#1
همی گفت و جوشن همی بست گرم
✦
همی بر تنش بر بدرید چرم
“He spoke thus and eagerly bound his coat of mail, while the leather chafed and tore against his body.”
#2
نشست از بر اژدهای دژم
✦
خرامان بیامد براه چرم
“He mounted upon his fierce, dragon-like steed and advanced proudly along the rocky mountain path.”
#3
فرود سیاوش چو او را بدید
✦
یکی باد سرد از جگر برکشید
“When Forud, son of Siyavash, beheld him approaching, he drew a cold sigh from the depths of his heart.”
#4
همی گفت کین لشکر رزمساز
✦
ندانند راه نشیب و فراز
“He said: 'This battle-ready host knows not the high and low paths of wisdom.'”
#5
همه یک ز دیگر دلاورترند
✦
چو خورشید تابان بدو پیکرند
“'Every one of them is braver than the next, shining in splendid form like the radiant sun.'”
#6
ولیکن خرد نیست با پهلوان
✦
سر بی‌خرد چون تن بی‌روان
“'Yet wisdom resides not with their chieftain—and a leader without wisdom is like a body without a soul.'”
#7
نباشند پیروز ترسم بکین
✦
مگر خسرو آید بتوران زمین
“'I fear they will not triumph in their vengeance, unless King Khosrow himself comes to the land of Turan.'”
#8
بکین پدر جمله پشت آوریم
✦
مگر دشمنان را به مشت آوریم
“'To avenge my father, we would all join forces, if only we could lay our hands upon the true enemies.'”
#9
بگوکین سوار سرافراز کیست
✦
که بر دست و تیغش بباید گریست
“'Tell me, who is this exalted knight whose hands and sword bring sorrow and tears?'”
#10
نگه کرد ز افراز بالا تخوار
✦
ببی دانشی بر چمن رست خار
“Tokhar looked down from the mountain heights and remarked: 'Through ignorance, thorns grow upon the meadow.'”
#11
بدو گفت کین اژدهای دژم
✦
که مرغ از هوا اندر آرد بدم
“He said to him: 'This grim dragon is one whose breath could snatch a bird right from the air.'”
#12
که دست نیای تو پیران ببست
✦
دو لشکر ز ترکان بهم برشکست
“'He bound the hands of your grandfather Piran, and shattered two armies of the Turks together.'”
#13
بسی بی‌پدر کرد فرزند خرد
✦
بسی کوه و رود و بیابان سپرد
“'He has orphaned many a young child, and crossed many a mountain, river, and wilderness.'”
#14
پدر نیز ازو شد بسی بی‌پسر
✦
بپی بسپرد گردن شیر نر
“'Many a father has lost his son because of him, and he has trampled underfoot the necks of fierce lions.'”
#15
بایران برادرت را او کشید
✦
بجیحون گذر کرد و کشتی ندید
“'He dragged your brother to Iran, and crossed the Jeyhun river without needing a boat.'”
#16
وراگیو خوانند پیلست و بس
✦
که در رزم دریای نیلست و بس
“'They call him Giv, and he is a veritable elephant in battle—in war, he is like the River Nile itself.'”
#17
چو بر زه بشست اندر آری گره
✦
خدنگت نیابد گذر بر زره
“'When you draw your bowstring tight, your poplar arrow will find no passage through his armor.'”
#18
سلیح سیاوش بپوشد بجنگ
✦
نترسد ز پیکان تیر خدنگ
“'He wears the armor of Siyavash in battle, and fears no sharp poplar arrow.'”
#19
بکش چرخ و پیکان سوی اسپ ران
✦
مگر خسته گردد هیون گران
“'Draw your bow and aim your arrow at his horse, so that his mighty charger may be wounded.'”
#20
پیاده شود بازگردد مگر
✦
کشان چون سپهبد بگردن سپر
“'Thus he will be unhorsed and perhaps turn back, carrying his shield around his neck like a general forced to walk.'”
#21
کمان را بزه کرد جنگی فرود
✦
پس آن قبضهٔ چرخ بر کف بسود
“The warrior Forud strung his bow, then gripped and smoothed the notch of his arrow in his palm.”
#22
بزد تیر بر سینهٔ اسپ گیو
✦
فرود آمد از باره برگشت نیو
“He shot the arrow straight into the chest of Giv’s horse; the hero dismounted from his charger and turned back.”
#23
ز بام سپد کوه خنده بخاست
✦
همی مغز گیو از گواژه بکاست
“Laughter arose from the top of Mount Sepid, and Giv’s pride was deeply cut by the taunts.”
#24
برفتند گردان همه پیش گیو
✦
که یزدان سپاس ای سپهدار نیو
“The warriors all went out to meet Giv, saying: 'Praise be to God, O noble chieftain!'”
#25
که اسپ است خسته تو خسته نه‌ای
✦
توان شد دگر بار بسته نه‌ای
“'It is only your horse that is wounded, not yourself; you can ride again and are not captured.'”
#26
برگیو شد بیژن شیر مرد
✦
فراوان سخنها بگفت از نبرد
“Bijan, the lion-hearted warrior, came up to Giv and spoke many harsh words concerning the battle.”
#27
که ای باب شیراوژن تیزچنگ
✦
کجا پیل با تو نرفتی بجنگ
“He said: 'O brave father, fierce-clawed lion, with whom even an elephant would not dare fight,'”
#28
چرا دید پشت ترا یک سوار
✦
که دست تو بودی بهر کارزار
“'Why should a single rider see your back, when your hand was supreme in every combat?'”
#29
ز ترکی چنین اسپ خسته بدست
✦
برفتی سراسیمه برسان مست
“'Because of a Turk wounding your horse, did you flee in confusion like a drunken man?'”
#30
بدو گفت چون کشته شد بارگی
✦
بدو دادمی سر به یکبارگی
“Giv answered him: 'When my charger was slain, should I have given up my life altogether?'”
#31
همی گفت گفتارهای درشت
✦
چو بیژن چنان دید بنمود پشت
“Thus Bijan spoke harsh and heavy words, and when Giv saw him turn his back,”
#32
برآشفت گیو از گشاد برش
✦
یکی تازیانه بزد بر سرش
“Giv flared up in anger, drew his whip, and struck his son across the head.”
#33
بدو گفت نشنیدی از رهنمای
✦
که با رزمت اندیشه باید بجای
“He said to him: 'Did you not hear from the leader that battle requires deep thought and planning?'”
#34
نه تو مغز داری نه رای و خرد
✦
چنین گفت را کس بکیفر برد
“'You have neither brains, nor judgment, nor wisdom! Who takes such foolish speech without punishment?'”
#35
دل بیژن آمد ز تندی بدرد
✦
بدادار دارنده سوگند خورد
“Bijan’s heart burned with pain from the harsh stroke, and he swore a solemn oath by the Creator of the world:”
#36
که زین را نگردانم از پشت اسپ
✦
مگر کشته آیم بکین زرسپ
“'I shall not turn my saddle from the horse’s back, unless I am slain in vengeance for Zaraspe!'”
#37
وزآنجا بیامد دلی پر ز غم
✦
سری پر ز کینه بر گستهم
“From there he came with a heart full of grief and a head full of vengeance unto Gostaham,”
#38
کز اسپان تو باره‌ای دستکش
✦
کجا بر خرامد بافراز خوش
“Saying: 'Give me a spare horse from your herd, one that strides easily and grandly upon the heights,'”
#39
بده تا بپوشم سلیح نبرد
✦
یکی تا پدید آید از مردمرد
“'Give it to me that I may don the armor of battle, so that the true worth of a man may be revealed.'”
#40
یکی ترک رفتست بر تیغ کوه
✦
بدین سان نظاره برو بر گروه
“'A single Turk has gone up to the cliff of the mountain, while this vast host merely watches him!'”
#41
چنین داد پاسخ که این نیست روی
✦
ابر خیره گرد بلاها مپوی
“Gostaham answered him: 'This is not the proper path; do not seek after calamity in vain.'”
#42
زرسپ سپهدار چون ریونیز
✦
سپهبد که گیتی ندارد بچیز
“'Zaraspe the commander fell, as did Rivniz—that prince who held the world as nothing.'”
#43
پدرت آنکه پیل ژیان بشکرد
✦
بگردنده گردون همی ننگرد
“'And your own father, who hunted fierce elephants, turned back because no man can fight a granite mountain!'”
#44
ازو بازگشتند دل پر ز درد
✦
کس آورد با کوه خارا نکرد
“They turned back from him with hearts filled with pain; no man can do battle against a precipitous rock,”
#45
مگر پر کرگس بود رهنمای
✦
وگرنه بران دژ که پوید بپای
“'Unless the wings of a vulture lead his way; otherwise, who can scale such a fortress on foot?'”
#46
بدو گفت بیژن که مشکن دلم
✦
کنون یال و بازو ز هم بگسلم
“Bijan replied to him, "Break not my heart; I would sooner rend asunder my own arms and shoulders than turn back."”
#47
یکی سخت سوگند خوردم بماه
✦
بدادار گیهان و دیهیم شاه
“"For I have sworn a solemn oath by the bright moon, by the Creator of the world, and by the King's royal crown,"”
#48
کزین ترک من برنگردانم اسپ
✦
زمانم سراید مگر چون زرسپ
“"That I shall not turn my steed away from this Turk, unless my life comes to an end as did Zarasp's."”
#49
بدو گفت پس گستهم راه نیست
✦
خرد خود از این تیزی آگاه نیست
“Then Gustaham said to him, "This is no proper path; wisdom itself does not approve of such rash impetuosity."”
#50
جهان پرفراز و نشیبست و دشت
✦
گر ایدونک زینجا بباید گذشت
“"The world and the battleground are full of ups and downs; if indeed one must pass through here,"”
#51
مرا بارگیر اینک جوشن کشد
✦
دو ماندست اگر زین یکی را کشد
“"Behold, my armor-clad warhorse is here; but two remain, and if he slays one of them..."”
#52
نیابم دگر نیز همتای او
✦
برنگ و تگ و زور و بالای اوی
“"...I shall never find another equal to it in coat, speed, strength, and stature."”
#53
بدو گفت بیژن بکین زرسپ
✦
پیاده بپویم نخواهم خود اسپ
“Bijan said to him, "To avenge Zarasp, I shall press forward on foot; I desire no horse at all!"”
#54
چنین داد پاسخ بدو گستهم
✦
که مویی نخواهم ز تو بیش و کم
“Thus Gustaham answered him, "I wish not a hair's breath of harm or lack upon thee."”
#55
مرا گر بود بارگی ده هزار
✦
همه دم پر از گوهر شاهوار
“"Though I possessed ten thousand steeds, each breathing royal gems,"”
#56
ندارم بدین از تو آن را دریغ
✦
نه گنج و نه جان و نه اسپ و نه تیغ
“"I would not withhold them from thee—neither treasure, nor life, nor horse, nor sword."”
#57
برو یک بیک بارگیها ببین
✦
کدامت به آید یکی برگزین
“"Go then and inspect the warhorses one by one; choose whichever seems finest unto thee."”
#58
بفرمای تا زین بر آن کت هواست
✦
بسازند اگر کشته آید رواست
“"Order them to saddle the one thou desirest; if it be slain in combat, so let it be."”
#59
یکی رخش بودش بکردار گرگ
✦
کشیده زهار و بلند و سترگ
“He possessed a charger fierce as a wolf, slender-waisted, tall, and mighty.”
#60
ز بهر جهانجوی مرد جوان
✦
برو برفگندند برگستوان
“For the sake of that ambitious young warrior, they fitted the steed with battle barding.”
#61
دل گیو شد زان سخن پر ز دود
✦
چو اندیشه کرد از گشاد فرود
“Giv's heart grew heavy with dark sorrow at those words, as he pondered the deadly accuracy of Forud's bow.”
#62
فرستاد و مر گستهم را بخواند
✦
بسی داستانهای نیکو براند
“He sent word and summoned Gustaham, imparting to him many noble tales and wise counsels.”
#63
فرستاد درع سیاوش برش
✦
همان خسروانی یکی مغفرش
“He sent unto him the coat of mail of Siyavash, together with a royal helmet.”
#64
بیاورد گستهم درع نبرد
✦
بپوشید بیژن بکردار گرد
“Gustaham brought the battle mail, and Bijan donned it like a valiant knight.”
#65
بسوی سپد کوه بنهاد روی
✦
چنانچون بود مردم جنگجوی
“He set his face toward the White Mountain, exactly as befitteth a fierce warrior.”