#1
دبیر جهاندیده را پیش خواند
✦
بیاورد نزدیک گاهش نشاند
“He called the experienced scribe before him and seated him close by his royal throne.”
#2
یکی نامه بنوشت با داغ و درد
✦
دو دیده پر از خون و رخ لاژورد
“He wrote a letter filled with grief and pain, his eyes weeping blood and his face pale as lapis lazuli.”
#3
ز دارای داراب بن اردشیر
✦
سوی قیصر اسکندر شهرگیر
“From Dara, son of Darab, son of Ardashir, unto Caesar Alexander, the conqueror of realms.”
#4
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
✦
که زو دید نیک و بد روزگار
“First, he offered praise unto the Creator, from whom comes all good and ill of Fortune.”
#5
دگر گفت کز گردش آسمان
✦
خردمند برنگذرد بی‌گمان
“He added that no wise man can surely escape the revolving of the celestial sphere,”
#6
کزو شادمانیم و زو ناشکیب
✦
گهی در فراز و گهی در نشیب
“Whereby at times we rejoice and at times grow restless, now elevated on high and now cast low.”
#7
نه مردی بد این رزم ما با سپاه
✦
مگر بخشش و گردش هور و ماه
“This battle between our hosts was not born of sheer valor, but of the turn and grace of the sun and moon.”
#8
کنون بودنی بود و ما دل به درد
✦
چه داریم ازین گنبد لاژورد
“Now what was fated has come to pass and our hearts ache; what can we expect from this azure dome?”
#9
کنون گر بسازی و پیمان کنی
✦
دل از جنگ ایران پشیمان کنی
“If now you choose reconciliation and make a solemn pact, turning your heart away from war with Iran,”
#10
همه گنج گشتاسپ و اسفندیار
✦
همان یاره و تاج گوهرنگار
“All the ancient treasures of Goshtasp and Esfandiyar, along with armlets and jewel-encrusted crowns,”
#11
فرستم به گنج تو از گنج خویش
✦
همان نیز ورزیدهٔ رنج خویش
“I shall send from my treasury into yours, together with all that I have acquired through my own toil.”
#12
همان مر ترا یار باشم به جنگ
✦
به روز و شبانت نسازم درنگ
“Furthermore, I shall be your loyal ally in war, tarrying not by day or by night.”
#13
کسی را که داری ز پیوند من
✦
ز پوشیده‌رویان و فرزند من
“Whomever of my lineage you hold—my veiled noblewomen and my children—”
#14
بر من فرستی نباشد شگفت
✦
جهانجوی را کین نباید گرفت
“Send them back to me; it would be no marvel, for a world-conqueror should harbor no malice.”
#15
ز پوشیده‌رویان به جز سرزنش
✦
نباشد ز شاهان برتر منش
“For holding veiled women captive brings naught but reproach upon kings of high nobility.”
#16
چو نامه بخواند خداوند هوش
✦
بیاراید این رای پاسخ‌نیوش
“When the wise monarch reads this letter, he will adorn his counsel with a receptive response.”
#17
هیونی ز کرمان بیامد دوان
✦
به نزدیک اسکندر بدگمان
“A swift courier rode out from Kerman, racing towards mistrustful Alexander.”
#18
سکندر چو آن نامه برخواند گفت
✦
که با جان دارا خرد باد جفت
“When Alexander read the letter, he declared: 'May wisdom ever be paired with the soul of Dara!'”
#19
کسی کو گراید به پیوند اوی
✦
به پوشیده‌رویان و فرزند اوی
“Whoever dares to harm his lineage, his veiled women, or his children,”
#20
نبیند مگر تخته گور تخت
✦
گر آویخته سر ز شاخ درخت
“Shall see no throne save the wooden bier of the grave, or hang by his head from the branch of a tree!”
#21
همه به اصفهانند بی‌درد و رنج
✦
ازیشان مبادا که خواهیم گنج
“They are all in Isfahan without pain or grief; far be it from us to demand treasure because of them.”
#22
تو گر سوی ایران خرامی رواست
✦
همه پادشاهی سراسر تراست
“If you march back toward Iran, it is fitting; the whole realm is entirely yours.”
#23
ز فرمان تو یک زمان نگذریم
✦
نفس نیز بی‌راه تو نشمریم
“We shall not stray from your command for a single moment, nor count even a breath outside your path.”
#24
بکردار کشتی بیامد هیون
✦
دل و دیدهٔ تاجور پر ز خون
“Like a surging ship the courier returned, while the crowned king's heart and eyes were filled with blood.”