Upon the passing of Ardashir due to illness, the crown and throne of the Kianians were not left vacant, for Queen Homay Chehrzad ascended the royal seat, inaugurating a new era of righteousness and bounty. Opening the imperial treasuries, she bestowed wealth upon the army and the destitute, revitalizing the realm through unyielding justice. Yet, as the time of her childbirth drew near, the allure of sovereignty held fast upon her heart, and she sought to keep the birth of her son a secret from both the nobles and the populace. She entrusted the infant to a virtuous wet-nurse in secrecy, while announcing to the realm that the child had perished.
When eight months had passed, the child began to bear a striking resemblance to the departed king. Fearful of losing her realm, Homay commanded skilled carpenters to fashion a small chest of dry wood, coated on the outside with pitch, musk, and wax. The interior was lined with fine Roman silk and prepared as a soft bed, filled with sparkling pearls, red gold, rubies, and emeralds, with royal gems bound to the infant's arm. As the child lay deep in slumber, the nurse gently placed him inside, and the lid was sealed fast with amber, pitch, and musk.
Under the cover of midnight, two trusted messengers cast the chest into the rushing waters of the Euphrates, following along the riverbank in secret to watch over its fate. As dawn broke over the mountains, the chest floated down the stream until it lodged near a riverbank workshop where a washerman was at work. Seeing the strange vessel, the washerman pulled it from the waters. Upon opening the silks inside, he was astonished to behold a radiant infant surrounded by unimaginable treasures. Filled with joy, he wrapped the child and rushed home, while the queen’s hidden observer sped back to report the discovery to Homay, who commanded absolute secrecy.
#1
به بیماری اندر بمرد اردشیر
✦
همی بود بی‌کار تاج و سریر
“Ardashir passed away from illness, leaving the crown and throne vacant.”
#2
همای آمد و تاج بر سر نهاد
✦
یکی راه و آیین دیگر نهاد
“Homay came forth and placed the crown upon her head, establishing a new order and royal custom.”
#3
سپه را همه سربسر بار داد
✦
در گنج بگشاد و دینار داد
“She granted audience to the entire army, opened the doors of the treasury, and distributed golden coins.”
#4
به رای و به داد از پدر برگذشت
✦
همی گیتی از دادش آباد گشت
“In wisdom and justice, she surpassed her father, and the world flourished through her fairness.”
#5
نخستین که دیهیم بر سر نهاد
✦
جهان را به داد و دهش مژده داد
“When she first placed the diadem upon her head, she gave the world glad tidings of justice and generosity.”
#6
که این تاج و این تخت فرخنده باد
✦
دل بدسگالان ما کنده باد
“She declared: 'May this crown and throne be blessed, and may the hearts of our ill-wishers be torn out!'”
#7
همه نیکویی باد کردار ما
✦
مبیناد کس رنج و تیمار ما
“'May all our deeds be righteous, and may no person behold suffering or sorrow.'”
#8
توانگر کنیم آنک درویش بود
✦
نیازش به رنج تن خویش بود
“'We shall enrich whosoever was impoverished and forced to endure physical toil for their needs.'”
#9
مهان جهان را که دارند گنج
✦
نداریم زان نیکویها به رنج
“'And as for the great ones of the world who possess treasuries, we shall not cause them anguish despite their wealth.'”
#10
چو هنگام زادنش آمد فراز
✦
ز شهر و ز لشکر همی داشت راز
“When the time of her childbirth drew near, she kept her condition secret from both city and army.”
#11
همی تخت شاهی پسند آمدش
✦
جهان داشتن سودمند آمدش
“For the royal throne appealed to her heart, and holding power over the world seemed sweet to her.”
#12
نهانی پسر زاد و با کس نگفت
✦
همی داشت آن نیکویی در نهفت
“In secret she gave birth to a son and told no one, keeping that good fortune hidden away.”
#13
بیاورد آزاده‌تن دایه را
✦
یکی پاک پرشرم و بامایه را
“She brought forth a noble wet-nurse, a pure, modest, and esteemed woman.”
#14
نهانی بدو داد فرزند را
✦
چنان شاه شاخ برومند را
“In secret she entrusted her offspring to her—such a magnificent child of royal lineage.”
#15
کسی کو ز فرزند او نام برد
✦
چنین گفت کان پاک‌زاده بمرد
“Whenever anyone spoke of her child, she said that the pure-born infant had died.”
#16
همان تاج شاهی به سر بر نهاد
✦
همی بود بر تخت پیروز و شاد
“She placed the royal crown upon her head once more, reigning upon the throne victorious and joyful.”
#17
ز دشمن بهر سو که بد مهتری
✦
فرستاد بر هر سوی لشکری
“Wherever an enemy commander gathered power, she dispatched armies to every quarter.”
#18
ز چیزی که رفتی به گرد جهان
✦
نبودی بد و نیک ازو در نهان
“Of whatever transpired across the face of the world, neither good nor ill remained hidden from her.”
#19
به گیتی به جز داد و نیکی نخواست
✦
جهان را سراسر همی داشت راست
“She desired naught but justice and goodness in the world, holding the entire realm in balance and truth.”
#20
جهانی شده ایمن از داد او
✦
به کشور نبودی به جز یاد او
“The world grew secure under her justice, and throughout the land, only her name was remembered.”
#21
بدین سان همی بود تا هشت ماه
✦
پسر گشت مانندهٔ رفته شاه
“Thus eight months passed, until the boy came to resemble the departed king.”
#22
بفرمود تا درگری پاک‌مغز
✦
یکی تخته جست از در کار نغز
“She commanded a wise and skillful carpenter to seek out a fine piece of wood for a delicate task.”
#23
یکی خرد صندوق از چوب خشک
✦
بکردند و برزد برو قیر و مشک
“They crafted a small chest from dry wood, smearing it with pitch and musk.”
#24
درون نرم کرده به دیبای روم
✦
براندوده بیرون او مشک و موم
“Inside, they cushioned it softly with Roman silk, and outside they coated it with musk and wax.”
#25
به زیر اندرش بستر خواب کرد
✦
میانش پر از در خوشاب کرد
“Beneath him, they laid a soft sleeping bed, filling its center with precious luster pearls.”
#26
بسی زر سرخ اندرو ریخته
✦
عقیق و زبرجد برآمیخته
“They poured abundant red gold within, mixing in ruby and chrysolite gems.”
#27
ببستند بس گوهر شاهوار
✦
به بازوی آن کودک شیرخوار
“They bound many royal jewels unto the arm of that suckling child.”
#28
بدانگه که شد کودک از خواب مست
✦
خروشان بشد دایهٔ چرب دست
“When the infant fell into deep sleep, the deft wet-nurse wept aloud.”
#29
نهادش به صندوق در نرم نرم
✦
به چینی پرندش بپوشید گرم
“Gently she placed him inside the chest, wrapping him warmly in Chinese silk.”
#30
سر تنگ تابوت کردند خشک
✦
به دبق و به عنبر به قیر و به مشک
“They sealed the narrow top of the chest tight with glue, amber, pitch, and musk.”
#31
ببردند صندوق را نیم شب
✦
یکی بر دگر نیز نگشاد لب
“At midnight they carried the chest away, not one of them uttering a word to another.”
#32
ز پیش همایش برون تاختند
✦
به آب فرات اندر انداختند
“Rushing out from Homay's presence, they cast the chest into the waters of the Euphrates.”
#33
پس‌اندر همی رفت پویان دو مرد
✦
که تا آب با شیرخواره چه کرد
“Two men ran behind along the bank to see what the waters would do with the suckling babe.”
#34
چو کشتی همی رفت چوب اندر آب
✦
نگهبان آنرا گرفته شتاب
“The wooden chest moved through the water like a ship, while the watcher hurried alongside.”
#35
سپیده چو برزد سر از کوهسار
✦
بگردید صندوق بر رودبار
“As dawn raised its head above the mountains, the chest drifted along the riverbank.”
#36
به گازرگهی کاندرو بود سنگ
✦
سر جوی را کارگه کرده تنگ
“At a laundry site where stones lay, where the channel had been narrowed for washing work,”
#37
یکی گازر آن خرد صندوق دید
✦
بپویید وز کارگه برکشید
“A washerman spotted the small chest; he hurried and pulled it out from the work site.”
#38
چو بگشاد گسترده‌ها برگرفت
✦
بماند اندران کار گازر شگفت
“When he opened the wrappings and lifted them, the washerman stood marveling at the sight.”
#39
به جامه بپوشید و آمد دمان
✦
پرامید و شادان و روشن‌روان
“He covered the child with clothes and hurried away, filled with hope, joyful and bright of spirit.”
#40
سبک دیده‌بان پیش مامش دوید
✦
ز صندوق و گازر بگفت آنچ دید
“The swift observer ran quickly before Homay and recounted all he had seen of the chest and washerman.”
#41
جهاندار پیروز با دیده گفت
✦
که چیزی که دیدی بباید نهفت
“The victorious ruler told the observer: 'That which you have witnessed must remain hidden!'”