#1
ز بلبل شنیدم یکی داستان
✦
که برخواند از گفتهٔ باستان
“I heard a tale from the nightingale, who recited it from the lore of antiquity.”
#2
که چون مست باز آمد اسفندیار
✦
دژم گشته از خانهٔ شهریار
“How Esfandiyar returned intoxicated, dark-hearted and aggrieved from the King's palace.”
#3
کتایون قیصر که بد مادرش
✦
گرفته شب و روز اندر برش
“Katayoun, daughter of Caesar, who was his mother, held him in her arms night and day.”
#4
چو از خواب بیدار شد تیره شب
✦
یکی جام می خواست و بگشاد لب
“When the dark night awoke from sleep, he called for a goblet of wine and began to speak.”
#5
چنین گفت با مادر اسفندیار
✦
که با من همی بد کند شهریار
“Thus spoke Esfandiyar to his mother: 'The King deals unfairly and harshly with me.'”
#6
مرا گفت چون کین لهراسپ شاه
✦
بخواهی به مردی ز ارجاسپ شاه
“ He promised me: When you exact vengeance for King Lohrasp through manhood from King Arjasp,”
#7
همان خواهران را بیاری ز بند
✦
کنی نام ما را به گیتی بلند
“ And bring your sisters back from captivity, exalting our name throughout the world,”
#8
جهان از بدان پاک بی‌خو کنی
✦
بکوشی و آرایشی نو کنی
“ Cleanse the world of evil ones without cruelty, striving to bring forth a new splendour,”
#9
همه پادشاهی و لشکر تراست
✦
همان گنج با تخت و افسر تراست
“ Then the entire kingdom and army shall be yours, along with the treasure, crown, and throne.”
#10
کنون چون برآرد سپهر آفتاب
✦
سر شاه بیدار گردد ز خواب
“Now, as the heavens raise the sun on high and the vigilant King awakens from sleep,”
#11
بگویم پدر را سخنها که گفت
✦
ندارد ز من راستیها نهفت
“I shall remind my father of the words he uttered, for he must not withhold the truth from me.”
#12
وگر هیچ تاب اندر آرد به چهر
✦
به یزدان که بر پای دارد سپهر
“And if he turns his face away in anger, I swear by God who upholds the revolving heavens,”
#13
که بی‌کام او تاج بر سر نهم
✦
همه کشور ایرانیان را دهم
“That without his consent I shall place the crown upon my head and claim all the realm of Iran.”
#14
ترا بانوی شهر ایران کنم
✦
به زور و به دل جنگ شیران کنم
“I shall make you the sovereign lady of Iran, fighting like ferocious lions with strength and heart.”
#15
غمی شد ز گفتار او مادرش
✦
همه پرنیان خار شد بر برش
“His mother grew grieved at his words; all her fine silk felt like thorns against her chest.”
#16
بدانست کان تاج و تخت و کلاه
✦
نبخشد ورا نامبردار شاه
“She knew that the renowned King would not easily bestow that crown, throne, and helmet.”
#17
بدو گفت کای رنج دیده پسر
✦
ز گیتی چه جوید دل تاجور
“She said to him: 'O hard-tried son, what more does a crowned heart seek from the world?”
#18
مگر گنج و فرمان و رای و سپاه
✦
تو داری برین بر فزونی مخواه
“Treasures, command, wisdom, and armies are already yours—do not seek beyond this.”
#19
یکی تاج دارد پدر بر پسر
✦
تو داری دگر لشکر و بوم و بر
“The father holds one crown above the son, while you hold the entire army, land, and realm.”
#20
چو او بگذرد تاج و تختش تراست
✦
بزرگی و شاهی و بختش تراست
“When he passes away, his throne and crown shall be yours, as well as greatness, sovereignty, and fortune.”
#21
چه نیکوتر از نره شیر ژیان
✦
به پیش پدر بر کمر بر میان
“What is finer than a fierce male lion standing girded in service before his father?'”
#22
چنین گفت با مادر اسفندیار
✦
که نیکو زد این داستان هوشیار
“Esfandiyar replied to his mother: 'Well did the wise man speak this proverb,”
#23
که پیش زنان راز هرگز مگوی
✦
چو گویی سخن بازیابی به کوی
“Never share a secret with women, for if you speak, your words will soon echo in the streets.”
#24
مکن هیچ کاری به فرمان زن
✦
که هرگز نبینی زنی رای زن
“Do nothing by a woman's counsel, for you shall never see a woman of sound judgment.'”
#25
پر از شرم و تشویر شد مادرش
✦
ز گفته پشیمانی آمد برش
“His mother grew full of shame and distress, filled with regret over what she had spoken.”
#26
بشد پیش گشتاسپ اسفندیار
✦
همی بود با رامش و میگسار
“Esfandiyar went before Goshtasp, engaging in pleasure and wine-drinking.”
#27
دو روز و دو شب بادهٔ خام خورد
✦
بر ماهرویش دل آرام کرد
“For two days and two nights he drank pure wine, soothing his heart in the presence of his fair-faced companion.”
#28
سیم روز گشتاسپ آگاه شد
✦
که فرزند جویندهٔ گاه شد
“On the third day Goshtasp became aware that his son was seeking the throne.”
#29
همی در دل اندیشه بفزایدش
✦
همی تاج و تخت آرزو آیدش
“Worries multiplied in his heart, seeing his son's longing for the throne and crown.”
#30
بخواند آن زمان شاه جاماسپ را
✦
همان فال گویان لهراسپ را
“Thereupon the King summoned Jamasp, along with the astrologers of Lohrasp's realm.”
#31
برفتند با زیجها برکنار
✦
بپرسید شاه از گو اسفندیار
“They came with their astrological tables, and the King inquired about the hero Esfandiyar:”
#32
که او را بود زندگانی دراز؟
✦
نشیند به شادی و آرام و ناز؟
“'Shall he enjoy a long life? Shall he sit in joy, peace, and delight?”
#33
به سر بر نهد تاج شاهنشهی؟
✦
برو پای دارد بهیّ و مهی؟
“Shall he place the royal crown upon his head? Shall goodness and greatness endure for him?'”
#34
چو بشنید دانای ایران سخن
✦
نگه کرد آن زیجهای کهن
“When the wise man of Iran heard these words, he examined those ancient celestial charts.”
#35
ز دانش بروها پر از تاب کرد
✦
ز تیمار مژگان پر از آب کرد
“From knowledge, his brow furrowed with grief, and from sorrow, tears filled his eyes.”
#36
همی گفت بد روز و بد اخترم
✦
ببارید آتش همی بر سرم
“He kept saying: 'Woe to my bad day and ill star! Fire has poured down upon my head!”
#37
مرا کاشکی پیش فرخ زریر
✦
زمانه فگندی به چنگال شیر
“Would that fate had thrown me into the claws of a lion before the glorious Zarir fell,”
#38
وگر خود نکشتی پدر مر مرا
✦
نگشتی به جاماسپ بداخترا
“Or if my father had not fathered me, so that I, ill-starred Jamasp, would not exist,”
#39
ورا هم ندیدی به خاک اندرون
✦
بران سان فگنده پیش پر ز خون
“Nor would I have seen him fallen upon the dust, steeped in blood in such a manner!”
#40
چو اسفندیاری که از چنگ اوی
✦
بدرد دل شیر ز آهنگ اوی
“Now for an Esfandiyar, from whose mighty assault the heart of a lion tears open,”
#41
ز دشمن جهان سربسر پاک کرد
✦
به رزم اندرون نیستش هم نبرد
“Who cleansed the entire world of enemies, and in battle has no equal rival,”
#42
جهان از بداندیش بی‌بیم کرد
✦
تن اژدها را به دو نیم کرد
“Who freed the world from fear of malevolent foes, and sliced the dragon's body in two,”
#43
ازاین پس غم او بباید کشید
✦
بسی شور و تلخی بباید چشید
“From now on we must mourn for him, and taste much bitterness and grief.'”
#44
بدو گفت شاه ای پسندیده مرد
✦
سخن گوی وز راه دانش مگرد
“The King said to him: 'O praised man, speak out and do not stray from the path of wisdom!”
#45
هلا زود بشتاب و با من بگوی
✦
کزین پرسشم تلخی آمد به روی
“Hasten and tell me quickly, for this question has brought bitterness to my face.'”
#46
گر او چون زریر سپهبد بود
✦
مرا زیستن زین سپس بد بود
“If he should perish as Commander Zarir did, living henceforth would be pure misery for me.”
#47
ورا در جهان هوش بر دست کیست
✦
کزان درد ما را بباید گریست
“By whose hand in this world is his doom destined, for whose pain we must weep such bitter tears?”
#48
بدو گفت جاماسپ کای شهریار
✦
تواین روز را خوار مایه مدار
“Jamasp replied to him, 'O Sovereign King, do not hold this fateful day lightly in your eyes.'”
#49
ورا هوش در زاولستان بود
✦
به دست تهم پور دستان بود
“His doom lies in Zavolestan, slain by the hand of brave Rostam, the valiant son of Dastan.”
#50
به جاماسپ گفت آنگهی شهریار
✦
به من بر بگردد بد روزگار؟
“The monarch then said to Jamasp, 'Can this evil turn of fate be averted from me?'”
#51
که گر من سر تاج شاهنشهی
✦
سپارم بدو تاج و تخت مهی
“If I surrender to him the crown of supreme kingship, and grant him the throne of sovereignty,”
#52
نبیند بر و بوم زاولستان
✦
نداند کس او را به کاولستان
“And he never beholds the realm of Zavolestan, nor travels to the lands of Kavolestan,”
#53
شود ایمن از گردش روزگار؟
✦
بود اختر نیکش آموزگار؟
“Will he then be safe from fate's turning wheel? Shall a fortunate star become his guide?”
#54
چنین داد پاسخ ستاره شمر
✦
که بر چرخ گردان نیابد گذر
“The astrologer answered him thus: 'No man can alter or escape the turning heavens.'”
#55
ازین بر شده تیز چنگ اژدها
✦
به مردی و دانش که آمد رها
“From this sharp-clawed dragon of sky and time, who has ever escaped through courage or wisdom?”
#56
بباشد همه بودنی بی‌گمان
✦
نجستست ازو مرد دانا زمان
“Whatever is ordained shall surely come to pass; no wise man has ever escaped destiny.”
#57
دل شاه زان در پراندیشه شد
✦
سرش را غم و درد هم پیشه شد
“The king's heart grew heavy with deep turmoil, and grief and anguish became his constant companions.”
#58
بد اندیشه و گردش روزگار
✦
همی بر بدی بودش آموزگار
“His own malevolent nature and the turns of time guided him continuously toward evil ends.”