#1
چنین گفت پس پهلوان با زرسپ
✦
که بفروز دل را چو آذرگشسپ
“Then the commander spoke to Zarasp: 'Kindle your heart like the flame of Adar Gushasp.'”
#2
سلیح سواران جنگی بپوش
✦
بجان و تن خویشتن دار گوش
“'Don the armor of battle warriors, and take good care of your body and soul.'”
#3
تو خواهی مگر کین آن نامدار
✦
وگرنه نبینم کسی خواستار
“'For perhaps you will seek vengeance for that illustrious chieftain, as I see no one else stepping forward.'”
#4
زرسپ آمد و ترگ بر سر نهاد
✦
دلی پر ز کین و لبی پر ز باد
“Zarasp advanced and placed the helmet upon his head, his heart full of fury and his lips heavy with breath.”
#5
خروشان باسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
بکردار آتش درآمد ز جای
“Roaring, he drove his spurs into his steed, leaping forward in the manner of a blaze of fire.”
#6
چنین گفت شیر ژیان با تخوار
✦
که آمد دگرگون یکی نامدار
“The ferocious lion Forud said to Tokhar: 'Another renowned warrior has come forth in altered guise.'”
#7
ببین تا شناسی که این مرد کیست
✦
یکی شهریار است اگر لشکریست
“'Look closely to recognize who this man is—whether he be a king or a captain of the host.'”
#8
چنین گفت با شاه جنگی تخوار
✦
که آمد گه گردش روزگار
“Tokhar said to the warlike king: 'The turn of fortune's wheel has arrived.'”
#9
که این پور طوسست نامش زرسپ
✦
که از پیل جنگی نگرداند اسپ
“'This is the son of Tus, named Zarasp, who never turns his horse away even from a war-elephant.'”
#10
که جفتست با خواهر ریونیز
✦
بکین آمدست این جهانجوی نیز
“'He is wedded to Rivniz's sister; this seeker of world-renown has also come out for revenge.'”
#11
چو بیند بر و بازوی و مغفرت
✦
خدنگی بباید گشاد از برت
“'When you mark his chest, his arms, and his helmet, loose a sharp poplar shaft from your side.'”
#12
بدان تا بخاک اندر آید سرش
✦
نگون اندر آید ز باره برش
“'So that his head sinks into the dust, and his body tumbles headlong from his charger.'”
#13
بداند سپهدار دیوانه طوس
✦
که ایدر نبودیم ما بر فسوس
“'Thus that foolish chieftain Tus shall know that we stand here not in idle jest.'”
#14
فرود دلاور برانگیخت اسپ
✦
یکی تیر زد بر میان زرسپ
“The brave Forud spurred his horse, and shot a sharp arrow straight at Zarasp's waist.”
#15
که با کوههٔ زین تنش را بدوخت
✦
روانش ز پیکان او برفروخت
“It stitched his body fast to the saddle-pommel, and his soul flared away from the arrow's tip.”
#16
بیفتاد و برگشت ازو بادپای
✦
همی شد دمان و دنان باز جای
“He fell, and his swift charger turned back from him, galloping and snorting toward the camp.”
#17
خروشی برآمد ز ایران سپاه
✦
زسر برگرفتند گردان کلاه
“A roar of wailing rose from the Iranian army; the champions removed their helmets in grief.”
#18
دل طوس پرخون و دیده پراب
✦
بپوشید جوشن هم اندر شتاب
“Tus's heart was filled with blood and his eyes with tears; he hastily donned his coat of mail.”
#19
ز گردان جنگی بنالید سخت
✦
بلرزید برسان برگ درخت
“He lamented bitterly over the slain warriors, trembling all over like the leaf of a tree.”
#20
نشست از بر زین چو کوهی بزرگ
✦
که بنهند بر پشت پیلی سترگ
“He settled upon his saddle like a mighty mountain loaded upon the back of a huge war-elephant.”
#21
عنان را بپیچید سوی فرود
✦
دلش پر ز کین و سرش پر ز دود
“He turned his reins toward Forud, his heart swelling with vengeance and his mind full of fury.”