Adjacent to the realm of Rum lay the unruly marches of Khazar, whose looming shadow had long darkened the peace of Caesar. There ruled Elyas, the formidable son of Mehras, a chieftain arrogant in his strength. Emboldened by the presence of Farrokhzad—who was in truth Prince Goshtasp of Iran in disguise—Caesar penned a fiery war ultimatum to Elyas. The ink upon his parchment dripped like warm blood, warning the ruler of Khazar that his days of ease were at an end; he must either submit with rich tribute, gold, and noble hostages, or face Farrokhzad, who would sweep through his lands like a mad elephant.
Upon reading the royal parchment, Elyas dipped his quill in venom and dispatched a stinging reply. He mocked the martial skill of the Romans, warning Caesar that relying upon a lone foreign champion—who might well be a snare of Ahriman or a mountain of iron—was sheer madness. When the envious nobles Mirin and Ahran relayed these intimidation tactics to Caesar, the monarch's heart faltered. Caesar summoned Farrokhzad, warning him that Elyas was a beast in combat, capable of overthrowing armored elephants, and suggested offering treasures to turn him back.
Yet Goshtasp's royal spirit ignited. He assured Caesar that he feared no soldier of Khazar, though he bade the king guard against the potential treachery of Mirin and Ahran during the fight. Goshtasp asked only that Caesar and his son guard his rear, swearing by the Almighty Divine that he would pluck Elyas from his saddle and hurl him into the dust.
As dawn crested the horizon like a golden shield reflected upon the waters, the bronze warhorns of Khazar echoed across the plain. Goshtasp rode forth like a towering cypress, wielding his ox-headed mace and kicking up dust storms. Beholding Goshtasp's terrifying stature and heavy mace, Elyas sent a crafty messenger to tempt the Iranian hero with riches and lands if he would abandon Caesar's cause. But Goshtasp scorned the envoy's hollow words, declaring that the time for speech had passed and the hour of battle had arrived.
#1
به قیصر خزر بود نزدیکتر
✦
وزیشان بدش روز تاریکتر
“The realm of Khazar lay closer to Caesar, and from their menace, his days were turned to gloom.”
#2
به مرز خزر مهتر الیاس بود
✦
که پور جهاندار مهراس بود
“The chieftain of the Khazar border was Elyas, the valiant son of the world-conqueror Mehras.”
#3
به الیاس قیصر یکی نامه کرد
✦
تو گفتی که خون بر سر خامه کرد
“Caesar penned a letter to Elyas, writing with such fury it was as if his quill dripped with blood.”
#4
که چندین به افسوس خوردی خزر
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کنون روز آسایش آمد بسر
“"For too long have you treated Khazar with mockery; now your days of comfort are at an end.”
#5
اگر ساو و باژست و گنج گران
✦
گروگان ازان مرز چندی سران
“Either send tribute, taxes, abundant treasure, and noble hostages from your march,”
#6
وگرنه فرخ‌زاد چون پیل مست
✦
بیاید کند کشورت را چو دست
“Or Farrokhzad, like a drunken elephant, shall come and flatten your land like the palm of a hand."”
#7
چو الیاس بر خواند آن نامه را
✦
به زهر آب در زد سر خامه را
“When Elyas read that missive, he dipped the tip of his pen in bitterness and poison.”
#8
چنین داد پاسخ که چندین هنر
✦
نبودی به روم اندرون سربسر
“He replied: "Never was such greatness found in all the realm of Rum!”
#9
اگر من نخواهم همی باژ روم
✦
شما شاد باشید زان مرز و بوم
“If I choose not to demand tribute from Rum, you ought to rejoice for your land.”
#10
چنین دل گرفتید از یک سوار
✦
که نزد شما یافت او زینهار
“Have you grown so bold because of a single knight who sought refuge in your court?”
#11
چنان دان که او دام آهرمنست
✦
و گر کوه آهن همان یکتنست
“Know that he is a snare of Ahriman, even if he were a lone mountain of iron!”
#12
تو او را بدین جنگ رنجه مکن
✦
که من بین درازی نمانم سخن
“Do not send him to his doom in this battle, for I shall not lengthen my words further."”
#13
سخن چون به میرین و اهرن رسید
✦
ز الیاس و آن دام کو گسترید
“When news reached Mirin and Ahran of Elyas's reply and the snare he warned of,”
#14
فرستاد میرین به قیصر پیام
✦
که این اژدها نیست کاید به دام
“Mirin sent word to Caesar: "This champion is no mere dragon to be easily trapped,”
#15
نه گرگست کز چاره بیجان شود
✦
ز آلودن زهر پیچان شود
“Nor a wolf that can be slain by trickery or wridled by venom.”
#16
چو الیاس در جنگ خشم آورد
✦
جهانجوی را خون به چشم آورد
“When Elyas rouses his wrath in battle, he brings blood to the eyes of the world-conqueror.”
#17
نگه کن کنون کاین سرافراز مرد
✦
ازو چند پیچد به دشت نبرد
“Watch now how this proud man shall turn away from him on the field of battle!"”
#18
غمی گشت قیصر ز گفتارشان
✦
چو بشنید زان گونه بازارشان
“Caesar grew anxious upon hearing their talk, distressed by the nature of their words.”
#19
فرخ‌زاد را گفت پر مایه‌ای
✦
همی روم را همچو پیرایه‌ای
“He said to Farrokhzad: "O noble one, you are like an ornament unto the crown of Rum!”
#20
چنان دان که الیاس شیراوژن است
✦
چو اسپ افگند پیل رویین‌تن است
“Know that Elyas is a lion-slayer; when he unhorses a knight, he is an iron-bodied elephant.”
#21
اگر تاب داری به جنگش بگوی
✦
و گرنه مبر اندرین آب روی
“If you have the strength to battle him, say so; otherwise, do not jeopardize your honor.”
#22
اگر جنگ او را نداری تو پای
✦
بسازیم با او یکی خوب رای
“If you cannot stand against him in fight, let us devise a better plan.”
#23
به خوبی ز ره بازگردانمش
✦
سخن با هزینه برافشانمش
“I shall turn him back peacefully from our path, bestowing words accompanied by rich gifts."”
#24
بدو گفت گشتاسپ کین جست و جوی
✦
چرا باید و چیست این گفت و گوی
“Goshtasp said to him: "Why this probing, and what is the purpose of such talk?”
#25
چو من باره اندر جهانم به خاک
✦
ندارم ز مرز خزر هیچ باک
“While my charger gallops upon the earth, I harbor no fear of the realm of Khazar.”
#26
ولیکن نباید که روز نبرد
✦
ز میرین و اهرن بود یاد کرد
“However, on the day of battle, let there be no reliance upon Mirin and Ahran,”
#27
که ایشان به رزم اندر از دشمنی
✦
برآرند کژی و آهرمنی
“For in the heat of combat, out of enmity, they might show deceit and evil intent.”
#28
چو لشکر بیاید ز مرز خزر
✦
نگهبان من باش با یک پسر
“When the army arrives from the Khazar border, stand guard over me with just one son.”
#29
به نیروی پیروزگر یک خدای
✦
چو من با سپاه اندر آیم ز جای
“By the power of the one Victorious God, when I stride forth with the host,”
#30
نه الیاس مانم نه با او سپاه
✦
نه چندن بزرگی و تخت و کلاه
“I shall spare neither Elyas nor his army, nor leave him his greatness, throne, or crown.”
#31
کمربند گیرمش وز پشت زین
✦
به ابر اندر آرم زنم بر زمین
“I shall seize his belt, lift him from the back of his saddle into the clouds, and shatter him upon the earth!"”
#32
دگر روز چون بردمید آفتاب
✦
چو زرین سپر می‌نمود اندر آب
“On the next day, when the sun arose, shining upon the water like a shield of gold,”
#33
ز سوی خزر نای رویین بخاست
✦
همی گرد بر شد سوی چرخ راست
“From the direction of Khazar, brass trumpets blared, and dust rose straight to the heavens.”
#34
سرافراز قیصر به گشتاسپ گفت
✦
که اکنون جدا کن سپاه از نهفت
“Exalted Caesar said to Goshtasp: "Now bring forth the army from their concealment."”
#35
بگفت این و لشکر به بیرون کشید
✦
گوان و یلان را به هامون کشید
“Saying this, he marched the army out, leading champions and warriors into the plain.”
#36
همی گشت با گُرزهٔ گاوسار
✦
چو سرو بلند از بر کوهسار
“Goshtasp wheeled about with his ox-headed mace, standing tall like a high cypress above the mountains.”
#37
همی جست بر دشت جای نبرد
✦
ز هامون به ابر اندر آورد گرد
“He sought a place of battle upon the plain, casting dust from the steppes up to the clouds.”
#38
چو الیاس دید آن بر و یال اوی
✦
چنان گردش چنگ و گوپال اوی
“When Elyas beheld his chest and stature, and the fierce wielding of his arm and heavy mace,”
#39
سواری فرستاد نزدیک اوی
✦
که بفریبد ان رای تاریک اوی
“He dispatched a horseman to him to deceive his dark resolve.”
#40
بیامد بدو گفت کای سرفراز
✦
ز قیصر بدین گونه سر کم فراز
“The envoy came and said: "O exalted one, do not raise your head for Caesar in this manner!”
#41
کزین لشکر اکنون سوارش تویی
✦
بهارش تویی نامدارش تویی
“For you are the sole champion of this army—its springtime bloom and its renowned hero.”
#42
به یکسو گرای از میان دو صف
✦
چه داری چنین بر لب آورده کف
“Step aside from between the two ranks; why stand with foam upon your lips?”
#43
که الیاس شیر است روز نبرد
✦
پذیره درآید سبک‌تر ز گرد
“Elyas is a lion on the day of battle, swooping down swifter than the dust itself.”
#44
اگر هدیه خواهی ورا گنج هست
✦
مسای از پی چیز با رنج دست
“If you seek gifts, he possesses vast treasure; do not wear your hands with toil for nothing.”
#45
ز گیتی گزین کن یکی بهره‌ای
✦
تو باشی بران بهره در شهره‌ای
“Choose a portion of the world for yourself, that you may be renowned upon that realm.”
#46
همت یار باشم همت کهترم
✦
که هرگز ز پیمان تو نگذرم
“I shall be thy devoted companion and thy humble servant, and never shall I stray from thy covenant.”
#47
بدو گفت گشتاسپ کاین سرد گشت
✦
سخنها ز اندازه اندر گذشت
“Goshtasp said to him, 'These words have grown cold and futile, and this talk hath far exceeded all proper bounds.'”
#48
تو کردی بدین داوری دست پیش
✦
کنون بازگشتی ز گفتار خویش
“'Thou wert the one to step forward and start this dispute, yet now thou hast recanted thine own words.'”
#49
سخن گفتن اکنون نیاید به کار
✦
گه جنگ و آویزش کارزار
“'Words are of no use any longer; now is the hour of battle and the fierce clash of combat!'”
#50
فرستاده برگشت و آمد چو باد
✦
همی کرد پاسخ به الیاس یاد
“The envoy turned back and sped swift as the wind, reporting Goshtasp's stern answer unto Ilyas.”