#1
به گازر چنین گفت روزی که من
✦
همی این نهان دارم از انجمن
“One day he said to the washerman: 'I keep this secret hidden from the assembly.'”
#2
نجنبد همی بر تو بر مهر من
✦
نماند به چهر تو هم چهر من
“'No affection for you stirs within me, nor does my countenance resemble yours.'”
#3
شگفت آیدم چون پسر خوانیم
✦
به دکان بر خویش بنشانیم
“'It fills me with wonder that you call me son, and seat me beside yourself at the shop.'”
#4
بدو گفت گازر که اینت سخن
✦
دریغ آن شده رنجهای کهن
“The washerman replied: 'What words are these? Alas for all my ancient toil gone to waste!'”
#5
تراگر منش زان من برتر است
✦
پدرجوی را راز با مادر است
“'If your nature is higher than mine, one who seeks his father must seek the secret from his mother.'”
#6
چنان بد که یک روز گازر برفت
✦
ز خانه سوی رود یازید تفت
“It so happened that one day the washerman left, making his way swiftly to the river.”
#7
در خانه را تنگ داراب بست
✦
بیامد به شمشیر یازید دست
“Darab securely barred the door of the house, drew his sword, and stepped forward.”
#8
به زن گفت کژی و تاری مجوی
✦
هرآنچت بپرسم سخن راست گوی
“He said to the woman: 'Seek no deceit or obscurity; whatever I ask of you, speak the truth.'”
#9
شما را که باشم به گوهر کیم
✦
به نزدیک گازر ز بهر چیم
“'Whose son am I, and of what origin? Why am I staying with this washerman?'”
#10
زن گازر از بیم زنهار خواست
✦
خداوند داننده را یار خواست
“Fearing for her life, the washerman's wife asked for mercy and called upon the all-knowing God for aid.”
#11
بدو گفت خون سر من مجوی
✦
بگویم ترا هرچ گفتی بگوی
“She said to him: 'Do not seek my life's blood; I shall tell you everything you have asked.'”
#12
سخنها یکایک بر و بر شمرد
✦
بکوشید وز کار کژی نبرد
“She recounted the matters one by one, striving to conceal nothing in deceit.”
#13
ز صندوق وز کودک شیرخوار
✦
ز دینار وز گوهر شاهوار
“She spoke of the chest, the suckling babe, the dinars, and the royal jewels.”
#14
بدو گفت ما دستکاران بدیم
✦
نه از تخمهٔ کامکاران بدیم
“She said: 'We were poor artisans, not of any noble or prosperous lineage.'”
#15
ازان تو داریم چیزی که هست
✦
ز پوشیدنی جامه و برنشست
“'Whatever we possess—clothing to wear and mounts to ride—comes from what was yours.'”
#16
پرستنده ماییم و فرمان تراست
✦
نگر تا چه باید تن و جان تراست
“'We are your servants and the command is yours; see what is needed, for our body and soul belong to you.'”
#17
چو بشنید داراب خیره بماند
✦
روان را به اندیشه اندر نشاند
“When Darab heard this, he was astonished, and immersed his soul in deep thought.”
#18
بدو گفت زین خواسته هیچ ماند
✦
وگر گازر آن را همه برفشاند
“He asked her: 'Is any of that wealth left, or did the washerman squander it all?'”
#19
که باشد بهای یکی بارگی
✦
بدین روز کندی و بیچارگی
“'Enough to pay for a steed in these days of helplessness and slowness?'”
#20
چنین داد پاسخ که بیش است ازین
✦
درخت برومند و باغ و زمین
“She answered: 'There is more than that—fruitful trees, a garden, and land.'”
#21
بدو داد دینار چندانک بود
✦
بماند آن گران گوهر نابسود
“She gave him whatever dinars remained, along with that precious, untouched gem.”
#22
به دینار اسپی خرید او پسند
✦
یکی کم‌بها زین و دیگر کمند
“With the dinars he bought a desirable horse, a simple saddle, and a lasso.”
#23
یکی مرزبان بود با سنگ و رای
✦
بزرگ و پسندیده و رهنمای
“There was a border warden, wise, prudent, great, esteemed, and a guiding leader.”
#24
خرامید داراب نزدیک اوی
✦
پراندیشه بد جان تاریک اوی
“Darab journeyed to him, his dark soul full of anxious thoughts.”
#25
همی داشتش مرزبان ارجمند
✦
ز گیتی نیامد بروبر گزند
“The border warden held him dear, and no harm from the world befell him there.”
#26
چنان بد که آمد سپاهی ز روم
✦
به غارت بران مرز آباد بوم
“It came to pass that a Roman army arrived to plunder that prosperous border land.”
#27
به رزم اندرون مرزبان کشته شد
✦
سر لشکرش زان سخن گشته شد
“In the battle, the border warden was slain, and his troops were thrown into disarray.”
#28
چو آگاهی آمد به نزد همای
✦
که رومی نهاد اندرین مرز پای
“When news reached Queen Humay that the Romans had set foot upon that realm,”
#29
یکی مرد بد نام او رشنواد
✦
سپهبد بد او هم سپهبدنژاد
“There was a famed warrior named Rashnawad, a general of noble general's lineage.”
#30
بفرمود تا برکشد سوی روم
✦
به شمشیر ویران کند روی بوم
“She commanded him to march toward Rome and devastate their land with the sword.”
#31
سپه گرد کرد آن زمان رشنواد
✦
عرض‌گاه بنهاد و روزی بداد
“Rashnawad gathered an army, set up a muster site, and distributed wages.”
#32
چو بشنید داراب شد شادکام
✦
به نزدیک او رفت و بنوشت نام
“When Darab heard this, he rejoiced, went to him, and had his name written in the rolls.”
#33
سپه چون فراوان شد از هر دری
✦
همی آمد از هر سوی لشکری
“As the host grew vast from every quarter, soldiers kept arriving from every direction.”
#34
بیامد ز کاخ همایون همای
✦
خود و مرزبانان پاکیزه‌رای
“Queen Humay came out from her blessed palace, accompanied by pure-minded lords,”
#35
بدان تا سپه پیش او بگذرند
✦
تن و نام و دیوانها بشمرند
“So that the army might pass before her, and their persons, names, and registers be counted.”
#36
همی بود چندی بران پهن دشت
✦
چو لشکر فراوان برو برگذشت
“She remained for a while on that wide plain as the vast host marched before her.”
#37
چو داراب را دید با فر و برز
✦
به گردن برآورده پولاد گرز
“When she beheld Darab with his royal splendor and stature, bearing a heavy steel mace on his shoulder,”
#38
تو گفتی همه دشت پهنای اوست
✦
زمین زیر پوینده بالای اوست
“You would say the entire plain was filled by his presence, and the earth shrank beneath his swift stride.”
#39
چو دید آن بر و چهرهٔ دلپذیر
✦
ز پستان مادر بپالود شیر
“When she saw that noble chest and captivating face, milk began to flow from the mother's breasts.”
#40
بپرسید و گفت این سوار از کجاست
✦
بدین شاخ و این برز و بالای راست
“She inquired and said: 'From where comes this horseman with such a limb, shoulder, and upright stature?'”
#41
نماید که این نامداری بود
✦
خردمند و جنگی سواری بود
“'He appears to be a famous man, a wise and warlike horseman.'”
#42
دلیر و سرافراز و کنداور است
✦
ولیکن سلیحش نه اندرخور است
“'He is brave, exalted, and mighty, yet his armor is not fitting for him.'”
#43
چو داراب را فرمند آمدش
✦
سپه را سراسر پسند آمدش
“As Darab appeared so splendid to her, she approved of the army in its entirety.”
#44
ز اختر یکی روزگاری گزید
✦
ز بهر سپهبد چنان چون سزید
“From the stars she chose an auspicious day for the commander, as was fitting.”
#45
چو جنگ‌آوران را یکی گشت رای
✦
ببردند لشکر ز پیش همای
“When the warriors became united in purpose, they led the army forth from before Queen Humay.”
#46
فرستاد بیدار کارآگهان
✦
بدان تا نماند سخن در نهان
“He sent forth watchful and vigilant scouts into the field, so that no hidden counsel or secret matter might remain concealed.”
#47
ز نیک و بد لشکر آگاه بود
✦
ز بدها گمانیش کوتاه بود
“He remained ever aware of both the good and ill within his host, keeping dark suspicions far removed from his mind.”
#48
همی رفت منزل به منزل سپاه
✦
زمین پر سپاه آسمان پر ز ماه
“Stage by stage the army advanced upon its march; the earth was thronged with troops, as the sky with glowing moons.”