As the first dawn light pierced the retreat of night, Rostam—miraculously healed of all wounds—clasped on his armor and invoked the name of the Creator. Mounted upon a fully restored Rakhsh, he rode toward the prince's encampment and called out with a voice like thunder: 'Awake from thy pleasant slumber, Esfandiyar, for Rostam has returned to the field!' Hearing the roar, Esfandiyar stood stunned; the glory of his arms felt suddenly diminished. Turning to Peshotan, he whispered in dismay: 'Never did I imagine Rostam could again don his tiger-skin cuirass or mount Rakhsh, whose hide yesterday was bristling with my arrows. Surely this is the black art of Zal, who reaches his hand to the sun and outmatches all sorcerers!' Peshotan wept and cautioned the prince against further wrath, yet Esfandiyar strapped on his coat of mail and rode out to confront the champion.
Upon sighting Rostam, Esfandiyar roared in fury, cursing Rostam's lineage and attributing his recovery solely to Zal's dark witchcraft, vowing to break the titan so thoroughly that Zal would never see him alive again. Rostam, maintaining serene majesty, answered: 'O Prince, fear the Almighty Yazdan and do not darken the eyes of wisdom! I have not come today to wage war, but to seek peace and preserve honor. By the sacred sun, the moon, and the Holy Avesta, I wish thee no harm. I shall fling open the ancient treasuries of Zabulistan—yielding loads of kingly gems, golden armlets, sweet-lipped servants, fair maidens of Khallakh, and the accumulated fortunes of Sam and Zal. I shall heap them upon my steeds for thy treasurer, and then walk meekly before thy stirrup unto King Goshtasp, submitting to whatever he decrees, whether death or mercy. Only do not bind my limbs in chains, for that would dishonor my name forever.' Yet Esfandiyar coldly dismissed the grand entreaty as mere deception, stubbornly proclaiming that nothing under heaven except iron shackles on Rostam's hands could satisfy the absolute command of the Sovereign.
#1
سپیده همانگه ز که بر دمید
✦
میان شب تیره اندر چمید
“At that very hour, the dawn gleamed from behind the mountains, strutting amid the darkness of the shrouded night.”
#2
بپوشید رستم سلیح نبرد
✦
همی از جهان آفرین یاد کرد
“Rostam put on his battle armor and remembered the Creator of the World.”
#3
چو آمد بر لشکر نامدار
✦
که کین جوید از رزم اسفندیار
“When he came upon the army of the renowned prince to seek vengeance from battle with Esfandiyar,”
#4
بدو گفت برخیز ازین خواب خوش
✦
برآویز با رستم کینه‌کش
“He cried out to him: 'Awake from this sweet sleep! Come forth and tangle with vengeful Rostam!'”
#5
چو بشنید آوازش اسفندیار
✦
سلیح جهان پیش او گشت خوار
“When Esfandiyar heard his thunderous voice, the weapons of the world seemed vile and worthless in his eyes.”
#6
چنین گفت پس با پشوتن که شیر
✦
بپیچد ز چنگال مرد دلیر
“He then spoke to Peshotan: 'Even the lion twists away from the talons of a valiant champion.'”
#7
گمانی نبردم که رستم ز راه
✦
به ایوان کشد ببر و گبر و کلاه
“'I never deemed that Rostam would return from the road, wearing his tiger-skin, helm, and mail into the hall!'”
#8
همان بارکش رخش زیراندرش
✦
ز پیکان نبود ایچ پیدا برش
“'Nor that his burden-bearing Rakhsh beneath him would show no trace of arrowheads upon his breast!'”
#9
شنیدم که دستان جادوپرست
✦
به هنگام یازد به خورشید دست
“'I have heard that sorcery-worshiping Zal reaches his hand unto the sun in times of need;'”
#10
چو خشم آرد از جادوان بگذرد
✦
برابر نکردم پس این با خرد
“'When he rouses his wrath, he surpasses all sorcerers; yet I did not measure this against wisdom.'”
#11
پشوتن بدو گفت پر آب چشم
✦
که بر دشمنت باد تیمار و خشم
“Peshotan replied to him with tearful eyes: 'May sorrow and wrath fall upon thy foe!'”
#12
چه بودت که امروز پژمرده‌ای
✦
همانا به شب خواب نشمرده‌ای
“'What has come over thee that thou art so withered today? Surely thou hast not slept a wink this night.'”
#13
میان جهان این دو یل را چه بود
✦
که چندین همی رنج باید فزود
“'What lies between these two heroes in the world that so much pain and effort must be multiplied?'”
#14
بدانم که بخت تو شد کندرو
✦
که کین آورد هر زمان نو به نو
“'I know that thy fortune has turned slow and sluggish, bringing fresh vengeance time after time.'”
#15
بپوشید جوشن یل اسفندیار
✦
بیامد بر رستم نامدار
“The valiant Esfandiyar donned his coat of mail and came forth to face renowned Rostam.”
#16
خروشید چون روی رستم بدید
✦
که نام تو باد از جهان ناپدید
“He bellowed when he saw Rostam's face: 'May thy name vanish from the face of the earth!'”
#17
فراموش کردی تو سگزی مگر
✦
کمان و بر مرد پرخاشخر
“'Hast thou forgotten, O man of Sagz, the bow and chest of a warlike warrior?'”
#18
ز نیرنگ زالی بدین سان درست
✦
وگرنه که پایت همی گور جست
“'Through the trickery of Zal art thou thus made whole; otherwise thy feet were searching for the grave!'”
#19
بکوبمت زین گونه امروز یال
✦
کزین پس نبیند ترا زنده زال
“'Today I shall shatter thy shoulders in such wise that Zal shall never see thee alive again!'”
#20
چنین گفت رستم به اسفندیار
✦
که ای سیر ناگشته از کارزار
“Thus spoke Rostam unto Esfandiyar: 'O prince insatiable for battle!'”
#21
بترس از جهاندار یزدان پاک
✦
خرد را مکن با دل اندر مغاک
“'Fear the pure Lord God of the world, and do not entomb wisdom alongside thy heart!'”
#22
من امروز نز بهر جنگ آمدم
✦
پی پوزش و نام و ننگ آمدم
“'I have not come today for the sake of war; I have come for apology, honor, and reputation.'”
#23
تو با من به بیداد کوشی همی
✦
دو چشم خرد را بپوشی همی
“'Thou strivest against me with injustice, blindly closing both eyes of wisdom.'”
#24
به خورشید و ماه و به استا و زند
✦
که دل را نرانی به راه گزند
“'By the sun, the moon, the Avesta and Zand, I swear: drive not thy heart onto the path of harm!'”
#25
نگیری به یاد آن سخنها که رفت
✦
وگر پوست بر تن کسی را بکفت
“'Thou recallest not those words that passed between us, even though a man's skin should split upon his body.'”
#26
بیابی ببینی یکی خان من
✦
روندست کام تو بر جان من
“'Come and see my hall and home; thy desire is absolute over my very soul.'”
#27
گشایم در گنج دیرینه باز
✦
کجا گرد کردم به سال دراز
“'I shall fling open the door of the ancient treasure that I have amassed over long years.'”
#28
کنم بار بر بارگیهای خویش
✦
به گنجور ده تا براند ز پیش
“'I shall load it upon my warhorses and surrender it to thy treasurer to lead away.'”
#29
برابر همی با تو آیم به راه
✦
کنم هرچ فرمان دهی پیش شاه
“'Side by side with thee I shall walk the road, performing whatever command thou givest before the King.'”
#30
اگر کشتنیم او کشد شایدم
✦
همان نیز اگر بند فرمایدم
“'If he decrees my death, it is fitting; likewise if he commands me to be bound in chains.'”
#31
همی چاره جویم که تا روزگار
✦
ترا سیر گرداند از کارزار
“'I seek every remedy so that fate may sate thee and turn thee away from war.'”
#32
نگه کن که دانای پیشی چه گفت
✦
که هرگز مباد اختر شوم جفت
“'Consider what the wise man of old proclaimed: May a man never be paired with an ill-omened star!'”
#33
چنین داد پاسخ که مرد فریب
✦
نیم روز پرخاش و روز نهیب
“Esfandiyar answered: 'I am no man of trickery on the day of battle and terror!'”
#34
اگر زنده خواهی که ماند به جای
✦
نخستین سخن بند بر نه به پای
“'If thou desirest to remain alive in thy place, first of all allow bonds upon thy feet!'”
#35
از ایوان و خان چند گویی همی
✦
رخ آشتی را بشویی همی
“'Why speakest thou so much of palace and house? Thou art but washing the face of peace!'”
#36
دگر باره رستم زبان برگشاد
✦
مکن شهریارا ز بیداد یاد
“Once more Rostam opened his mouth and said: 'O Prince, recall not injustice and cruelty!'”
#37
مکن نام من در جهان زشت و خوار
✦
که جز بد نیاید ازین کارزار
“'Make not my name ugly and contemptible in the world, for nothing but evil will come from this clash.'”
#38
هزارانت گوهر دهم شاهوار
✦
همان یارهٔ زر با گوشوار
“'I shall give thee thousands of kingly jewels, along with golden armlets and earrings.'”
#39
هزارانت بنده دهم نوش‌لب
✦
پرستنده باشد ترا روز و شب
“'I shall give thee thousands of sweet-lipped servants to serve thee day and night.'”
#40
هزارت کنیزک دهم خلخی
✦
که زیبای تاج‌اند با فرخی
“'I shall give thee thousands of maidens of Khallakh, worthy of crowns and radiant with glory.'”
#41
دگر گنج سام نریمان و زال
✦
گشایم به پیش تو ای بی‌همال
“'Furthermore, I shall open before thee the treasures of Sam Nariman and Zal, O peerless prince!'”
#42
همه پاک پیش تو گرد آورم
✦
ز زابلستان نیز مرد آورم
“'I shall gather all cleanly before thee, and bring forth men from Zabulistan as well,'”
#43
که تا مر ترا نیز فرمان کنند
✦
روان را به فرمان گروگان کنند
“'So that they too may obey thy commands and pledge their souls to thy bidding.'”
#44
ازان پس به پیشت پرستاروار
✦
دوان با تو آیم بر شهریار
“'Thereafter, like a humble servant, I shall run alongside thee unto the King.'”
#45
ز دل دور کن شهریارا تو کین
✦
مکن دیو را با خرد همنشین
“'Cast malice from thy heart, O Prince, and make not the demon a companion to thy wisdom!'”
#46
جز از بند دیگر ترا دست هست
✦
بمن بر که شاهی و یزدان پرست
“You hold complete authority over me in every manner save fetters, for you are a righteous king and a worshiper of God.”
#47
که از بند تا جاودان نام بد
✦
بماند به من وز تو انجام بد
“For from these chains, eternal dishonor would cling to my name, and an ill destiny would come upon you.”
#48
به رستم چنین گفت اسفندیار
✦
که تا چندگویی سخن نابکار
“To Rostam, Esfandiyar thus replied: 'How long wilt thou utter such futile and useless words?'”
#49
مرا گویی از راه یزدان بگرد
✦
ز فرمان شاه جهانبان بگرد
“'Thou biddest me stray from the path of God, and disobey the mandate of the world's sovereign lord?'”
#50
که هرکو ز فرمان شاه جهان
✦
بگردد سرآید بدو بر زمان
“'For whoever turns away from the command of the king of the world, his life shall swiftly come to an end.'”
#51
جز از بند گر کوشش (و) کارزار
✦
به پیشم دگرگونه پاسخ میار
“'Bring me no other answer now than submission to these fetters, or prepare for battle and fight!'”
#52
به تندی به پاسخ گو نامدار
✦
چنین گفت کای پرهنر شهریار
“Then sharply the renowned hero answered and said, 'O accomplished prince...'”
#53
همی خوار داری تو گفتار من
✦
به خیره بجویی تو آزار من
“'Thou holdest my earnest words in contempt, and in vain seekest to bring me harm.'”
#54
چنین داد پاسخ که چند از فریب
✦
همانا به تنگ اندر آمد نشیب
“He answered: 'How long wilt thou rely on trickery? Verily, time runs short and options narrow!'”