When Alexander returned victorious to the gates of his palace, he opened his treasuries and poured out vast dinars upon the poor and destitute, so that those who had labored in poverty found themselves enriched. From that place, he gladly commanded his army to move, halting briefly at the port of Jeddah. There he ordered his forces to construct countless ships and vessels, embarking his pathfinding host toward the realm of Egypt.
In Egypt reigned King Qaitun, whose legions and wealth exceeded all human reckoning. Upon hearing that the victorious world-conqueror approached from the direction of the sacred realms with immense grandeur, Qaitun rode forth to welcome him accompanied by a vast army, bearing purses of gold, noble captives, crowns, and thrones. Alexander was delighted by Qaitun's hospitality, wishing his host well while invoking ill upon his enemies. The conqueror lingered in Egypt for a full year so that his army might rest and recover from their arduous marches.
During this time, in the distant realm of Andalusia, there ruled a queen named Qaidafah—a sovereign of profound wisdom, boundless generosity, and an innumerable host. Hearing of Alexander's swift conquests, she summoned an artist from her army who possessed the rare talent of depicting true likenesses. She commanded him in secret: "Go unto Alexander, making no mention of our name or domain. Observe him deeply—his stature, his countenance, his skin—and paint an exact portrait of him from head to foot upon Chinese silk." The painter obeyed, girded his loins, and rode like a fleet courier from Andalusia to Egypt. Observing Alexander both upon his royal throne and atop his war-saddle, the artist rendered his precise portrait upon silk and parchment, then hastily returned. When Qaidafah beheld the accurate likeness of the great king, she grew somber and contemplative, hiding the portrait away and keeping her silence.
Meanwhile in Egypt, Alexander questioned Qaitun: "Who upon this earth can be matched with Qaidafah?" Qaitun replied: "O Sovereign, there is no ruler in all the world so triumphant and noble as she. None can count her armies save through vast ledgers. In wealth, greatness, prudence, and virtue, she has no equal. She has erected a stronghold of solid stone that not even a leopard's claws could scratch—a fortress city four leagues long and four leagues wide, housing treasures beyond all measure."
#1
چو برگشت و آمد به درگاه قصر
✦
ببخشید دینار چندی به نصر
“When he returned and arrived at the court of the palace, he bestowed many dinars freely for his victory.”
#2
توانگر شد آنکس که درویش بود
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وگر خوردش از کوشش خویش بود
“Whoever was poor became wealthy, even if his bread was earned through his own labor.”
#3
وزان جایگه شاد لشکر براند
✦
به جده درآمد فراوان نماند
“From that place he gladly marched the army; he entered Jeddah and did not linger long.”
#4
سپه را بفرمود تا هرکسی
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بسازند کشتی و زورق بسی
“He commanded the troops that everyone should build many ships and boats.”
#5
جهانگیر با لشکری راه‌جوی
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ز جده سوی مصر بنهاد روی
“The world-conqueror, with his path-seeking army, set his face from Jeddah toward Egypt.”
#6
ملک بود قیطون به مصر اندرون
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سپاهش ز راه گمانی فزون
“Qaitun was the king within Egypt, and his army was beyond human imagination.”
#7
چو بشنید کامد ز راه حرم
✦
جهانگیر پیروز با باد و دم
“When he heard that the victorious conqueror had arrived from the direction of the Sanctuary with great glory...”
#8
پذیره شدش با فراوان سپاه
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ابا بدره و برده و تاج و گاه
“He went out to welcome him with a vast army, bearing money-bags, captives, crown, and throne.”
#9
سکندر به دیدار او گشت شاد
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همان گفت بدخواه او گشت باد
“Alexander became joyful upon meeting him, praying that his enemy's power be scattered like wind.”
#10
به مصر اندرون بود یک سال شاه
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بدان تا برآسود شاه و سپاه
“The king stayed in Egypt for one year, so that both king and army could rest.”
#11
زنی بود در اندلس شهریار
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خردمند و با لشکری بی‌شمار
“There was a woman who ruled in Andalusia, wise and possessing an innumerable army.”
#12
جهانجوی بخشنده قیدافه بود
✦
ز روی بهی یافته کام و سود
“She was Qaidafah, a world-seeking and generous ruler, who attained success and virtue.”
#13
ز لشکر سواری مصور بجست
✦
که مانند صورت نگارد درست
“From her army she sought out a painter horseman who could paint exact likenesses.”
#14
بدو گفت سوی سکندر خرام
✦
وزین مرز و از ما مبر هیچ نام
“She said to him: 'Go toward Alexander, and speak no word of this realm or of us.'”
#15
به ژرفی نگه کن چنان چون که هست
✦
به کردار تا چون برآیدت دست
“'Observe deeply just as he is, so that your hand can capture his true essence.'”
#16
ز رنگ و ز چهر و ز بالای اوی
✦
یکی صورت آر از سر پای اوی
“'From his complexion, face, and height, craft a portrait from head to foot.'”
#17
نگارنده بشنید و زو بر نشست
✦
به فرمان مهتر میان را ببست
“The painter heard and mounted up, girding his loins to obey his monarch's command.”
#18
به مصر آمد از اندلس چون نوند
✦
بر قیصر اسکندر ارجمند
“He came swift as a courier from Andalusia to Egypt, before the noble Caesar, Alexander.”
#19
چه برگاه دیدش چه بر پشت زین
✦
بیاورد قرطاس و دیبای چین
“Whether he saw him on the throne or upon the saddle, he brought out parchment and Chinese silk.”
#20
نگار سکندر چنان هم که بود
✦
نگارید و ز جای برگشت زود
“He painted Alexander's image exactly as he was, and quickly departed the place.”
#21
چو قیدافه چهر سکندر بدید
✦
غمی گشت و بنهفت و دم در کشید
“When Qaidafah saw Alexander's face, she grew thoughtful, concealed it, and held her breath.”
#22
سکندر ز قیطون بپرسید و گفت
✦
که قیدافه را بر زمین کیست جفت
“Alexander asked Qaitun and said: 'Who on earth is equal to Qaidafah?'”
#23
بدو گفت قیطون که ای شهریار
✦
چنو نیست اندر جهان کامگار
“Qaitun told him: 'O Sovereign! None in the world is so successful as she.'”
#24
شمار سپاهش نداند کسی
✦
مگر باز جوید ز دفتر بسی
“'No one knows the count of her army, unless searched deep within the ledgers.'”
#25
ز گنج و بزرگی و شایستگی
✦
ز آهستگی هم ز بایستگی
“'In wealth, greatness, worthiness, dignity, and prudence...'”
#26
به رای و به گفتار نیکی گمان
✦
نبینی به مانند او در جهان
“'In wisdom and good intentions of speech, you will find no equal to her in the world.'”
#27
یکی شارستان کرده دارد ز سنگ
✦
که نبساید آن هم ز چنگ پلنگ
“'She has built a stone fortress city that cannot be scratched even by a leopard's claws.'”
#28
زمین چار فرسنگ بالای اوی
✦
برین هم نشانست پهنای اوی
“'Its land is four leagues in height/length, and its width bears the very same measure.'”
#29
گر از گنج پرسی خود اندازه نیست
✦
سخنهای او در جهان تازه نیست
“'If you ask of her treasure, it is beyond measure; her praise is no new speech in the world.'”