#1
همه شب بنالید تا روز پاک
✦
پر از درد چون مار پیچان به خاک
“He groaned all night long until the pure light of day, writhing in pain upon the earth like a wounded serpent.”
#2
چو گیتی ز خورشید شد روشنا
✦
بیامد بدان جایگه بیژنا
“When the world became bright with the sun's illumination, Bizhan arrived at that very place.”
#3
همی گشت بر گرد آن مرغزار
✦
که یابد نشانی ز گم بوده یار
“He rode around that meadow, searching for any trace of his lost companion.”
#4
پدید آمد از دور اسب سمند
✦
بدان مرغزار اندرون چون نوند
“From afar, the dun horse appeared in the meadow, swift as a courier.”
#5
چمان و چران چون پلنگان به کام
✦
نگون گشته زین و گسسته لگام
“Prancing and grazing freely like a leopard, its saddle turned upside down and its reins broken.”
#6
همه آلت زین بر او بر نگون
✦
رکیب و کمند و جنا پر ز خون
“All its saddlery was inverted upon it; its stirrups, lasso, and trappings were soaked in blood.”
#7
چو بیژن بدید آن از او رفت هوش
✦
برآورد چو شیر شرزه خروش
“When Bizhan saw this, his senses fled; he raised a roar like a fierce lion.”
#8
همی گفت کای مهربان نیک‌یار
✦
کجایی فگنده در این مرغزار
“He cried out: 'O loving, good friend! Where are you fallen in this meadow?'”
#9
که پشتم شکستی و خستی دلم
✦
کنون جان شیرین ز تن بگسلم
“'You have broken my back and wounded my heart; now I shall yield my sweet life from my body!'”
#10
بشد بر پی اسب بر چشمه‌سار
✦
مر او را بدید اندر آن مرغزار
“He followed the horse's tracks to the spring, and there in the meadow he found him.”
#11
همه جوشن و ترگ پر خاک و خون
✦
فتاده بدان خستگی سرنگون
“His chainmail and helmet were full of dust and blood, lying helpless and upside down from his wounds.”
#12
فروجست بیژن ز شبرنگ زود
✦
گرفتش به آغوش در تنگ زود
“Bizhan quickly dismounted from Shabrang, taking him tightly into his embrace.”
#13
برون کرد رومی قبا از برش
✦
برهنه شد از ترگ خسته سرش
“He removed the Roman cloak from his chest, and uncovered his wounded head from the helmet.”
#14
ز بس خون دویدن تنش بود زرد
✦
دلش پر ز تیمار و جان پر ز درد
“From so much hemorrhage his body was pale; his heart was full of sorrow and his soul full of pain.”
#15
بر آن خستگیهاش بنهاد روی
✦
همی بود زاری کنان پیش اوی
“He laid his face upon his wounds, remaining before him in bitter weeping.”
#16
همی گفت کای نیک دل یار من
✦
تو رفتی و این بود پیکار من
“He lamented: 'O noble-hearted friend! You went forth, and this was my battle too!'”
#17
شتابم کنون بیش بایست کرد
✦
رسیدن بر تو به جای نبرد
“'I ought to have hastened more, to reach your side at the place of combat!'”
#18
مگر بودمی گاه سختیت یار
✦
چو با اهرمن ساختی کارزار
“'Would that I had been your comrade in hardship when you did battle with the demonic foe!'”
#19
کنون کام دشمن همه راست کرد
✦
برآورد سر هرچ می‌خواست کرد
“'Now the enemy's desire is fulfilled; whatever they wished, they have raised their heads and done.'”
#20
بگفت این سخن بیژن و گستهم
✦
بجنبید و بر زد یکی تیز دم
“As Bizhan spoke these words, Gostahm moved and drew a sharp, deep breath.”
#21
به بیژن چنین گفت کای نیک خواه
✦
مکن خویشتن پیش من در تباه
“He said to Bizhan: 'O well-wisher! Do not destroy yourself in grief before me.'”
#22
مرا درد تو بتر از مرگ خویش
✦
بنه بر سر خسته بر ترگ خویش
“'My pain over your sorrow is worse than my death; place your helmet back upon your wounded friend's head.'”
#23
یکی چاره کن تا از این جایگاه
✦
توانی رسانیدنم نزد شاه
“'Devise a scheme whereby you can convey me from this place unto the presence of the Shah.'”
#24
مرا باد چندان همی روزگار
✦
که بینم یکی چهرهٔ شهریار
“'May life grant me enough days that I may look upon the face of the King once more!'”
#25
از آن پس چو مرگ آیدم باک نیست
✦
مرا خود نهالی به جز خاک نیست
“'Thereafter, if death comes, I have no fear; for me there is no bed left save the earth.'”
#26
نمرده است هرکس که با کام خویش
✦
بمیرد بیابد سرانجام خویش
“'Whoever dies having fulfilled his longing has not truly died, for he has reached his destiny.'”
#27
و دیگر دو بد خواه با ترس و باک
✦
که بر دست من کرد یزدان هلاک
“'And moreover, God destroyed two fearful foes by my hand in this combat.'”
#28
مگرشان به زین بر توانی کشید
✦
وگرنه سرانشان ز تن ها برید
“'If you can, bind them to their saddles; otherwise, sever their heads from their bodies.'”
#29
سلیح و سر نامبردارشان
✦
ببر تا بدانند پیکارشان
“'Take the weapons and heads of those renowned champions so all may know of their battle.'”
#30
کنی نزد شاه جهاندار یاد
✦
که من سر به خیره ندادم به باد
“'Remind the world-ruling King that I did not foolishly give my life to the wind.'”
#31
بسودم به هر جای با بخت جنگ
✦
گهٔ نام جستن نمردم به ننگ
“'I strove in every place alongside fortune; when seeking glory, I did not die in disgrace.'”
#32
به بیژن نمود آنگهی هر دو تور
✦
که بودند کشته فگنده به دور
“Gostahm then pointed out to Bizhan the two Turanians lying slain afar.”
#33
بگفت این و سستی گرفتش روان
✦
همی بود بیژن به سر بر نوان
“He spoke this and weakness seized his spirit, while Bizhan stood over him trembling in grief.”
#34
وز آن جایگه اسب او بیدرنگ
✦
بیاورد و بگشاد از باره تنگ
“Without delay, Bizhan brought Gostahm's steed and loosened the girth of his saddle.”
#35
نمد زین به زیر تن خفته مرد
✦
بیفگند و نالید چندی به درد
“He laid the felt padding beneath the wounded man, lamenting bitterly for a while in pain.”
#36
همه دامن قرطه را کرد چاک
✦
ابر خستگیهاش بر بست پاک
“He tore the hem of his shirt into strips and tightly bound all his wounds.”
#37
وز آن جایگه سوی بالا دوان
✦
بیامد ز غم تیره کرده روان
“From that place he ran toward the high ground, his spirit darkened with grief.”
#38
سواران ترکان پراگنده دید
✦
که آمد ز راه بیابان پدید
“He saw scattered Turanian horsemen emerging from the desert track.”
#39
ز بالا چو برق اندر آمد به شیب
✦
دل از مردن گستهم با نهیب
“From the height he descended like lightning, his heart fearful lest Gostahm perish.”
#40
از آن بیم دیده سواران دو تن
✦
به شمشیر کم کرد زان انجمن
“Of those fear-stricken riders, he cut down two with his sword from that group.”
#41
ز فتراک بگشاد زان پس کمند
✦
ز ترکان یکی را به گردن فگند
“He then unfastened the lasso from his saddle-bow and cast it around the neck of one Turanian.”
#42
ز اسب اندر آورد و زنهار داد
✦
بدان کار با خویشتن یار داد
“He pulled him from his horse, granted him quarter, and made him his assistant in that task.”
#43
وز آنجا بیامد به کردار گرد
✦
دمان سوی لهاک و فرشیدورد
“Then like dust he dashed toward the corpses of Lahhak and Farshidvard.”
#44
بدید آن سران سپه را نگون
✦
فگنده بر آن خاک غرقه به خون
“He found those army leaders fallen upside down upon the soil, drowned in blood.”
#45
به سرشان بر اسبان جنگی به پای
✦
چراگاه سازید و جای چرای
“Over their heads their warhorses stood grazing, making that place their pasture.”
#46
چو بیژن چنان دید کرد آفرین
✦
ابر گستهم کو سرآورد کین
“When Bijan beheld the sight, he poured forth praise / Upon Gostaham, who had brought the deadly feud to a close.”
#47
بفرمود تا ترک زنهار خواه
✦
به زین برکشید آن سران را ز راه
“He commanded the captive Turk who sought quarter / To lift those slain chieftains from the path onto the saddles.”
#48
ببستندشان دست و پای و میان
✦
کشیدند بر پشت زین کیان
“They bound their hands, their feet, and waists full fast, / And raised them up onto the backs of royal saddles.”
#49
وز آنجا سوی گستهم تازیان
✦
بیامد به سان پلنگ ژیان
“Then from that spot he galloped toward Gostaham, / Charging forward like a furious and raging leopard.”
#50
فرود آمد از اسب و او را چو باد
✦
بی آزار نرم از بر زین نهاد
“Swift as the wind he dismounted from his horse, / And gently, causing no hurt, laid him upon the saddle.”
#51
بدان ترک فرمود تا برنشست
✦
به آغوش او اندر آورد دست
“He bade the captive Turk mount the steed / And cradle the wounded hero gently in his arms.”
#52
سمند نوندش همی راند نرم
✦
بر او بر همی آفرین خواند گرم
“He rode his swift steed gently along the path, / Bestowing warm and heartfelt praise upon him all the while.”
#53
مگر زنده او را بر شهریار
✦
تواند رسانیدن از کارزار
“Hoping that he might yet bring him alive / From the scene of battle into the presence of the King.”
#54
همی راند بیژن پر از درد و غم
✦
روانش پر از انده گستهم
“Thus Bijan rode onward, filled with grief and pain, / His heart weighed down with deep sorrow for Gostaham.”