#1
سکندر سپه را به بابل کشید
✦
ز گرد سپه شد هوا ناپدید
“Sikandar led his army toward Babylon; the sky vanished behind the dust of his troops.”
#2
همی راند یک ماه خود با سپاه
✦
ندیدند زیشان کس آرامگاه
“For a full month he marched with his host, and none among them found a moment's rest.”
#3
بدین‌گونه تا سوی کوهی رسید
✦
ز دیدار دیده سرش ناپدید
“Thus they advanced until they reached a mountain whose head was hidden from human sight.”
#4
به سر بر یکی ابر تاریک بود
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به کیوان تو گفتی که نزدیک بود
“A dark cloud hovered above its summit, which seemed so high as to touch the sphere of Saturn.”
#5
به جایی بروبر ندیدند راه
✦
فروماند از راه شاه و سپاه
“Nowhere could they discover a path to cross; the King and his army stood utterly helpless.”
#6
گذشتند بر کوه خارا به رنج
✦
وزو خیره شد مرد باریک سنج
“With great effort they traversed that mountain of granite, perplexing even the most discerning thinkers.”
#7
ز رفتن چو گشتند یکسر ستوه
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یکی ژرف دریا بد آن روی کوه
“When they were utterly exhausted from marching, a deep sea appeared on the other side of the mountain.”
#8
پدید آمد و شاد شد زان سپاه
✦
که دریا و هامون بدیدند راه
“The host rejoiced at the sight, for they finally beheld a way by sea and open plain.”
#9
سوی ژرف دریا همی راندند
✦
جهان‌آفرین را همی خواندند
“They pressed forward toward that deep sea, calling continuously upon the Creator of the World.”
#10
دد و دام بد هر سوی بی‌شمار
✦
سپه را نبد خوردنی جز شکار
“Wild beasts abounded on every side; the army had no food save what they hunted.”
#11
پدید آمد از دور مردی سترگ
✦
پر از موی با گوشهای بزرگ
“From afar there appeared a monstrous man, covered in thick hair and possessing gigantic ears.”
#12
تنش زیر موی اندرون همچو نیل
✦
دو گوشش به کردار دو گوش پیل
“His body beneath the hair was dark as indigo, and his two ears resembled the ears of an elephant.”
#13
چو دیدند گردنکشان زان نشان
✦
ببردند پیش سکندر کشان
“When the proud warriors beheld such a spectacle, they seized him and dragged him before Sikandar.”
#14
سکندر نگه کرد زو خیره ماند
✦
بروبر همی نام یزدان بخواند
“Sikandar gazed at him in sheer amazement, praising the name of God over his marvel.”
#15
چه مردی بدو گفت نام تو چیست
✦
ز دریا چه یابی و کام تو چیست
“"What kind of man art thou?" he asked. "What is thy name? What dost thou obtain from the sea, and what is thy desire?"”
#16
بدو گفت شاها مرا باب و مام
✦
همان گوش بستر نهادند نام
“He replied, "O King, my father and mother bestowed upon me the name Gosh-Bastar (Ear-Bedded)."”
#17
بپرسید کان چیست بمیان آب
✦
کزان سوی می برزند آفتاب
“The King asked, "What lies across that water, whence the sun rises into the sky?"”
#18
ازان پس چنین گفت کای شهریار
✦
همیشه بدی در جهان نامدار
“Gosh-Bastar said, "O Sovereign, who hast ever been renowned throughout the world,"”
#19
یکی شارستانست این چون بهشت
✦
که گویی نه از خاک دارد سرشت
“"There lies a city like unto paradise, as though its essence were not wrought of common earth.”
#20
نبینی بدواندر ایوان و خان
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مگر پوشش از ماهی و استخوان
“Within it thou shalt see no halls or dwellings save those fashioned from fish skin and bones.”
#21
بر ایوانها چهر افراسیاب
✦
نگاریده روشن‌تر از آفتاب
“Upon its palace walls, the likeness of Afrasiab is painted brighter than the sun itself.”
#22
همان چهر کیخسرو جنگ‌جوی
✦
بزرگی و مردی و فرهنگ اوی
“Likewise is depicted the countenance of warlike Kay Khosrow, his grandeur, his valor, and his wisdom.”
#23
بران استخوان بر نگاریده پاک
✦
نبینی به شهر اندرون گرد و خاک
“Painted purely upon bone, thou shalt find not a speck of dust or dirt within that realm.”
#24
ز ماهی بود مردمان را خورش
✦
ندارند چیزی جزین پرورش
“The people subsist entirely upon fish, having no other nourishment for their support.”
#25
چو فرمان دهد نامبردار شاه
✦
روم من بران شارستان بی‌سپاه
“If the illustrious King commands, I shall cross over to that city alone, without an army."”
#26
سکندر بدان گوش ور گفت رو
✦
بیاور کسی تا چه بینیم نو
“Sikandar said to that eared creature, "Go, and bring someone hence, that we may behold something novel."”
#27
بشد گوش بستر هم اندر زمان
✦
ازان شارستان برد مردم دمان
“Gosh-Bastar departed at once, and swiftly brought back inhabitants from that mysterious city.”
#28
گذشتند بر آب هفتاد مرد
✦
خرد یافته مردم سالخورد
“Seventy men crossed the water—aged elders possessing wisdom and experience.”
#29
همه جامه‌هاشان ز خز و حریر
✦
ازو چند برنا بد و چند پیر
“Their garments were all of beaver fur and fine silk; among them were both young men and elders.”
#30
ازو هرک پیری بد و نام داشت
✦
پر از در زرین یکی جام داشت
“Every renowned elder carried a goblet of gold filled to the brim with brilliant pearls.”
#31
کسی کو جوان بود تاجی به دست
✦
بر قیصر آمد سرافگنده پست
“The youths held crowns in their hands, bowing low and humbly as they approached Caesar.”
#32
برفتند و بردند پیشش نماز
✦
بگفتند با او زمانی دراز
“They offered homage before him and conversed with the King for a long time.”
#33
ببود آن شب و گاه بانگ خروس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“They remained that night; at cockcrow, the sound of the royal war drum echoed from the court.”
#34
وزان جایگه سوی بابل کشید
✦
زمین گشت از لشکرش ناپدید
“And from that place Sikandar moved toward Babylon, the ground vanishing beneath his marching army.”