At dawn, King Kay Kavus ordered Gev and Tus to bind the massive war drums upon the war-elephants. Opening the imperial treasury, he distributed rewards and set his immense army in motion. One hundred thousand armored cavalrymen and shield-bearers gathered from across the realms. As they marched, a thick veil of darkness enveloped the earth; the sky turned ebony, and the roaring of drums vibrated like a boiling sea.
Day after day, the sun was swallowed by the churning dust of their march. Spear-tips, golden shields, and colorful banners flashed through the gloom like fires behind a lapis curtain. It was as if an ebony cloud rained down sandarac and gold dust upon the world, completely blotting out the heavens and the Pleiades until the vanguard reached the gates of the White Fortress.
From the high lookout, a loud cry warned the garrison of the army's arrival. Sohrab ascended the ramparts to survey the plain, pointing out the vast, endless sea of troops to Human. Seeing the terrifying magnitude of the Iranian host, Human's heart seized with dread, and he fell silent. Yet Sohrab, steadfast and fearless, banished all worry from his comrade's heart, declaring: 'Do not fear this endless crowd. I see many weapons and countless bodies, but not a single true champion capable of standing against me on the battlefield. By the royal fortune of Afrasiab, I shall turn this plain into a sea of blood!'
Without a trace of anxiety, Sohrab descended from the fortress walls in high spirits, calling for a goblet of wine to drink with his cupbearer, untroubled by the looming battle. Outside the fortress, the grand royal pavilion of King Kavus was pitched, filling every inch of the plain and mountainside with tents and warriors.
#1
دگر روز فرمود تا گیو و طوس
✦
ببستند شبگیر بر پیل کوس
“On the next day, he commanded Gev and Tus to bind the war drums upon the elephants at dawn.”
#2
در گنج بگشاد و روزی بداد
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سپه برنشاند و بنه برنهاد
“He opened the treasury, paid stipends to the army, mounted the troops, and loaded the baggage.”
#3
سپردار و جوشنوران صد هزار
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شمرده به لشکر گه آمد سوار
“One hundred thousand shield-bearers and armored horsemen gathered at the mustering ground.”
#4
یکی لشکر آمد ز پهلو به دشت
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که از گرد ایشان هوا تیره گشت
“An army marched from Parthia/Pahlav into the plain, dark dust obscuring the very sky.”
#5
سراپرده و خیمه زد بر دو میل
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بپوشید گیتی به نعل و به پیل
“Pavilions and tents were pitched over two miles, as hoofs and elephants covered the face of the earth.”
#6
هوا نیلگون گشت و کوه آبنوس
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بجوشید دریا ز آواز کوس
“The sky turned indigo and the mountains ebony, while the sea boiled from the thunder of drums.”
#7
همی رفت منزل به منزل جهان
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شده چون شب و روز گشته نهان
“Stage by stage the host advanced across the world, turning day into hidden night.”
#8
درخشیدن خشت و ژوپین ز گرد
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چو آتش پس پردهٔ لاجورد
“The flash of spears and javelins through the dust was like fire behind a lapis curtain.”
#9
ز بس گونه‌گونه سنان و درفش
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سپرهای زرین و زرینه کفش
“From the multitude of various spear-heads, banners, golden shields, and gilded boots,”
#10
تو گفتی که ابری به رنگ آبنوس
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برآمد ببارید زو سندروس
“You would say an ebony cloud had arisen, raining down golden sandarac.”
#11
جهان را شب و روز پیدا نبود
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تو گفتی سپهر و ثریا نبود
“Neither day nor night could be discerned in the world; you would think the heavens and Pleiades existed no more.”
#12
ازینسان بشد تا در دژ رسید
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بشد خاک و سنگ از جهان ناپدید
“Thus they marched until they reached the fortress gate, dust and stones vanishing from the face of the earth.”
#13
خروشی بلند آمد از دیدگاه
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به سهراب گفتند کامد سپاه
“A loud cry echoed from the watchtower, bearing word to Sohrab that the host had arrived.”
#14
چو سهراب زان دیده آوا شنید
✦
به باره بیامد سپه بنگرید
“When Sohrab heard the call of the lookout, he mounted the rampart and gazed upon the army.”
#15
به انگشت لشکر به هومان نمود
✦
سپاهی که آن را کرانه نبود
“He pointed out to Human the boundlessness of the approaching army.”
#16
چو هومان ز دور آن سپه را بدید
✦
دلش گشت پربیم و دم درکشید
“When Human saw that distant army, his heart swelled with fear and he held his breath.”
#17
به هومان چنین گفت سهراب گرد
✦
که اندیشه از دل بباید سترد
“Sohrab the valiant said to Human: 'You must wipe all anxiety from your heart.'”
#18
نبینی تو زین لشکر بیکران
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یکی مرد جنگی و گرزی گران
“'You will not see among this endless horde a single true warrior wielding a heavy mace...'”
#19
که پیش من آید به آوردگاه
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گر ایدون که یاری دهد هور و ماه
“'...who would dare face me on the battlefield, if the Sun and Moon favor me.'”
#20
سلیح‌ست بسیار و مردم بسی
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سرافراز نامی ندانم کسی
“'Weapons are plentiful and men are many, yet I see no exalted champion of renown.'”
#21
کنون من به بخت رد افراسیاب
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کنم دشت را همچو دریای آب
“'Now by the royal fortune of Afrasiab, I shall turn this plain into a sea of blood.'”
#22
به تنگی نداد ایچ سهراب دل
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فرود آمد از باره شاداب دل
“Sohrab yielded no room to sorrow in his heart; he descended from the wall joyful and confident.”
#23
یکی جام می‌خواست از می‌گسار
✦
نکرد ایچ رنجه دل از کارزار
“He called for a goblet of wine from the cupbearer, utterly untroubled by the impending strife.”
#24
وزانسو سراپردهٔ شهریار
✦
کشیدند بر دشت پیش حصار
“Meanwhile, the King's imperial pavilion was pitched upon the plain before the fortress.”
#25
ز بس خیمه و مرد و پرده‌سرای
✦
نماند ایچ بر دشت و بر کوه جای
“So immense was the multitude of tents, men, and pavilions that no space remained on plain or hill.”