When Iskandar read the letter from Queen Qaydafeh, he sounded the brass trumpets and marched his vast army. For a full month they traversed the roads until they reached the borders of King Faryan's realm—a monarch blessed with vast treasure, armies, and a magnificent fortress city whose high walls not even a leopard could scale. Iskandar besieged the stronghold and ordered Catholicos to bring forth the siege engines and catapults. Within a week, the towering citadel fell, and the triumphant host entered the city. Yet Iskandar commanded that no blood be spilled.
Amidst the spoils, Shahrgir, one of Iskandar's commanders, captured Qaydruch—the son of Queen Qaydafeh—along with his bride, the daughter of Faryan. Qaydruch was the pride of Faryan's heart and a cherished prince. Learning who the royal prisoner was, Iskandar devised a brilliant stratagem. He summoned his wise vizier, Bitqun, placed him upon the throne, and conferred upon him the royal crown and power. Iskandar instructed Bitqun: 'Sit upon the throne as king, while I stand before you girded as a humble envoy. When Qaydruch and his bride are brought before you in chains, feign fury and order their immediate execution. Then I shall step forward to plead for their lives, and you shall grant them to me, so that Qaydruch considers me his savior.'
At dawn, as the sun drew its golden blade across the sky, Bitqun took his place upon the throne, with Iskandar standing attentively as the envoy. Shahrgir brought forth Qaydruch and his fair bride in tears. Bitqun pretended to fly into a rage and commanded the executioner to strike off both their heads with an Indian sword. Thereupon, Iskandar stepped forward, kissed the ground, and pleaded: 'O King, the Creator of the World does not approve of severing the heads of the innocent. Grant their lives to me!' Bitqun granted the request, sparing the couple. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Qaydruch swore eternal loyalty to this brave envoy, unaware he was Iskandar himself, and agreed to accompany him back to Queen Qaydafeh to negotiate terms of peace.
#1
چو اسکندر آن نامهٔ او بخواند
✦
بزد نای رویین و لشکر براند
“When Iskandar read her letter, he sounded the brass trumpets and marched his army.”
#2
همی رفت یک ماه پویان به راه
✦
چو آمد سوی مرز او با سپاه
“For a month he marched on the road, until he arrived with his army at her border.”
#3
یکی پادشا بود فریان به نام
✦
ابا لشکر و گنج و گسترده کام
“There was a king named Faryan, possessor of host, treasure, and broad prosperity.”
#4
یکی شارستان داشت با ساز جنگ
✦
سراپردهٔ او ندیدی پلنگ
“He had a fortified city equipped for war, whose outer wall even a leopard could not scale.”
#5
بیاورد لشکر گرفت آن حصار
✦
بران بارهٔ دژ گذشتی سوار
“Iskandar brought his host and besieged the fortress; even horsemen could ride atop its high ramparts.”
#6
سکندر بفرمود تا جاثلیق
✦
بیاورد عراده و منجنیق
“Iskandar commanded Catholicos to bring forth catapults and siege engines.”
#7
به یک هفته بستد حصار بلند
✦
به شهر اندر آمد سپاه ارجمند
“Within a week he conquered the lofty citadel, and his noble host entered the city.”
#8
سکندر چو آمد به شهر اندرون
✦
بفرمود کز کس نریزند خون
“When Iskandar entered inside the city, he commanded that no one's blood be shed.”
#9
یکی پور قیدافه داماد بود
✦
بدین شهر فریان بدو شاد بود
“A son of Qaydafeh was a son-in-law here; in this city of Faryan, he brought joy.”
#10
بدو داده بد دختر ارجمند
✦
کلاهش به قیدافه گشته بلند
“Faryan had given him his noble daughter, elevating his stature to Queen Qaydafeh.”
#11
که داماد را نام بد قیدروش
✦
بدو داده فریان دل و چشم و گوش
“The son-in-law was named Qaydruch, to whom Faryan had entrusted his heart, eyes, and ears.”
#12
یکی مرد بد نام او شهرگیر
✦
به دستش زن و شوی گشته اسیر
“A captain named Shahrgir had taken both husband and wife captive.”
#13
سکندر بدانست کان مرد کیست
✦
بجستش که درمان آن کار چیست
“When Iskandar learned who the man was, he sought a clever remedy for this matter.”
#14
بفرمود تا پیش او شد وزیر
✦
بدو داد فرمان و تاج و سریر
“He summoned his vizier before him and conferred upon him command, crown, and throne.”
#15
خردمند را بیطقون بود نام
✦
یکی رای زن مرد گسترده کام
“The wise man's name was Bitqun, a counselor of noble mind and high standing.”
#16
بدو گفت کاید به پیشت عروس
✦
ترا خوانم اسکندر فیلقوس
“Iskandar said to him: 'Let the bride come before you; I shall address you as Iskandar, son of Faylaqus.'”
#17
تو بنشین به آیین و رسم کیان
✦
چو من پیشت آیم کمر بر میان
“'Sit upon the throne after the custom of kings, while I step before you girded as an envoy.'”
#18
بفرمای تا گردن قیدروش
✦
ببرد دژآگاه جنگی ز دوش
“'Order the stern executioner to sever the neck of Qaydruch.'”
#19
من آیم به پیشت به خواهشگری
✦
نمایم فراوان ترا کهتری
“'Then I shall step forward to entreat you, showing great humility before you.'”
#20
نشستنگهی ساز بی‌انجمن
✦
چو خواهش فزایم ببخشی بمن
“'Prepare a private chamber, and when I make my plea, grant their lives to me.'”
#21
شد آن مرد دستور با درد جفت
✦
ندانست کان را چه باشد نهفت
“The vizier became anxious, wondering what secret lay hidden beneath this stratagem.”
#22
ازان پس بدو گفت شاه جهان
✦
که این کار باید که ماند نهان
“Thereafter the king of the world said to him: 'This matter must remain strictly hidden.'”
#23
مرا چون فرستادگان پیش خوان
✦
سخنهای قیدافه چندی بران
“'Summon me before you like an envoy and speak several words concerning Qaydafeh.'”
#24
مرا شاد بفرست با ده سوار
✦
که رو نامه بر زود و پاسخ بیار
“'Send me forth gladly with ten horsemen, saying: "Go carry the letter swiftly and bring back the response."'”
#25
بدو بیطقون گفت کایدون کنم
✦
به فرمان برین چاره افسون کنم
“Bitqun said to him: 'I shall do so, and by your command execute this clever spell.'”
#26
به شبگیر خورشید خنجر کشید
✦
شب تیره از بیم شد ناپدید
“At dawn when the sun drew its blade of light, the dark night vanished in dread.”
#27
نشست از بر تخت بر بیطقون
✦
پر از شرم رخ دل پر از آب خون
“Bitqun sat upon the royal throne, his face filled with awe and his heart racing.”
#28
سکندر به پیش اندرون با کمر
✦
گشاده درچاره و بسته در
“Iskandar stood before him, belt girded, opening the door of strategy while closing suspicion.”
#29
چون آن پور قیدافه را شهرگیر
✦
بیاورد گریان گرفته اسیر
“When Shahrgir brought the son of Qaydafeh weeping as a captive...”
#30
زنش هم چنان نیز با بوی و رنگ
✦
گرفته جوان چنگ او را به چنگ
“His bride also came with beauty and fragrance, the youth clutching her hand in his.”
#31
سبک بیطقون گفت کین مرد کیست
✦
کش از درد چندین بباید گریست
“Bitqun promptly asked: 'Who is this man who must weep so bitterly from grief?'”
#32
چنین داد پاسخ که بازآر هوش
✦
که من پور قیدافه‌ام قیدروش
“Qaydruch answered him: 'Know that I am Qaydruch, the son of Queen Qaydafeh.'”
#33
جزین دخت فریان مرا نیست جفت
✦
که دارد پس پردهٔ من نهفت
“'I have no wife other than this daughter of Faryan, whom I keep behind my curtain.'”
#34
برآنم که او را سوی خان خویش
✦
برم تا بدارمش چون جان خویش
“'I intended to take her to my own home to cherish her like my very soul.'”
#35
اسیرم کنون در کف شهرگیر
✦
روان خسته از اختر و تن به تیر
“'Now I am a captive in the hands of Shahrgir, my soul wounded by fate and my body by arrows.'”
#36
چو بشنید زو این سخن بیطقون
✦
سرش گشت پر درد و دل پر ز خون
“When Bitqun heard his words, his head grew heavy with sorrow and his heart bled.”
#37
برآشفت ازان پس به دژخیم گفت
✦
که این هر دو را خاک باید نهفت
“Yet feigning fury, he said to the executioner: 'Both of these must be buried in dust!'”
#38
چنین هم به بند اندرون با زنش
✦
به شمشیر هندی بزن گردنش
“'While bound together with his wife, strike off his head with an Indian sword!'”
#39
سکندر بیامد زمین بوس داد
✦
بدو گفت کای شاه قیصر نژاد
“Iskandar stepped forward, kissed the ground, and said: 'O King of Caesar's blood!'”
#40
اگر خون ایشان ببخشی به من
✦
سرافراز گردم به هر انجمن
“'If you grant their blood to me, I shall be honored in every assembly.'”
#41
سر بیگناهان چه بری به کین
✦
که نپسندد از ما جهان‌آفرین
“'Why sever the heads of the innocent in vengeance? The Creator of the World favors not such deed.'”
#42
بدو گفت بیداردل بیطقون
✦
که آزاد کردی دو تن را ز خون
“The vigilant Bitqun said to him: 'You have spared these two souls from death.'”
#43
سبک بیطقون گفت با قیدروش
✦
که بردی سر دور مانده ز دوش
“Bitqun then said swiftly to Qaydruch: 'You have saved your head from being severed.'”
#44
فرستم کنون با تو او را بهم
✦
بخواند به مادرت بر بیش و کم
“'I shall now send him together with you to read my demands to your mother.'”
#45
اگر ساو و باژم فرستد نکوست
✦
کسی را ندرد بدین جنگ پوست
“'If she sends tribute and tax, all is well, and no one's skin shall be flayed in war.'”
#46
نگه کن بدین پاک دستور من
✦
که گوید بدو رزم گر سور من
“Look upon this pure-hearted counselor of mine, who shall declare unto him whether my mind is set on war or on a grand feast.”
#47
تو آن کن ز خوبی که او با تو کرد
✦
به پاداش پیچد دل رادمرد
“Requite him with the same goodness he showed unto thee; for the heart of a noble man ever strives to bestow just reward.”
#48
چو این پاسخ نامه یابی ز شاه
✦
به خوبی ورا بازگردان ز راه
“When thou receivest this reply to the letter from the King, send him back upon his journey with honor and grace.”
#49
چنین گفت با بیقطون قیدروش
✦
که زو بر ندارم دل و چشم و گوش
“Thus spake Qaydarush unto Baitaqun: 'I shall never turn my heart, my eyes, or my ears away from him.'”
#50
چگونه مر او را ندارم چو جان
✦
کزو یافتم جفت و شیرین‌روان
“How should I not cherish him as my very soul, when through his grace I regained both my bride and my sweet life?”