#1
چنین گوید آن پیر دانش‌پژوه
✦
هنرمند و گوینده و با شکوه
“Thus speaks that knowledge-seeking sage, accomplished, eloquent, and glorious,”
#2
که در پرده بد زال را بنده‌ای
✦
نوازندهٔ رود و گوینده‌ای
“That within Zal's inner chambers there was a bondwoman, a player of the lute and a fine speaker.”
#3
کنیزک پسر زاد روزی یکی
✦
که ازماه پیدا نبود اندکی
“One day that slave-girl gave birth to a son, who was not a whit less radiant than the moon.”
#4
به بالا و دیدار سام سوار
✦
ازو شاد شد دودهٔ نامدار
“In stature and countenance he resembled Sam the Rider, and the illustrious house rejoiced because of him.”
#5
ستاره‌شناسان و کنداوران
✦
ز کشمیر و کابل گزیده سران
“Astrologers and elite chieftains gathered from Kashmir and Kabul,”
#6
ز آتش‌پرست و ز یزدان‌پرست
✦
برفتند با زیج رومی به دست
“Both fire-worshippers and worshippers of God, taking Roman astrolabes in hand.”
#7
گرفتند یکسر شمار سپهر
✦
که دارد بران کودک خرد مهر
“Together they calculated the movements of the firmament to see what love the heavens held for this small child.”
#8
ستاره شمرکان شگفتی بدید
✦
همی این بدان آن بدین بنگرید
“The stargazers beheld a marvel; they looked at one another in dire consternation.”
#9
بگفتند با زال سام سوار
✦
که ای از بلند اختران یادگار
“They said to Zal, son of Sam the Rider: 'O memorial of exalted stars!'”
#10
گرفتیم و جستیم راز سپهر
✦
ندارد بدین کودک خرد مهر
“'We have measured and sought the secret of the heavens; the sky holds no love for this little child.'”
#11
چو این خوب چهره به مردی رسد
✦
به گاه دلیری و گردی رسد
“'When this fair-faced babe reaches manhood and attains the time of chivalry and warriorhood,'”
#12
کند تخمهٔ سام نیرم تباه
✦
شکست اندرآرد بدین دستگاه
“'He shall bring ruin upon the seed of Sam, son of Nariman, and strike defeat into this royal house.'”
#13
همه سیستان زو شود پرخروش
✦
همه شهر ایران برآید به جوش
“'All Seistan will be filled with clamor through him, and all the realm of Iran shall boil with distress.'”
#14
شود تلخ ازو روز بر هر کسی
✦
ازان پس به گیتی نماند بسی
“'Life will grow bitter for everyone because of him, and thereafter he himself shall not remain long in the world.'”
#15
غمی گشت زان کار دستان سام
✦
ز دادار گیتی همی برد نام
“Dastan, son of Sam, became sorrowful at this matter; he invoked the name of the Creator of the world.”
#16
به یزدان چنین گفت کای رهنمای
✦
تو داری سپهر روان را به پای
“He spoke to God, saying: 'O Guide! You sustain the revolving heavens.'”
#17
به هر کار پشت و پناهم توی
✦
نمایندهٔ رای و راهم توی
“'In every affair You are my support and refuge; You are the shower of my counsel and my path.'”
#18
سپهر آفریدی و اختر همان
✦
همه نیکویی باد ما را گمان
“'You created the heavens and the stars; let our expectation be only of goodness.'”
#19
بجز کام و آرام و خوبی مباد
✦
ورا نام کرد آن سپهبد شغاد
“'May there be naught but fulfillment, peace, and virtue.' The commander named him Shaghad.”
#20
همی داشت مادر چو شد سیر شیر
✦
دلارام و گوینده و یادگیر
“His mother nurtured him until he was weaned—a heart-easing child, eloquent and quick to learn.”
#21
بران سال کودک برافراخت یال
✦
بر شاه کابل فرستاد زال
“When the child grew up over the years, Zal sent him to the King of Kabul.”
#22
جوان شد به بالای سرو بلند
✦
سواری دلاور به گرز و کمند
“He grew into a youth tall as a cypress tree, a brave horseman skilled with mace and lasso.”
#23
سپهدار کابل بدو بنگرید
✦
همی تاج و تخت کیان را سزید
“The commander of Kabul looked upon him and saw him worthy of the royal crown and throne.”
#24
به گیتی به دیدار او بود شاد
✦
بدو داد دختر ز بهر نژاد
“He rejoiced in the world at seeing him, and gave him his daughter in marriage for the sake of noble blood.”
#25
ز گنج بزرگ آنچ بد در خورش
✦
فرستاد با نامور دخترش
“From his vast treasury he sent whatever was fitting along with his renowned daughter.”
#26
همی داشتش چون یکی تازه سیب
✦
کز اختر نبودی بروبر نهیب
“He cherished him like a fresh apple, for no threat seemed to loom over him from the stars.”
#27
بزرگان ایران و هندوستان
✦
ز رستم زدندی همی داستان
“The nobles of Iran and Hindustan continually spoke stories of Rostam's prowess.”
#28
چنان بد که هر سال یک چرم گاو
✦
ز کابل همی خواستی باژ و ساو
“It so was that every year Rostam demanded a hide of an ox as tribute from Kabul.”
#29
در اندیشهٔ مهتر کابلی
✦
چنان بد کزو رستم زابلی
“It was in the Kabul ruler's thought that Rostam of Zabul”
#30
نگیرد ز کار درم نیز یاد
✦
ازان پس که داماد او شد شغاد
“Would no longer recall any matter of coin, now that Shaghad had become his son-in-law.”
#31
چو هنگام باژ آمد آن بستدند
✦
همه کابلستان بهم بر زدند
“When the time for tribute came, Rostam's men collected it, and all Kabulistan was thrown into distress.”
#32
دژم شد ز کار برادر شغاد
✦
نکرد آن سخن پیش کس نیز یاد
“Shaghad grew dismal over his brother's action, yet mentioned the matter to no one at first.”
#33
چنین گفت با شاه کابل نهان
✦
که من سیر گشتم ز کار جهان
“Then he spoke in secret to the King of Kabul: 'I have grown weary of the world's affairs.'”
#34
برادر که او را ز من شرم نیست
✦
مرا سوی او راه و آزرم نیست
“'A brother who has no shame before me—I have no path or respect left toward him.'”
#35
چه مهتر برادر چه بیگانه‌ای
✦
چه فرزانه مردی چه دیوانه‌ای
“'Be he elder brother or stranger, wise man or madman,'”
#36
بسازیم و او را به دام آوریم
✦
به گیتی بدین کار نام آوریم
“'Let us scheme to bring him into a trap, and win fame in the world by this deed.'”
#37
بگفتند و هر دو برابر شدند
✦
به اندیشه از ماه برتر شدند
“They spoke together and allied as equals; in their plotting their thoughts rose higher than the moon.”
#38
نگر تا چه گفته‌ست مرد خرد
✦
که هرکس که بد کرد کیفر برد
“Behold what the wise man has said: 'Whoever does evil shall suffer its retribution.'”
#39
شبی تا برآمد ز کوه آفتاب
✦
دو تن را سر اندر نیامد به خواب
“For a whole night until the sun arose from the mountain, sleep came not to the eyes of either man,”
#40
که ما نام او از جهان کم کنیم
✦
دل و دیدهٔ زال پر نم کنیم
“Planning: 'We shall erase his name from the world, and make Zal's heart and eyes full of tears.'”
#41
چنین گفت با شاه کابل شغاد
✦
که گر زین سخن داد خواهیم داد
“Shaghad spoke thus to the King of Kabul: 'If we are to exact justice in this matter,'”
#42
یکی سور کن مهتران را به خوان
✦
می و رود و رامشگران را بخوان
“'Prepare a feast for the nobles; call for wine, lutes, and minstrels.'”
#43
به می خوردن اندر مرا سرد گوی
✦
میان کیان ناجوانمرد گوی
“'Amid the wine-drinking, speak cold words to me, and call me unmanly among the nobles.'”
#44
ز خواری شوم سوی زابلستان
✦
بنالم ز سالار کابلستان
“'In feigned humiliation I shall go to Zabulistan, and complain against the lord of Kabulistan.'”
#45
چه پیش برادر چه پیش پدر
✦
ترا ناسزا خوانم و بدگهر
“'Before my brother and my father, I will call you unworthy and of bad lineage.'”
#46
برآشوبد او را سر از بهر من
✦
بیاید بدین نامور شهر من
“His head shall boil with fury on my account, and he will march directly to this renowned city of mine.”
#47
برآید چنین کار بر دست ما
✦
به چرخ فلک‌بر بود شست ما
“Thus shall this enterprise succeed by our hands, and our arrow-notch shall reach the very heavens above.”
#48
تو نخچیرگاهی نگه کن به راه
✦
بکن چاه چندی به نخچیرگاه
“Choose a hunting ground along his route, and dig several deep pits within that hunting field.”
#49
براندازهٔ رستم و رخش ساز
✦
به بن در نشان تیغهای دراز
“Make them to the size of Rustam and Rakhsh, and plant long, sharp blades fixed at the bottom.”
#50
همان نیزه و حربهٔ آبگون
✦
سنان از بر و نیزه زیر اندرون
“Likewise set spears and gleaming steel weapons, spear-heads pointed upward and shafts secured below.”
#51
اگر صد کنی چاه بهتر ز پنج
✦
چو خواهی که آسوده گردی ز رنج
“If you dig a hundred pits, it is better than five, if you wish to be relieved forever from this trouble.”
#52
بجای آر صد مرد نیرنگ ساز
✦
بکن چاه و بر باد مگشای راز
“Bring forth a hundred cunning, resourceful men, dig the pits, and do not whisper this secret to the wind.”
#53
سر چاه را سخت کن زان سپس
✦
مگوی این سخن نیز با هیچ‌کس
“Cover and conceal the openings of the pits firmly thereafter, and utter not a word of this scheme to anyone.”
#54
بشد شاه و رای از منش دور کرد
✦
به گفتار آن بی‌خرد سور کرد
“The King went forth, casting sound judgment from his mind, and celebrated at the words of that foolish traitor.”
#55
مهان را سراسر ز کابل بخواند
✦
بخوان پسندیده‌شان برنشاند
“He summoned all the nobles from throughout Kabul, seating them honorably around a splendid banquet table.”
#56
چو نان خورده شد مجلس آراستند
✦
می و رود و رامشگران خواستند
“When the feast had ended, they adorned the assembly, calling for wine, lutes, and skillful musicians.”
#57
چو سر پر شد از بادهٔ خسروی
✦
شغاد اندر آشفت از بدخوی
“When heads grew heavy with royal wine, Shaghad, stirred by his evil nature, feigned violent rage.”
#58
چنین گفت با شاه کابل که من
✦
همی سرفرازم به هر انجمن
“Thus he spoke to the King of Kabul: 'I hold my head high and boastful in every assembly!'”
#59
برادر چو رستم چو دستان پدر
✦
ازین نامورتر که دارد گهر
“'With a brother like Rustam and a father like Dastan, who possesses a lineage more renowned than mine?'”
#60
ازو شاه کابل برآشفت و گفت
✦
که چندین چه داری سخن در نهفت
“At this, the King of Kabul feigned fury and said: 'Why do you keep repeating such hidden pretenses?'”
#61
تو از تخمهٔ سام نیرم نه‌ای
✦
برادر نه‌ای خویش رستم نه‌ای
“'You are not truly of the line of Sam, Niram's son! You are no brother nor real kin to Rustam!'”
#62
نکردست یاد از تو دستان سام
✦
برادر ز تو کی برد نیز نام
“'Dastan, son of Sam, never makes mention of you; how would your brother ever speak your name?'”
#63
تو از چاکران کمتری بر درش
✦
برادر نخواند ترا مادرش
“'You are lesser than the servants at his gate, nor does his mother ever acknowledge you as brother!'”
#64
ز گفتار او تنگ‌دل شد شغاد
✦
برآشفت و سر سوی زابل نهاد
“At these words, Shaghad feigned deep sorrow and offense; he stormed out in wrath and set his face toward Zabul.”
#65
همی رفت با کابلی چند مرد
✦
دلی پر ز کین لب پر از باد سرد
“He rode forth accompanied by a few Kabulis, his heart brimming with malice, his lips breathing cold sighs.”
#66
بیامد به درگاه فرخ پدر
✦
دلی پر ز چاره پر از کینه سر
“He arrived at the court of his auspicious father, his heart full of wiles and his head teeming with malice.”
#67
هم‌انگه چو روی پسر دید زال
✦
چنان برز و بالا و آن فر و یال
“As soon as Zal beheld his son's face, seeing his tall stature, noble aura, and mighty frame...”
#68
بپرسید بسیار و بنواختش
✦
هم‌انگه بر پیلتن تاختش
“He greeted him warmly, showed him great affection, and at once directed him to the Elephant-bodied Rustam.”
#69
ز دیدار او شاد شد پهلوان
✦
چو دیدش خردمند و روشن‌روان
“The hero was rejoiced to see him, perceiving him to be wise and of enlightened soul.”
#70
چنین گفت کز تخمهٔ سام شیر
✦
نزاید مگر زورمند و دلیر
“Rustam said: 'From the lineage of the lion-like Sam, none can be born save the strong and the brave!'”
#71
چگونه است کار تو با کابلی
✦
چه گویند از رستم زابلی
“'How stand your affairs with the ruler of Kabul? And what do they say there of Rustam of Zabul?'”
#72
چنین داد پاسخ به رستم شغاد
✦
که از شاه کابل مکن نیز یاد
“Shaghad replied thus to Rustam: 'Speak no more of the King of Kabul!'”
#73
ازو نیکویی بد مرا پیش ازین
✦
چو دیدی مرا خواندی آفرین
“'Before this, I received nothing but goodness from him; whenever he saw me, he sang my praises.'”
#74
کنون می خورَد، جنگ سازد همی
✦
سر از هر کسی برفرازد همی
“'Now he drinks wine and breeds strife, exalting his head above all others.'”
#75
مرابر سر انجمن خوار کرد
✦
همان گوهر بد پدیدار کرد
“'He humiliated me before the assembled noble council, revealing his vile and evil nature.'”
#76
همی گفت تا کی ازین باژ و ساو
✦
که با سیستان ما نداریم تاو
“'He kept saying: How long must we pay tribute and taxes? We have no power to withstand Sistan!'”
#77
ازین پس نگوییم کو رستمست
✦
نه زو مردی و گوهر ما کمست
“'Henceforth we shall not declare that Rustam is supreme; our manhood and noble descent are in no way lesser than his!'”
#78
نه فرزند زالی مرا گفت نیز
✦
وگر هستی او خود نیرزد به چیز
“'He even said to me: You are no son of Zal; and even if you are, he himself is worth nothing!'”
#79
ازان مهتران شد دلم پر ز درد
✦
ز کابل براندم دو رخساره زرد
“'My heart grew heavy with grief because of those nobles, and I rode away from Kabul with a pale face.'”
#80
چو بشنید رستم برآشفت و گفت
✦
که هرگز نماند سخن در نهفت
“When Rustam heard this, he flew into rage and cried: 'No matter how hidden, the truth shall not remain concealed!'”
#81
ازو نیز مندیش وز لشکرش
✦
که مه لشکرش باد و مه افسرش
“Trouble yourself no more about him or his army; may he be left with neither host nor crown!”
#82
من او را بدین گفته بیجان کنم
✦
برو بر دل دوده پیچان کنم
“"I shall destroy his life with these deceptive words, and plunge the heart of his entire lineage into grief."”
#83
ترا برنشانم بر تخت اوی
✦
به خاک اندر آرم سر بخت اوی
“"I shall seat you upon his throne, and bring the crown of his good fortune down into the dust."”
#84
همی داشتش روز چند، ارجمند
✦
سپرده بدو جایگاه بلند
“He entertained him with high honor for a few days, entrusting to him an exalted place of prestige.”
#85
ز لشگر گزین کرد شایسته مرد
✦
کسی را که نامی بود در نبرد
“From his army he chose worthy men—warriors who were renowned in the arts of battle.”
#86
بفرمود تا ساز رفتن کنند
✦
ز زابل به کابل نشیمن کنند
“He commanded them to make ready for the march, and to move their abode from Zabol toward Kabul.”
#87
چو شد کار لشکر همه ساخته
✦
دل پهلوان گشت پرداخته
“When all the preparations for the host were made, the champion's heart was put at ease.”
#88
بیامد بر مرد جنگی شغاد
✦
که با شاه کابل مکن رزم یاد
“Shaghad came before the battle-proven hero and said: "Speak no more of waging war against the King of Kabul!"”
#89
که گر نام تو برنویسم بر آب
✦
به کابل نیابد کس آرام و خواب
“"For if I were merely to write your name upon the water, no person in Kabul would find peace or sleep."”
#90
که یارد که پیش تو آید به جنگ
✦
وگر تو بجنبی که سازد درنگ
“"Who would dare to stand before you in fight? And if you move against them, who could delay your advance?"”
#91
برآنم که او زین پشیمان شده‌ست
✦
وزین رفتنم سوی درمان شده‌ست
“"I believe he has truly repented of his deeds, and my journey here has turned him toward seeking a remedy."”
#92
بیارد کنون پیش خواهشگران
✦
ز کابل گزیده فراوان سران
“"He will now bring forward numerous chosen chieftains from Kabul to act as intercessors on his behalf."”
#93
چنین گفت رستم که اینست راه
✦
مرا خود به کابل نباید سپاه
“Rostam replied: "This indeed is the noble course; I myself have no need for a massive army against Kabul."”
#94
زواره بس و نامور صد سوار
✦
پیاده همان نیز صد نامدار
“"Zavareh is enough, along with a hundred renowned horsemen, and likewise a hundred famed foot-soldiers."”