It was the ancient custom of Caesar of Rum that when a daughter of his blood reached marriageable age, a grand assembly of the realm's nobles, sages, and counselors would be convened within the royal palace so the princess could choose a husband from among the gathered elite. In those days, Caesar was blessed with three daughters, peerless in grace, stature, and dignity, the eldest of whom was named Katayoun—wise, joyful, and pure-hearted.
One night, Katayoun beheld a radiant vision in her sleep: the entire realm lit up as though bathed in sunlight, and a vast crowd of men gathered like the constellation of the Pleiades. At the center of this multitude stood a stranger—a wise, mournful wanderer of majestic carriage, tall as a cypress, handsome as the moon, and bearing the unmistakable air of royalty. In her dream, Katayoun handed him a bouquet of sweet blossoms and received a garland of rich hues and fragrances in return.
At dawn, Caesar summoned the grandees and warriors of Rum to a magnificent banquet. Katayoun entered the great hall accompanied by sixty handmaidens carrying bouquets. She paced through the rows of noblemen, yet not a single lord among them quickened her heart. Disappointed and weary, she withdrew to her private chambers.
Night fell, and when the lamp of day rose above the mountains once more, Caesar commanded that all men—from the humblest commoners to the highest chieftains—gather at the palace so a match might be found. The wise host with whom the incognito Iranian prince Goshtasp was sheltering said to him, "Why remain hidden in shadow and sorrow? Go forth to the palace hall; perhaps beholding the splendor of the assembly will ease your burdened heart." Goshtasp agreed and walked to the palace, but tucked himself away in a secluded, dim corner, weary and filled with hidden grief.
Katayoun re-entered the hall with her maidens and scanned the crowd. Suddenly, her eyes caught Goshtasp standing afar in the shadows. "Behold!" she cried, "The dream of my heart has emerged from secrecy!" Without hesitation, she approached the stranger and placed her rich floral crown upon his head, declaring him her chosen husband.
When Caesar's court master witnessed this, he hurried to the king, reporting that the princess had chosen a man tall as a meadow cypress, with shoulders like a hero and a face like a garden—one who radiated divine glory, though his origin remained unknown. Caesar flew into a murderous rage, cursing the fate of fathering a daughter who brought shame upon his royal line, and threatened to execute both Katayoun and the unknown stranger on the spot.
Before blood could be spilled, the wise Bishop (Soghof) stepped forward and restrained the monarch, admonishing him: "Turn not your face from the path of God nor break the laws of your ancestors! You commanded your daughter to seek a partner, setting no restriction that he be a noble of Rum. She has chosen the one ordained by Heaven. To violate this ancient custom would bring ill fortune and ruin upon our prosperous realm."
#1
چنان بود قیصر بدانگه برای
✦
که چون دختر او رسیدی بجای
“The custom of Caesar in those days was such that when a daughter of his reached maidenhood,”
#2
چو گشتی بلند اختر و جفت جوی
✦
بدیدی که آمدش هنگام شوی
“When her star rose high and she sought a match, seeing that her time for marriage had arrived,”
#3
یکی گرد کردی به کاخ انجمن
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بزرگان فرزانه و رای زن
“He would gather a great assembly in the palace of wise nobles and counselors,”
#4
هرانکس که بودی مر او را همال
✦
ازان نامدارن برآورده یال
“And all those who were of worthy rank among the renowned, exalted chieftains.”
#5
ز کاخ پدر دختر ماه‌روی
✦
بگشتی بران انجمن جفت جوی
“From her father's palace, the moon-faced maiden would walk through that gathering, seeking her spouse,”
#6
پرستنده بودی به گرد اندرش
✦
ز مردم نبودی پدید افسرش
“Surrounded by maidservants, her crown shining distinct above all the crowd.”
#7
پس پردهٔ قیصر آن روزگار
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سه بد دختر اندر جهان نامدار
“Behind Caesar's curtains in those days dwelt three daughters, renowned throughout the world,”
#8
به بالا و دیدار و آهستگی
✦
به بایستگی هم به شایستگی
“Peerless in stature, beauty, and grace, equally suited and magnificent in virtue.”
#9
یکی بود مهتر کتایون به نام
✦
خردمند و روشن‌دل و شادکام
“The eldest among them was named Katayoun, wise, bright-hearted, and joyful.”
#10
کتایون چنان دید یک شب به خواب
✦
که روشن شدی کشور از آفتاب
“One night, Katayoun beheld a vision in her sleep: the entire realm shone as if illuminated by the sun.”
#11
یکی انجمن مرد پیدا شدی
✦
از انبوه مردم ثریا شدی
“A vast assembly of men appeared, dense as the constellation of the Pleiades.”
#12
سر انجمن بود بیگانه‌ای
✦
غریبی دل آزار و فرزانه‌ای
“At the head of that gathering stood a stranger—a sorrowful, noble, and wise wanderer.”
#13
به بالای سرو و به دیدار ماه
✦
نشستنش چون بر سر گاه شاه
“Cypress-tall and fair as the moon, his posture was that of a king sitting upon his throne.”
#14
یکی دسته دادی کتایون بدوی
✦
وزو بستدی دستهٔ رنگ و بوی
“Katayoun offered him a bouquet of flowers, and received from his hand a garland of sweet scents and colors.”
#15
یکی انجمن کرد قیصر بزرگ
✦
هر آن کس که بودند گرد و سترگ
“The next morn, Caesar summoned a grand assembly of all the mighty heroes and chieftains.”
#16
به شبگیر چون بردمید آفتاب
✦
سر نامداران برآمد ز خواب
“As the morning sun broke forth and the heads of the illustrious woke from slumber,”
#17
بران انجمن شاد بنشاندند
✦
ازان پس پری‌چهره را خواندند
“They were seated joyfully in the assembly, and the fairy-faced princess was called forth.”
#18
کتایون بشد با پرستار شست
✦
یکی دسته گل هر یکی را به دست
“Katayoun walked in with sixty handmaidens, each carrying a cluster of blossoms.”
#19
همی گشت چندان کش آمد ستوه
✦
پسندش نیامد کسی زان گروه
“She paced through the ranks until she grew weary, yet not a single man among them pleased her heart.”
#20
از ایوان سوی پرده بنهاد روی
✦
خرامان و پویان و دل جفت‌جوی
“She turned her face from the hall back toward her chambers, walking gracefully, still yearning for her true match.”
#21
هم آنگه زمین گشت چون پر زاغ
✦
چنین تا سر از کوه بر زد چراغ
“Night descended till the earth grew dark as a raven's wing, until the sun lamp pitched above the mountain crest once more.”
#22
بفرمود قیصر که از کهتران
✦
به روم اندرون مایه‌ور مهتران
“Then Caesar decreed that all men, from the humblest to the most exalted lords of Rum,”
#23
بیارند یکسر به کاخ بلند
✦
بدان تا که باشد به خوبی پسند
“Should be gathered together at the high palace, so that a fitting choice might yet be made.”
#24
چو آگاهی آمد به هر مهتری
✦
بهر نامداری و کنداوری
“When word reached every chieftain, every renowned warrior and noble hero,”
#25
خردمند مهتر به گشتاسپ گفت
✦
که چندین چه باشی تو اندر نهفت
“The wise host said to Goshtasp: "Why do you remain hidden in shadows like this?”
#26
برو تا مگر تاج و گاه مهی
✦
ببینی دلت گردد از غم تهی
“Go forth, so that you may behold the crowns and majesty of the court, and perhaps your heart will be freed from grief."”
#27
چو بشنید گشتاسپ با او برفت
✦
به ایوان قیصر خرامید تفت
“Hearing this, Goshtasp accompanied him, walking swiftly to Caesar's palace hall.”
#28
به پیغوله‌ای شد فرود از مهان
✦
پر از درد بنشست خسته نهان
“He withdrew into a dark corner, away from the grandees, sitting hidden, weary, and filled with sorrow.”
#29
برفتند بیدار دل بندگان
✦
کتایون و گل رخ پرستندگان
“The vigilant attendants stepped forth again, alongside Katayoun and her rose-cheeked maidens.”
#30
همی گشت بر گرد ایوان خویش
✦
پسش بخردان و پرستار پیش
“She paced around her father's grand palace hall, the wise men following behind her and handmaids preceding her.”
#31
چو از دور گشتاسپ را دید گفت
✦
که آن خواب سر برکشید از نهفت
“When she caught sight of Goshtasp from afar, she exclaimed: "Behold, my dream has emerged from the veil of secrets!"”
#32
بدان مایه‌ور نامدار افسرش
✦
هم‌آنگه بیاراست خرم سرش
“She straightway placed that precious, glorious flower-crown upon his head, adorning him joyfully.”
#33
چو دستور آموزگار آن بدید
✦
هم اندر زمان پیش قیصر دوید
“When the court advisor and mentor saw this, he ran immediately to Caesar:”
#34
که مردی گزین کرد از انجمن
✦
به بالای سرو سهی در چمن
“"She has chosen a man from the assembly, tall as a upright cypress in a blooming meadow!”
#35
به رخ چون گلستان و با یال و کفت
✦
که هرکش ببیند بماند شگفت
“His face is like a garden, his shoulders and chest so mighty that anyone who beholds him stands amazed!”
#36
بد آنست کو را ندانیم کیست
✦
تو گویی همه فره ایزدیست
“The only trouble is we know not who he is, though he seems filled with the divine Farrah!"”
#37
چنین داد پاسخ که دختر مباد
✦
که از پرده عیب آورد بر نژاد
“Caesar answered in rage: "May a father never have a daughter! She brings disgrace from behind the veil upon our lineage!”
#38
اگر من سپارم بدو دخترم
✦
به ننگ اندرون پست گردد سرم
“If I surrender my daughter to a nobody, my head will bow low in shame.”
#39
هم او را و آنرا که او برگزید
✦
به کاخ اندرون سر بباید برید
“Both she and the man she has chosen must have their heads severed here within this palace!"”
#40
سقف گفت کاین نیست کاری گران
✦
که پیش از تو بودند چندی سران
“The Bishop (Soghof) spoke: "This is not a matter for such harshness! Chieftains ruled before your time.”
#41
تو با دخترت گفتی انباز جوی
✦
نگفتی که رومی سرافراز جوی
“You told your daughter to seek a partner; you did not command her to choose specifically an exalted Roman.”
#42
کنون جست آنرا که آمدش خوش
✦
تو از راه یزدان سرت را مکش
“She has now found the one who pleased her heart; do not turn your head away from the path of Yazdan!”
#43
چنین بود رسم نیاکان تو
✦
سرافراز و دین‌دار و پاکان تو
“Such was the custom of your ancestors—exalted, devout, and pure-hearted.”
#44
به آیین این شد پی افگنده روم
✦
تو راهی مگیر اندر آباد بوم
“Upon this very law the realm of Rum was founded; do not forge an untrodden path in this prosperous land!”
#45
همایون نباشد چنین خود مگوی
✦
به راهی که هرگز نرفتی مپوی
“Such a deed is unblessed; speak not thus, nor tread a path where none have ever walked before!"”