#1
چو خورشید تابنده بنمود پشت
✦
دل گیو گشت از برادر درشت
“When the radiant sun sank behind the horizon, Giv’s heart grew heavy and anxious for his brother.”
#2
ببیژن چنین گفت کای رهنمای
✦
برادر نیامد همی باز جای
“He spoke to Bizhan, saying, 'O guide of heroes, our brother has not yet returned to his place.'”
#3
بباید شدن تا وراکار چیست
✦
نباید که بر رفته باید گریست
“'We must go and learn what has befallen him; let it not be that we must weep over one departed.'”
#4
دلیران برفتند هر دو چو گرد
✦
بدان جای پرخاش و ننگ و نبرد
“Both brave warriors rode forth like dust storms toward that field of strife, outrage, and battle.”
#5
بدیدار بهرامشان بد نیاز
✦
همی خسته و کشته جستند باز
“Yearning to behold Bahram, they searched among the wounded and the slain across the field.”
#6
همه دشت پرخسته و کشته بود
✦
جهانی بخون اندر آغشته بود
“The entire plain was strewn with the wounded and the dead; a whole realm seemed soaked in crimson blood.”
#7
دلیران چو بهرام را یافتند
✦
پر از آب و خون دیده بشتافتند
“When the brave heroes located Bahram, their eyes filled with tears and blood as they rushed to his side.”
#8
بخاک و بخون اندر افگنده خوار
✦
فتاده ازو دست و برگشته کار
“Cast down ignobly in dust and blood, his strength was spent, his fortune tragically reversed.”
#9
همی ریخت آب از بر چهراوی
✦
پر از خون دو تن دیده از مهر اوی
“Tears streamed over his face, while their eyes overflowed with blood out of deep love for him.”
#10
چو بازآمدش هوش بگشاد چشم
✦
تنش پر ز خون بود و دل پر ز خشم
“As consciousness returned, he opened his eyes; his body was bathed in blood, his heart filled with rage.”
#11
چنین گفت با گیو کای نامجوی
✦
مرا چون بپوشی بتابوت روی
“He said to Giv, 'O renowned warrior, when you cover my face within the coffin,'”
#12
تو کین برادر بخواه از تژاو
✦
ندارد مگر گاو با شیر تاو
“'Avenge your brother's blood upon Tazhav, for a bull cannot withstand the fury of a lion!'”
#13
مرا دید پیران ویسه نخست
✦
که با من بدش روزگاری نشست
“'Piran-e Vayseh saw me first—he with whom I once shared fellowship and table.'”
#14
همه نامداران و گردان چین
✦
بجستند با من به آغاز کین
“'All the chieftains and warriors of Chin joined in seeking my destruction at the onset of battle.'”
#15
تن من تژاو جفاپیشه خست
✦
نکرد ایچ یاد از نژاد و نشست
“'Then the cruel Tazhav wounded my body, showing no regard for my noble lineage or past acquaintance.'”
#16
چو بهرام گرد این سخن یاد کرد
✦
ببارید گیو از مژه آب زرد
“As Bahram the valiant spoke these words, Giv wept bitter tears of grief from his eyes.”
#17
بدادار دارنده سوگند خورد
✦
بروز سپید و شب لاژورد
“He swore a solemn oath by the Creator of the Universe, by the bright day and the lapis lazuli night,”
#18
که جز ترگ رومی نبیند سرم
✦
مگر کین بهرام بازآورم
“'My head shall know no rest nor unfasten its Roman helmet until I exact vengeance for Bahram!'”
#19
پر از درد و پر کین بزین برنشست
✦
یکی تیغ هندی گرفته بدست
“Grief-stricken and burning with vengeance, he mounted his steed, gripping an Indian steel blade in hand.”
#20
بدانگه که شد روی گیتی سیاه
✦
تژاو از طلایه برآمد براه
“When the face of the world turned black with night, Tazhav rode forth from the vanguard post.”
#21
چو از دور گیو دلیرش بدید
✦
عنان را بپیچید و دم درکشید
“When valiant Giv spotted him from afar, he reined in his horse and held his breath in silence.”
#22
چو دانست کز لشکر اندر گذشت
✦
ز گردان و گردنکشان دور گشت
“Knowing Tazhav had ridden past his main host and drifted far from his champions,”
#23
سوی او بیفکند پیچان کمند
✦
میان تژاو اندر آمد به بند
“He cast his twisting lasso toward him, catching Tazhav firmly around the waist.”
#24
بران اندر آورد و برگشت زود
✦
پس آسانش از پشت زین در ربود
“He jerked the rope, turned his steed quickly, and effortlessly plucked him from his saddle.”
#25
بخاک اندر افگند خوار و نژند
✦
فرود آمد و دست کردش به بند
“He hurled him down into the dirt, humiliated and broken, then dismounted and bound his hands.”
#26
نشست از بر اسپ و او را کشان
✦
پس اندر همی برد چون بیهشان
“Remounting his horse, Giv dragged him behind like a senseless captive.”
#27
چنین گفت با او بخواهش تژاو
✦
که با من نماند ای دلیر ایچ تاو
“Tazhav begged him pitifully, 'O champion, no strength or power remains within me!”
#28
چه کردم کزین بی‌شمار انجمن
✦
شب تیره دوزخ نمودی بمن
“What have I done among this endless host that you have shown me the dark night of hell?'”
#29
بزد بر سرش تازیانه دویست
✦
بدو گفت کین جای گفتار نیست
“Giv struck him two hundred lashes across the head and barked, 'This is no place for idle words!”
#30
ندانی همی ای بد شور بخت
✦
که در باغ کین تازه کشتی درخت
“Do you not know, wretched villain, that in the garden of vengeance you have planted a fresh tree?”
#31
که بالاش با چرخ همبر بود
✦
تنش خون خورد بار او سر بود
“A tree whose height rivals the heavens, watered with blood, bearing severed heads as its fruit!”
#32
شکار تو بهرام باید بجنگ
✦
ببینی کنون زخم کام نهنگ
“Was Bahram to be your prey in battle? Now you shall experience the mortal bite of the dragon's jaw!'”
#33
چنین گفت با گیو جنگی تژاو
✦
که تو چون عقابی و من چون چکاو
“Warrior Tazhav pleaded with Giv, 'You are like a soaring eagle, and I but a helpless skylark!”
#34
ز بهرام بر بد نبردم گمان
✦
نه او را بدست من آمد زمان
“I harbored no ill design against Bahram, nor did his appointed hour come by my hand!”
#35
که من چون رسیدم سواران چین
✦
ورا کشته بودند بر دشت کین
“When I arrived, the horsemen of Chin had already stricken him down upon the field of bloodshed.'”
#36
بران بد که بهرام بیجان شدست
✦
ز دردش دل گیو پیچان شدست
“Bahram was now at the threshold of death, his soul slipping away, while Giv’s heart writhed in agony.”
#37
کشانش بیارد گیو دلیر
✦
بپیش جگر خسته بهرام شیر
“Brave Giv dragged Tazhav bound before the wounded, lion-hearted Bahram.”
#38
بدو گفت کاینک سر بی‌وفا
✦
مکافات سازم جفا را جفا
“He said to Bahram, 'Behold the head of this faithless wretch! I shall repay cruelty with cruelty!'”
#39
سپاس از جهان‌آفرین کردگار
✦
که چندان زمان دیدم از روزگار
“'Praise be to the Creator of the World, that fate granted me time enough...'”
#40
که تیره‌روان بداندیش تو
✦
بپردازم اکنون من از پیش تو
“'...To eliminate your dark-souled enemy before your very eyes!'”
#41
همی کرد خواهش بریشان تژاو
✦
همی خواست از کشتن خویش تاو
“Tazhav begged both warriors incessantly, seeking a reprieve from his impending doom.”
#42
همی گفت ار ایدونک این کار بود
✦
سر من بخنجر بریدن چه سود
“Saying, 'If this tragedy has come to pass, what gain is there in severing my head with a dagger?”
#43
یکی بنده باشم روان ترا
✦
پرستش کنم گوربان ترا
“I will become a bound servant to your spirit, guarding and serving your sacred tomb forever!'”
#44
چنین گفت با گیو بهرام شیر
✦
که ای نامور نامدار دلیر
“Lion-hearted Bahram addressed Giv, saying, 'O illustrious and valiant hero,'”
#45
گر ایدونک از وی بمن بد رسید
✦
همان روز مرگش نباید چشید
“'Even if harm befell me through him, he ought not to taste the bitterness of death on this very day...'”
#46
سر پر گناهش روان داد من
✦
بمان تا کند در جهان یاد من
“My soul gave up his sin-laden head; let it remain so that my name is remembered in this world.”
#47
برادر چو بهرام را خسته دید
✦
تژاو جفا پیشه را بسته دید
“When the brother saw Bahram mortally wounded and saw the cruel Tazhav bound in chains,”
#48
خروشید و بگرفت ریش تژاو
✦
بریدش سر از تن بسان چکاو
“He bellowed, seized Tazhav by the beard, and severed his head from his neck like a skylark's.”
#49
دل گیو زان پس بریشان بسوخت
✦
روانش ز غم آتشی برفروخت
“Thereafter, Giv's heart burned for them, and a fire of anguish blazed within his soul.”
#50
خروشی برآورد کاندر جهان
✦
که دید این شگفت آشکار و نهان
“He let out a cry, saying, 'Who in this world, in secret or in open light, has ever seen such a marvel?'”
#51
که گر من کشم ور کشی پیش من
✦
برادر بود گر کسی خویش من
“'Whether I slay or whether one is slain before me, be he my brother or my kin...'”
#52
بگفت این و بهرام یل جان بداد
✦
جهان را چنین است ساز ونهاد
“He spoke these words, and the valiant Bahram gave up his soul; such is the way and design of the world.”
#53
عنان بزرگی هرآنکو بجست
✦
نخستین بباید بخون دست شست
“Whoever seeks the reins of greatness must first wash his hands in blood.”
#54
اگر خود کشد گر کشندش بدرد
✦
بگرد جهان تا توانی مگرد
“Whether one slays or is slain in pain, wander not around the world's ambitions if you can help it.”
#55
خروشان بر اسپ تژاوش ببست
✦
به بیژن سپرد آنگهی برنشست
“Wailing, he bound Bahram's body upon Tazhav's steed, handed the reins to Bizhan, and then mounted his own horse.”
#56
بیاوردش از جایگاه تژاو
✦
بنزدیک ایران دلش پر ز تاو
“He brought him away from Tazhav's battleground toward the Iranian army, his heart consumed with grief.”
#57
چو شد دور زان جایگاه نبرد
✦
بکردار ایوان یکی دخمه کرد
“When he had moved far from that place of conflict, he built a mausoleum magnificent as a royal palace.”
#58
بیاگند مغزش بمشک و عبیر
✦
تنش را بپوشید چینی حریر
“He filled his brain with musk and ambergris, and wrapped his body in fine Chinese silk.”
#59
برآیین شاهانش بر تخت عاج
✦
بخوابید و آویخت بر سرش تاج
“In the royal tradition, he laid him upon an ivory throne and suspended a crown above his head.”
#60
سر دخمه کردند سرخ و کبود
✦
تو گفتی که بهرام هرگز نبود
“They sealed the entry of the tomb in red and lapis lazuli; you would say Bahram had never even existed.”
#61
شد آن لشکر نامور سوگوار
✦
ز بهرام وز گردش روزگار
“That renowned army fell into deep mourning for Bahram and for the relentless turning of fate.”