In the hush of a profound night, the eyes of the master poet of Tus closed in sleep, and a mysterious vision unfolded. In his dream, he held a goblet of wine as clear and fragrant as rosewater, when suddenly the spirit of Daqiqi—the departed pioneer of verse—appeared before him. Sitting beside the luminous goblet, Daqiqi began to chant epic tales, calling out: 'Drink from this cup only after the royal fashion of Kay Kavus and the ancient Kianian kings! For you have chosen to praise a monarch whose high fortune, radiant crown, and mighty armies honor the realm—King Mahmud, conqueror of cities, who bestows joy upon all.' Daqiqi spoke of glorious days ahead, of armies reaching China, and of the sovereign's unmatched grandeur. Then he revealed the haunting dream of his unfulfilled life: 'I once embarked upon this noble quest before you, composing a thousand verses detailing the reign of Goshtasp and his war against Arjasp. Yet fate cut my life short before my song could reach its conclusion. If these verses find favor with the King of Kings, my soul shall rise from the cold earth unto the shining moon.' When the vision faded, the sage of Tus resolved to give voice to the departed poet's legacy, weaving Daqiqi's thousand verses seamlessly into his eternal tapestry of kings.
#1
چنان دید گوینده یک شب به خواب
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که یک جام می داشتی چون گلاب
“One night, the speaker saw in a dream that he held a cup of wine red as rosewater.”
#2
دقیقی ز جایی پدید آمدی
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بران جام می داستانها زدی
“From somewhere Daqiqi appeared, and over that cup of wine he began to recite stories.”
#3
به فردوسی آواز دادی که می
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مخور جز بر آیین کاوس کی
“He called out to Ferdowsi, saying: 'Drink no wine except after the custom of Kay Kavus,'”
#4
که شاهی ز گیتی گزیدی که بخت
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بدو نازد و لشگر و تاج و تخت
“'For you have chosen a king in this world whose fortune, army, crown, and throne pride themselves on him.'”
#5
شهنشاه محمود گیرنده شهر
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ز شادی به هر کس رسانیده بهر
“'The King of Kings Mahmud, conqueror of realms, who brings a share of joy to everyone.'”
#6
از امروز تا سال هشتاد و پنج
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بکاهدش رنج و نکاهدش گنج
“'From this day until eighty-five years, his hardship shall wane, and his treasure shall not diminish.'”
#7
ازین پس به چین اندر آرد سپاه
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همه مهتران برگشایند راه
“'Henceforth he shall lead his armies into China, and all nobles shall clear the path for him.'”
#8
نبایدش گفتن کسی را درشت
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همه تاج شاهانش آمد به مشت
“'No one should speak harshly to him, for the crowns of all kings have fallen into his grasp.'”
#9
بدین نامه گر چند بشتافتی
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کنون هرچ جستی همه یافتی
“'Though you hastened with this Book, now whatever you sought, you have fully found.'”
#10
ازین باره من پیش گفتم سخن
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سخن را نیامد سراسر به بن
“'I spoke upon this matter before, yet my verses did not reach their complete end.'”
#11
ز گشتاسپ و ارجاسپ بیتی هزار
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بگفتم سرآمد مرا روزگار
“'I composed a thousand couplets concerning Goshtasp and Arjasp when my life reached its end.'”
#12
گر آن مایه نزد شهنشه رسد
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روان من از خاک بر مه رسد
“'If that treasure reaches the King of Kings, my soul shall ascend from dust to the moon.'”
#13
کنون من بگویم سخن کو بگفت
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منم زنده او گشت با خاک جفت
“Now I shall recite the words that he spoke; I remain alive, while he has become one with the dust.”