#1
خود و گیو و گودرز و چندی سران
✦
نهادند بر یال گرزگران
“Tus himself, along with Gev, Gudarz, and several chiefs, laid heavy maces upon their steeds' shoulders.”
#2
بسوی سپهدار پیران شدند
✦
چو آتش بقلب سپه بر زدند
“They rode toward Piran, the commander, and struck like fire into the heart of the army.”
#3
چو دریای خون شد همه رزمگاه
✦
خروشی برآمد بلند از سپاه
“When the entire battlefield became a sea of blood, a loud cry arose from the ranks.”
#4
درفش سپهبد بدو نیم شد
✦
دل رزمجویان پر از بیم شد
“The commander's banner was cleft in twain, and the hearts of the warriors were filled with dread.”
#5
چو بشنید هومان خروش سپاه
✦
نشست از بر تازی اسپی سیاه
“When Houman heard the army's cries, he mounted an Arabian black charger.”
#6
بیامد ز لشکر بسی کشته دید
✦
بسی بیهش از رزم برگشته دید
“He came forth from the host and saw many slain, and many senseless turned away from battle.”
#7
فرو ریخت از دیده خون بر برش
✦
یکی بانگ زد تند بر لشکرش
“Tears of blood poured from his eyes onto his chest, and he shouted fiercely at his host.”
#8
چنین گفت کایدر طلایه نبود
✦
شما را ز کین ایچ مایه نبود
“He said: 'Was there no vanguard here? Was there no spark of vengeance within you?'”
#9
بهر یک ازیشان ز ما سیصدست
✦
به آوردگه خواب و خفتن بدست
“'For every one of them we have three hundred men; yet on the battleground you chose to sleep!'”
#10
هلا تیغ و گوپالها برکشید
✦
سپرهای چینی بسر در کشید
“'Up! Draw your swords and maces, and cover your heads with shields of Chine!'”
#11
ز هر سو بریشان بگیرید راه
✦
کنون کز بره بر کشد تیغ ماه
“'Bar their passage from every side, now that the moon unsheathes its blade above!'”
#12
رهایی نباید که یابند هیچ
✦
بدین سان چه باید درنگ و بسیچ
“'They must not find any escape; why is there such delay and hesitation?'”
#13
برآمد خروشیدن کرنای
✦
بهر سو برفتند گردان ز جای
“The sounding of war-trumpets arose, and warriors moved from their positions on every side.”
#14
گرفتندشان یکسر اندر میان
✦
سواران ایران چو شیر ژیان
“They completely surrounded the horsemen of Iran, who stood firm like furious lions.”
#15
چنان آتش افروخت از ترگ و تیغ
✦
که گفتی همی گرز بارد ز میغ
“Such fire flared from helmet and blade that you would say maces were raining from the cloud.”
#16
شب تار و شمشیر و گرد سپاه
✦
ستاره نه پیدا نه تابنده ماه
“The night was dark, the swords flashing, the dust thick; neither stars nor bright moon could be seen.”
#17
ز جوشن تو گفتی ببار اندرند
✦
ز تاری بدریای قار اندرند
“You would say they were enclosed in mail, immersed in pitch within the darkness.”
#18
بلشکر چنین گفت هومان که بس
✦
ازین مهتران مفگنید ایچ کس
“Houman said to the host: 'Enough! Slay none of these chieftains!'”
#19
همه پیش من دستگیر آورید
✦
نباید که خسته بتیر آورید
“'Bring them all captive before me; let them not be wounded with arrows!'”
#20
چنین گفت لشکر ببانگ بلند
✦
که اکنون به بیچارگی دست بند
“The army shouted aloud: 'Should we now bind their hands in helplessness?'”
#21
دهید ار بگرز و بژوپین دهید
✦
سران را ز خون تاج بر سر نهید
“'Strike with mace and javelin! Crown their chieftains' heads with blood!'”
#22
چنین گفت با گیو و رهام طوس
✦
که شد جان ما بی‌گمان بر فسوس
“Tus spoke to Gev and Rohham: 'Undoubtedly, our lives are lost to sorrow and despair.'”
#23
مگر کردگار سپهر بلند
✦
رهاند تن و جان ما زین گزند
“'Unless the Creator of the high heavens delivers our body and soul from this harm.'”
#24
اگر نه بچنگ عقاب اندریم
✦
وگر زیر دریای آب اندریم
“'Else we are in the eagle's claws, or beneath the sea of deep waters.'”
#25
یکی حمله بردند هر سه به هم
✦
چو برخیزد از جای شیر دژم
“All three charged together, like an enraged lion rising from its lair.”
#26
ندیدند کس یال اسپ و عنان
✦
ز تنگی بچشم اندر آمد سنان
“None could see the horse's mane or reins; from the tightness, spear-tips met the eye.”
#27
چنین گفت هومان به آواز تیز
✦
که نه جای جنگست و راه گریز
“Houman shouted in a sharp voice: 'This is neither the time for battle nor the path for flight!'”
#28
برانگیخت از جایتان بخت بد
✦
که تا بر تن بدکنش بد رسد
“'Your evil fate brought you from your place, so that evil might fall upon your evil-doing bodies!'”
#29
سه جنگ آور و خوار مایه سپاه
✦
بماندند یکسر بدین رزمگاه
“'Three warriors and a paltry troop are left stranded upon this battlefield.'”
#30
فراوان ز رستم گرفتند یاد
✦
کجا داد در جنگ هر جای داد
“They remembered Rostam greatly, who had ever rendered justice in every battle.”
#31
ز شیدوش، وز بیژن گستهم
✦
بسی یاد کردند بر بیش و کم
“They spoke much of Shidoush, Bizhan, and Gostaham, recalling them in their hour of need.”
#32
که باری کسی را ز ایران سپاه
✦
بدی یارمان اندرین رزمگاه
“Saying: 'Would that someone from the host of Iran were our companion in this battleground!'”
#33
نه ایدر به پیکار و جنگ آمدیم
✦
که خیره بکام نهنگ آمدیم
“'We came not here for fighting, but walked blindly into the crocodile's mouth!'”
#34
دریغ آن در و گاه شاه جهان
✦
که گیرند ما را کنون ناگهان
“'Alas for the court and throne of the King of the World, that we should now be taken unawares!'”
#35
تهمتن به زاولستانست و زال
✦
شود کار ایران کنون تال و مال
“'Tahamtan is in Zabulistan with Zal; now Iran's cause will fall into ruin.'”
#36
همی آمد آوای گوپال و کوس
✦
بلشکر همی دیر شد گیو و طوس
“The sound of maces and drums kept echoing; for Gev and Tus, time was running out.”
#37
چنین گفت شیدوش و گستهم شیر
✦
که شد کار پیکار سالار دیر
“Shidoush and Gostaham the lion said: 'The commander's battle has drawn on too long.'”
#38
به بیژن گرازه همی گفت باز
✦
که شد کار سالار لشکر دراز
“Gorazeh said to Bizhan in turn: 'The business of the army's leader has become protracted.'”
#39
هوا قیر گون و زمین آبنوس
✦
همی آمد از دشت آوای کوس
“The air was like pitch and the earth like ebony; from the plain came the roar of drums.”
#40
برفتند گردان بر آوای اوی
✦
ز خون بود بر دشت هر جای جوی
“The warriors rode out toward the sound; upon the plain, streams of blood flowed everywhere.”
#41
ز گردان نیو و ز نیروی چنگ
✦
تو گفتی برآمد ز دریا نهنگ
“From the heroic warriors and the power of their arms, you would say a dragon emerged from the sea.”
#42
بدانست هومان که آمد سوار
✦
همه گرزور بود و شمشیردار
“Houman realized that horsemen had arrived, all wielding maces and holding swords.”
#43
چو دانست کامد ورا یار طوس
✦
همی برخروشید برسان کوس
“When he knew that help had reached Tus, he roared like a war-drum.”
#44
سبک شد عنان و گران شد رکیب
✦
بلندی که دانست باز از نشیب
“Reins grew loose and stirrups heavy; none could distinguish high ground from low.”
#45
یکی رزم کردند تا چاک روز
✦
چو پیدا شد از چرخ گیتی فروز
“They waged battle until the break of day, when the world-illuminating sun appeared in the sky.”
#46
سپه بازگشتند یکسر ز جنگ
✦
کشیدند لشکر سوی کوه تنگ
“The hosts turned back at once from the battle and withdrew their forces toward the narrow mountain pass.”
#47
بگردان چنین گفت سالار طوس
✦
که از گردش مهر تا زخم کوس
“Thus spoke Tus, the army commander, to the warriors: "From the passage of time to the thundering beat of the battle-drums,”
#48
سواری چنین کز شما دیده‌ام
✦
ز کنداوران هیچ نشنیده‌ام
“"Such horsemanship as I have witnessed from you, I have never heard tell of among any brave heroes of old.”
#49
یکی نامه باید که زی شه کنیم
✦
ز کارش همه جمله آگه کنیم
“"We must now dispatch a letter to the Shah, informing him fully of all that has transpired.”
#50
چو نامه بنزدیک خسرو رسد
✦
بدلش اندرون آتشی نو رسد
“"When the missive reaches Khosrow, a fresh fire of valor and concern shall flare within his heart.”
#51
بیاری بیاید گو پیلتن
✦
ز شیران یکی نامدار انجمن
“"Then the elephant-bodied hero Rustam shall come to our aid, along with a renowned company of lion-like braves.”
#52
بپیروزی از رزم گردیم باز
✦
بدیدار کیخسرو آید نیاز
“"With victory shall we return from this war, for our hearts yearn to behold King Kay Khosrow once more.”
#53
سخن هرچ رفت آشکار و نهان
✦
بگویم بپیروز شاه جهان
“"All that has occurred, both open and hidden, I shall recount fully to the victorious King of the World.”
#54
بخوبی و خشنودی شهریار
✦
بباشد بکام شما روزگار
“"Through the favor and satisfaction of the monarch, fortune shall turn according to your desires."”
#55
چنانچون که گفتند برساختند
✦
نوندی بنزدیک شه تاختند
“Even as they resolved, so did they act: they prepared the letter and dispatched a swift courier riding toward the King.”
#56
دو لشکر بخیمه فرود آمدند
✦
ز پیکار یکباره دم برزدند
“Both armies dismounted into their tents, ceasing all combat for a space to catch their breath.”
#57
طلایه برون آمد از هر دو روی
✦
بدشت از دلیران پرخاشجوی
“Advance guards stepped forth from both sides—fierce, warlike warriors ranging across the plain.”
#58
چو هومان رسید اندران رزمگاه
✦
ز کشته ندید ایچ بر دشت راه
“When Houman arrived upon that field of battle, he found the plain so thick with slain that no path remained.”
#59
به پیران چنین گفت کامروز گرد
✦
نه بر آرزو گشت گاه نبرد
“He spoke to Piran thus: "O hero, today the tide of battle did not turn according to our wishes.”
#60
چو آسوده گردند گردان ما
✦
ستوده سواران و مردان ما
“"Yet once our heroes have rested—our praised horsemen and valiant fighters—”
#61
یکی رزم سازم که خورشید و ماه
✦
ندیدست هرگز چنان رزمگاه
“"I shall wage such a battle as neither the sun nor the moon has ever witnessed upon any battlefield!"”