#1
چو بشنید قیصر بر آن برنهاد
✦
که دخت گرامی به گشتاسپ داد
“When Caesar heard of her choice, he resolved to give his cherished daughter to Goshtasp.”
#2
بدو گفت با او برو همچنین
✦
نیابی ز من گنج و تاج و نگین
“He said to her, 'Go with him thus; from me you shall receive neither treasure, nor crown, nor signet ring.'”
#3
چو گشتاسپ آن دید خیره بماند
✦
جهان‌آفرین را فراوان بخواند
“When Goshtasp witnessed this, he was astonished, and called upon the Creator of the World in abundant prayer.”
#4
چنین گفت با دختر سرفراز
✦
که ای پروریده بنام و بناز
“He spoke thus to the exalted maiden: 'O maiden nurtured in renown and luxury,'”
#5
ز چندین سر و افسر نامدار
✦
چرا کرد رایت مرا خواستار
“'From among so many renowned chiefs and lords, why did your heart choose me?'”
#6
غریبی همی برگزینی که گنج
✦
نیابی و با او بمانی به رنج
“'You choose a poor stranger, from whom you get no treasure, and must endure hardship by his side.'”
#7
ازین سرفرازان همالی بجوی
✦
که باشد به نزد پدرت آبروی
“'Seek an equal from among these lords, one who holds honor in the eyes of your father.'”
#8
کتایون بدو گفت کای بدگمان
✦
مشو تیز با گردش آسمان
“Katayoun said to him, 'O suspicious one, do not rage against the turning of the heavens.'”
#9
چو من با تو خرسند باشم به بخت
✦
تو افسر چرا جویی و تاج و تخت
“'When I am content with your fate, why should you seek a crown, a throne, and a tiara?'”
#10
برفتند ز ایوان قیصر به درد
✦
کتایون و گشتاسپ با باد سرد
“Katayoun and Goshtasp left Caesar's palace in sorrow, breathing cold sighs of grief.”
#11
چنین گفت با شوی و زن کدخدای
✦
که خرسند باشید و فرخنده‌رای
“The noble village chief spoke thus to the husband and wife: 'Be content and of auspicious mind.'”
#12
سرایی به پردخت مهتر بده
✦
خورشها و گستردنی هرچ به
“The village leader offered them a vacant house, along with the finest foods and furnishings.”
#13
چو آن دید گشتاسپ کرد آفرین
✦
بران نامور مهتر پاک‌دین
“When Goshtasp saw this, he praised that renowned and pious leader.”
#14
کتایون بی‌اندازه پیرایه داشت
✦
ز یاقوت و هر گوهری مایه داشت
“Katayoun possessed endless adornments, abundant in rubies and all manner of precious jewels.”
#15
یکی گوهری از میان برگزید
✦
که چشم خردمند زان سان ندید
“She selected a single jewel from among them, such as no wise man's eye had ever seen before.”
#16
ببردند نزدیک گوهرشناس
✦
پذیرفت ز اندازه بیرون سپاس
“They took it to a jeweler, who accepted it with boundless gratitude.”
#17
بها داد یاقوت را شش‌هزار
✦
ز دینار و گنج از در شهریار
“He valued the ruby at six thousand dinars, a treasure fitting for a king.”
#18
خریدند چیزی که بایسته بود
✦
بدان روز بد نیز شایسته بود
“They purchased what was needful, suitable even for those days of adversity.”
#19
ازان سان که آمد همی زیستند
✦
گهی شادمان گاه بگریستند
“In this manner they lived, sometimes joyful and sometimes weeping in grief.”
#20
همه کار گشتاسپ نخچیر بود
✦
همه ساله با ترکش و تیر بود
“Goshtasp spent all his time in hunting, constantly equipped with quiver and bow.”
#21
چنان بد که روزی ز نخچیرگاه
✦
مر او را به هیشوی بر بود راه
“It so happened one day, returning from the hunting ground, his path led him to Hishoy.”
#22
ز هرگونه‌ای چند نخچیر داشت
✦
همی رفت و ترکش پر از تیر داشت
“He carried game of various kinds, walking with a quiver filled with arrows.”
#23
همه هرچ بود از بزرگان و خرد
✦
هم از راه نزدیک هیشوی برد
“Whatever he had hunted, whether large or small, he brought along the road to Hishoy.”
#24
چو هیشو بدیدش بیامد دوان
✦
پذیره شدش شاد و روشن‌روان
“When Hishoy saw him, he ran out to meet him, joyful and bright of soul.”
#25
به زیرش بگسترد گستردنی
✦
بیاورد چیزی که بد خوردنی
“He spread a carpet beneath him and brought forth whatever food he had.”
#26
برآسود گشتاسپ و چیزی بخورد
✦
بیامد به نزد کتایون چو گرد
“Goshtasp rested and ate, then returned swiftly like a dust-cloud to Katayoun.”
#27
چو گشتاسپ هیشوی را دوست کرد
✦
به دانش ورا چون تن و پوست کرد
“Thus Goshtasp befriended Hishoy, binding him in friendship like body and soul.”
#28
چو رفتی به نخچیر آهو ز شهر
✦
به ره بر به هیشوی دادی دو بهر
“Whenever he went hunting gazelles from the city, he gave two shares to Hishoy along the way.”
#29
دگر بهرهٔ مهتر ده بدی
✦
هرانکس کزان روستا مه بدی
“The remaining share he gave to the village headman, to whoever was chief of that countryside.”
#30
چنان شد که گشتاسپ با کدخدای
✦
یکی شد به خورد و به آرام و رای
“So it became that Goshtasp and the house-master became one in dining, rest, and counsel.”