#1
سوی باختر شد چو خاور بدید
✦
ز گیتی همی رای رفتن گزید
“Having surveyed the East, he marched toward the West, resolving to travel across the width of the world.”
#2
بره‌بر یکی شارستان دید پاک
✦
که نگذشت گویی بروباد و خاک
“Along his path he beheld a city so pure it seemed dust and wind had never passed over it.”
#3
چو آواز کوس آمد از پشت پیل
✦
پذیره شدندش بزرگان دو میل
“When the sound of royal drums resounded from the elephant's back, the city's elders went out two leagues to welcome him.”
#4
جهانجوی چون دید بنواختشان
✦
به خورشید گردن برافراختشان
“When the world-conqueror saw them, he bestowed honors upon them and raised their heads to the sun.”
#5
بپرسید کایدر چه باشد شگفت
✦
کزان برتر اندازه نتوان گرفت
“He asked them, 'What wondrous thing exists here, the measure of which cannot be surpassed?'”
#6
زبان برگشادند بر شهریار
✦
به نالیدن از گردش روزگار
“They unloosed their tongues before the king, weeping and lamenting over the turn of fortune.”
#7
که ما را یکی کار پیش است سخت
✦
بگوییم با شاه پیروزبخت
“They said, 'A hard plight lies before us, which we must recount to the victorious king.'”
#8
بدین کوه سر تا به ابر اندرون
✦
دل ما پر از رنج و دردست و خون
“'Beyond this mountain whose crest touches the clouds, our hearts are filled with hardship, pain, and blood.'”
#9
ز چیزی که ما را بدو تاب نیست
✦
ز یاجوج و ماجوج مان خواب نیست
“'Because of a menace against which we have no power—from Yajuj and Majuj we have no rest or sleep.'”
#10
چو آیند بهری سوی شهر ما
✦
غم و رنج باشد همه بهر ما
“'Whenever a horde of them invades our city, our only lot becomes grief and anguish.'”
#11
همه رویهاشان چو روی هیون
✦
زبانها سیه دیده‌ها پر ز خون
“'All their faces resemble that of giant beasts; their tongues are black and their eyes filled with blood.'”
#12
سیه روی و دندانها چون گراز
✦
که یارد شدن نزد ایشان فراز
“'Black-faced with tusks like wild boars—who would dare to approach them?'”
#13
همه تن پر از موی و موی همچو نیل
✦
بر و سینه و گوشهاشان چو پیل
“'Their entire bodies are covered in hair as dark as indigo, and their chests and ears are as massive as an elephant's.'”
#14
بخسپند یکی گوش بستر کنند
✦
دگر بر تن خویش چادر کنند
“'When they sleep, they use one ear as a mattress and cover their body with the other as a blanket.'”
#15
ز هر ماده‌ای بچه زاید هزار
✦
کم و بیش ایشان که داند شمار
“'From every female a thousand offspring are born; who can count their infinite numbers?'”
#16
به گرد آمدن چون ستوران شوند
✦
تگ آرند و بر سان گوران شوند
“'When they gather, they move like herds of cattle; they run swiftly like wild onagers.'”
#17
بهاران کز ابر اندر آید خروش
✦
همان سبز دریا برآید به جوش
“'In spring, when thunder roars from the clouds and the green sea begins to boil,'”
#18
چو تنین ازان موج بردارد ابر
✦
هوا برخروشد بسان هژبر
“'When the cloud lifts the sea monster like a wave, and the air roars like a lion,'”
#19
فرود افگند ابر تنین چو کوه
✦
بیایند زیشان گروها گروه
“'The clouds cast down the sea-serpent like a mountain, and they swarm forth in endless groups.'”
#20
خورش آن بود سال تا سالشان
✦
که آگنده گردد بر و یالشان
“'That serpent serves as their nourishment year-round, filling out their chests and necks.'”
#21
گیاشان بود زان سپس خوردنی
✦
بیارند هر سو ز آوردنی
“'Afterward, their food is whatever grass they can bring in from every direction.'”
#22
چو سرما بود سخت لاغر شوند
✦
به آواز بر سان کفتر شوند
“'When severe cold sets in, they grow lean and cry out like doves.'”
#23
بهاران ببینی به کردار گرگ
✦
بغرند بر سان پیل سترگ
“'Yet in springtime you see them act like wolves, roaring like huge elephants.'”
#24
اگر پادشا چاره‌ای سازدی
✦
کزین غم دل ما بپردازدی
“'If the king could devise a remedy to relieve our hearts of this sorrow,'”
#25
بسی آفرین یابد از هرکسی
✦
ازان پس به گیتی بماند بسی
“'He will receive abundant blessings from all, and his memory will endure long in the world.'”
#26
بزرگی کن و رنج ما را بساز
✦
هم از پاک یزدان نه‌ای بی‌نیاز
“'Show your greatness and relieve our distress, for you too are not independent of holy God.'”
#27
سکندر بماند اندر ایشان شگفت
✦
غمی گشت و اندیشه‌ها برگرفت
“Sikandar was astonished by their tale; he grew sorrowful and became immersed in deep thoughts.”
#28
چنین داد پاسخ که از ماست گنج
✦
ز شهر شما یارمندی و رنج
“He answered: 'The treasure shall come from us; from your city we require assistance and labor.'”
#29
برآرم من این راه ایشان به رای
✦
بنیروی نیکی دهش یک خدای
“'I shall block their passage through wise planning, by the power of the One Good-Bestowing God.'”
#30
یکایک بگفتند کای شهریار
✦
ز تو دور بادا بد روزگار
“They all cried out together, 'O King, may the evil of bad fortune be far from thee!'”
#31
ز ما هرچ باید همه بنده‌ایم
✦
پرستنده باشیم تا زنده‌ایم
“'Whatever you require of us, we are your servants, and shall remain your worshippers as long as we live.'”
#32
بیاریم چندانک خواهی تو چیز
✦
کزین بیش کاری نداریم نیز
“'We will bring whatever materials you desire, for we have no other task beside this.'”
#33
سکندر بیامد نگه کرد کوه
✦
بیاورد زان فیلسوفان گروه
“Sikandar came and examined the mountain pass, and brought together a host of philosophers and sages.”
#34
بفرمود کاهنگران آورید
✦
مس و روی و پتک گران آورید
“He commanded: 'Bring blacksmiths, along with copper, brass, and heavy hammers.'”
#35
گچ و سنگ و هیزم فزون از شمار
✦
بیارید چندانک آید به کار
“'Bring plaster, stone, and firewood beyond count—as much as may be needed for the work.'”
#36
بی‌اندازه بردند چیزی که خواست
✦
چو شد ساخته کار و اندیشه راست
“They brought endless materials as requested; when all was prepared, his grand design was set straight.”
#37
ز دیوارگر هم ز آهنگران
✦
هرانکس که استاد بود اندران
“Every builder and master blacksmith who was skilled in the craft,”
#38
ز گیتی به پیش سکندر شدند
✦
بدان کار بایسته یاور شدند
“Gathered from across the world before Sikandar to assist in that essential task.”
#39
ز هر کشوری دانشی شد گروه
✦
دو دیوار کرد از دو پهلوی کوه
“Wise men from every land joined together, and built two giant walls connecting the two flanks of the mountain.”
#40
ز بن تا سر تیغ بالای اوی
✦
چو صد شاه‌رش کرده پهنای اوی
“From the base to the top of the mountain ridge, its width was made a hundred royal cubits wide.”
#41
ازو یک رش انگشت و آهن یکی
✦
پراگنده مس در میان اندکی
“One cubit of layer was laid with charcoal and one with iron, with melted copper scattered between.”
#42
همی ریخت گوگردش اندر میان
✦
چنین باشد افسون دانا کیان
“Sulfur was poured in between them—such is the secret craft of ancient sages.”
#43
همی ریخت هر گوهری یک رده
✦
چو از خاک تا تیغ شد آژده
“They laid a row of every precious mineral until it was filled tightly from the ground to the peak.”
#44
بسی نفت و روغن برآمیختند
✦
همی بر سر گوهران ریختند
“They mixed abundant naphtha and oil, and poured it continuously over the minerals.”
#45
به خروار انگشت بر سر زدند
✦
بفرمود تا آتش اندر زدند
“They piled loads of charcoal upon it, and the king commanded them to set it ablaze.”
#46
دم آورد و آهنگران صدهزار
✦
به فرمان پیروزگر شهریار
“A hundred thousand blacksmiths brought forth bellows, obeying the command of the victorious monarch.”
#47
خروش دمنده برآمد ز کوه
✦
ستاره شد از تف آتش ستوه
“The roar of the blowing bellows echoed from the mountain, and the stars grew weary from the fiery heat.”
#48
چنین روزگاری برآمد بران
✦
دم آتش و رنج آهنگران
“In this manner a time elapsed, amid the blast of flames and the labor of the smiths.”
#49
گهرها یک اندر دگر ساختند
✦
وزان آتش تیز بگداختند
“They fused the metals together and melted them down in that fierce, blazing fire.”
#50
ز یاجوج و ماجوج گیتی برست
✦
زمین گشت جای خرام و نشست
“Thus the world was delivered from Gog and Magog, and the earth became a sanctuary of tranquility and repose.”
#51
برش پانصد بود بالای اوی
✦
چو سیصد بدی نیز پهنای اوی
“Its height reached five hundred cubits, and its breadth was three hundred.”
#52
ازان نامور سد اسکندری
✦
جهانی برست از بد داوری
“By means of that famous Barrier of Alexander, the world was saved from cruel destiny.”
#53
برو مهتران خواندند آفرین
✦
که بی‌تو مبادا زمان و زمین
“The elders chanted blessings upon him, saying: 'May the world and time never be bereft of thee!'”
#54
ز چیزی که بود اندران جایگاه
✦
فراوان ببردند نزدیک شاه
“From all the riches present in that region, they brought forth abundant gifts unto the king.”
#55
نپذرفت ازیشان و خود برگرفت
✦
جهان مانده زان کار اندر شگفت
“He accepted nothing from them and departed, leaving all the world in awe of his grand deed.”