Upon the passing of King Philip in the realm of Rome, young Sekandar ascended his ancestor's throne, donning the crown of empire. He sought only goodness and bound the hands of tyranny. In those days, Aristotle, a sage of radiant mind and unmatched renown, stepped before the throne to offer immortal counsel. He reminded the young ruler of the fleeting nature of earthly power, warning him never to abandon guidance out of hubris, for all mortals are born of dust and unto dust they shall return. He urged the king to seek only virtue and justice, for good deeds alone endure. Sekandar received these words with reverence, placing Aristotle in high honor and making wisdom the compass of his reign.
Soon after, an eloquent and high-born envoy arrived from King Dara of Iran to demand the ancient tribute. Sekandar bristled with indignation at the demand and issued a fierce reply: 'Return to Dara and tell him that the bird which laid golden eggs has died, and the very head of tribute is now worthless!' Terrified by this response, the messenger fled the borders of Rome. Sekandar then summoned his host, spoke of the destiny that called him to traverse the world, and opened the ancient treasuries of his forefathers. At dawn, under a grand banner emblazoned with the Homa bird and the mark of the Cross, his armies marched forth.
Descending upon Egypt, the Roman host locked in violent combat with the Egyptian defenders for seven straight days. On the eighth day, the lines of Egypt broke, and Sekandar trapped their fleeing forces. He seized spoils beyond measure—golden belts, jewel-encrusted harnesses, Indian blades in gilded sheaths, fine silks, and vast stores of dinars—while the Egyptian chieftains submitted seeking quarter. Flushed with victory, Sekandar turned his gaze toward Iran, arming himself with the heart of a lion.
When news reached King Dara that the armies of Rome had crossed into his realm, he raised an immense host from Istakhr and Pars. So vast was his army that their upraised spears blocked the very wind. Dara led his legions to the banks of the Euphrates, encamping along the river's edge in such numbers that the glint of their steel armor eclipsed the churning waters below.
#1
بمرد اندران چند گه فیلقوس
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به روم اندرون بود یک‌چند بوس
“After some time, Philip passed away, while in Rome there was a period of grief and quiet.”
#2
سکندر به تخت نیا برنشست
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بهی جست و دست بدی را ببست
“Sekandar ascended the throne of his ancestor; he sought goodness and bound the hands of evil.”
#3
یکی نامداری بد آنگه به روم
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کزو شاد بد آن همه مرز و بوم
“There was a renowned man in Rome at that time, through whom that entire realm was filled with joy.”
#4
حکیمی که بد ارسطالیس نام
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خردمند و بیدار و گسترده کام
“A philosopher named Aristotle, wise, vigilant, and famed for his great mind.”
#5
به پیش سکندر شد آن پاک‌رای
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زبان کرد گویا و بگرفت جای
“That pure-minded sage came before Sekandar, took his place, and began to speak.”
#6
بدو گفت کای مهتر شادکام
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همی گم کنی اندرین کار نام
“He said to him, 'O prosperous ruler! Take care lest you lose your good name in these pursuits.'”
#7
که تخت کیان چون تو بسیار دید
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نخواهد همی با کسی آرمید
“'For the crown of kings has seen many like you, and it will never remain forever with anyone.'”
#8
هرانگه که گویی رسیدم به جای
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نباید به گیتی مرا رهنمای
“'Whenever you say, "I have reached the summit and need no guide in this world"...'”
#9
چنان دان که نادان‌ترین کس توی
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اگر پند دانندگان نشنوی
“'...Know that you are the most ignorant of men if you refuse to hear the advice of the wise.'”
#10
ز خاکیم و هم خاک را زاده‌ایم
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به بیچارگی دل بدو داده‌ایم
“'We are from dust and born of the earth; in helplessness we have given our hearts to it.'”
#11
اگر نیک باشی بماندت نام
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به تخت کیی‌بر بوی شادکام
“'If you are righteous, your name shall endure, and you will rest joyful upon the imperial throne.'”
#12
وگر بد کنی جز بدی ندروی
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شبی در جهان شادمان نغنوی
“'And if you commit evil, you shall reap naught but evil, nor sleep a single joyful night in this world.'”
#13
به نیکی بود شاه را دست‌رس
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به بد روز گیتی نجستست کس
“'A king has power to achieve goodness; no one has ever gained true success through evil days.'”
#14
سکندر شنید این پسند آمدش
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سخن‌گوی را فرمند آمدش
“Sekandar listened and approved of these words; he found the speaker majestic and worthy.”
#15
به فرمان او کرد کاری که کرد
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ز بزم و ز رزم و ز ننگ و نبرد
“According to his counsel he executed all his deeds—whether in feasts, wars, honor, or battles.”
#16
به نو هر زمانیش بنواختی
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چو رفتی بر تخت بنشاختی
“He continually honored him anew, and whenever Aristotle arrived, he welcomed him to the throne.”
#17
چنان بد که روزی فرستاده‌ای
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سخن‌گو و روشن‌دل آزاده‌ای
“It so happened that one day an envoy arrived, an eloquent, radiant-hearted, noble messenger.”
#18
ز نزدیک دارا بیامد به روم
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کجا باژ خواهد ز آباد بوم
“He came to Rome from King Dara, demanding the tribute from that prosperous land.”
#19
به پیش سکندر بگفت آن سخن
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غمی شد سکندر ز باژ کهن
“He spoke those words before Sekandar; Sekandar grew grieved and angered by this ancient tribute.”
#20
بدو گفت رو پیش دارا بگوی
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که از باژ ما شد کنون رنگ و بوی
“He said to him, 'Go back and say to Dara: "Our tribute has now lost its color and scent!"'”
#21
که مرغی که زرین همی خایه کرد
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به مرد و سر باژ بی‌مایه کرد
“'"For the bird that used to lay golden eggs has died, and made the matter of tribute worthless!"'”
#22
فرستاده پاسخ بدان سان شنید
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بترسید وز روم شد ناپدید
“When the envoy heard such an answer, he was terrified and vanished from Rome.”
#23
سکندر سپه را سراسر بخواند
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گذشته سخن پیش ایشان براند
“Sekandar summoned all his army and recounted to them what had transpired.”
#24
چنین گفت کز گردش آسمان
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نیابد گذر مرد نیکی‌گمان
“He said, 'From the turns of the heavens, even a well-meaning man cannot escape destiny.'”
#25
مرا روی گیتی بباید سپرد
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بد و نیک چندی بباید شمرد
“'I must traverse the face of the earth and experience its share of good and evil.'”
#26
شما را بباید کنون ساختن
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دل از بوم و آرام پرداختن
“'You must now prepare yourselves, and detach your hearts from home and rest.'”
#27
سر گنجهای نیا باز کرد
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بفرمود تا لشکرش ساز کرد
“He opened the treasuries of his ancestors and ordered his army to equip themselves.”
#28
به شبگیر برخاست از روم غو
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ز شهر و ز درگاه سالار نو
“At dawn, a roar arose from Rome, from the city and the court of the new ruler.”
#29
برون آمد آن نامور شهریار
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بره‌بر چنان لشکر نامدار
“That renowned monarch marched forth, leading a famed and mighty host upon the road.”
#30
درفشی پس پشت سالار روم
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نوشته برو سرخ و پیروزه بوم
“Behind the ruler of Rome floated a banner, inscribed upon red and turquoise fabric.”
#31
همای از برو خیزرانش قضیب
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نوشته بر او بر محب صلیب
“A Homa bird adorned it, its shaft made of cane, and inscribed upon it was the love of the Cross.”
#32
به مصر آمد از روم چندان سپاه
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که بستند بر مور و بر پشه راه
“So vast an army came from Rome to Egypt that they blocked the path of ants and flies.”
#33
دو لشکر به روی اندر آورده روی
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ببودند یک هفته پرخاشجوی
“The two armies faced one another and clashed furiously for a whole week.”
#34
به هشتم به مصر اندر آمد شکست
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سکندر سر راه ایشان ببست
“On the eighth day, defeat befell Egypt, and Sekandar blocked their lines of retreat.”
#35
ز یک راه چندان گرفتار شد
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که گیرنده را دست بیکار شد
“Along one path so many were captured that the captors' hands grew exhausted.”
#36
ز گوپال و از اسپ و برگستوان
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ز خفتان وز خنجر هندوان
“Of maces, horses, bards, armor, and Indian daggers, immense spoils were seized.”
#37
کمرهای زرین و زرین ستام
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همان تیغ هندی به زرین نیام
“Golden belts, golden harnesses, and Indian swords in golden sheaths.”
#38
ز دیبا و دینار چندان بیافت
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که از خواسته بارگی برنتافت
“He gained so much silk and gold coin that the pack-beasts could scarcely carry the wealth.”
#39
بسی زینهاری بیامد سوار
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بزرگان جنگاور و نامدار
“Many mounted warriors, famous and noble chieftains, came seeking quarter and mercy.”
#40
وزان جایگه ساز ایران گرفت
✦
دل شیر و چنگ دلیران گرفت
“From that place he prepared for Iran, adopting the heart of a lion and the claws of the brave.”
#41
چو بشنید دارا که لشکر ز روم
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بجنبید و آمد برین مرز و بوم
“When Dara heard that the army from Rome had moved and arrived upon these borders...”
#42
برفتند ز اصطخر چندان سپاه
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که از نیزه بر باد بستند راه
“So many troops marched from Istakhr that their spears blocked the very path of the wind.”
#43
همی داشت از پارس آهنگ روم
✦
کز ایران گذارد به آباد بوم
“From Pars he directed his march toward the Romans, to drive them out of Iran back to their lands.”
#44
چو آورد لشکر به پیش فرات
✦
سپه را عدد بود بیش از نبات
“When he brought his army before the Euphrates, his forces outnumbered the plants of the earth.”
#45
به گرد لب آب لشکر کشید
✦
ز جوشن کسی آب دریا ندید
“He encamped his hosts along the riverbank; through the glint of their chainmail, none could see the water.”