#1
سخن گوی دهقان چو بنهاد خوان
✦
یکی داستان راند از هفتخوان
“When the tale-teller Dehqan laid out the feast of words, he recounted a story of the Seven Trials,”
#2
ز رویین دژ و کار اسفندیار
✦
ز راه و ز آموزش گرگسار
“Of the Fortress of Brass and the deeds of Esfandiyar, of the road and the teachings of Gorgsar.”
#3
چنین گفت کو چون بیامد به بلخ
✦
زبان و روان پر ز گفتار تلخ
“He told how, when Esfandiyar came forth from Balkh, his tongue and soul were full of bitter words.”
#4
همی راند تا پیشش آمد دو راه
✦
سراپرده و خیمه زد با سپاه
“He rode on until two paths appeared before him; there he pitched his pavilion and tents with the army.”
#5
بفرمود تا خوان بیاراستند
✦
می و رود و رامشگران خواستند
“He ordered the banquet table to be laid out, and called for wine, the lute, and minstrels.”
#6
برفتند گردان لشکر همه
✦
نشستند بر خوان شاه رمه
“All the warriors of the army came forth and sat at the banquet of the king of champions.”
#7
یکی جام زرین به کف برگرفت
✦
ز گشتاسپ آنگه سخن برگرفت
“He took a golden goblet in his hand and then spoke of Goshtasp.”
#8
وز آن پس بفرمود تا گرگسار
✦
شود داغ دل پیش اسفندیار
“And thereafter he ordered that Gorgsar be brought before Esfandiyar, heavy-hearted in his bonds.”
#9
بفرمود تا جام زرین چهار
✦
دمادم ببستند بر گرگسار
“He ordered four golden goblets of wine to be served to Gorgsar one after another.”
#10
از آن پس بدو گفت کای تیره‌بخت
✦
رسانم ترا من به تاج و به تخت
“Then he said to him: 'O ill-fated one! I shall bring thee to a crown and throne,”
#11
گر ایدون که هرچت بپرسیم راست
✦
بگویی همه شهر ترکان تراست
“If thou speakest the truth to whatever I ask thee, the entire land of the Turks shall be thine.”
#12
چو پیروز گردم سپارم ترا
✦
به خورشید تابان برآرم ترا
“When I emerge victorious, I shall entrust it to thee and raise thee up to the shining sun.”
#13
نیازارم آن را که پیوند تست
✦
هم آن را که پیوند فرزند تست
“I shall not harm those who are bound to thee, nor those who are bound to thy children.”
#14
وگر هیچ گردی به گرد دروغ
✦
نگیرد بر من دروغت فروغ
“But if thou turnest toward deceit, thy lie shall gain no luster before me.”
#15
میانت به خنجر کنم به دو نیم
✦
دل انجمن گردد از تو به بیم
“I shall cleave thy waist in two with my dagger, so that the heart of the assembly shall tremble in fear of thee.'”
#16
چنین داد پاسخ ورا گرگسار
✦
که ای نامور فرخ اسفندیار
“Thus Gorgsar made answer to him: 'O renowned and glorious Esfandiyar!”
#17
ز من نشنود شاه جز گفت راست
✦
تو آن کن که از پادشاهی سزاست
“The king shall hear nothing from me but the truth; do thou that which is worthy of royalty.'”
#18
بدو گفت رویین دژ اکنون کجاست
✦
که آن مرز از این بوم ایران جداست
“Esfandiyar said to him: 'Now tell me, where lies the Fortress of Brass, which is severed from this realm of Iran?”
#19
بدو چند راهست و فرسنگ چند
✦
کدام آنک ازو هست بیم و گزند
“How many paths lead to it and how many leagues? Which is the one fraught with dread and danger?”
#20
سپه چند باشد همیشه در اوی
✦
ز بالای دژ هرچه دانی بگوی
“How vast is the host that ever dwells within it? Tell all thou knowest of the fortress’s height!'”
#21
چنین داد پاسخ ورا گرگسار
✦
که ای شیردل خسرو شهریار
“Thus Gorgsar answered him: 'O lion-hearted sovereign king!”
#22
سه راهست ز ایدر بدان شارستان
✦
که ارجاسپ خواندش پیکارستان
“Three paths lead from here to that city which Arjasp calls his battle-ground.”
#23
یکی در سه ماه و یکی در دو ماه
✦
گر ایدون خورش تنگ باشد به راه
“One is three months long, and another two months, though food be scarce along the way.”
#24
گیا هست و آبشخور چارپای
✦
فرود آمدن را نیابی تو جای
“There is grass and water for beasts of burden, yet thou shalt find no place to pitch camp.”
#25
سه دیگر به نزدیک یک هفته راه
✦
به هشتم به رویین دژ آید سپاه
“The third path is near to a single week’s journey; on the eighth day the army arrives at the Fortress of Brass.”
#26
پر از شیر و گرگست و پر اژدها
✦
که از چنگشان کس نیابد رها
“It is full of lions, wolves, and dragons, from whose clutches no man finds escape.”
#27
فریب زن جادو و گرگ و شیر
✦
فزونست از اژدهای دلیر
“The deception of sorceress-women, wolves, and lions is greater even than that of valiant dragons.”
#28
یکی را ز دریا برآرد به ماه
✦
یکی را نگون اندر آرد به چاه
“One shall raise a man from the sea up to the moon, and another drag him headlong down into a pit.”
#29
بیابان و سیمرغ و سرمای سخت
✦
که چون باد خیزد به درد درخت
“Then comes the desert, the Simorgh, and fierce cold that tears trees apart when the gale rises.”
#30
از آن پس چو رویین دژ آید پدید
✦
نه دژ دید از آن سان کسی نه شنید
“After that, when the Fortress of Brass appears, none has seen nor heard of such a fortress.”
#31
سر باره برتر ز ابر سیاه
✦
بدو در فراوان سلیح و سپاه
“The crest of its ramparts is higher than the black cloud, and within it dwell abundant weapons and warriors.”
#32
به گرد اندرش رود و آب روان
✦
که از دیدنش خیره گردد روان
“Around it lies a river of flowing water, the sight of which leaves the soul bewildered.”
#33
به کشتی بر او بگذرد شهریار
✦
چو آید به هامون ز بهر شکار
“The king crosses it by boat whenever he comes down to the plain to hunt.”
#34
به صد سال گر ماند اندر حصار
✦
ز هامون نیایدش چیزی به کار
“Though he should remain inside the fortress for a hundred years, he would need nothing from the plain.”
#35
هم‌اندر دژش کشتمند و گیا
✦
درخت برومند و هم آسیا
“For within the fortress itself are cultivated fields, grass, fruitful trees, and grinding mills.”
#36
چو اسفندیار آن سخنها شنید
✦
زمانی بپیچید و دم درکشید
“When Esfandiyar heard those words, he pondered for a moment and held his breath.”
#37
بدو گفت ما را جز این راه نیست
✦
به گیتی به از راه کوتاه نیست
“Then he said to Gorgsar: 'We have no path but this; in all the world there is no better way than the short one.'”
#38
چنین گفت با نامور گرگسار
✦
که این هفتخوان هرگز ای شهریار
“Thus spoke Gorgsar to the renowned prince: 'O King, through this Seven-Stage path no man ever passed,”
#39
به زور و به آواز نگذشت کس
✦
مگر کز تن خویش کردست بس
“Neither by strength nor by shouting, save that he brought an end to his own life.'”
#40
بدو نامور گفت گر با منی
✦
ببینی دل و زور آهرمنی
“The famed champion answered him: 'If thou art with me, thou shalt behold the heart and strength of Ahriman!'”
#41
به پیشم چه گویی چه آید نخست
✦
که باید ز پیکار او راه جست
“'Tell me, what shall come before me first, against whose fight I must seek the way?'”
#42
چنین داد پاسخ ورا گرگسار
✦
که ای نامور مرد ناباک دار
“Thus Gorgsar made answer to him: 'O fearless champion!”
#43
نخستین به پیش تو آید دو گرگ
✦
نر و ماده هریک چو پیلی سترگ
“First there shall come before thee two wolves, male and female, each like a monstrous elephant,”
#44
دو دندان به کردار پیل ژیان
✦
بر و کتف فربه و لاغر میان
“With two tusks like those of a fierce elephant, broad of chest and shoulder, and narrow of waist,”
#45
به سان گوزنان به سر بر سروی
✦
همی رزم شیران کند آرزوی
“Bearing horns upon their heads like deer, yet desiring to battle even against lions.'”
#46
بفرمود تا همچنانش به بند
✦
به خرگاه بردند ناسودمند
“He commanded that he be taken back bound and helpless to the royal pavilion, still in chains.”
#47
بیاراست خرم یکی بزمگاه
✦
به سر بر نظاره بر آن جشنگاه
“He adorned a joyful banquet hall, watching over the festive assembly from above.”
#48
چو خورشید بنمود تاج از فراز
✦
هوا با زمین نیز بگشاد راز
“When the sun displayed its glowing crown on high, dawn revealed the hidden secrets between heaven and earth.”
#49
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
✦
زمین آهنین شد سپهر آبنوس
“The sound of battle drums arose from the royal court; the earth grew as hard as iron and the sky turned dark as ebony.”
#50
سوی هفتخوان رخ به توران نهاد
✦
همی رفت با لشکر آباد و شاد
“Turning his face toward Turan to begin the Seven Labors, he marched joyfully with a flourishing army.”
#51
چو از راه نزدیک منزل رسید
✦
ز لشکر یکی نامور برگزید
“As he drew near the first halting-place along the path, he selected a renowned champion from his host.”
#52
پشوتن یکی مرد بیدار بود
✦
سپه را ز دشمن نگهدار بود
“Peshotan was a vigilant and wise man, who guarded the army against enemy attacks.”
#53
بدو گفت لشکر به آیین بدار
✦
همی پیچم از گفتهٔ گرگسار
“He said to him, 'Keep the army in order, for my mind is troubled by the words of Gorgsar.'”
#54
منم پیش رو گر به من بد رسد
✦
بدین کهتران بد نیاید سزد
“'I shall go ahead as vanguard; if evil befalls me, it is fitting that these subordinates suffer no harm.'”
#55
بیامد بپوشید خفتان جنگ
✦
ببست از بر پشت شبرنگ تنگ
“He stepped forth, put on his battle mail, and tightly cinched the saddle onto his dark warhorse Shabrang.”
#56
سپهبد چو آمد به نزدیک گرگ
✦
چه گرگ آن سرافراز پیل سترگ
“When the commander approached the wolves—what ferocious wolves, monstrous like gigantic elephants!”
#57
بدیدند گرگان بر و یال اوی
✦
میان یلی چنگ و گوپال اوی
“The wolves beheld his broad chest and mane, his hero's waist, his powerful claws, and heavy mace.”
#58
ز هامون سوی او نهادند روی
✦
دو پیل سرافراز و دو جنگجوی
“From the plain they charged at him, like two fierce combatants and two towering elephants.”
#59
کمان را به زه کرد مرد دلیر
✦
بغرید بر سان غرنده شیر
“The valiant warrior strung his bow and roared aloud like a raging lion.”
#60
بر آهرمنان تیرباران گرفت
✦
به تندی کمان سواران گرفت
“He rained arrows upon those fiends, drawing the heavy bow of horsemen with intense fury.”
#61
ز پیکان پولاد گشتند سست
✦
نیامد یکی پیش او تن درست
“Pierced by steel arrowheads, they grew weak; neither of them could reach him unharmed.”
#62
نگه کرد روشن‌دل اسفندیار
✦
بدید آن که دد سست برگشت کار
“The clear-sighted Esfandiyar observed and saw that the wild beasts' strength was broken.”
#63
یکی تیغ زهرآبگون برکشید
✦
عنان را گران کرد و سر درکشید
“He drew a poison-tempered blade, reined in his steed, and charged headlong into combat.”
#64
سراسر به شمشیرشان کرد چاک
✦
گل انگیخت از خون ایشان ز خاک
“He hacked them into pieces with his sword, turning the dusty earth to bloody mire with their blood.”
#65
فرود آمد از نامور بارگی
✦
به یزدان نمود او ز بیچارگی
“He dismounted from his famous steed and humbly offered his helplessness before God.”
#66
سلیح و تن از خون ایشان بشست
✦
بر آن خارستان پاک جایی بجست
“He washed the blood from his arms and body, then found a clean spot in that thorny wasteland.”
#67
پر آژنگ رخ سوی خورشید کرد
✦
دلی پر ز درد و سری پر ز گرد
“With furrowed brow he turned toward the sun, his heart filled with anguish and his head dust-covered.”
#68
همی گفت کای داور دادگر
✦
تو دادی مرا هوش و زور و هنر
“He prayed, 'O Just Judge, You granted me wisdom, physical strength, and warrior skills!'”
#69
تو کردی تن گرگ را خاک جای
✦
تو باشی به هر نیک و بد رهنمای
“'You laid the bodies of the wolves in the dust; You are the guide through every good and evil fortune.'”
#70
چو آمد سپاه و پشوتن فراز
✦
بدیدند یل را به جای نماز
“When the army and Peshotan arrived, they beheld the hero engaged in prayer.”
#71
بماندند زان کار گردان شگفت
✦
سپه یکسر اندیشه اندر گرفت
“The champions were left in awe at the deed, and the entire army fell into deep wonder,”
#72
که این گرگ خوانیم گر پیل مست
✦
که جاوید باد این دل و تیغ و دست
“Exclaiming: 'Should we call these wolves or wild elephants? Eternal be this heart, blade, and arm!'”
#73
که بی فره اورنگ شاهی مباد
✦
بزرگی و رسم سپاهی مباد
“'May the royal throne never lack divine glory, nor martial honor and discipline fade!'”
#74
برفتند گردان فرخنده رای
✦
برابر کشیدند پرده‌سرای
“The noble warriors stepped forward and pitched the royal pavilions right opposite him.”