#1
ز گفتار دهقان یکی داستان
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بپیوندم از گفتهٔ باستان
“From the chronicle of an ancient sage, I weave a tale born of ancient days.”
#2
ز موبد برین گونه بر داشت یاد
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که رستم یکی روز از بامداد
“Thus recorded the wise Mobad: One morning, Rostam awoke with a heavy heart.”
#3
غمی بد دلش ساز نخچیر کرد
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کمر بست و ترکش پر از تیر کرد
“Grieved in spirit, he prepared for the chase; he girded his waist and filled his quiver with arrows.”
#4
سوی مرز توران چو بنهاد روی
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چو شیر دژآگاه نخچیرجوی
“He turned his face toward the marches of Turan, riding like a fierce lion hunting its prey.”
#5
چو نزدیکی مرز توران رسید
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بیابان سراسر پر از گور دید
“As he drew near the border of Turan, he beheld the desert vast and teeming with wild asses.”
#6
برافروخت چون گل رخ تاج‌بخش
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بخندید وز جای برکند رخش
“His crown-bestowing face bloomed like a rose; he smiled with joy and spurred Rakhsh into a gallop.”
#7
به تیر و کمان و به گرز و کمند
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بیفگند بر دشت نخچیر چند
“With bow and arrow, mace and lariat, he brought down several beasts across the plain.”
#8
ز خاشاک وز خار و شاخ درخت
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یکی آتشی برفروزید سخت
“Gathering dry brushwood, thorns, and fallen branches, he kindled a roaring fire upon the earth.”
#9
چو آتش پراگنده شد پیلتن
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درختی بجست از در بابزن
“When the fire spread warm and bright, the elephant-bodied hero sought a sturdy tree to fashion a spit.”
#10
یکی نره گوری بزد بر درخت
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که در چنگ او پر مرغی نسخت
“He spitted an entire male wild ass upon the trunk, which weighed in his mighty grip no more than a bird's feather.”
#11
چو بریان شد از هم بکند و بخورد
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ز مغز استخوانش برآورد گرد
“When it was roasted, he tore it apart and devoured the meat, crushing even the bone marrow to dust.”
#12
بخفت و برآسود از روزگار
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چمان و چران رخش در مرغزار
“Then he lay down to rest from worldly toil, while Rakhsh grazed gracefully in the lush meadow.”
#13
سواران ترکان تنی هفت و هشت
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بران دشت نخچیرگه برگذشت
“A band of seven or eight Turanian horsemen passed by that very hunting ground.”
#14
یکی اسپ دیدند در مرغزار
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بگشتند گرد لب جویبار
“They spied a noble steed grazing in the meadow and circled along the bank of the stream.”
#15
چو بر دشت مر رخش را یافتند
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سوی بند کردنش بشتافتند
“Finding Rakhsh roaming upon the plain, they rushed forward with lariats to bind him.”
#16
گرفتند و بردند پویان به شهر
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همی هر یک از رخش جستند بهر
“They captured him and led him running to their city, each horseman craving a share of the legendary charger.”
#17
چو بیدار شد رستم از خواب خوش
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به کار امدش بارهٔ دستکش
“When Rostam awoke from his sweet sleep, he turned to find his loyal and swift charger.”
#18
بدان مرغزار اندرون بنگرید
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ز هر سو همی بارگی را ندید
“He gazed across the meadow in every direction, but nowhere could he see his champion steed.”
#19
غمی گشت چون بارگی را نیافت
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سراسیمه سوی سمنگان شتافت
“Heartbroken at the loss of his horse, he hurried anxiously on foot toward the realm of Samangan.”
#20
همی گفت کاکنون پیاده دوان
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کجا پویم از ننگ تیره‌روان
“He lamented, 'Where can I now run on foot, carrying the shame of a darkened soul?'”
#21
چه گویند گردان که اسپش که برد
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تهمتن بدین سان بخفت و بمرد
“'What will the warriors say? That someone stole his steed while Tahamtan slept like a corpse?'”
#22
کنون رفت باید به بیچارگی
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سپردن به غم دل به یکبارگی
“'Now I must march in helplessness, yielding my heart entirely to sorrow.'”
#23
کنون بست باید سلیح و کمر
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به جایی نشانش بیابم مگر
“'Now I must buckle on my weapons and belt; peradventure I may find some trace of him elsewhere.'”
#24
همی رفت زین سان پر اندوه و رنج
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تن اندر عنا و دل اندر شکنج
“Thus he journeyed on, heavy with grief and pain, his body burdened with toil and his heart racked with anguish.”