King Lohrasp sat long in profound reflection, contemplating the extraordinary reports arriving from the land of Rome. Realizing that the legendary youth who had slain the monstrous dragon, felled the fierce lion, and won the hand of Katayun could be none other than his vanished son Goshtasp, Lohrasp summoned his noble brother Zarir. Declaring that no time should be lost, Lohrasp ordered the royal regalia—the royal throne, golden shoes, the crown, and the sacred Kavian Banner—to be borne to Goshtasp, surrendering the sovereignty of Iran to him.
Yet to preserve the majesty and terrifying power of Iran, Lohrasp instructed Zarir to assemble a formidable, vengeance-seeking army and march directly to the borders of Aleppo, proclaiming nothing but war to the host. Zarir readily obeyed and gathered a splendid army of freeborn nobles, descendants of Kay Kavus, Gudarz, Kesvad, and Zarasp, featuring fierce champions such as Bahram the lion-slayer and Riveniz. Riding without rest like the blazing sacred fire Azargashasp, the Iranian force arrived at Aleppo, unfurling the auspicious Kavian Banner and raising their royal pavilions.
Leaving the main host under the command of the haughty Bahram, Zarir rode toward Caesar's court in the manner of a diplomatic envoy, accompanied by five wise and formidable champions. Entering Caesar's hall where the ruler sat alongside Qalus and Goshtasp, Zarir stood tall as a cypress and took his place upon a noble seat, delivering formal greetings. Caesar questioned why Iran had treated the valiant youth Goshtasp so harshly. Zarir replied strategically that the youth had grown weary of servitude and fled. Hearing this, Goshtasp remained utterly silent, acting as though he remembered nothing of Iran.
Zarir then delivered Lohrasp's fierce ultimatum: if Caesar did not act with justice and send Goshtasp back, Iran's victorious armies would march on Rome, leaving none behind in Iran. Zarir sternly warned that Iran was no weak Khazar realm, nor was Lohrasp like Elias to be intimidated. Caesar, unawed by the threat, boldly accepted the challenge of war, declaring he would test his strength on the battlefield. Hearing Caesar's defiant reply, noble Zarir grew somber, filled with deep foreboding for the conflict to come.
#1
پر اندیشه بنشست لهراسپ دیر
✦
بفرمود تا پیش او شد زریر
“Lohrasp sat immersed in deep thought for a long while; then he commanded Zarir to be brought before him.”
#2
بدو گفت کاین جز برادرت نیست
✦
بدین چاره بشتاب وایدر مه‌ایست
“He said to him: 'This youth can be no one but your brother; hasten with this remedy and do not tarry here.'”
#3
درنگ آوری کار گردد تباه
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میاسا و اسپ درنگی مخواه
“'If you delay, the matter will fall into ruin; rest not, nor ask for a sluggish horse.'”
#4
ببر تخت و بالا و زرینه کفش
✦
همان تاج با کاویانی درفش
“'Take the throne, high stature, and golden shoes, along with the crown and the Kavian Banner.'”
#5
من این پادشاهی مر او را دهم
✦
برین بر سرش بر سپاسی نهم
“'I bestow this kingship upon him, and thereby place a favor upon his head.'”
#6
تو ز ایدر برو تا حلب کینه‌جوی
✦
سپه را جز از جنگ چیزی مگوی
“'Go from here unto Aleppo seeking vengeance, and speak to the army of nothing save war.'”
#7
زریر ستوده به لهراسپ گفت
✦
که این راز بیرون کشیم از نهفت
“Praised Zarir said to Lohrasp: 'We shall draw this secret out from concealment.'”
#8
گر اویست فرمان‌بر و مهترست
✦
ورا هرک مهتر بود کهترست
“'If he is obedient and superior, whoever is lesser than he shall be subordinate.'”
#9
بگفت این و برساخت در حال کار
✦
گزیده یکی لشکری نامدار
“He spoke thus and immediately prepared for action, assembling a chosen, renowned army.”
#10
نبیرهٔ برزگان و آزادگان
✦
ز کاوس و گودرز کشوادگان
“Descendants of nobles and freeborn men, from the bloodlines of Kavus, Gudarz, and Kesvad;”
#11
ز تخم زرسپ آنک بودند نیز
✦
چو بهرام شیراوژن و ریونیز
“Also from the seed of Zarasp, such as Bahram the lion-slayer and Riveniz.”
#12
همی رفت هر مهتری با دو اسپ
✦
فروزان به کردار آذرگشسپ
“Every chieftain rode with two horses, blazing brightly like the Fire of Azargashasp.”
#13
نیاسود کس تا به مرز حلب
✦
جهان شد پر از جنگ و جوش و شغب
“No one rested until they reached the border of Aleppo; the world became filled with war, turmoil, and clamor.”
#14
درفش همایون برافراختند
✦
سراپرده و خیمه‌ها ساختند
“They unfurled the blessed banner and set up pavilions and royal tents.”
#15
زریر سپهبد سپه را بماند
✦
به بهرام گردنکش و خود براند
“General Zarir left the army under haughty Bahram's charge and rode onward himself.”
#16
بسان کسی کو پیامی برد
✦
وگر نزد شاهی خرامی برد
“Riding in the manner of one carrying a vital message, or one who approaches a king.”
#17
ازان ویژگان پنج تن را ببرد
✦
که بودند با مغز و هشیار و گرد
“From among the elite he took five men who were wise, prudent, and valiant.”
#18
چو نزدیک درگاه قیصر رسید
✦
به درگاه سالار بارش بدید
“When he arrived near Caesar's court, the lord of the court saw him at the gate.”
#19
به در بر همه فرش دیبا کشید
✦
بیامد به قیصر بگفت آنچ دید
“Brocade carpets were spread at the entrance; the chamberlain went to Caesar and reported what he saw.”
#20
به کاخ اندرون بود قیصر دژم
✦
چو قالوس و گشتاسپ با او بهم
“Inside the palace, Caesar sat heavy-hearted, with Qalus and Goshtasp by his side.”
#21
بدو آگهی داد سالار بار
✦
که آمد به درگه زریر سوار
“The chamberlain informed him: 'Zarir the mounted noble has arrived at the gate.'”
#22
چو قیصر شنید این سخن بار داد
✦
ازان آمدن گشت گشتاسپ شاد
“When Caesar heard this, he granted audience; at his coming, Goshtasp grew joyful.”
#23
زریر اندر آمد چو سرو بلند
✦
نشست از بر تخت آن ارجمند
“Zarir entered tall as a cypress and sat upon the throne of that noble ruler.”
#24
ز قیصر بپرسید و پوزش گرفت
✦
همان رومیان را فروزش گرفت
“He inquired of Caesar's health and made apologies, bringing brightness to the Romans.”
#25
بدو گفت قیصر فرخ‌زاد را
✦
نپرسی نداری به دل داد را
“Caesar said to him regarding noble Goshtasp: 'Do you not ask after him, nor hold justice in your heart?'”
#26
به قیصر چنین گفت فرخ زریر
✦
که این بنده از بندگی گشت سیر
“Splendid Zarir spoke to Caesar: 'This servant grew weary of servitude,'”
#27
گریزان بیامد ز درگاه شاه
✦
کنون یافت ایدر چنین پایگاه
“'He fled in haste from the King's court, and now has found such a exalted station here.'”
#28
چو گشتاسپ بشنید پاسخ نداد
✦
تو گفتی ز ایران نیامدش یاد
“When Goshtasp heard this response he gave no answer; you would say he remembered nothing of Iran.”
#29
چو قیصر شنید این سخن زان جوان
✦
پراندیشه شد مرد روشن‌روان
“When Caesar heard these words from that youth, that clear-minded man became deep in thought,”
#30
که شاید بدن این سخن کو بگفت
✦
جز از راستی نیست اندر نهفت
“Thinking: 'Perchance what he has spoken is true, and there is nothing hidden save the truth.'”
#31
به قیصر ز لهراسپ پیغام داد
✦
که گر دادگر سر نه پیچد ز داد
“Then Zarir delivered Lohrasp's message to Caesar: 'If the just ruler turns not his head from justice,'”
#32
ازین پس نشستم برومست و بس
✦
به ایران نمانیم بسیار کس
“'Henceforth our abode shall be Rome itself; we shall leave few men behind in Iran.'”
#33
تو ز ایدر برو گو بیارای جنگ
✦
سخن چون شنیدی نباید درنگ
“'Go from here and tell them to prepare for war; once you have heard these words, delay not.'”
#34
نه ایران خزر گشت و الیاس من
✦
که سر برکشیدی از آن انجمن
“'Iran is not Khazar, nor am I Elias, that you should raise your head against that assembly!'”
#35
چنین داد پاسخ که من جنگ را
✦
بیازم همی هر سوی چنگ را
“Caesar answered thus: 'I shall test my hand in war on every side.'”
#36
تو اکنون فرستاده‌ای بازگرد
✦
بسازیم ناچار جای نبرد
“'You are an envoy now, return; we must perforce prepare the place of battle.'”
#37
ز قیصر چو بشنید فرخ زریر
✦
غمی شد ز پاسخ فروماند دیر
“When noble Zarir heard this from Caesar, he grew sorrowful at the reply and remained long in deep trouble.”