As time turned upon the wheel of fate, the Caesar of Rum—heartened by the astonishing feats of his mysterious champion Farrokhzad—devises a plan to demand tribute from Iran. He approaches Farrokhzad, unaware he is Prince Goshtasp in disguise, declaring his intent to send a noble ambassador named Qalus to King Lohrasp, threatening to unleash a vast Roman host led by Farrokhzad if tribute is withheld. Goshtasp shrewdly approves, knowing the turns of fate are drawing close to disclosure.
Qalus travels swift as the wind to Iran. Upon arriving at the magnificent imperial gate, he witnesses the unmatched majesty of the Kianian court. King Lohrasp ascends his throne of ivory, donning his radiant crown surrounded by the grandees of Iran. When the court curtains are drawn, Qalus delivers Caesar's bold demand. Though deeply grieved and angered in his heart by the Roman ruler's audacity, Lohrasp conceals his wrath under the sacred laws of royal hospitality. He orders rich banquets, golden fabrics, and feastings for the envoy, yet stays awake through the anxious night.
At dawn, after conferring privately with his heroic son Prince Zarir, Lohrasp clears the hall of all foreigners and grants Qalus a confidential audience. Lohrasp speaks with wise restraint: 'Rome was never famed for such prowess, and Caesar was ever humbled before Iranian kings. How comes it now that he sends demands across every border, having conquered even Elyas, the formidable champion of Khazar?'
Qalus replies: 'O King, a knight has arrived in Rome who wrestles wild lions, laughs in the face of war, and slays elephantine wolves and terrible dragons. Caesar bestowed upon him his most precious daughter.' Thrilled with sudden intuition, Lohrasp asks: 'To whom among men does this warrior bear likeness?' Qalus looks upon the assemble court and responds: 'In stature, countenance, noble culture, and heroic bearing, he is the exact spitting image of brave Prince Zarir!' Upon hearing this, Lohrasp's heart swells with joy, realizing his long-lost son Goshtasp is alive and reigning in glory in Rome. He bestows immense treasures upon Qalus and sends him back to Rum with a bold message for Caesar: 'Tell your master that the King of Iran moves forth with his hosts to meet him.'
#1
برین نیز بگذشت چندی سپهر
✦
به دل در همی داشت و ننمود چهر
“Some time passed under the revolving sphere, which harbored a secret in its heart yet revealed not its face.”
#2
بگشتاسپ گفت آن زمان جنگجوی
✦
که تا زنده‌ای زین جهان بهر جوی
“Then spoke the warlike Caesar to Goshtasp: 'As long as you live, seek your portion from this world.'”
#3
براندیش با این سخن با خرد
✦
که اندیشه اندر سخن به خورد
“'Reflect upon this matter with wisdom, for thought is best matched when guided by intellect.'”
#4
به ایران فرستم فرستاده‌ای
✦
جهاندیده و پاک و آزاده‌ای
“'I shall dispatch an envoy to Iran—a world-experienced, pure, and noble man.'”
#5
به لهراسپ گویم که نیم جهان
✦
تو داری به آرام و گنج مهان
“'I shall say to Lohrasp: Half the world you hold in peace, along with the treasures of the great.'”
#6
اگر باژ بفرستی از مرز خویش
✦
ببینی سرمایهٔ ارز خویش
“'If you send tribute from your border, you shall retain the measure of your worth.'”
#7
بریشان سپاهی فرستم ز روم
✦
که از نعل پیدا نبینند بوم
“'Otherwise, I will send upon them a host from Rome so vast that the ground shall be invisible beneath their horses' hooves.'”
#8
چنین داد پاسخ که این رای تست
✦
زمانه بزیر کف پای تست
“Goshtasp answered him: 'This is your sound judgment; time itself lies beneath the palm of your foot.'”
#9
یکی نامور بود قالوس نام
✦
خردمند و با دانش و رای و کام
“There was a renowned man named Qalus, wise, possessed of knowledge, judgment, and purpose.”
#10
بخواند آن خردمند را نامدار
✦
کز ایدر برو تا در شهریار
“The famous ruler summoned that sage, saying: 'Go forth from here unto the monarch's court.'”
#11
بگویش که گر باژ ایران دهی
✦
به فرمان گرایی و گردن نهی
“'Tell him: If you give the tribute of Iran, obey my command, and bow your neck,'”
#12
به ایران بماند بتو تاج و تخت
✦
جهاندار باشی و پیروزبخت
“'The crown and throne of Iran shall remain yours, and you shall rule the world in triumph and good fortune.'”
#13
وگرنه مرا با سپاهی گران
✦
هم از روم وز دشت نیزه‌وران
“'Otherwise, I shall bring upon you a mighty army from Rome and from the Plain of Spears.'”
#14
نگه کن که برخیزد از دشت غو
✦
فرخ‌زاد پیروزشان پیش رو
“'Behold the clamor that shall rise from the plain, with victorious Farrokhzad leading them at their head!'”
#15
همه بومتان پاک ویران کنم
✦
ز ایران به شمشیر بیران کنم
“'I shall utterly lay waste to all your realm and destroy Iran with the edge of the sword.'”
#16
فرستاده آمد به کردار باد
✦
سرش پر خرد بد دلش پر ز داد
“The envoy came like the rushing wind, his head filled with wisdom and his heart with justice.”
#17
چو آمد به نزدیک شاه بزرگ
✦
بدید آن در و بارگاه بزرگ
“When he drew near to the great king, he beheld that grand court and majestic hall.”
#18
چو آگاهی آمد به سالار بار
✦
خرامان بیامد بر شهریار
“When news reached the chamberlain, he walked gracefully before the monarch,”
#19
که پیر جهاندیده‌ای بر درست
✦
همانا فرستادهٔ قیصرست
“Saying: 'An experienced elder stands at the gate; surely he is the envoy of Caesar.'”
#20
سوارست با او بسی نامدار
✦
همی راه جوید بر شهریار
“'Many renowned horsemen accompany him, seeking audience before the king.'”
#21
چو بشنید بنشست بر تخت عاج
✦
بسر بر نهاد آن دل افروز تاج
“When Lohrasp heard this, he sat upon the ivory throne and placed that heart-brightening crown upon his head.”
#22
بزرگان ایران همه پیش تخت
✦
نشستند شادان دل و نیکبخت
“The nobles of Iran all sat before the throne, joyful of heart and blessed in fortune.”
#23
بفرمود تا پرده برداشتند
✦
فرستاده را شاد بگذاشتند
“He commanded that the curtain be lifted, and they admitted the messenger with joy.”
#24
چو آمد به نزدیک تختش فراز
✦
بر او آفرین کرد و بردش نماز
“When he stepped close to the throne, he offered praise and paid homage to the king.”
#25
پیام گرانمایه قیصر بداد
✦
چنان چون بباید به آیین و داد
“He delivered Caesar's solemn message, exactly as custom and dignity demanded.”
#26
غمی شد ز گفتار او شهریار
✦
برآشفت با گردش روزگار
“The king became grieved at his words and grew angered at the turn of fortune.”
#27
گرانمایه جایی بیاراستند
✦
فرستاده را شاد بنشاستند
“Yet they prepared a precious abode and seated the envoy in great honor.”
#28
فرستاد زربفت گستردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنی و هم از خوردنی
“He ordered gold-woven carpets spread for him, providing fine garments and luxurious feasts.”
#29
بران گونه بنواخت او را به بزم
✦
تو گفتی که نشنید پیغام رزم
“In such wise did he cherish him at the banquet, you would say he had never heard a message of war.”
#30
شب آمد پر اندیشه پیچان بخفت
✦
تو گفتی که با درد و غم بود جفت
“Night came, and the king slept full of anxious thoughts, as though wedded to pain and sorrow.”
#31
چو خورشید بر تخت زرین نشست
✦
شب تیره رخسار خود را ببست
“When the sun sat upon its golden throne, dark night bound up its countenance.”
#32
بفرمود تا رفت پیشش زریر
✦
سخن گفت هرگونه با شاه دیر
“The king commanded Zarir to come before him, and conferred at length with him in secret.”
#33
به شگبیر قالوس شد بار خواه
✦
ورا راه دادند نزدیک شاه
“At dawn, Qalus sought an audience, and they granted him access to the king.”
#34
ز بیگانه ایوان بپرداختند
✦
فرستاده را پیش بنشاختند
“They cleared the palace of strangers and seated the envoy before him.”
#35
بدو گفت لهراسپ کای پر خرد
✦
مبادا که جان جز خرد پرورد
“Lohrasp said to him: 'O man of wisdom, may no soul be nurtured except by wisdom!'”
#36
بپرسم ترا راست پاسخ‌گزار
✦
اگر بخردی کام کژی مخار
“'I shall question you, answer me truthfully; if you are wise, desire not the path of falsehood.'”
#37
نبود این هنرها به روم اندرون
✦
بدی قیصر از پیش شاهان زبون
“'Such prowess was never in Rome; Caesar was ever humble before the kings of Iran.'”
#38
کنون او بهر کشوری باژخواه
✦
فرستاد و بر ماه بنهاد گاه
“'Now he sends tribute-demands to every land, raising his throne unto the moon!'”
#39
چو الیاس را کو به مرز خزر
✦
گوی بود با فر و پرخاشخر
“'How did he capture and bind Elyas in the land of Khazar, who was a warrior of glory and battle?'”
#40
بگیرد ببندد همی با سپاه
✦
بدین باژخواهش که بنمود راه
“'What emboldened him to take this path of demanding tribute from the world?'”
#41
فرستاده گفت ای سخنگوی شاه
✦
به مرز خزر من شدم باژخواه
“The envoy said: 'O eloquent king, I went myself as tribute-seeker to the border of Khazar.'”
#42
به پیغمبری رنج بردم بسی
✦
نپرسید زین باره هرگز کسی
“'I suffered much toil in diplomacy, yet no one ever inquired concerning this matter.'”
#43
ولیکن مرا شاه زان‌سان نواخت
✦
که گردن به کژی نباید فراخت
“'Yet the king has so favored me that I must not bend my neck to falsehood.'”
#44
سواری به نزدیک او آمدست
✦
که از بیشه‌ها شیر گیرد به دست
“'A horseman has come to Caesar who catches wild lions barehanded in the forests.'”
#45
به مردان بخندد همی روز رزم
✦
هم از جامهٔ می به هنگام بزم
“'He laughs at brave men on the day of battle, and brightens the goblet at times of feast.'”
#46
به بزم و به رزم و به روز شکار
✦
جهان‌بین ندیدست چون او سوار
“'In feast, in war, and on the hunting day, no eye of a world-beholder has seen such a horseman.'”
#47
بدو داد پرمایه‌تر دخترش
✦
که بودی گرامی‌تر از افسرش
“'Caesar bestowed upon him his most precious daughter, who was dearer to him than his own crown.'”
#48
نشانی شدست او به روم اندرون
✦
چو نر اژدها شد به چنگش زبون
“'He became a legend in Rome when the male dragon was rendered helpless in his grasp.'”
#49
یکی گرگ بد همچو پیلی به دشت
✦
که قیصر نیارست زان سو گذشت
“'There was a wolf in the plain like unto an elephant, such that Caesar dared not pass that way.'”
#50
بیفگند و دندان او را بکند
✦
وزو کشور روم شد بی‌گزند
“'He slew it and tore out its teeth, freeing the realm of Rome from harm.'”
#51
بدو گفت لهراسپ کای راست‌گوی
✦
کرا ماند این مرد پرخاشجوی
“Lohrasp said to him: 'O truthful teller, whom does this warlike man resemble?'”
#52
چنین داد پاسخ که باری نخست
✦
به چهره زریرست گویی درست
“He answered: 'First and foremost, in countenance, you would say he is the very spitting image of Zarir!'”
#53
به بالا و دیدار و فرهنگ و رای
✦
زریر دلیرست گویی بجای
“'In height, appearance, culture, and intellect, he is in every way brave Zarir himself!'”
#54
چو بشنید لهراسپ بگشاد چهر
✦
بران مرد رومی بگسترد مهر
“When Lohrasp heard this, his countenance brightened, and he showered love upon that Roman man.”
#55
فراوان ورا برده و بدره داد
✦
ز درگاه برگشت پیروز و شاد
“He gave him abundant gifts and purses of gold, and he returned from the court victorious and glad.”
#56
بدو گفت کاکنون به قیصر بگوی
✦
که من با سپاه آمدم جنگجوی
“He said to him: 'Now go tell Caesar that I am coming with an army ready for battle.'”