As the dawn cock crowed, Tus son of Nowzar and Giv son of Gudarz, accompanied by a company of valiant horsemen, set forth merrily from the court of King Kay Kavus. They made their way to the plains of Daghoi for a grand hunt, utilizing falcons and hunting leopards to capture vast herds of wild asses. For forty days they hunted, gathering abundant provisions, until they approached the shadowy borders of Turan, where the dense encampments of the Turanian nomads darkened the horizon.
Near the border marches, a lush thicket appeared in the distance. Tus and Giv, riding ahead of their attendants, circled the meadow and ventured beneath the emerald canopy. There, hidden among the trees, they discovered a maiden of supernatural radiant beauty, her lips parting in a soft smile. Struck with wonder, Giv asked how such a moonlike maiden had come to wander alone in this perilous wilderness. She revealed a tragic tale: her father had returned from a banquet intoxicated with rage, drawing a gleaming blade to slay her. Fleeing into the dark night on foot, she was set upon by brigands who robbed her of her horse, her golden crown, and her vast jewels.
When questioned regarding her lineage, the maiden disclosed that she was closely kin to Garsivaz, the mighty Turanian commander, and descended from the legendary King Fereydun. Upon gazing at her flawless countenance and hearing her high birth, both chieftains felt their hearts soften—yet simultaneously, a fiery spark of rivalry ignited between them. Tus claimed priority, asserting he had spurred his steed first, while Giv countered that they had arrived side by side. Their quarrel escalated into fierce anger, to the point where they bitterly considered beheading the maiden so that neither man might possess her.
At that crucial moment, a wise elder intervened, urging them to bring the beauty before the Shah of Iran and abide by his imperial judgment. Agreeing to the counsel, they brought the maiden before King Kay Kavus. When Kavus beheld her radiant face, he smiled, bit his lip in astonishment, and declared that such game was reserved solely for the Sovereign of the realm. Upon confirming her noble heritage, Kavus ordered her to be taken to his golden palace, adorned in fine yellow silk, turquoise, and untouched rubies, installing her as the foremost lady of his realm—the very maiden destined to become the mother of the noble Siyavash.
#1
چنین گفت موبد که یک‌روز طوس
✦
بدانگه که برخاست بانگ خروس
“Thus spake the priest that one early morn, as the cock sounded its chant at dawn,”
#2
خود و گیو گودرز و چندی سوار
✦
برفتند شاد از در شهریار
“Tus himself, and Giv son of Gudarz, with a band of noble horsemen, departed joyfully from the king's gate.”
#3
به نخچیر گوران به دشت دغوی
✦
ابا باز و یوزانِ نخچیرجوی
“They rode to hunt wild asses in the plain of Daghoi, bearing trained falcons and hunting leopards.”
#4
فراوان گرفتند و انداختند
✦
علوفه چهل روزه را ساختند
“Plentiful was the game they struck and captured, laying up provisions for forty days.”
#5
بدان جایگه ترک نزدیک بود
✦
زمینش ز خرگاه تاریک بود
“That realm lay close to the land of the Turks, dark with the shadow of their many tents.”
#6
یکی بیشه پیش اندر آمد ز دور
✦
به نزدیک مرز سواران تور
“A lush thicket loomed from afar, standing near the border of the Turanian riders.”
#7
همی‌راند در پیش با طوس، گیو
✦
پس اندر پرستنده‌ای چند نیو
“Giv rode alongside Tus at the lead, while brave retainers followed close behind.”
#8
بران بیشه رفتند هر دو سوار
✦
بگشتند بر گِرد آن مرغزار
“Both horsemen entered that thicket and rode all around its verdant meadow.”
#9
به بیشه یکی خوب رخ یافتند
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پر از خنده لب، هردو بشتافتند
“Within the woods they found a fair-faced maiden with smiling lips; both rushed toward her.”
#10
به دیدار او در زمانه نبود
✦
برو بر ز خوبی بهانه نبود
“In all the world there was none to match her sight, nor could any fault be found in her beauty.”
#11
بدو گفت گیو: ای فریبنده ماه
✦
ترا سوی این بیشه چون بود راه؟
“Giv spake to her: 'O enchanting moon, how didst thou find thy path into this wild thicket?'”
#12
چنین داد پاسخ که: ما را پدر
✦
بزد دوش، بگذاشتم بوم و بر
“She answered: 'Last night my father struck me, and so I abandoned my home and homeland.'”
#13
شب تیره مست آمد از دشتِ سور
✦
همان چون مرا دید جوشان ز دور،
“'He returned drunk from a night of banquet, and seeing me from afar, he seethed with fury.'”
#14
یکی خنجری آبگون برکشید
✦
همان خواست از تن سرم را برید
“'He drew a sharp, water-tempered dagger, intending to sever my head from my body.'”
#15
بپرسید زو پهلوان از نژاد
✦
برو سروبن یک به یک کرد یاد
“The champion asked her of her lineage, and that tall cypress listed them one by one.”
#16
بدو گفت: من خویش گرسیوزم
✦
به شاه آفریدون کشد پروزم
“She said: 'I am kin to Garsivaz, and my ancestry reaches back to King Fereydun.'”
#17
پیاده ـ بدو گفت ـ چون آمدی
✦
که بی‌باره و رهنمون آمدی؟
“He asked: 'How is it thou hast come on foot, without steed or guide?'”
#18
چنین داد پاسخ که: اسپم بماند
✦
ز سستی مرا بر زمین برنشاند
“She answered: 'My horse failed me, collapsing from weakness and leaving me stranded.'”
#19
بی‌اندازه زرّ و گهر داشتم
✦
به سر بر یکی تاج زر داشتم
“'Boundless gold and jewels I possessed, and upon my head I wore a golden crown.'”
#20
بران رویِ بالا ز من بستدند
✦
نیام یکی تیغ بر من زدند
“'Upon the high paths they stripped me of all, striking me with the scabbard of a sword.'”
#21
چو هشیار گردد پدر بی‌گمان
✦
سواری فرستد پس من دمان
“'When my father regains his senses, he will surely send swift riders after me.'”
#22
بیاید همی تازیان مادرم
✦
نخواهد کزین بوم و بر بگذرم
“'My mother comes riding fast, unwilling that I should leave this land.'”
#23
دل پهلوانان بدو نرم گشت
✦
سر طوس نوذر بی‌آزرم گشت
“The hearts of the heroes softened toward her, yet Tus son of Nowzar grew shameless in desire.”
#24
شه نوذری گفت: من یافتم
✦
از ایرا چنین تیز بشتافتم
“The Nowzarian king spake: 'I found her first; that is why I spurred so swiftly!'”
#25
بدو گفت گیو: ای سپهدار شاه
✦
نه با من برابر بدی بی‌سپاه؟
“Giv retorted: 'O commander of the host, wast thou not side-by-side with me without army?'”
#26
همان طوس نوذر بدان بستهید
✦
کجا: پیش اسپ من اینجا رسید
“Yet Tus son of Nowzar insisted: 'She reached before my horse first here.'”
#27
بدو گیو گفت: این سخن خود مگوی
✦
که «من تاختم پیش نخچیرجوی»
“Giv said to him: 'Utter not such words as "I charged ahead of the hunters."'”
#28
ز بهر پرستنده‌ای گرمگوی
✦
نگردد جوانمرد پرخاشجوی
“'For the sake of a sweet-talking maiden, a chivalrous warrior does not turn to stridulous strife.'”
#29
سخن‌شان به تندی بجایی رسید
✦
که این ماه را سر بباید برید
“Their words grew so fierce in wrath that they thought: 'This moon's head must be severed!'”
#30
میانشان چو آن داوری شد دراز
✦
میانجی برآمد یکی سرفراز
“As the dispute between them dragged on, an exalted mediator arose from their midst,”
#31
که این را بر شاه ایران برید
✦
بدان کاو دهد، هردو فرمان برید
“Who said: 'Take her before the King of Iran; obey whatever decree he gives.'”
#32
نگشتند هردو ز گفتار اوی
✦
بر شاه ایران نهادند روی
“Neither turned away from his words, and both turned their faces toward the Shah of Iran.”
#33
چو کاووس روی کنیزک بدید
✦
بخندید و لب را به دندان گزید
“When Kavus beheld the maiden's face, he laughed and bit his lip with amazement.”
#34
بهردو سپهبد چنین گفت شاه
✦
که: کوتاه شد بر شما رنج راه
“The Shah spake to both commanders: 'The toil of your long journey is now made short!'”
#35
برین داستان بگذرانیم روز
✦
که خورشید گیرند گردان بِیوز
“'Let us pass the day with this tale, as heroes hunt wild gazelles.'”
#36
گوزنست اگر آهوی دلبرست؟!
✦
شکاری چنین ازدر مهترست
“'Be she an elk or an enchanting gazelle, such game is fit only for the supreme monarch!'”
#37
بدو گفت خسرو: نژاد تو چیست
✦
که چهرت همانند چهر پریست؟
“The King spake to her: 'What is thy lineage? For thy face resembles the face of a Peri.'”
#38
ورا گفت: از مام خاتونیم
✦
ز سوی پدر آفریدونیم
“She answered him: 'On my mother's side I am noble; on my father's side I reach back to Fereydun.'”
#39
نیایم سپهدار گرسیوزست
✦
بران مرز خرگاه او مرکزست
“'My grandfather is the commander Garsivaz, whose encampment centers that border.'”
#40
بدو گفت کاین روی و موی و نژاد
✦
همی‌خواستی داد هرسه به باد
“The Shah said to her: 'Thou wert about to give all three—face, hair, and lineage—to the wind!'”
#41
به مشکوی زرین کنم شایدت
✦
سر ماه‌رویان کنم بایدت
“'I shall fit thee in my golden palace, and make thee the lady above all moon-faced beauties.'”
#42
چنین داد پاسخ که: دیدم ترا
✦
ز گردنکشان برگزیدم ترا
“She answered: 'When I beheld thee, I chose thee above all chieftains.'”
#43
بت اندر شبستان فرستاد شاه
✦
بفرمود تا برنشیند به گاه
“The Shah sent the idol into his inner harem, ordering that she be seated upon the throne.”
#44
بیاراستندش به دیبای زرد
✦
به یاقوت و پیروزه و لاجورد
“They adorned her in golden brocade, with rubies, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.”
#45
دگر ایزدی هرچه بایست، بود
✦
یکی سرخ یاقوت بُد نابسود
“Every divine grace that was needed was hers; she was like an unblemished, pure red ruby.”