Upon surviving the infernal fight with the dragon, Esfandiyar camped by a flowing stream, leaving Gurgsar consumed with bitter sorrow at the prince's miraculous escape from death. The royal pavilions were raised, and as the army gathered around, Esfandiyar ordered rich goblets of wine to be served in praise of the Almighty Creator. He then summoned the chained Gurgsar to his side, offered him three goblets of royal wine, and scoffed at the monster he had just slain, demanding to know what peril lay ahead.
Gurgsar warned the prince of the Fourth Stage: a terrible sorceress known as the Ghul, who could turn vast deserts into roaring oceans and cast her dark enchantments up to the realm of the sun, ensnaring all brave youths who dared enter her path. He urged Esfandiyar to turn back lest his glory be stained in dishonor. Yet Esfandiyar scorned the warning, declaring that through the grace of the One God, he would crush the treacherous craft of all sorcerers beneath his heel.
As dawn crested the horizon and painted the land in shimmering light, Esfandiyar entrusted the main host to his faithful brother Peshotan. Taking only a lute and a golden goblet filled with wine, the bronze-bodied champion rode out alone. He came upon a forest so wondrous it seemed a corner of Paradise—studded with wild roses, cooled by streams flowing like rosewater, and shaded by trees so thick the sun could not pierce the canopy. Dismounting beside a tranquil spring, Esfandiyar drank his wine and struck the strings of his lute, singing a mournful song of his arduous fate: how he had known only lions and dragons rather than the sweet embrace of a fair maiden.
The enchanting sound of his voice reached the ears of the sorceress. Recognizing a royal victim, the hideous, wrinkled witch cast her dark spells, transforming her withered form into a breathtaking maiden of Turkic beauty, adorned with fragrant black hair and Chinese silk. She emerged from the shadow of the woods and sat softly beside Esfandiyar. Believing his prayers had been answered by Divine Providence, the prince praised God and offered her the golden goblet.
Yet Esfandiyar carried a weapon of holy power—a sacred steel chain forged in Paradise, brought by the prophet Zoroaster to King Goshtasp, who had bound it upon his son's arm. Swift as thought, Esfandiyar cast the heavenly chain around her neck. Deprived of her wicked glamour, the witch shifted into a roaring lion to break free, but Esfandiyar drew his sharp blade, warning her that no mountain of iron could save her. Bound by the sacred chain, she collapsed back into her true shape: a foul, black-skinned hag with hair white as snow. With a single strike of his dagger, Esfandiyar cleaved her head from her shoulders.
Instantly, a pitch-black tempest arose, veiling the sun and moon in murky gloom. Esfandiyar mounted a high ridge and let out a roar like thunder to guide his army. Peshotan arrived with the troops, beholding the dead sorceress and hailing Esfandiyar's divine victory, while Gurgsar's heart burned with bitter fury as the champion conquered yet another trial.
#1
از آن کار پر درد شد گرگسار
✦
کجا زنده شد مرده اسفندیار
“Gurgsar became filled with painful sorrow when Esfandiyar returned alive from the dead.”
#2
سراپرده زد بر لب آب شاه
✦
همه خیمه‌ها گردش اندر سپاه
“The king pitched his royal pavilion upon the water's edge, and the army set up tents all around him.”
#3
می و رود بر خوان و میخواره خواست
✦
به یاد جهاندار بر پای خاست
“He called for wine and the lute at the banquet, standing up to toast the Sovereign of the World.”
#4
بفرمود تا داغ دل گرگسار
✦
بیامد نوان پیش اسفندیار
“He commanded that the heart-broken Gurgsar be brought groaning before him.”
#5
می خسروانی سه جامش بداد
✦
بخندید و زآن اژدها کرد یاد
“He gave him three goblets of royal wine, laughed, and recalled his fight with the dragon.”
#6
بدو گفت کای بد تن بی‌بها
✦
ببین این دم آهنج نر اژدها
“He said to him: 'O worthless villain, behold now this male, breath-snatching dragon!'”
#7
از این پس به منزل چه پیش آیدم
✦
کجا رنج و تیمار بیش آیدم
“'What lies ahead in the next stage, where greater toil and sorrow await me?'”
#8
بدو گفت کای شاه پیروزگر
✦
همی یابی از اختر نیک بر
“Gurgsar replied: 'O victorious king, you reap fine fruit from a fortunate star.'”
#9
تو فردا چو در منزل آیی فرود
✦
به پیشت زن جادو آرد درود
“'Tomorrow, when you alight at the stage, a witch-woman will come before you with greetings.'”
#10
که دیدست ز این پیش لشکر بسی
✦
نکردست پیچان روان از کسی
“'She has seen many armies before and never felt her soul tremble before any man.'”
#11
چو خواهد بیابان چو دریا کند
✦
به بالای خورشید پهنا کند
“'When she wills, she turns the desert into a sea, and stretches her power to the height of the sun.'”
#12
ورا غول خوانند شاهان به نام
✦
به روز جوانی مرو پیش دام
“'Kings call her the Ghul; in your youthful days, do not walk into her trap!'”
#13
به پیروزی اژدها باز گرد
✦
نباید که نام اندر آری به گرد
“'Turn back with your dragon-slaying victory, lest your glorious name be dragged in the dust.'”
#14
جهانجوی گفت ای بد شوخ روی
✦
ز من هرچه بینی تو فردا بگوی
“The world-seeker said: 'O brazen villain, speak tomorrow of whatever you see me accomplish!'”
#15
که من با زن جادوان آن کنم
✦
که پشت و دل جادوان بشکنم
“'For I shall do unto the sorceress that which breaks the spirit and back of all sorcerers.'”
#16
به پیروزی دادده یک خدای
✦
سر جادوان اندر آرم به پای
“'Through the victory given by the One God, I shall cast the chief of sorcerers under my feet.'”
#17
چو پیراهن زرد پوشید روز
✦
سوی باختر گشت گیتی فروز
“When daylight put on its yellow robe and the world-illuminator turned toward the west,”
#18
سپه برگرفت و بنه بر نهاد
✦
ز یزدان نیکی دهش کرد یاد
“The king readied the army, packed the baggage, and remembered God, the Giver of all good.”
#19
شب تیره لشکر همی راند شاه
✦
چو خورشید بفروخت زرین کلاه
“Through the dark night the king marched his army; when the sun lit its golden crown,”
#20
چو یاقوت شد روی برج بره
✦
بخندید روی زمین یکسره
“And the constellation of Aries shone like ruby, the whole face of the earth smiled.”
#21
سپه را همه بر پشوتن سپرد
✦
یکی جام زرین پر از می ببرد
“He entrusted the army entirely to Peshotan, taking for himself a golden goblet filled with wine.”
#22
یکی ساخته نیز تنبور خواست
✦
همی رزم پیش آمدش سور خواست
“He called for a finely crafted lute; facing battle, he sought festive song.”
#23
یکی بیشه‌ای دید همچون بهشت
✦
تو گفتی سپهر اندر او لاله کشت
“He saw a woodland like Paradise; you would say heaven itself had planted tulips within it.”
#24
ندید از درخت اندر او آفتاب
✦
به هر جای بر چشمه‌ای چون گلاب
“The sun could not be seen through the dense trees, and everywhere springs flowed like rosewater.”
#25
فرود آمد از بارگی چون سزید
✦
ز بیشه لب چشمه‌ای برگزید
“He dismounted fitly from his steed and chose a spot beside a spring in the grove.”
#26
یکی جام زرین به کف برنهاد
✦
چو دانست کز می دلش گشت شاد
“He took the golden goblet in his hand, and when he felt his heart lightened by wine,”
#27
همانگاه تنبور را برگرفت
✦
سراییدن و ناله اندر گرفت
“He took up the lute and began to play and sing a sorrowful tune.”
#28
همی گفت بداختر اسفندیار
✦
که هرگز نبیند می و میگسار
“Sighing, Esfandiyar sang of his ill star—how he never beholds wine nor wine-servants,”
#29
نبیند جز از شیر و نر اژدها
✦
ز چنگ بلاها نیابد رها
“Seeing naught but lions and fierce dragons, never escaping from the claws of calamities,”
#30
نیابد همی ز این جهان بهره‌ای
✦
به دیدار فرخ پری چهره‌ای
“'Nor obtaining any share of this world, nor beholding a auspicious, fairy-faced lover.'”
#31
بیابم ز یزدان همی کام دل
✦
مرا گر دهد چهرهٔ دلگسل
“'Yet I shall gain my heart's desire from God, if He grants me a heart-captivating maiden,'”
#32
به بالا چو سرو و چو خورشید روی
✦
فروهشته از مشک تا پای موی
“'Tall as a cypress, with a face like the sun, and dark hair cascading down to her feet.'”
#33
زن جادو آواز اسفندیار
✦
چو بشنید شد چون گل اندر بهار
“When the sorceress heard Esfandiyar's voice, she blossomed with joy like a flower in spring.”
#34
چنین گفت کآمد هژبری به دام
✦
ابا چامه و رود و پر کرده جام
“She said: 'A lion has fallen into the trap, bringing song, lute, and filled goblets!'”
#35
پر آژنگ رویی بی آیین و زشت
✦
بدان تیرگی جادویها نوشت
“She had a wrinkled, hideous, and ugly face; upon that darkness she worked her sorcery.”
#36
به سان یکی ترک شد خوب روی
✦
چو دیبای چینی رخ از مشک موی
“She turned herself into a beautiful Turkic maiden, her face like Chinese silk, her hair smelling of musk.”
#37
بیامد به نزدیک اسفندیار
✦
نشست از بر سبزه و جویبار
“She came close to Esfandiyar and sat beside the verdant grass and flowing stream.”
#38
جهانجوی چون روی او را بدید
✦
سرود و می و رود برتر کشید
“When the world-seeker beheld her beauty, he raised his song, wine, and lute even higher.”
#39
چنین گفت کای دادگر یک خدای
✦
به کوه و بیابان توی رهنمای
“He said: 'O Just God, Thou art the guide through mountain and desert!'”
#40
بجستم هم‌اکنون پری چهره‌ای
✦
به تن شهره‌ای زو مرا بهره‌ای
“'I sought just now a fairy-faced beauty, famous in form, from whom I might find joy.'”
#41
به داد آفرینندهٔ داد و راد
✦
مرا پاک جام و پرستنده داد
“'In the justice of the Creator of all, He has granted me a pure goblet and a worshiper.'”
#42
یکی جام پر بادهٔ مشک بوی
✦
بدو داد تا لعل گرددش روی
“He gave her a goblet of musk-scented wine, that her cheeks might glow like rubies.”
#43
یکی نغز پولاد زنجیر داشت
✦
نهان کرده از جادو آژیر داشت
“He held a fine steel chain hidden away, prepared to ward off sorcery.”
#44
به بازوش در بسته بد زردهشت
✦
به گشتاسپ آورده بود از بهشت
“Zoroaster had bound it upon his arm, brought down from Paradise to King Goshtasp.”
#45
بدان آهن از جان اسفندیار
✦
نبردی گمانی به بد روزگار
“Bound in that iron, no evil fate could ever threaten the life of Esfandiyar.”
#46
بینداخت زنجیر در گردنش
✦
بر آن سان که نیرو ببرد از تنش
“He cast the magical chain around her neck, in such a manner that it drained all strength from her frame.”
#47
زن جادو از خویشتن شیر کرد
✦
جهانجوی آهنگ شمشیر کرد
“The sorceress transformed herself into a fierce lion; thereupon the world-seeking hero reached for his sword.”
#48
بدو گفت بر من نیاری گزند
✦
اگر آهنین کوه گردی بلند
“He said to her, 'You cannot harm me, even if you were to turn into a lofty mountain of iron!'”
#49
بیارای زآن سان که هستی رخت
✦
به شمشیر یازم کنون پاسخت
“'Reveal your true countenance as it really is, for now I shall answer you with the blade of my sword.'”
#50
به زنجیر شد گنده پیری تباه
✦
سر و موی چون برف و رنگی سیاه
“Bound in the chain, she reverted to a hideous old hag, her hair as white as snow and her complexion dark as night.”
#51
یکی تیز خنجر بزد بر سرش
✦
مبادا که بینی سرش گر برش
“He struck her head with a sharp dagger; may no one ever behold such a head severed from its body!”
#52
چو جادو بمرد آسمان تیره گشت
✦
بر آن سان که چشم اندر آن خیره گشت
“As the sorceress perished, the heavens grew dark, so pitch-black that every eye was dazzled and bewildered.”
#53
یکی باد و گردی برآمد سیاه
✦
بپوشید دیدار خورشید و ماه
“A black wind accompanied by thick dust arose, veiling the light of both the sun and the moon.”
#54
به بالا برآمد جهانجوی مرد
✦
چو رعد خروشان یکی نعره کرد
“The world-seeking hero ascended a high peak and let out a shout like roaring thunder.”
#55
پشوتن بیامد همی با سپاه
✦
چنین گفت کای نامبردار شاه
“Peshotan approached alongside the army and spoke thus: 'O renowned and illustrious prince!'”
#56
نه با زخم تو پای دارد نهنگ
✦
نه ترک و نه جادو نه شیر و پلنگ
“'Neither sea-monsters nor Turks, nor witches, lions, or leopards can withstand the blow of your strike.'”
#57
به گیتی بماناد یل سرفراز
✦
جهان را به مهر تو بادا نیاز
“'May the proud hero endure forever in the world, and may the world ever stand in need of your loving favor!'”
#58
یکی آتش از تارک گرگسار
✦
برآمد ز پیکار اسفندیار
“A fire flared up from Gurgsar's crown upon beholding the prowess of Esfandiyar in battle.”