به پیکار اوی
“When Kavus heard his speech, he arrayed his army to march into battle against him.”
#37
ز بربر بیامد سوی سوریان
✦
یکی لشکری بی‌کران و میان
“From Barbaristan he marched toward Syria with a host boundless and immense.”
#38
به جنگش بیاراست افراسیاب
✦
به گردون همی خاک برزد ز آب
“Afrasiab arrayed his host for war, kicking dust from the waters up into the heavens.”
#39
جهان کر شد از نالهٔ بوق و کوس
✦
زمین آهنین شد هوا آبنوس
“The world grew deafened by the wail of clarions and war-drums; the earth turned to iron, the air to ebony.”
#40
ز زخم تبرزین و از بس ترنگ
✦
همی موج خون خاست از دشت جنگ
“From the blows of battle-axes and the clash of blades, waves of blood surged across the battlefield.”
#41
سر بخت گردان افراسیاب
✦
بران رزم‌گاه اندر آمد بخواب
“The fortune of Afrasiab's champions sank into deep sleep upon that battlefield.”
#42
دو بهره ز توران سپه کشته شد
✦
سرسرکشان پاک برگشته شد
“Two-thirds of the Turanian army were slain, and the minds of their proud leaders completely turned.”
#43
سپهدار چون کار زان‌گونه دید
✦
بی‌آتش بجوشید همچون نبید
“When the Turanian commander saw the battle turning thus, he boiled without fire like fermenting wine.”
#44
به آواز گفت ای دلیران من
✦
گزیده یلان نره شیران من
“He cried aloud: "O my brave warriors! My chosen heroes and male lions!”
#45
شما را ز بهر چنین روزگار
✦
همی پرورانیدم اندر کنار
“I have nurtured and cherished you in my arms for precisely such a dire day as this!”
#46
بکوشید و هم پشت جنگ آورید
✦
جهان را به کاووس تنگ آورید
“Strive with all your might and unite in battle, to turn the wide world into a suffocating place for Kavus.”
#47
یلان را به ژوپین و خنجر زنید
✦
دلیرانشان سر به سر بفگنید
“Strike down their warriors with javelins and daggers, and sever the heads of all their valiant heroes.”
#48
همان سگزی رستم شیردل
✦
که از شیر بستد به شمشیر دل
“Above all Rostam, that lion-hearted man of Sistan, who tore courage from the hearts of wild lions with his sword.”
#49
بود کز دلیری ببند آورید
✦
سرش را به دام گزند آورید
“It may be that through your courage you bring him in bonds, and entangle his head in the snare of ruin.”
#50
هرآنکس که او را به روز نبرد
✦
ز زین پلنگ اندر آرد به گرد
“Whosoever among you, on the day of battle, casteth him down from his leopard-skin saddle into the dust,”
#51
دهم دختر خویش و شاهی ورا
✦
برآرم سر از برج ماهی ورا
“I shall grant him my own daughter and my kingdom, raising his stature high above the stars of Pisces.”
#52
چو ترکان شنیدند گفتار اوی
✦
سراسر سوی رزم کردند روی
“When the Turks heard his exhortation, they turned their faces toward the field of battle as one.”
#53
بشد تیز با لشکر سوریان
✦
بدان سود جستن سرآمد زیان
“He rode forth swiftly with the army of Turan, yet his quest for profit ended in utter calamity.”
#54
چو روشن زمانه بران گونه دید
✦
ازانجا سوی شهر توران کشید
“When he perceived that fortune had turned grim against him, he retreated from that field toward the realm of Turan.”
#55
دلش خسته و کشته لشکر دو بهر
✦
همی نوش جست از جهان یافت زهر
“With a wounded heart and two-thirds of his host slain, he sought sweet wine from fate but swallowed bitter poison.”