#1
سپه چون به نزدیک ایران کشید
✦
همانگه خبر با فریدون رسید
“As the host drew near to the borders of Iran, news thereof came swiftly to Fereydun.”
#2
بفرمود پس تا منوچهر شاه
✦
ز پهلو به هامون گذارد سپاه
“He straightway commanded King Manuchehr to lead the army from the mountain flanks into the open plain.”
#3
یکی داستان زد جهاندیده کی
✦
که مرد جوان چون بود نیک‌پی
“A world-experienced monarch once uttered a proverb: how fortunate is a young man blessed with good fortune and wisdom!”
#4
بدام آیدش ناسگالیده میش
✦
پلنگ از پس پشت و صیاد پیش
“Into his trap will fall the unsuspecting ewe, though a leopard prowls behind and the hunter waits before.”
#5
شکیبایی و هوش و رای و خرد
✦
هژبر از بیابان به دام آورد
“Patience, intellect, sound judgment, and wisdom shall lure even the fierce lion from the wilderness into the snare.”
#6
و دیگر ز بد مردم بد کنش
✦
به فرجام روزی بپیچد تنش
“And moreover, he who commits evil shall in the end see his own body writhing in torment.”
#7
ببادافره آنگه شتابیدمی
✦
که تفسیده آهن بتابیدمی
“I would hasten to inflict retribution only when the glowing iron had been tempered in the forge.”
#8
چو لشکر منوچهر بر ساده دشت
✦
برون برد آنجا ببد روز هشت
“When Manuchehr led the host onto the open plain, eight days were spent in preparing their march.”
#9
فریدونش هنگام رفتن بدید
✦
سخنها به دانش بدو گسترید
“Fereydun looked upon him at his departure, and bestowed upon him words steeped in ancient wisdom.”
#10
منوچهر گفت ای سرافراز شاه
✦
کی آید کسی پیش تو کینه خواه
“Manuchehr said: 'O exalted King, who would dare come before thee seeking revenge?'”
#11
مگر بد سگالد بدو روزگار
✦
به جان و تن خود خورد زینهار
“'Unless fortune itself plot evil against him, causing him to tremble for his own life and soul.'”
#12
من اینک میان را به رومی زره
✦
ببندم که نگشایم از تن گره
“'Lo, I now gird my loins with a Roman coat of mail, and shall not loosen its knot from my body.'”
#13
به کین جستن از دشت آوردگاه
✦
برآرم به خورشید گرد سپاه
“'To seek vengeance upon the plain of battle, I shall raise the dust of my army unto the sun!'”
#14
ازان انجمن کس ندارم به مرد
✦
کجا جست یارند با من نبرد
“'Among all that assembly I reckon no man worthy enough to dare engage in battle against me!'”
#15
بفرمود تا قارن رزم جوی
✦
ز پهلو به دشت اندر آورد روی
“The king then ordered Qaran, the seeker of battle, to turn his face from the mountain flanks toward the plain.”
#16
سراپردهٔ شاه بیرون کشید
✦
درفش همایون به هامون کشید
“He pitched the king's royal pavilion outside, and brought forth the auspicious banner unto the open plain.”
#17
همی رفت لشکر گروها گروه
✦
چو دریا بجوشید هامون و کوه
“The host advanced group by group, until mountain and plain seethed like a roaring ocean.”
#18
چنان تیره شد روز روشن ز گرد
✦
تو گفتی که خورشید شد لاجورد
“The bright day became so darkened by dust that thou wouldst say the radiant sun had turned to lapis lazuli.”
#19
ز کشور برآمد سراسر خروش
✦
همی کرشدی مردم تیزگوش
“A great clamor arose across the entire realm, deafening the ears of even the keenest listeners.”
#20
خروشیدن تازی اسپان ز دشت
✦
ز بانگ تبیره همی برگذشت
“The neighed roaring of Arab steeds across the plain drowned out the deep thunders of the war-drums.”
#21
ز لشگر گه پهلوان تا دو میل
✦
کشیده دو رویه رده ژنده‌پیل
“For two miles from the champion's encampment, huge war-elephants stood lined in double rows.”
#22
ازان شصت بر پشتشان تخت زر
✦
به زر اندرون چند گونه گهر
“Upon sixty of them were mounted golden thrones, encrusted with many kinds of precious gems.”
#23
چو سیصد بنه برنهادند بار
✦
چو سیصد همان از در کارزار
“Three hundred were laden with baggage and equipment, and another three hundred were arrayed directly for battle.”
#24
همه زیر برگستوان اندرون
✦
نبدشان جز از چشم ز آهن برون
“All were shrouded beneath heavy caparisons, so that naught was visible of them save their eyes through steel armor.”
#25
سراپردهٔ شاه بیرون زدند
✦
ز تمیشه لشکر بهامون زدند
“They pitched the royal pavilions outside, and from the forests of Tamisheh the army poured into the plain.”
#26
سپهدار چون قارن کینه‌دار
✦
سواران جنگی چو سیصدهزار
“With a warlike commander like vengeance-seeking Qaran, there marched three hundred thousand battle-tested horsemen.”
#27
همه نامداران جوشن‌وران
✦
برفتند با گرزهای گران
“All were renowned warriors clad in coats of mail, advancing with heavy maces in their hands.”
#28
دلیران یکایک چو شیر ژیان
✦
همه بسته بر کین ایرج میان
“Every single brave warrior was like a raging lion, all girded tight to seek vengeance for Iraj.”
#29
به پیش اندرون کاویانی درفش
✦
به چنگ اندرون تیغهای بنفش
“In the front waved the legendary Kavian Banner, and in their hands they wielded violet-hued blades of steel.”
#30
منوچهر با قارن پیلتن
✦
برون آمد از بیشهٔ نارون
“Manuchehr, alongside the elephant-bodied Qaran, came forth from the Narvan Forest.”
#31
بیامد به پیش سپه برگذشت
✦
بیاراست لشکر بران پهن‌دشت
“He came forward, passed before the troops, and arrayed the host upon that vast, wide plain.”
#32
چپ لشکرش را بگرشاسپ داد
✦
ابر میمنه سام یل با قباد
“He gave the left wing of his host to Garshasp, and placed valiant Sam alongside Qobad upon the right wing.”
#33
رده بر کشیده ز هر سو سپاه
✦
منوچهر با سرو در قلب‌گاه
“With rows drawn up on every side, Manuchehr stood at the center with King Sarv.”
#34
همی تافت چون مه میان گروه
✦
نبود ایچ پیدا ز افراز کوه
“He shone like the full moon amid the host, so grand that even the lofty mountain crests seemed hidden beside him.”
#35
سپه کش چو قارن مبارز چو سام
✦
سپه برکشیده حسام از نیام
“With a host commander like Qaran and a warrior like Sam, the whole army stood with swords drawn from their scabbards.”
#36
طلایه به پیش اندرون چون قباد
✦
کمین ور چو گرد تلیمان نژاد
“Qobad moved ahead in the vanguard, while the warrior from Taliman's line lay in ambush.”
#37
یکی لشکر آراسته چون عروس
✦
به شیران جنگی و آوای کوس
“The army was adorned like a magnificent bride, filled with warlike lions and the thunder of kettle-drums.”
#38
به تور و به سلم آگهی تاختند
✦
که ایرانیان جنگ را ساختند
“Word was swiftly borne to Tur and Salm that the Iranians were fully prepared for battle.”
#39
ز بیشه بهامون کشیدند صف
✦
ز خون جگر بر لب آورده کف
“They drew up their ranks from the forest unto the plain, foam of liver's blood boiling upon their lips.”
#40
دو خونی همان با سپاهی گران
✦
برفتند آگنده از کین سران
“Those two murderers came forward with a massive army, their heads filled with bitter hatred.”
#41
کشیدند لشکر به دشت نبرد
✦
الانان دژ را پس پشت کرد
“They led their host onto the battlefield, leaving the fortress of Alanan behind their backs.”
#42
یکایک طلایه بیامد قباد
✦
چو تور آگهی یافت آمد چو باد
“One by one the vanguard advanced, and when Qobad appeared, Tur came riding like the wind.”
#43
بدو گفت نزد منوچهر شو
✦
بگویش که ای بی‌پدر شاه نو
“Tur said to him: 'Go to Manuchehr, and say to him: O new king who hast no father!'”
#44
اگر دختر آمد ز ایرج نژاد
✦
ترا تیغ و کوپال و جوشن که داد
“'Though thou art sprung only from Iraj's daughter, who gave thee sword, mace, and body armor?'”
#45
بدو گفت آری گزارم پیام
✦
بدین سان که گفتی و بردی تو نام
“Qobad replied: 'Yea, I shall convey thy message exactly as thou hast spoken and named!'”
#46
ولیکن گر اندیشه گردد دراز
✦
خرد با دل تو نشیند براز
“Yet if your reflection endures for long, wisdom shall sit in secret council with your heart.”
#47
بدانی که کاریت هولست پیش
✦
بترسی ازین خام گفتار خویش
“You shall realize what a fearful peril lies ahead, and shrink back in terror from these your own raw words.”
#48
اگر بر شما دام و دد روز و شب
✦
همی گریدی نیستی بس عجب
“If wild beasts and cattle were to weep over your fate night and day, it would be no cause for wonder.”
#49
که از بیشهٔ نارون تا بچین
✦
سواران جنگند و مردان کین
“For from the Narvan forest unto the borders of Chin, all are battle-ready horsemen and men of vengeance.”
#50
درفشیدن تیغهای بنفش
✦
چو بینید باکاویانی درفش
“When you behold the gleam of violet-hued blades alongside the Kavian Banner,”
#51
بدرد دل و مغزتان از نهیب
✦
بلندی ندانید باز از نشیب
“Your hearts and minds shall burst from terror, and you shall no longer discern high ground from low.”
#52
قباد آمد آنگه به نزدیک شاه
✦
بگفت آنچه بشنید ازان رزم خواه
“Then Qobad returned into the presence of the Shah, and recounted all he had heard from those seekers of war.”
#53
منوچهر خندید و گفت آنگهی
✦
که چونین نگوید مگر ابلهی
“Manuchehr smiled and then declared: 'None but a fool would utter words such as these!'”
#54
سپاس از جهاندار هر دو جهان
✦
شناسندهٔ آشکار و نهان
“Praise be to the Ruler of both worlds, the Knower of all that is manifest and concealed,”
#55
که داند که ایرج نیای منست
✦
فریدون فرخ گوای منست
“Who knows that Iraj is my forefather, and glorious Fereydun stands as my witness.”
#56
کنون گر بجنگ اندر آریم سر
✦
شود آشکارا نژاد و گهر
“Now if we plunge headlong into war, true lineage and noble worth shall be revealed.”
#57
به زور خداوند خورشید و ماه
✦
که چندان نمانم ورا دستگاه
“By the might of the Lord of sun and moon, I shall not leave him his power for long!”
#58
که بر هم زند چشم زیر و زبر
✦
بریده به لشکر نمایمش سر
“Ere he can blink an eye, turned upside down, I shall sever his head and show it to the host!”
#59
بفرمود تا خوان بیاراستند
✦
نشستنگه رود و می‌خواستند
“He commanded the feast table to be adorned, and sought a place for music and wine.”