Having rested for a full month by the emerald shores of the sea, Sekandar mobilized his imperial host and struck out across the vast and arid wilderness. Advancing stage by stage, he reached the fertile and well-fortified city of Hulwan. The noble and wise men of the realm emerged with gifts and tribute to greet the conqueror of the world. Sekandar inquired of them regarding the wonders of their realm, but the elders answered that beyond their borders lay only barren desolation, poverty, and useless toil where nothing of worth could be gained.
Hearing these words, the king wasted no time and turned his legions from Hulwan toward the lands of Sind. There, the Sindian horsemen—still bitter and aggrieved by the tragic fate of Fowr—had forged an alliance with Indian warriors, eager to shed blood. They assembled war elephants bearing Indian bells, their war-horns echoing across the plains. Leading the Sindian forces was Bandah, a proud and ambitious champion. The two armies collided in a brutal melee, piling bodies high as mountains until the earth shook. By nightfall, the Sindian army was utterly broken; Sekandar pressed the pursuit, capturing eighty-five mighty war elephants, golden crowns, Indian blades, and vast stores of treasure.
The helpless inhabitants—women, children, and the elderly—walked weeping to the conqueror's tent, pleading with him to spare their realm and reminding him of the transience of all earthly glory. Yet Sekandar showed no mercy to the vanquished, taking countless captives of all ages. Cleansing the land of all resistance, he pressed onward through Bast to Nimruz, before setting his sights upon the realm of Yemen.
Upon hearing of the world-conqueror's arrival, the King of Yemen and his chieftains rode out to meet him with majestic tribute: ten camel-loads of fine Yemeni textiles, five loaded with gold dinars, ten laden with silver dirhams, a thousand baskets of saffron, cups carved of emerald and lapis lazuli filled with unpierced pearls and brilliant yellow and red rubies. Sekandar received the ruler of Yemen with great honor, seating him near his throne. The King of Yemen offered warm praise and invited the army to rest for two months. Sekandar returned the blessing, wishing him eternal wisdom, before the dawn broke to the resounding fanfare of the imperial army.
#1
بدان جایگه شاه ماهی بماند
✦
پس‌انگه بجنبید و لشکر براند
“At that place the king remained for a month; thereafter he mobilized his forces and marched forth.”
#2
ازان سبز دریا چو گشتند باز
✦
بیابان گرفتند و راه دراز
“Turning back from that green sea, they took to the wilderness and the long road ahead.”
#3
چو منزل به منزل به حلوان رسید
✦
یکی مایه‌ور باره و شهر دید
“As he reached Hulwan stage by stage, he beheld a prosperous horse-breeding land and city.”
#4
به پیش آمدندش بزرگان شهر
✦
کسی کش ز نام و خرد بود بهر
“The grandees of the city came forward to meet him—those who possessed a share of fame and wisdom.”
#5
برفتند با هدیه و با نثار
✦
ز حلوان سران تا در شهریار
“The chieftains of Hulwan went forth with gifts and offerings unto the gate of the King.”
#6
سکندر سبک پرسش اندر گرفت
✦
که ایدر چه بینید چیزی شگفت
“Sekandar swiftly inquired of them: 'What wondrous thing do you see in this land?'”
#7
بدو گفت گوینده کای شهریار
✦
ندانیم چیزی که آید به کار
“The speaker said to him: 'O King! We know of nothing here that might be of use.'”
#8
برین مرز درویشی و رنج هست
✦
کزین بگذری باد ماند به دست
“'In this realm there is only poverty and toil; if you pass beyond this, only wind will remain in your hands.'”
#9
چو گفتار گوینده بشنید شاه
✦
ز حلوان سوی سند شد با سپاه
“When the king heard the speaker's words, he marched with his host from Hulwan toward Sind.”
#10
پذیره شدندش سواران سند
✦
همان جنگ را یاور آمد ز هند
“The horsemen of Sind came to meet him, and warriors from India came to assist them in battle.”
#11
هرانکس که از فور دل خسته بود
✦
به خون ریختن دستها شسته بود
“Whoever had been heart-broken by Fowr's fall had washed their hands in the shedding of blood.”
#12
بردند پیلان و هندی درای
✦
خروش آمد و نالهٔ کرنای
“They brought war-elephants and Indian bells; there arose clamor and the wail of trumpets.”
#13
سر سندیان بود بنداه نام
✦
سواری سرافراز با رای و کام
“The leader of the Sindians was named Bandah, a proud rider possessing judgment and ambition.”
#14
یکی رزمشان کرده شد همگروه
✦
زمین شد ز افگنده بر سان کوه
“A battle was joined among them in mass; the earth became like a mountain with the fallen.”
#15
شب آمد بران دشت سندی نماند
✦
سکندر سپاه از پس‌اندر براند
“Night fell, and not a Sindian remained on that plain; Sekandar drove his army in pursuit.”
#16
به دست آمدش پیل هشتاد و پنج
✦
همان تاج زرین و شمشیر و گنج
“Into his hands fell eighty-five elephants, as well as golden crowns, swords, and treasure.”
#17
زن و کودک و پیر مردان به راه
✦
برفتند گریان به نزدیک شاه
“Women, children, and old men along the way went weeping to the King,”
#18
که ای شاه بیدار با رای و هوش
✦
مشور این بر و بوم و بر بد مکوش
“Saying: 'O vigilant King of judgment and intellect, do not ravage this land, nor strive for evil!'”
#19
که فرجام هم روز تو بگذرد
✦
خنک آنک گیتی به بد نسپرد
“'For in the end your day too shall pass; blessed is he who yields not the world to wickedness!'”
#20
سکندر بریشان نیاورد مهر
✦
بران خستگان هیچ ننمود چهر
“Sekandar showed them no affection, nor did he turn his face toward those wounded souls.”
#21
گرفتند زیشان فراوان اسیر
✦
زن و کودک خرد و برنا و پیر
“They took countless captives from them—women, young children, youths, and the aged.”
#22
سوی نیمروز آمد از راه بست
✦
همه روی گیتی ز دشمن بشست
“He came toward Nimruz by the way of Bast, cleansing the whole face of the earth of enemies.”
#23
وزان جایگه شد به سوی یمن
✦
جهاندار و با نامدار انجمن
“And from that place the world-conqueror went toward Yemen, accompanied by his renowned assembly.”
#24
چو بشنید شاه یمن با مهان
✦
بیامد بر شهریار جهان
“When the King of Yemen heard of it along with his nobles, he came before the King of the world.”
#25
بسی هدیه‌ها کز یمن برگزید
✦
بهاگیر و زیبا چنانچون سزید
“He brought many gifts chosen from Yemen, precious and beautiful as befitted the monarch.”
#26
ده اشتر ز برد یمن بار کرد
✦
دگر پنج را بار دینار کرد
“He loaded ten camels with Yemeni striped cloth, and five more he loaded with golden dinars.”
#27
دگر ده شتر بار کرد از درم
✦
چو باشد درم دل نباشد به غم
“Another ten camels he loaded with silver dirhams; for when dirhams are present, the heart knows no grief.”
#28
دگر سلهٔ زعفران بد هزار
✦
ز دیبا و هرجامهٔ بی‌شمار
“There were also a thousand baskets of saffron, and uncounted brocades and garments of every kind.”
#29
زبرجد یکی جام بودش به گنج
✦
همان در ناسفته هفتاد و پنج
“He had an emerald cup in his treasure, as well as seventy-five unpierced pearls.”
#30
یکی جام دیگر بدش لاژورد
✦
نهاد اندرو شست یاقوت زرد
“He had another cup of lapis lazuli, wherein he placed sixty yellow rubies.”
#31
ز یاقوت سرخ از برش ده نگین
✦
به فرمانبران داد و کرد آفرین
“With ten red ruby rings above them, he gave these to the attendants and bestowed praises.”
#32
به پیش سراپردهٔ شهریار
✦
رسیدند با هدیه و با نثار
“They arrived before the pavilion of the King with gifts and offerings.”
#33
سکندر بپرسید و بنواختشان
✦
بر تخت نزدیک بنشاختشان
“Sekandar greeted and welcomed them warmly, seating them near his throne.”
#34
برو آفرین کرد شاه یمن
✦
که پیروزگر باش بر انجمن
“The King of Yemen praised him, saying: 'May you be victorious over every assembly!'”
#35
به تو شادم ار باشی ایدر دو ماه
✦
برآساید از راه شاه و سپاه
“'I would be joyful if you remain here for two months, so that the King and host may rest from the road.'”
#36
سکندر برو آفرین کرد و گفت
✦
که با تو همیشه خرد باد جفت
“Sekandar praised him in turn and said: 'May wisdom ever be your companion!'”
#37
به شبگیر شاه یمن بازگشت
✦
ز لشکر جهانی پر آواز گشت
“At daybreak the King of Yemen returned, and the world echoed with the sound of the host.”