#1
همی چاره جست آن شب دیریاز
✦
چو خورشید بنمود چینی طراز
“He sought a remedy through that lingering night, until the sun displayed its Chinese silk adornment.”
#2
برافراخت از کوه زرین درفش
✦
نگونسار شد پرنیانی بنفش
“It raised its golden banner from the mountain, and the purple silk of night was turned upside down.”
#3
سکندر بیامد به نزدیک شاه
✦
پرستنده برخاست از بارگاه
“Iskandar came before the monarch, and the court attendants rose from the hall.”
#4
به رسمی که بودش فرود آورید
✦
جهانجوی پیش سپهبد چمید
“She brought him down according to custom, and the world-conqueror strutted before the commander.”
#5
ز بیگانه ایوان بپرداختند
✦
فرستاده را پیش او تاختند
“They cleared the palace of strangers, and brought the envoy into her presence.”
#6
چو قیدافه را دید بر تخت گفت
✦
که با رای تو مشتری باد جفت
“When he saw Qaydafeh upon the throne, he said: 'May Jupiter be matched with your wise counsel!'”
#7
بدین مسیحا به فرمان راست
✦
بد ارنده کو بر زبانم گواست
“'By the true faith of the Messiah, by the Almighty who bears witness on my tongue,'”
#8
به اَبرون و دین و صلیب بزرگ
✦
به جان و سر شهریار سترگ
“'By Aprun, the faith, and the Great Cross, by the soul and head of the mighty monarch,'”
#9
به زنار و شماس و روح‌القدس
✦
کزین پس مرا خاک در اندلس
“'By the girdle, the deacon, and the Holy Spirit, henceforth my dust shall not fall on Andalus.'”
#10
نبیند نه لشکر فرستم به جنگ
✦
نیامیزم از هر دری نیز رنگ
“'Neither shall it see my army nor will I send troops to battle, nor mix any deceit into this matter.'”
#11
نه با پاک فرزند تو بد کنم
✦
نه فرمان دهم نیز و نه خود کنم
“'I shall do no evil to your pure children, nor command it, nor do it myself.'”
#12
به جان یاد دارم وفای ترا
✦
نجویم به چیزی جفای ترا
“'I hold your loyalty dear to my soul, and I shall seek no injury toward you.'”
#13
برادر بود نیک‌خواهت مرا
✦
به جای صلیب است گاهت مرا
“'Your brother shall be a well-wisher to me, and your throne shall be to me in place of the Holy Cross.'”
#14
نگه کرد قیدافه سوگند اوی
✦
یگانه دل و راست پیوند اوی
“Qaydafeh looked upon his oath, seeing his unified heart and truthful bond.”
#15
همه کاخ کرسی زرین نهاد
✦
به پیش اندر آرایش چین نهاد
“She arranged golden chairs throughout the palace, and placed Chinese decorations before them.”
#16
بزرگان و نیک‌اختران را بخواند
✦
یکایک بر آن کرسی زر نشاند
“She summoned the nobles and the fortunate ones, seating them one by one upon those golden chairs.”
#17
ازان پس گرامی دو فرزند را
✦
بیاورد خویشان و پیوند را
“Thereafter she brought her two beloved sons, alongside her kinsmen and allies.”
#18
چنین گفت کاندر سرای سپنج
✦
سزد گر نباشیم چندین به رنج
“Thus she spoke: 'In this transient abode, it is not fitting that we endure such grief.'”
#19
نباید کزین گردش روزگار
✦
مرا بهره کین آید و کارزار
“'It should not be that from the turning of fate my share becomes revenge and war.'”
#20
سکندر نخواهد شد از گنج سیر
✦
وگر آسمان اندر آرد به زیر
“'Iskandar will never grow satiated with treasure, even if he brings down the heavens.'”
#21
همی رنج ما جوید از بهر گنج
✦
همه گنج گیتی نیرزد به رنج
“'He seeks our trouble for the sake of treasure, but all the treasure of the world is not worth such pain.'”
#22
برآنم که با او نسازیم جنگ
✦
نه بر پادشاهی کنم کار تنگ
“'I am resolved not to wage war against him, nor to make matters narrow for my kingdom.'”
#23
یکی پاسخ پندمندش دهیم
✦
سرش برفرازیم و پندش دهیم
“'We shall give him a wise and advisory answer; we shall exalt his head and offer him counsel.'”
#24
اگر جنگ جوید پس از پند من
✦
به بیند پس از پند من بند من
“'If he seeks battle after my counsel, he shall then experience my chains after my words.'”
#25
ازان سان شوم پیش او با سپاه
✦
که بخشایش آرد برو چرخ و ماه
“'I shall march against him with an army such that the wheel of heaven and moon will pity him.'”
#26
ازین ازمایش ندارد زیان
✦
بماند مگر دوستی در میان
“'There is no harm in this trial; perhaps friendship will remain between us.'”
#27
چه گویید و این را چه پاسخ دهید
✦
مرا اندرین رای فرخ نهید
“'What do you say, and what answer do you give to this? Approve this auspicious judgment of mine.'”
#28
همه مهتران سر برافراختند
✦
همی پاسخ پادشا ساختند
“All the chieftains raised their heads and prepared the response for the sovereign.”
#29
بگفتند کای سرور داد و راد
✦
ندارد کسی چون تو مهتر به یاد
“They said: 'O leader of justice and generosity, no one remembers a chieftain such as you!'”
#30
نگویی مگر آنک بهتر بود
✦
خنک شهرکش چون تو مهتر بود
“'You speak only that which is best; blessed is the realm that has a leader like you.'”
#31
اگر دوست گردد ترا پادشا
✦
چه خواهد جزین مردم پارسا
“'If the king becomes your friend, what else could these righteous people desire?'”
#32
نه آسیب آید بدین گنج تو
✦
نیرزد همه گنجها رنج تو
“'No injury shall come upon your treasury; all treasures are not worth your grief.'”
#33
چو اسکندری کو بیاید ز روم
✦
به شمشیر دریا کند روی بوم
“'As for Iskandar who comes from Rome, turning the face of the earth into sea with his sword,'”
#34
همی از درت بازگردد به چیز
✦
همه چیز دنیی نیرزد پشیز
“'He will turn back from your door with riches; all the things of this world are not worth a copper.'”
#35
جز از آشتی ما نبینیم روی
✦
نه والا بود مردم کینه‌جوی
“'We see no path but peace; a vengeful person is never noble.'”
#36
چو بشنید گفتار آن بخردان
✦
پسندیده و پاک‌دل موبدان
“When she heard the words of those wise ones, the approved and pure-hearted mobads,”
#37
در گنج بگشاد و تاج پدر
✦
بیاورد با یاره و طوق زر
“She opened the treasury door and brought out her father's crown, along with armlets and a golden collar.”
#38
یکی تاج بد کاندران شهر و مرز
✦
کسی گوهرش را ندانست ارز
“It was a crown such that in that city and realm, no one could appraise its gems.”
#39
فرستاده را گفت کین بی‌بهاست
✦
هرانکس که دارد جزو نارواست
“She said to the envoy: 'This is priceless; whoever possesses it besides him holds it unlawfully.'”
#40
به تاج مهان چون سزا دیدمش
✦
ز فرزند پرمایه بگزیدمش
“'Since I deemed it fit for the crown of the great, I chose it out of my precious offspring/wealth.'”
#41
یکی تخت بودش به هفتاد لخت
✦
ببستی گشایندهٔ نیک‌بخت
“She had a throne made of seventy pieces, constructed by a fortunate master craftsperson.”
#42
به پیکر یک اندر دگر بافته
✦
به چاره سر شوشها تافته
“Woven one into another in figures, its bar ends artfully twisted.”
#43
سر پایها چون سر اژدها
✦
ندانست کس گوهرش را بها
“The tips of its legs were shaped like dragon heads; no one knew the price of its jewels.”
#44
ازو چارصد گوهر شاهوار
✦
همان سرخ یاقوت بد زین شمار
“Upon it were four hundred royal gems, and the red ruby was numbered among them.”
#45
دو بودی به مثقال هر یک به سنگ
✦
چو یک دانهٔ نار بودی به رنگ
“There were two weighing two mithqals each, colored like a single pomegranate seed.”
#46
زمرد برو چار صد پاره بود
✦
به سبزی چو قوس قزح نابسود
“Set upon it were four hundred pieces of emerald, as untarnished in greenness as the rainbow itself.”
#47
گشاده شتر بار بودی چهل
✦
زنی بود چون موج دریا به دل
“Forty camels carried opened loads; she was a woman whose heart rolled like the waves of the sea.”
#48
دگر چار صد تای دندان پیل
✦
چه دندان درازیش بد میل میل
“Furthermore, four hundred elephant tusks were brought, so long that each seemed to measure leagues in length.”
#49
پلنگی که خوانی همی بربری
✦
ازان چار صد پوست بد بر سری
“Four hundred pelts of the Barbary leopard were stacked, each laid neatly one upon another.”
#50
ز چرم گوزن ملمع هزار
✦
همه رنگ و بیرنگ او پر نگار
“A thousand hides of dappled deer were presented, rich with patterns, dyed and natural alike.”
#51
دگر صد سگ و یوز نخچیر گیر
✦
که آهو ورا پیش دیدی ز تیر
“A hundred hunting dogs and cheetahs were added, who could overtake a gazelle faster than a flying arrow.”
#52
بیاورد زان پس دوصد گاومیش
✦
پرستندهٔ او همی راند پیش
“Next were brought two hundred buffaloes, driven forward by her attending servants.”
#53
ز دیبای خز چارصد تخته نیز
✦
همان تختها کرده از چوب شیز
“Four hundred bolts of silk and beaver-fur cloth were brought, along with thrones crafted from ebony wood.”
#54
دگر چار صد تخته از عود تر
✦
که مهر اندرو گیرد و رنگ زر
“Another four hundred logs of fresh aloe-wood, fragrant enough to take a seal and glowing like gold.”
#55
صد اسپ گرانمایه آراسته
✦
ز میدان ببردند با خواسته
“A hundred prized horses, richly caparisoned, were led forth from the field along with all the treasures.”
#56
همان تیغ هندی و رومی هزار
✦
بفرمود با جوشن کارزار
“She ordered a thousand swords of Indian and Roman steel to be prepared, along with coats of battle mail.”
#57
همان خود و مغفر هزار و دویست
✦
به گنجور فرمود کاکنون مه‌ایست
“Also twelve hundred helmets and mail-coifs; she commanded her treasurer, 'Delay not a moment now!'”
#58
همه پاک بر بیطقون برشمار
✦
بگویش که شبگیر برساز کار
“'Count them all out clearly for Bitqoun, and tell him to prepare the journey at dawn.'”
#59
سپیده چو برزد ز بالا درفش
✦
چو کافور شد روی چرخ بنفش
“When dawn unfurled its banner on high, and the violet sky turned pale as camphor,”
#60
زمین تازه شد کوه چون سندروس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“The earth revived, the mountains shone like ambergris, and the sound of war-drums resounded from the court.”
#61
سکندر به اسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
به دستوری بازگشتن به جای
“Alexander set his foot into the stirrup, having obtained leave to return to his place.”
#62
چو طینوش جنگی سپه برنشاند
✦
از ایوان به درگاه قیدافه راند
“As warlike Taynush mounted his troops, he rode from the palace to the court of Qaydafa.”
#63
به قیدافه گفتند پدرود باش
✦
به جان تازهٔ چرخ را پود باش
“They bade Qaydafa farewell, saying, 'May you live long with a renewed soul, serving as the warp of the sky!'”
#64
برین گونه منزل به منزل سپاه
✦
همی راند تا پیش آن رزمگاه
“Thus stage by stage the army rode onward, until they reached the edge of that battlefield,”
#65
که لشکرگه نامور شاه بود
✦
سکندر که با بخت همراه بود
“Where lay the encampment of the renowned king, Alexander, he whose fortune was ever his companion.”
#66
سکندر بران بیشه بنهاد رخت
✦
که آب روان بود و جای درخت
“Alexander pitched his camp in a grove filled with running waters and shady trees.”
#67
به طینوش گفت ایدر آرام گیر
✦
چو آسوده گردی می و جام گیر
“He said to Taynush, 'Rest here awhile; when you are refreshed, partake of wine and the cup.'”
#68
شوم هرچ گفتم به جای آورم
✦
ز هر گونه پاکیزه رای آورم
“'I shall go to fulfill all that I promised, and bring forth pure counsel of every kind.'”
#69
سکندر بیامد به پرده سرای
✦
سپاهش برفتند یک سر ز جای
“Alexander entered his royal pavilion, while all his host rose up from their places.”
#70
ز شادی خروشیدن آراستند
✦
کلاه کیانی بپیراستند
“In their joy they raised clamorous shouts, and adorned his royal crown anew.”
#71
که نومید بد لشکر نامجوی
✦
که دانست کش باز بینند روی
“For the fame-seeking army had lost hope; who could have known they would look upon his face again?”
#72
سپه با زبانها پر از آفرین
✦
یکایک نهادند سر بر زمین
“With tongues full of praise, the soldiers one by one bowed their heads down to the earth.”
#73
ز لشکر گزین کرد پس شهریار
✦
ازان نامداران رومی هزار
“Then the monarch chose from his army a thousand renowned Roman warriors.”
#74
زره‌دار با گُرزهٔ گاوروی
✦
برفتند گردان پرخاشجوی
“Clad in armor and bearing bull-headed maces, those aggressive champions advanced.”
#75
همه گرد بر گرد آن بیشه مرد
✦
کشیدند صف با سلیح نبرد
“All around that grove, armed warriors drew up in battle lines with weapons ready.”
#76
سکندر خروشید کای مرد تیز
✦
همی جنگ رای آیدت گر گریز
“Alexander roared out: 'O bold man! Do you now desire battle, or flight?'”
#77
بلرزید طینوش بر جای خویش
✦
پشیمان شد از دانش و رای خویش
“Taynush trembled where he stood, regretting his own judgment and wisdom.”
#78
بدو گفت کای شاه برترمنش
✦
ستایش گزینی به از سرزنش
“He said to him: 'O high-minded King! Choosing praise is far better than choosing reproach.'”
#79
چنان هم که با خویش من قیدروش
✦
بزرگی کن و راستی را بکوش
“'Just as you did with my kinsman Qaydrus, act with magnanimity and strive for truth.'”
#80
نه این بود پیمانت با مادرم
✦
نگفتی که از راستی نگذرم؟
“'Was this not your covenant with my mother? Did you not say that you would never swerve from truth?'”
#81
سکندر بدو گفت کای شهریار
✦
چرا سست گشتی بدین مایه کار
“Alexander said to him, "O prince, why have you lost heart over a matter such as this?"”
#82
ز من ایمنی بیم در دل مدار
✦
نیازارد از من کسی زان تبار
“"You are safe with me, harbour no fear in your heart; no one of your lineage shall suffer harm from me."”
#83
نگردم ز پیمان قیدافه من
✦
نه نیکو بود شاه پیمان‌شکن
“"I will not break my pledge to Qaydafah, for it ill becomes a sovereign to violate his covenant."”
#84
پیاده شد از باره طینوش زود
✦
زمین را ببوسید و زاری نمود
“Taynush swiftly dismounted from his steed, kissed the ground, and wept in gratitude.”
#85
جهاندار بگرفت دستش به دست
✦
بدان گونه کو گفت پیمان ببست
“The world-ruler took him by the hand and sealed the pact just as he had promised.”
#86
بدو گفت مندیش و رامش گزین
✦
من از تو ندارم به دل هیچ کین
“He said to him, "Trouble yourself no more, but choose delight; I harbor no malice toward you in my heart."”
#87
چو مادرت بر تخت زرین نشست
✦
من اندر نهادم به دست تو دست
“"When your mother sat upon the golden throne, I placed your hand within mine."”
#88
بگفتم که من دست شاه زمین
✦
به دست تو اندر نهم هم‌چنین
“"I pledged then that I would place the hand of the lord of the world into your hand in just this way."”
#89
همان روز پیمان من شد تمام
✦
نه خوب آید از شاه گفتار خام
“"On that very day my vow was fulfilled; raw and unconsidered speech does not suit a king."”
#90
سکندر منم وان زمان من بدم
✦
به خوبی بسی داستانها زدم
“"I am Alexander, and I was that envoy back then; full well did I weave many tales."”
#91
همان روز قیدافه آگاه بود
✦
که اندر کفت پنجهٔ شاه بود
“"Even on that day Qaydafah knew full well that in your palm rested the hand of the monarch."”
#92
پرستنده را گفت قیصر که تخت
✦
بیارای زیر گلفشان درخت
“The Caesar then commanded his servants: "Prepare a royal throne beneath the flower-scattering tree."”
#93
بفرمود تا خوان بیاراستند
✦
نوازندهٔ رود و می خواستند
“He ordered a lavish banquet to be spread, and called for players of the lute and for wine.”
#94
بفرمود تا خلعت خسروی
✦
ز رومی و چینی و از پهلوی
“He bade royal robes of honor to be brought forth, woven of Roman, Chinese, and Parthian fabrics.”
#95
ببخشید یارانش را سیم و زر
✦
کرا در خور آمد کلاه و کمر
“He bestowed silver and gold upon his companions, and gave crowns and belts of honor to all who merited them.”
#96
به طینوش فرمود کایدر مه‌ایست
✦
که این بیشه دورست راه تو نیست
“He said to Taynush, "Tarry no longer here, for this forest is far away and not your rightful place."”
#97
به قیدافه گوی ای هشیوار زن
✦
جهاندار و بینادل و رای‌زن
“"Say to Qaydafah: 'O wise woman, ruler of the world, enlightened of heart, and sagacious counselor!'"”
#98
بدارم وفای تو تا زنده‌ام
✦
روان را به مهر تو آگنده‌ام
“"'I shall remain faithful to your covenant as long as I live; I have filled my soul with your affection.'"”