#1
چنان بد که روزی یکی تندباد
✦
برآمد غمی گشت زان رشنواد
“It so befell that one day a tempest arose, filling Rashnavad with trouble and care.”
#2
یکی رعد و باران با برق و جوش
✦
زمین پر ز آب آسمان پرخروش
“Thunder rolled and rain poured with lightning and fury; the earth turned to water, and the heavens roared.”
#3
به هر سو ز باران همی تاختند
✦
به دشت اندرون خیمه‌ها ساختند
“Driven by the pouring rain, they fled in all directions and pitched their tents across the plain.”
#4
غمی بود زان کار داراب نیز
✦
ز باران همی جست راه گریز
“Young Darab too was troubled by the tempest, seeking a way to escape the heavy rain.”
#5
نگه کرد ویران یکی جای دید
✦
میانش یکی طاق بر پای دید
“He looked around and saw a ruined place, within which stood an ancient vaulted arch.”
#6
بلند و کهن بود و آزرده بود
✦
یکی خسروی جای پر پرده بود
“High and ancient it was, weathered and worn—once a royal palace adorned with fine drapes.”
#7
نه خرگاه بودش نه پرده‌سرای
✦
نه خیمه نه انباز و نه چارپای
“He possessed no royal tent, no pavilion, no companion, nor any beast of burden.”
#8
بران طاق آزرده بایست خفت
✦
چو تنها تنی بود بی‌یار و جفت
“Beneath that crumbling arch he was forced to sleep, for he was a solitary traveler without friend or mate.”
#9
سپهبد همی گرد لشکر بگشت
✦
بران طاق آزرده اندر گذشت
“The general Rashnavad rode around the army's encampment and passed near that battered arch.”
#10
ز ویران خروشی به گوش آمدش
✦
کزان سهم جای خروش آمدش
“From out of the ruins a voice echoed in his ears, a mysterious shout from that eerie, fearful place.”
#11
که ای طاق آزرده هشیار باش
✦
برین شاه ایران نگهدار باش
“Crying: 'O crumbling arch, stay alert! Protect and safeguard this future King of Iran!'”
#12
نبودش یکی خیمه و یار و جفت
✦
بیامد به زیر تو اندر بخفت
“'He had no tent, no comrade, nor mate; he came and lay down to sleep beneath thee!'”
#13
چنین گفت با خویشتن رشنواد
✦
که این بانگ رعدست گر تندباد
“Rashnavad said within his heart: 'Is this the sound of rolling thunder or the howling tempest?'”
#14
دگر باره آمد ز ایوان خروش
✦
که ای طاق چشم خرد را مپوش
“A second time a shout echoed from the vault: 'O arch, blind not the eye of wisdom!'”
#15
که در تست فرزند شاه اردشیر
✦
ز باران مترس این سخن یادگیر
“'For within thee rests the child of King Ardashir; fear not the rain, and mark these words!'”
#16
سیم بار آوازش آمد به گوش
✦
شگفتی دلش تنگ شد زان خروش
“A third time the mysterious voice rang out, and in wonder and dread Rashnavad's heart grew constricted.”
#17
به فرزانه گفت این چه شاید بدن
✦
یکی را سوی طاق باید شدن
“He said to a wise counselor: 'What can this mystery mean? Someone must go at once to the arch!'”
#18
ببینید تا اندرو خفته کیست
✦
چنین بر تن خود برآشفته کیست
“'Go and see who lies sleeping within, and who is this soul sleeping so distressfully!'”
#19
برفتند و دیدند مردی جوان
✦
خردمند و با چهرهٔ پهلوان
“They went and beheld a young man, wise in demeanor and bearing the face of a true hero.”
#20
همه جامه و باره تر و تباه
✦
ز خاک سیه ساخته جایگاه
“His garments and steed were soaked and ruined, and he had made his resting place upon the black earth.”
#21
به پیش سپهبد بگفت آنچ دید
✦
دل پهلوان زان سخن بردمید
“They returned and reported all they had seen to the general, and Rashnavad's heart throbbed with wonder.”
#22
بفرمود کو را بخوانید زود
✦
خروشی برین سان که یارد شنود
“He ordered: 'Call him forth at once! Who could ignore a divine voice echoing like this?'”
#23
برفتند و گفتند کای خفته مرد
✦
ازین خواب برخیز و بیدار گرد
“They went and called out: 'O sleeping warrior, arise from this slumber and wake!'”
#24
چو دارا به اسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
شکسته رواق اندر آمد ز جای
“As soon as Darab placed his foot upon his horse's stirrup, the fractured vault collapsed to the earth!”
#25
چو سالار شاه آن شگفتی بدید
✦
سرو پای داراب را بنگرید
“When the king's commander beheld this marvel, he gazed in awe upon Darab from head to foot.”
#26
چنین گفت کاینت شگفتی شگفت
✦
کزین برتر اندیشه نتوان گرفت
“He exclaimed: 'This is marvel upon marvel! No mind could conceive a wondrous event beyond this!'”
#27
بشد تیز با او به پرده‌سرای
✦
همی گفت کای دادگر یک خدای
“He hastily led Darab to his royal tent, praying: 'O just and single God!'”
#28
کسی در جهان این شگفتی ندید
✦
نه از کار دیده بزرگان شنید
“'No man in all the world hath witnessed such a wonder, nor heard the like from wise elders of old!'”
#29
بفرمود تا جامه‌ها خواستند
✦
به خرگاه جایی بیاراستند
“He ordered fine robes to be brought and prepared a fitting place within the pavilion.”
#30
به کردار کوه آتشی برفروخت
✦
بسی عود و با مشک و عنبر بسوخت
“He kindled a fire like a mountain to warm him, burning abundant aloeswood, musk, and ambergris.”
#31
چو خورشید سر برزد از کوهسار
✦
سپهبد برفتن بر آراست کار
“When the sun reared its head above the mountain crests, the general prepared the army to march.”
#32
بفرمود تا موبدی رهنمای
✦
یکی دست جامه ز سر تا به پای
“He commanded a guiding priest to bring a full set of noble garments from head to toe.”
#33
یکی اسپ با زین و زرین ستام
✦
کمندی و تیغی به زرین نیام
“Along with a steed bearing a golden bridle and saddle, a lasso, and a sword in a golden scabbard.”
#34
به داراب دادند و پرسید زوی
✦
که ای شیردل مهتر نامجوی
“These were given to Darab, and Rashnavad asked him: 'O lion-hearted, noble seeker of renown,'”
#35
چو مردی تو و زادبومت کجاست
✦
سزد گر بگویی همه راه راست
“'What manner of man art thou, and where is thy homeland? Speak the truth unto me in all things!'”
#36
چو بشنید داراب یکسر بگفت
✦
گذشته همی برگشاد از نهفت
“When Darab heard this, he related everything in full, revealing all his past secrets.”
#37
بران سان که آن زن برو کرد یاد
✦
سخنها همی گفت با رشنواد
“Exactly as the washerman's wife had recounted to him, he spoke the tale to Rashnavad—”
#38
ز صندوق و یاقوت و بازوی خویش
✦
ز دینار و دیبا به پهلوی خویش
“Telling of the wooden chest, the ruby jewel, the armlet bound upon his arm, the dinars, and the royal brocade laid by his side.”
#39
یکایک به سالار لشکر بگفت
✦
ز خواب و ز آرام و خورد و نهفت
“One by one he recounted all to the commander of the host—his life, upbringing, and hidden origins.”
#40
هم‌انگه فرستاد کس رشنواد
✦
فرستاده را گفت بر سان باد
“Immediately Rashnavad dispatched a swift courier, saying to the messenger, 'Fly like the wind!'”
#41
زن گازر و گازر و مهره را
✦
بیارید بهرام و هم زهره را
“'Bring back the washerman, his wife, and the ruby gem, along with Bahram and Zuhrah!'”