Now as the sun displays its cosmic countenance in the heavens, placing the crown of sovereignty upon the constellation of Aries, joy floods the earth from East to West. The high mountains resound with thunderous reverberations, and the banks of streams blossom with narcissus, tulip, and hyacinth. The tulip charms the eye, the narcissus holds majestic awe, the hyacinth sways with gentle reproach, and the pomegranate bloom exalts the beauty of the realm. The spring cloud, bearing fire in its heart and tears in its eyes, roars like ancient priests in tempestuous rage; as its rains wash the earth, the world awakens to reveal a tapestry as rich as the paintings of Mani in China. Bathed in dew, the earth smiles back at the weeping sky, acknowledging that its tears flow from love rather than sorrow. Yet the cloud's rainfall is bound to a single season, whereas the bounty of the King is boundless and eternal. The hand of Sultan Mahmud is like the sun at its zenith, withholding its light neither from the destitute nor the mighty. A conqueror in war and a fountain of generosity in peace, he subdues sovereign rivals while showering gifts upon the obedient. Turning now from this panegyric, the epic poet summons the ancient lore of the world-experienced sage to recount the wondrous quest toward the Brazen Fortress and the Seven Labors of Prince Esfandiyar.
#1
کنون ز این سپس هفتخوان آورم
✦
سخنهای نغز و جوان آورم
“Now after this, I shall recount the Seven Labors, bringing forth wondrous, vibrant tales.”
#2
اگر بخت یکباره یاری کند
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بر او طبع من کامگاری کند
“If fortune favors me at once, my poetic nature shall achieve its desire over this tale.”
#3
بگویم به تأیید محمود شاه
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بدان فر و آن خسروانی کلاه
“I shall recite this through the grace of King Mahmud, empowered by his royal farr and sovereign crown.”
#4
که شاه جهان جاودان زنده باد
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بزرگان گیتی ورا بنده باد
“May the King of the world live eternally, and may the grandees of the earth serve him in devotion.”
#5
چو خورشید بر چرخ بنمود چهر
✦
بیاراست روی زمین را به مهر
“When the sun displayed its countenance in the heavens, it adorned the face of the earth with love and light.”
#6
به برج حمل تاج بر سر نهاد
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از او خاور و باختر گشت شاد
“It placed the crown of sovereignty upon the constellation of Aries, bringing joy to both East and West.”
#7
پر از غلغل و رعد شد کوهسار
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پر از نرگس و لاله شد جویبار
“The mountains echoed with thunderous roars, and the streams overflowed with narcissus and tulip.”
#8
ز لاله فریب و ز نرگس نهیب
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ز سنبل عتیب و ز گلنار زیب
“The tulip offered enchantment, the narcissus awe; the hyacinth brought gentle reproach, the pomegranate bloom its beauty.”
#9
پر آتش دل ابر و پر آب چشم
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خروش مغانی و پر تاب خشم
“The cloud held fire in its heart and tears in its eyes, roaring like the priests of old with tempestuous rage.”
#10
چو آتش نماید بپالاید آب
✦
ز آواز او سر برآید ز خواب
“As fire blazed forth, it shed water upon the land; at its thunderous roar, the earth awakened from slumber.”
#11
چو بیدار گردی جهان را ببین
✦
که دیباست گر نقش مانی به چین
“When you awaken, behold the world woven like fine silk, adorned as though Mani painted it in China.”
#12
چو رخشنده گردد جهان ز آفتاب
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رخ نرگس و لاله بینی پر آب
“When the sun illumes the world with radiance, the faces of the narcissus and tulip are bathed in dew.”
#13
به خنده بدو گوید ای شوخ چشم
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به عشق تو گریان نه از درد و خشم
“The earth smiles back and says, 'O bright-eyed cloud! I weep in love for you, not in anger or pain.'”
#14
نخندد زمین تا نگرید هوا
✦
هوا را نخوانم کف پادشا
“The earth smiles not until the sky weeps; yet even the sky’s rain cannot equal the generous hand of the King.”
#15
که باران او در بهاران بود
✦
نه چون همت شهریاران بود
“For the rain falls only in springtime, unlike the endless magnanimity of great sovereigns.”
#16
به خورشید ماند همی دست شاه
✦
چو اندر حمل برفرازد کلاه
“The hand of the King is like the sun when it exalts its crown in the sign of Aries.”
#17
اگر گنج پیش آید از خاک خشک
✦
وگر آب دریا و گر در و مشک
“Whether dry dust yields treasure, or sea yields pearls and musk,”
#18
ندارد همی روشناییش باز
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ز درویش وز شاه گردن فراز
“His light is withheld from none, shining alike upon the needy and the proud king.”
#19
کف شاه ابوالقاسم آن پادشا
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چنین است با پاک و ناپارسا
“Such is the bountiful palm of King Abu’l-Qasim, bestowed upon both the righteous and the unrighteous.”
#20
دریغش نیاید ز بخشیدن ایچ
✦
نه آرام گیرد به روز بسیچ
“He never grudges his bounty, nor rests on days of preparing for battle.”
#21
چو جنگ آیدش پیش جنگ آورد
✦
سر شهریاران به چنگ آورد
“When war presents itself, he leads the charge, capturing the heads of powerful monarchs.”
#22
بدان کس که گردن نهد گنج خویش
✦
ببخشد نیندیشد از رنج خویش
“To him who submits, he bestows his treasures freely, disregarding his own labor and strain.”
#23
جهان را جهاندار محمود باد
✦
از او بخشش و داد موجود باد
“May the ruler Mahmud possess the world, and may bounty and justice ever flourish through him.”
#24
ز رویین دژ اکنون جهاندیده پیر
✦
نگر تا چه گوید از او یاد گیر
“Now listen to what the world-experienced sage recounts regarding the Brazen Fortress, and remember his words.”