As dawn broke and bent back the dark veil of night, Prince Manuchehr arose from the central core of the Iranian vanguard, encased in heavy armor, bearing a sword at his side and topped with a polished Roman helmet. The vast army of Iran let out a unified war cry, hoisting their glinting spearheads into the very clouds. With brows furrowed in righteous anger, they advanced in tight formations over the trembling ground. Manuchehr arrayed his host—flanks, center, left, and right—with supreme kingly skill. Under the crushing tread of war-elephants and armigerous cohorts, the earth quivered like a ship tossing on violent seas. Brass gongs resounded from the backs of great elephants, and the blare of war-horns and trumpets turned the battlefield into a roaring arena. The two massive hosts collided like moving mountains, turning the desert into a boundless sea of blood until it seemed wild crimson tulips had sprouted across the land, and the legs of war-elephants stood stained like columns of carnelian. Throughout the day's brutal carnage, victory belonged decisively to Manuchehr, whose presence filled the hearts of his realm with warmth and hope. When pitch night settled over the sky and hid the radiant sun, the clash subsided—a stern reminder that Fate dispenses sweet nectar at one moment and deadly bitter poison at the next. Yet inside the dark hearts of Tur and Salm, defeat brewed vengeance; they huddled in the shadows to plan a desperate midnight raid, though come the morning light, terror held them back and they chose instead the recourse of cautious delay.
#1
سپیده چو از تیره شب بردمید
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میان شب تیره اندر خمید
“When dawn broke forth from the dark night, the dark night receded and bent away.”
#2
منوچهر برخاست از قلب‌گاه
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ابا جوشن و تیغ و رومی کلاه
“Manuchehr arose from the center of the host, arrayed in mail, sword, and a Roman helmet.”
#3
سپه یکسره نعره برداشتند
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سنان‌ها به ابر اندر افراشتند
“The entire host raised a mighty roar, lifting their spearheads high into the clouds.”
#4
پر از خشم سر ابروان پر ز چین
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همی بر نوشتند روی زمین
“Full of wrath, brows heavily furrowed, they swept over the surface of the earth.”
#5
چپ و راست و قلب و جناح سپاه
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بیاراست لشکر چو بایست شاه
“Left, right, center, and flanks—the king arrayed the army as behooved a monarch.”
#6
زمین شد به کردار کشتی بر آب
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تو گفتی سوی غرق دارد شتاب
“The earth became like a ship upon the water; you would say it rushed toward drowning.”
#7
بزد مهره بر کوههٔ ژنده پیل
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زمین جنب‌جنبان چو دریای نیل
“They struck the brass gong upon the war-elephant's saddle; the earth quaked like the River Nile.”
#8
همان پیش پیلان تبیره زنان
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خروشان و جوشان و پیلان دمان
“Before the elephants, drum-bealers raised their clamor, while the war-elephants roared and raged.”
#9
یکی بزمگاه‌ست گفتی به‌جای
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ز شیپور و نالیدن کره نای
“You would say a feast-place had been laid, so loud was the blare of trumpets and brass horns.”
#10
برفتند از جای یکسر چو کوه
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دهاده برآمد ز هر دو گروه
“They moved from their ranks altogether like solid mountains; a tumultuous roar arose from both armies.”
#11
بیابان چو دریای خون شد درست
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تو گفتی که روی زمین لاله رست
“The wilderness became truly like a sea of blood; you would say wild tulips sprouted across the earth.”
#12
پی ژنده پیلان به خون اندرون
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چنان چون ز بیجاده باشد ستون
“The feet of the giant elephants sank into blood, looking like pillars fashioned from red carnelian.”
#13
همه چیرگی با منوچهر بود
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کزو مغز گیتی پر از مهر بود
“Total mastery lay with Manuchehr, for the world's heart was filled with love for him.”
#14
چنین تا شب تیره سر بر کشید
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درخشنده خورشید شد ناپدید
“Thus it continued until pitch night raised its head, and the shining sun vanished from sight.”
#15
زمانه به یک سان ندارد درنگ
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گهی شهد و نوش است و گاهی شرنگ
“Time remains not in a single state—sometimes it brings honey and sweet drinks, and sometimes poison.”
#16
دل تور و سلم اندر آمد به‌جوش
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به راه شبیخون نهادند گوش
“The hearts of Tur and Salm boiled over with wrath; they set their ears toward planning a night ambush.”
#17
چو شب روز شد کس نیامد به جنگ
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دو جنگی گرفتند ساز درنگ
“When night became day, no one came forth to fight; the two warriors adopted a strategy of delay.”