#1
چو از دور لهاک و فرشیدورد
✦
گذشتند پویان ز دشت نبرد
“When Lahak and Farshidvard from afar passed running from the field of battle,”
#2
به یک ساعت از هفت فرسنگ راه
✦
برفتند ایمن ز ایران سپاه
“In a single hour they traversed seven leagues, secure at last from the host of Iran.”
#3
یکی بیشه دیدند و آب روان
✦
بدو اندرون سایهٔ کاروان
“They espied a grove with running water, providing shade for a travelling caravan.”
#4
به بیشه درون مرغ و نخچیر و شیر
✦
درخت از بر و سبزه و آب زیر
“Within the grove were birds and game and lions, with fruit above and lush verdure and water below.”
#5
به نخچیر کردن فرود آمدند
✦
وز آن تشنگی سوی رود آمدند
“They dismounted to hunt their prey, and drawn by thirst, approached the riverbank.”
#6
چو آب اندر آمد ببایست نان
✦
به اندوه و شادی نبندد دهان
“When water was taken, bread was needed, for neither grief nor joy seals a man's mouth.”
#7
بگشتند بر گرد آن مرغزار
✦
فگندند بسیار مایه شکار
“They circled around that meadow and brought down an abundance of game.”
#8
برافروختند آتش و زان کباب
✦
بخوردند و کردند سر سوی خواب
“They kindled a fire, ate of the roast, and turned their heads toward sleep.”
#9
چو بد روزگار دلیران دژم
✦
کجا خواب سازد بر ایشان ستم
“Cruel was the fate of the dismal champions, when heavy slumber conquered them both.”
#10
فرو خفت لهاک و فرشیدورد
✦
به سر بر همی پاسبانیش کرد
“Lahak lay sleeping while Farshidvard kept watch over his head.”
#11
برآمد چو شب تیره شد ماهتاب
✦
دو غمگین سر اندر نهاده به خواب
“When dark night rose and the moon shone bright, both sorrowful men lay deep in sleep.”
#12
رسید اندر آن جایگه گستهم
✦
که بودند یاران توران به هم
“Then Gustahm arrived at that very place where the Turanian companions lay together.”
#13
نوند اسب او بوی اسبان شنید
✦
خروشی برآورد و اندر دمید
“His swift steed caught the scent of their horses, raised a mighty cry, and neighed aloud.”
#14
سبک اسب لهاک هم ز این نشان
✦
خروشی برآورد چون بیهشان
“Swiftly the horse of Lahak answered in kind, raising a cry like one beside himself.”
#15
دمان سوی لهاک فرشیدورد
✦
ز خواب خوش آمدش بیدار کرد
“Farshidvard rushed to Lahak and awakened him from his sweet slumber.”
#16
بدو گفت برخیز ز این خواب خوش
✦
به مردی سر بخت خود را بکش
“He said to him: 'Arise from this sweet sleep, and manly master the head of your fortune!'”
#17
که دانا زد این داستان بزرگ
✦
که شیری که بگریزد از چنگ گرگ
“'For the wise man struck this great proverb: the lion that flees from the claws of the wolf,'”
#18
نباید که گرگ از پسش در کشد
✦
که او را همان بخت خود برکشد
“'Must not let the wolf pursue him, lest his own luck bring him down.'”
#19
چه مایه بپیوند و چندی شتافت
✦
کس از روز بد هم رهایی نیافت
“'However much one seeks kin or hastens away, none escapes an evil day.'”
#20
هلا زود بشتاب کآمد سپاه
✦
از ایران و بر ما گرفتند راه
“'Make haste, for the host from Iran has arrived and blocked our path!'”
#21
نشستند بر باره هر دو سوار
✦
کشیدند پویان از آن مرغزار
“Both riders mounted their warhorses and pulled away rapidly from that meadow.”
#22
ز بیشه به بالا نهادند روی
✦
دو خونی دلاور دو پرخاشجوی
“From the grove toward the high ground they turned, two bloodthirsty, belligerent warriors.”
#23
به هامون کشیدند هر دو سوار
✦
پراندیشه تا چون بسیچند کار
“Both knights sped into the open plain, full of thought as to how to prepare for battle.”
#24
پدید آمد از دور پس گستهم
✦
ندیدند با او سواری به هم
“Then Gustahm appeared in the distance behind them, and they saw no other knight beside him.”
#25
دلیران چو سر را برافراختند
✦
مر او را چو دیدند بشناختند
“When the heroes raised their heads and saw him, they recognized him at once.”
#26
گرفتند یک با دگر گفت و گوی
✦
که یک تن سوی ما نهادست روی
“They began to converse with one another: 'Only a single man comes toward us!'”
#27
نیابد رهایی ز ما گستهم
✦
مگر بخت بد کرد خواهد ستم
“'Gustahm shall not escape from us, unless evil fate intends to oppress us.'”
#28
جز از گستهم نیست کامد به جنگ
✦
درفش دلیران گرفته به چنگ
“'It is none other than Gustahm who comes to fight, holding the banner of heroes in his grip.'”
#29
گریزان بباید شد از پیش اوی
✦
مگر کاندر آرد بدین دشت روی
“'We should flee before him, so that he may be drawn into this open plain.'”
#30
وز آنجا به هامون نهادند روی
✦
پس اندر دمان گستهم کینه‌جوی
“From there they set their faces toward the open plain, while vengeful Gustahm roared in pursuit.”
#31
بیامد چو نزدیک ایشان رسید
✦
چو شیر ژیان نعره‌ای برکشید
“When he drew near to them, he let out a roar like a fierce lion.”
#32
بر ایشان ببارید تیر خدنگ
✦
چو فرشیدورد اندر آمد به جنگ
“He rained arrows of poplar upon them as Farshidvard stepped into the fray.”
#33
یکی تیر زد بر سرش گستهم
✦
که با خون برآمیخت مغزش به هم
“Gustahm struck Farshidvard's head with an arrow that mingled his brains with blood.”
#34
نگون گشت و هم در زمان جان بداد
✦
شد آن نامور گرد ویسه نژاد
“He tumbled down and gave up his spirit instantly, that famous hero of Viseh's lineage.”
#35
چو لهاک روی برادر بدید
✦
بدانست کز کارزار آرمید
“When Lahak beheld his brother's face, he knew he had rested from battle forever.”
#36
بلرزید وز درد او خیره شد
✦
جهان پیش چشم‌اندرش تیره شد
“He trembled and was dazed with grief, and the world grew dark before his eyes.”
#37
ز روشن‌روانش به سیری رسید
✦
کمان را به زه کرد و اندر کشید
“He grew weary of his bright soul, strung his bow, and drew the shaft tight.”
#38
شدند آن زمان خسته هر دو سوار
✦
به شمشیر برساختند کارزار
“In that hour both knights were sorely wounded, yet they pressed the combat with their swords.”
#39
یکایک بر او گستهم دست یافت
✦
ز کینه چنان خسته اندر شتافت
“One by one Gustahm gained the upper hand over him, striking him fiercely out of vengeance.”
#40
به گردنش بر زد یکی تیغ تیز
✦
برآورد ناگاه زو رستخیز
“He struck his neck with a sharp blade, causing a sudden doom upon him.”
#41
سرش زیر پای اندر آمد چو گوی
✦
که آید همی زخم چوگان بر اوی
“His head rolled beneath the horse's feet like a ball struck by a polo stick.”
#42
چنین است کردار گردان سپهر
✦
ببرد ز پروردهٔ خویش مهر
“Such is the way of the turning sky: it severs its love from those it nurtured.”
#43
چو سر جوییش پای یابی نخست
✦
وگر پای جویی سرش پیش تست
“If you seek its head, you find its feet first; and if you seek its feet, its head is before you.”
#44
به زین بر چنان خسته بد گستهم
✦
که بگسست خواهد تو گفتی ز هم
“Gustahm was so sorely wounded upon his saddle that you would say he was about to fall to pieces.”
#45
بیامد خمیده به زین اندرون
✦
همی راند اسب و همی ریخت خون
“He came bent double over his saddle, riding his horse while his blood flowed freely.”
#46
و زآنجا سوی چشمه‌ساری رسید
✦
هم آب روان دید و هم سایه دید
“From that spot he reached a flowing spring, where he found both running water and refreshing shade.”
#47
فرود آمد و اسب را بر درخت
✦
ببست و به آب اندر آمد ز بخت
“He dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, and by fortune's aid stepped down into the water.”
#48
بخورد آب بسیار و کرد آفرین
✦
ببستش تو گفتی سراسر زمین
“He drank plentifully of the water and gave praise; then, as if the entire earth had bound him fast, he collapsed.”
#49
بپیچید و غلتید بر تیره خاک
✦
سراسر همه تن به شمشیر چاک
“He writhed and rolled upon the dark dust, his body cleaved all over by sword-cuts.”
#50
همی گفت کای روشن کردگار
✦
پدید آر زان لشکر نامدار
“He kept praying: 'O Luminous Creator, bring forth from that famous army...'”
#51
به دلسوزگی بیژن گیو را
✦
وگرنه دلاور یکی نیو را
“'...Bijan, son of Giv, out of compassion, or else some other valiant warrior...'”
#52
که گر مرده گر زنده ز این جایگاه
✦
برد مر مرا سوی ایران سپاه
“'...So that whether dead or alive, he may convey me from this wilderness back to the host of Iran,'”
#53
سر نامداران توران سپاه
✦
ببرد برد پیش بیدار شاه
“'And carry the severed heads of the Turanian commanders to lay before the vigilant king,'”
#54
بدان تا بداند که من جز به نام
✦
نمردم به گیتی همین است کام
“'So that he may know I died in this world for nothing less than a glorious name; this alone was my ultimate desire.'”