When the envoy returned to Alexander with news, the world-conqueror bade him ride back to King Kayd of India with swift haste to inquire deeper into the true nature of the four wonders that no ruler on earth had ever possessed. Like flying fire, the messenger traversed the miles and stood before Kayd. The Indian king cleared his hall of strangers, welcomed the emissary with high honors, and sat beside his sage counselor to reveal the mystery. Kayd spoke of his four hidden treasures: first, a daughter of such radiant, sun-obscuring beauty and pure virtue that her pitch-black locks and sweet speech leave sages spellbound, yet her heart remains bound to modesty and divine worship. Second, a wondrous goblet that, whether filled with wine or crystal water, never diminishes by a single drop even if a monarch and his companions drink from it for ten full years. Third, a youth of unmatched medical skill who can diagnose any hidden ailment merely by examining a tear, guarding the sovereign from all pain. And fourth, a deep philosopher who reads the turning sun, the glowing moon, and foretells all future events in the realm. Upon hearing the envoy’s report, Alexander's heart blossomed like a rose. Declaring that these four wonders were worth the ransom of the entire world, he promised that if Kayd delivered them to his court, he would spare India from conquest and turn his armies back toward home.
#1
فرستاده آمد به کردار باد
✦
بگفت آنچ بشنید و نامه بداد
“The messenger arrived like the rushing wind, delivered the letter, and recounted all he had heard.”
#2
سکندر فرستاده را گفت رو
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به نزدیک آن نامور بازشو
“Alexander said to the messenger: 'Go once more to that renowned king.'”
#3
بگویش که آن چیست کاندر جهان
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کسی را نبود آشکار و نهان
“'Ask him to explain what those four things are in the world that no man has ever possessed, in secret or in public.'”
#4
بدیدند خود بودنی هرچ بود
✦
سپهر آفرینش نخواهد فزود
“'Whatever was destined to be has been seen, for the sphere of creation shall add no more.'”
#5
بیامد فرستاده را نزد شاه
✦
به کردار آتش بپیمود راه
“The envoy went to the king, traversing the path swift as fire.”
#6
چنین گفت با کید کاین چار چیز
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که کس را به گیتی نبودست نیز
“He said to Kayd: 'Regarding these four treasures, the likes of which none in the world has ever known,'”
#7
همی شاه خواهد که داند که چیست
✦
که نادیدنی پاک نابود نیست
“'The King desires to know their nature, for that which is unseen is not necessarily nonexistent.'”
#8
چو بشنید کید آن ز بیگانه جای
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بپردخت و بنشست با رهنمای
“When Kayd heard this from the foreign messenger, he cleared the hall and sat with his wise counselor.”
#9
فرستاده را پیش بنشاختند
✦
ز هر در فراوانش بنواختند
“They seated the envoy before them and bestowed upon him abundant honors in every way.”
#10
ازان پس فرستاده را شاه گفت
✦
که من دختری دارم اندر نهفت
“Then the king said to the envoy: 'I keep a daughter in hidden privacy,'”
#11
که گر بیندش آفتاب بلند
✦
شود تیره از روی آن ارجمند
“'If the bright sun were to behold her, it would grow dark before her glorious face.'”
#12
کمندست گیسوش همرنگ قیر
✦
همی آید از دو لبش بوی شیر
“'Her tresses are pitch-black lassos, and from her lips wafts the sweet scent of milk.'”
#13
خم آرد ز بالای او سرو بن
✦
گلفشان شود چو سراید سخن
“'The cypress bends before her stature, and roses scatter whenever she begins to speak.'”
#14
ز دیدار و چهرش سخن بگذرد
✦
همی داستان را خرد پرورد
“'Her countenance surpasses all description; wisdom itself nurtures her story.'”
#15
چو خامش بود جان شرمست و بس
✦
چنو در زمانه ندیدست کس
“'When silent, she is the very soul of modesty; none like her has ever been seen in this age.'”
#16
سپهبد نژادست و یزدان‌پرست
✦
دل شرم و پرهیز دارد به دست
“'She is of noble, warlike stock, a worshiper of God, who holds modesty and restraint in her hands.'”
#17
دگر جام دارم که پر می‌کنی
✦
وگر آب سر اندرو افگنی
“'Secondly, I possess a goblet; if you fill it with wine, or pour cold water inside it,'”
#18
به ده سال اگر با ندیمان به هم
✦
نشیند نگردد می از جام کم
“'Even if one sits with boon companions for ten years, the wine inside the cup shall never lessen.'”
#19
همت می دهد جام هم آب سرد
✦
شگفت آنک کمی نگیرد ز خورد
“'It gives both wine and cold water, and marvelously never decreases by drinking.'”
#20
سوم آنک دارم یکی نو پزشک
✦
که علت بگوید چو بیند سرشک
“'Thirdly, I possess a young physician who discovers any ailment merely by examining a tear drop.'”
#21
اگر باشد او سالیان پیش گاه
✦
ز دردی نپیچد جهاندار شاه
“'If he stays before the throne for years, the world-ruling monarch will never suffer from pain.'”
#22
چهارم نهان دارم از انجمن
✦
یکی فیلسوفست نزدیک من
“'Fourthly, I keep hidden from the assembly a wise philosopher near to me.'”
#23
همه بودنیها بگوید به شاه
✦
ز گردنده خورشید و رخشنده ماه
“'He foretells to the King all future events, of the revolving sun and the shining moon.'”
#24
فرستادهٔ نامور بازگشت
✦
پی باره با باد انباز گشت
“The renowned envoy returned, his steed's tracks keeping pace with the wind.”
#25
بیامد چو پیش سکندر بگفت
✦
دل شاه گیتی چو گل بر شگفت
“When he came before Alexander and spoke, the King's heart blossomed like a rose.”
#26
بدو گفت اگر باشد این گفته راست
✦
بدین چار چیز او جهان را بهاست
“He said: 'If this report be true, these four treasures are the worth of the entire world!'”
#27
چو اینها فرستد به نزدیک من
✦
درخشان شود جان تاریک من
“'When he sends these to me, my dark soul shall become radiant and bright.'”
#28
بر و بوم او را نکوبم به پای
✦
برین نیکویی باز گردم به جای
“'I shall not trample his land underfoot, and for the sake of these virtues, I will return to my realm.'”