#1
ز راه بیابان به شهری رسید
✦
ببد شاد کآواز مردم شنید
“From the desert trail he reached a city, and was gladdened to hear the voices of human folk.”
#2
همه بوم و بر باغ آباد بود
✦
در مردم از خرمی شاد بود
“The entire land was a prosperous garden, and the faces of the people were radiant with joy.”
#3
پذیره شدندش بزرگان شهر
✦
کسی را که از مردمی بود بهر
“The nobles of the city, and all who possessed a share of humanity, came forth to welcome him.”
#4
برو همگنان آفرین خواندند
✦
همه زر و گوهر برافشاندند
“They all sang praises upon him and scattered gold and jewels before him.”
#5
همی گفت هرکس که ای شهریار
✦
انوشه که کردی بمابر گذار
“Everyone exclaimed: "O Sovereign, blessed and immortal be thy pass through our lands!"”
#6
بدین شهر هرگز نیامد سپاه
✦
نه هرگز شنیدست کس نام شاه
“"Never before has an army entered this city, nor had anyone here ever heard the name of a king."”
#7
کنون کامدی جان ما پیش تست
✦
که روشن‌روان بادی و تن درست
“"Now that thou hast come, our lives are at thy service; may thy spirit be enlightened and thy body whole!"”
#8
سکندر دل از مردمان شاد کرد
✦
ز راه بیابان تن آزاد کرد
“Iskandar gladdened his heart with the people and freed his body from the fatigue of the desert road.”
#9
بپرسید ازیشان که ایدر شگفت
✦
چه چیزست کاندازه باید گرفت
“He asked them: "What wonder is there here that deserves to be beheld and measured?"”
#10
چنین داد پاسخ بدو رهنمای
✦
که ای شاه پیروز پاکیزه‌رای
“Thus answered him the guide: "O victorious King of pure judgment,”
#11
شگفتیست ایدر که اندر جهان
✦
کسی آن ندید آشکار و نهان
“"There is a wonder here such as no one in all the world, openly or in secret, hath ever beheld.”
#12
درختیست ایدر دو بن گشته جفت
✦
که چونان شگفتی نشاید نهفت
“"Here stands a tree whose twin trunks are joined as one; so marvel a wonder cannot remain concealed.”
#13
یکی ماده و دیگری نر اوی
✦
سخن‌گو بود شاخ با رنگ و بوی
“"One trunk is female and the other male; its colorful, fragrant branches speak in human voice.”
#14
به شب ماده گویا و بویا شود
✦
چو روشن شود نر گویا شود
“"By night the female grows vocal and aromatic; when day breaks, the male tree speaks."”
#15
سکندر بشد با سواران روم
✦
همان نامداران آن مرز و بوم
“Iskandar set forth alongside the Roman knights and the chieftains of that land.”
#16
بپرسید زیشان که اکنون درخت
✦
سخن کی سراید به آواز سخت
“He asked of them: "When will this tree now utter its speech with a powerful voice?"”
#17
چنین داد پاسخ بدو ترجمان
✦
که از روز چون بگذرد نه زمان
“The interpreter replied to him: "When nine parts of the daytime have passed,”
#18
سخن‌گوی گردد یکی زین درخت
✦
که آواز او بشنود نیک‌بخت
“"One trunk of this tree shall become vocal, that the fortunate man may hear its sound.”
#19
شب تیره‌گون ماده گویا شود
✦
بر و برگ چون مشک بویا شود
“"In the dark night the female trunk speaks, and its fruit and leaves become fragrant as musk."”
#20
بپرسید چون بگذریم از درخت
✦
شگفتی چه پیش آید ای نیک‌بخت
“He asked: "When we pass beyond this tree, O fortunate man, what wonder shall lie ahead?"”
#21
چنین داد پاسخ کزو بگذری
✦
ز رفتنت کوته شود داوری
“He answered: "Shouldst thou pass beyond it, all thy journeying and striving shall come to an end;”
#22
چو زو برگذشتی نماندت جای
✦
کران جهان خواندش رهنمای
“"When thou hast crossed past it, no place remains for thee; the guide calls it the edge of the world.”
#23
بیابان و تاریکی آید به پیش
✦
به سیری نیامد کس از جان خویش
“"Desert and darkness shall lie ahead; yet no man has ever grown weary of his own life to venture there.”
#24
نه کس دید از ما نه هرگز شنید
✦
که دام و دد و مرغ بر ره پرید
“"None among us has ever seen or heard of wild beast, livestock, or bird flying across that path."”
#25
همی راند با رومیان نیک‌بخت
✦
چو آمد به نزدیک گویا درخت
“The fortunate king rode onward with his Romans, until he arrived near the Talking Tree.”
#26
زمینش ز گرمی همی بردمید
✦
ز پوست ددان خاک پیدا ندید
“The earth steamed from extreme heat, and the bare soil could not be seen for the hides of wild beasts.”
#27
ز گوینده پرسید کین پوست چیست
✦
ددان را برین گونه درنده کیست
“He asked the guide: "What are these hides? Who is the slayer that tears the wild beasts in this manner?"”
#28
چنین داد پاسخ بدو نیک‌بخت
✦
که چندین پرستنده دارد درخت
“The noble guide answered him: "This tree has many worshippers and guardians;”
#29
چو باید پرستندگان را خورش
✦
ز گوشت ددان باشدش پرورش
“"And when the worshippers require food, they sustain themselves upon the flesh of wild beasts."”
#30
چو خورشید بر تیغ گنبد رسید
✦
سکندر ز بالا خروشی شنید
“As the sun reached the crest of the celestial dome, Iskandar heard a roar from above.”
#31
که آمد ز برگ درخت بلند
✦
خروشی پر از سهم و ناسودمند
“A cry full of terror and ill-omen echoed from the leaves of the tall tree.”
#32
بترسید و پرسید زان ترجمان
✦
که ای مرد بیدار نیکی گمان
“He grew fearful and asked the interpreter: "O vigilant man of good omen,”
#33
چنین برگ گویا چه گوید همی
✦
که دل را به خوناب شوید همی
“"What do these speaking leaves utter that wash the heart in tears of blood?"”
#34
چنین داد پاسخ که ای نیک‌بخت
✦
همی گوید این برگ شاخ درخت
“He answered: "O fortunate king, the leaves of this branch say:”
#35
که چندین سکندر چه پوید به دهر
✦
که برداشت از نیکویهایش بهر
“'Why does Iskandar strive so relentlessly through the world, when he has already gathered his fill of its goodness?'"”
#36
ز شاهیش چون سال شد بر دو هفت
✦
ز تخت بزرگی ببایدش رفت
“When fourteen years of his reign have passed, he must depart from the throne of greatness.”
#37
سکندر ز دیده ببارید خون
✦
دلش گشت پر درد از رهنمون
“Sikandar wept tears of blood from his eyes, and his heart grew heavy with anguish at the guide's words.”
#38
ازان پس به کس نیز نگشاد لب
✦
پر از غم همی بود تا نیم‌شب
“Thereafter he opened his lips to no one, remaining consumed with sorrow until midnight.”
#39
سخن‌گوی شد برگ دیگر درخت
✦
دگر باره پرسید زان نیک‌بخت
“Then the leaves of the second tree began to speak, and he questioned that fortunate tree once more.”
#40
چه گوید همی این دگر شاخ گفت
✦
سخن‌گوی بگشاد راز از نهفت
“He asked, 'What does this other branch say?' and the interpreter revealed the hidden secret.”
#41
چنین داد پاسخ که این ماده شاخ
✦
همی گوید اندر جهان فراخ
“The guide answered, 'This female branch speaks thus to you in this wide world:'”
#42
از آز فراوان نگنجی همی
✦
روان را چرا بر شکنجی همی
“'Due to your boundless greed you know no rest; why do you torment your own soul so?'”
#43
ترا آز گرد جهان گشتن است
✦
کس آزردن و پادشا کشتن است
“'Your ambition drives you to wander the earth, tormenting folk and slaying kings.'”
#44
نماندت ایدر فراوان درنگ
✦
مکن روز بر خویشتن تار و تنگ
“'Not much time remains for you here; do not make your remaining days dark and narrow.'”
#45
بپرسید از ترجمان پادشا
✦
که ای مرد روشن‌دل و پارسا
“The king asked the interpreter, 'O man of enlightened heart and righteous mind,'”
#46
یکی بازپرسش که باشم به روم
✦
چو پیش آید آن گردش روز شوم
“'Ask it again: Shall I be in Rome when that dark turn of fate arrives?'”
#47
مگر زنده بیند مرا مادرم
✦
یکی تا به رخ برکشد چادرم
“'So that perhaps my mother might see me alive, and pull the shroud over my face at last.'”
#48
چنین گفت با شاه گویا درخت
✦
که کوتاه کن روز و بربند رخت
“The speaking tree said to the king, 'Shorten your days of wandering and pack your baggage!'”
#49
نه مادرت بیند نه خویشان به روم
✦
نه پوشیده رویان آن مرز و بوم
“'Neither your mother nor your kin in Rome shall see you, nor the veiled women of that realm.'”
#50
به شهر کسان مرگت آید نه دیر
✦
شود اختر و تاج و تخت از تو سیر
“'Your death shall soon come in a foreign land; your fortune, crown, and throne shall tire of you.'”
#51
چو بشنید برگشت زان دو درخت
✦
دلش خسته گشته به شمشیر سخت
“When he heard this, he turned back from those two trees, his heart wounded as if by a sharp sword.”
#52
چو آمد به لشکرگه خویش باز
✦
برفتند گردان گردن‌فراز
“When he returned to his own camp, the proud and noble warriors came forth to meet him.”
#53
به شهر اندرون هدیه‌ها ساختند
✦
بزرگان بر پادشا تاختند
“In the city, gifts were prepared, and the nobles hurried into the king's presence.”
#54
یکی جوشنی بود تابان چو نیل
✦
به بالای و پهنای یک چرم پیل
“Among them was a coat of mail shining like indigo, equal in height and breadth to an elephant's hide.”
#55
دو دندان پیل و برش پنج بود
✦
که آن را به برداشتن رنج بود
“There were two elephant tusks and five spans of breadth, so heavy that lifting them was arduous.”
#56
زره بود و دیبای پرمایه بود
✦
ز زر کرده آگنده صد خایه بود
“There was armor and precious brocade, filled with a hundred golden ornaments shaped like eggs.”
#57
به سنگ درم هر یکی شست من
✦
ز زر و ز گوهر یکی کرگدن
“Each weighing sixty mans of dirhams; and a rhinoceros carved of gold and jewels.”
#58
بپذرفت زان شهر و لشکر براند
✦
ز دیده همی خون دل برفشاند
“He accepted the gifts from that city and marched his army onward, weeping blood from his heart.”