#1
بفرمود تا رفت پیشش پزشک
✦
که علت بگفتی چو دیدی سرشک
“He commanded that the physician be brought before him, so that upon observing his tears he might diagnose the affliction.”
#2
سر دردمندی بدو گفت چیست
✦
که بر درد زان پس بباید گریست
“He asked him, 'What is the root of a suffering body, over which one must thereafter weep in pain?'”
#3
بدو گفت هر کس که افزون خورد
✦
چو بر خوان نشیند خورش ننگرد
“The physician replied, 'Whoever eats to excess will turn away in disgust when sitting at the feast table.'”
#4
نباشد فراوان خورش تن درست
✦
بزرگ آنک او تن درستی بجست
“'A body filled with abundant food cannot remain healthy; great is he who seeks true physical health.'”
#5
بیامیزم اکنون ترا دارویی
✦
گیاها فراز آرم از هر سویی
“'I shall now concoct a remedy for you, gathering herbs from every side and mountain peak.'”
#6
که همواره باشی تو زان تن درست
✦
نباید به دارو ترا دست شست
“'So that you may always remain bodily sound, never having to wash your hands of health for lack of cure.'”
#7
همان آرزوها بیفزایدت
✦
چو افزون خوری چیز نگزایدت
“'It will heighten your natural desires, yet no matter how much you feast, nothing shall harm you.'”
#8
همان یاد داری سخنهای نغز
✦
بیفزاید اندر تنت خون و مغز
“'It will keep your memory sharp for eloquent words, and increase the blood and marrow within your body.'”
#9
شوی بر تن خویشتن کامگار
✦
دلت شاد گردد چو خرم بهار
“'You shall become sovereign over your own frame, and your heart will blossom glad as the vibrant spring.'”
#10
همان رنگ چهرت به جای آورد
✦
به هر کار پاکیزه رای آورد
“'It will restore the glowing color of your countenance, and bring pure, clear judgment to your every endeavor.'”
#11
نگردد پراگنده مویت سپید
✦
ز گیتی سپیدی کند ناامید
“'Your dark hair shall not turn scattered white, saving you from the despair of aging in this world.'”
#12
سکندر بدو گفت نشنیده‌ام
✦
نه کس را ز شاهان چنین دیده‌ام
“Sikandar said to him, 'I have never heard of such medicine, nor seen any among the kings possess it.'”
#13
گر آری تو این نغز دارو به جای
✦
تو باشی به گیتی مرا رهنمای
“'If you can bring forth this wondrous cure, you shall be my guiding light in all the world.'”
#14
خریدار گردم ترا من به جان
✦
شوی بی‌گزند از بد بدگمان
“'I shall cherish you with my very soul, and protect you unharmed from the wickedness of evil-thinkers.'”
#15
ورا خلعت و نیکویها بساخت
✦
ز دانا پزشکان سرش برفراخت
“He prepared robes of honor and riches for him, exalting his head above all the wise physicians.”
#16
پزشک سراینده آمد به کوه
✦
بیاورد با خویشتن زان گروه
“The eloquent physician departed for the mountains, taking a company of helpers along with him.”
#17
ز دانایی او را فزون بود بهر
✦
همی زهر بشناخت از پای زهر
“His share of wisdom was vast indeed; he knew every poison and could distinguish its exact antidote.”
#18
گیاهان کوهی فراوان درود
✦
بیفگند زو هرچ بیکار بود
“He gathered abundant mountain herbs, discarding whatever was ineffective or useless.”
#19
ازو پاک تریاکها برگزید
✦
بیامیخت دارو چنانچون سزید
“He selected the purest elixirs from them and blended the cure exactly as was fitting.”
#20
تنش را به داروی کوهی بشست
✦
همی داشتش سالیان تن درست
“He bathed the King's body with the mountain remedy, keeping him robust and sound for many years.”
#21
چنان شد که او شب نخفتی بسی
✦
بیامیختی شاد با هر کسی
“Yet it came to pass that the King slept little at night, indulging cheerfully in every pleasure.”
#22
به کار زنان تیز بودی سرش
✦
همی نرم جایی بجستی برش
“His heart burned fiercely for the company of women, ever seeking soft bosoms in secret chambers.”
#23
ازان سوی کاهش گرایید شاه
✦
نکرد اندر آن هیچ تن را نگاه
“Because of this, physical decline began to overtake the King, though he took no heed of his body's plight.”
#24
چنان بد که روزی بیامد پزشک
✦
ز کاهش نشان یافت اندر سرشک
“It so happened that one day the physician arrived, and perceived signs of weakness in the King's eye.”
#25
بدو گفت کز خفت و خیز زنان
✦
جوان پیر گردد به تن بی‌گمان
“He said to him, 'Through excessive intimacy with women, a young man will without doubt grow prematurely old.'”
#26
برآنم که بی‌خواب بودی سه شب
✦
به من بازگوی این و بگشای لب
“'I perceive that you have been without sleep for three nights; speak the truth to me and open your lips.'”
#27
سکندر بدو گفت من روشنم
✦
از آزار سستی ندارد تنم
“Sikandar said to him, 'My spirit is bright, and my frame suffers no weakness or infirmity.'”
#28
پسندیده دانای هندوستان
✦
نبود اندر آن کار همداستان
“Yet the approved sage of Hindustan agreed not with his words, knowing the truth.”
#29
چو شب تیره شد آن نبشته بجست
✦
بیاورد داروی کاهش درست
“When darkness fell, he sought out the prescription and correctly prepared a medicine for physical decline.”
#30
همان نیز تنها سکندر بخفت
✦
نیامیخت با ماه دیدار جفت
“Meanwhile, Sikandar slept alone that night, without engaging with any moon-faced consort.”
#31
به شبگیر هور اندر آمد پزشک
✦
نگه کرد و بی‌بار دیدش سرشک
“At dawn, as the sun ascended, the physician entered, looked upon the King, and saw his eyes clear and unburdened.”
#32
بینداخت دارو به رامش نشست
✦
یکی جام بگرفت شادان به دست
“He cast away the prepared medicine, sat down in ease, and happily took a wine-goblet in hand.”
#33
بفرمود تا خوان بیاراستند
✦
نوازندهٔ رود و می‌خواستند
“He bade them arrange the feast table, calling for musicians to play the lute and for wine to flow.”
#34
بدو گفت شاه آن چرا ریختی
✦
چو با رنج دارو برآمیختی
“The King asked him, 'Why did you pour away the cure, after taking such pains to blend the remedy?'”
#35
ورا گفت شاه جهان دوش جفت
✦
نجست و شب تیره تنها بخفت
“He replied, 'The Lord of the World sought no consort last night, but slept alone through the dark night.'”
#36
چو تنها بخسپی تو ای شهریار
✦
نیاید ترا هیچ دارو به کار
“'When you sleep alone, O Monarch, you have no need of any medicine whatsoever.'”
#37
سکندر بخندید و زو شاد شد
✦
ز تیمار وز درد آزاد شد
“Sikandar laughed, filled with joy by his wisdom, freed completely from anxiety and pain.”
#38
وزان پس ز داننده دل کرد شاد
✦
ورا گفت بی‌هند گیتی مباد
“Thereafter his heart gladdened in the learned sage, and he said, 'May the world never be bereft of India's wisdom!'”
#39
بزرگان و اخترشناسان همه
✦
تو گویی به هندوستان شد رمه
“'All the great men and astrologers seem, as it were, to have gathered their flock in Hindustan.'”
#40
وزانجا بیامد سوی خان خویش
✦
همه شب همی ساخت درمان خویش
“From there the physician returned to his own lodging, spending the night preparing remedies.”
#41
چو برزد سر از کوه روشن چراغ
✦
چو دریا فروزنده شد دشت و راغ
“When the radiant lamp of the sun emerged from the mountain, illuminating the plain and meadow like a shining sea,”
#42
سکندر بیامد بران بارگاه
✦
دو لب پر ز خنده دل از غم تباه
“Sikandar entered the courtly hall, his lips parted in laughter and his heart cleansed of grief.”
#43
فرستاده را دید سالار بار
✦
بپرسید و بردش بر شهریار
“The chamberlain saw the physician messenger, greeted him, and escorted him to the King's presence.”
#44
یکی بدره دینار و اسپی سیاه
✦
بهرای زرین بفرمود شاه
“The King ordered a purse of gold dinars and a sleek black horse outfitted with golden harness,”
#45
پزشک خردمند را داد و گفت
✦
که با پاک رایت خرد باد جفت
“Bestowing them upon the wise physician, saying: 'May wisdom ever be paired with your pure counsel!'”