#1
چو آمد به نزدیکی بارگاه
✦
بگفتند با شاه زان بارخواه
“When he drew near to the royal court, the chamberlain informed the King of his arrival.”
#2
جوان را به مهر اردوان پیش خواند
✦
ز بابک سخنها فراوان براند
“Ardavan welcomed the youth with affection and spoke at length of Babak.”
#3
به نزدیکی تخت بنشاختش
✦
به برزن یکی جایگه ساختش
“He seated him near his own throne and appointed for him a worthy dwelling in the city.”
#4
فرستاد هرگونه‌ای خوردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنی هم ز گستردنی
“He sent him every kind of food, along with fine robes and rich carpets.”
#5
ابا نامداران بیامد جوان
✦
به جایی که فرموده بود اردوان
“Accompanied by the nobles, the youth proceeded to the abode ordained by Ardavan.”
#6
چو کرسی نهاد از بر چرخ شید
✦
جهان گشت چون روی رومی سپید
“When the radiant sun set its throne in the skies, the world grew bright like a Roman face.”
#7
پرستنده‌ای پیش خواند اردشیر
✦
همان هدیه‌هایی که بد ناگزیر
“Ardashir summoned an attendant to bring the customary presents he had brought.”
#8
فرستاد نزدیک شاه اردوان
✦
فرستادهٔ بابک پهلوان
“The envoy sent by Babak the paladin offered these tribute gifts to King Ardavan.”
#9
بدید اردوان و پسند آمدش
✦
جوانمرد را سودمند آمدش
“Ardavan looked upon them with pleasure, holding the noble youth in high esteem.”
#10
پسروار خسرو همی داشتش
✦
زمانی به تیمار نگذاشتش
“The monarch treated him as a son, never letting him suffer a moment of grief.”
#11
به می خوردن و خوان و نخچیرگاه
✦
به پیش خودش داشتی سال و ماه
“At banquets, feasts, and in the hunting fields, he kept Ardashir by his side continually.”
#12
همی داشتش همچو فرزند خویش
✦
جدایی ندادش ز پیوند خویش
“He cherished him like his own child, never separating him from his royal kin.”
#13
چنان بد که روزی به نخچیرگاه
✦
پراگنده شد لشکر و پور شاه
“It so befell that one day in the hunting field, the royal army and the King's sons scattered.”
#14
همی راند با اردوان اردشیر
✦
جوانمرد را شاه بد دلپذیر
“Ardashir rode beside Ardavan, for the young warrior was very pleasing to the King.”
#15
پسر بود شاه اردوان را چهار
✦
ازان هر یکی چون یکی شهریار
“King Ardavan had four sons, each of whom was like a prince of royal dignity.”
#16
به هامون پدید آمد از دور گور
✦
ازان لشکر گشن برخاست شور
“Far off upon the plain, wild asses appeared, and a great clamor rose from the vast host.”
#17
همه بادپایان برانگیختند
✦
همی گرد با خوی برآمیختند
“They all spurred their fleet horses, mixing the rising dust with sweat.”
#18
همی تاخت پیش اندرون اردشیر
✦
چو نزدیک شد در کمان راند تیر
“Ardashir galloped ahead of all; when he drew near, he fitted an arrow to his bow.”
#19
بزد بر سرون یکی گور نر
✦
گذر کرد بر گور پیکان و پر
“He struck a male wild ass upon the rump; the arrow and its feathers pierced clear through.”
#20
بیامد هم اندر زمان اردوان
✦
بدید آن گشاد و بر آن جوان
“Ardavan rode up at that very moment and witnessed that mighty shot and the prowess of the youth.”
#21
بدید آن یکی گور افگنده گفت
✦
که با دست آنکس هنر باد جفت
“Seeing the fallen wild ass, he exclaimed, "May skill ever be joined with the hand of him who shot this!"”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ به شاه اردشیر
✦
که این گور را من فگندم به تیر
“Ardashir replied to the King, "It was I who felled this wild ass with my arrow."”
#23
پسر گفت کین را من افگنده‌ام
✦
همان جفت را نیز جوینده‌ام
“The King's son retorted, "Nay, I felled it myself, and now I hunt its mate!"”
#24
چنین داد پاسخ بدو اردشیر
✦
که دشتی فراخست و هم گور و تیر
“Ardashir answered him, "The plain is vast, and there is no lack of wild asses or arrows!"”
#25
یکی دیگر افگن برین هم نشان
✦
دروغ از گناهست بر سرکشان
“"Shoot another in the same fashion; for falsehood is a sin among noble chiefs!"”
#26
پر از خشم شد زان جوان اردوان
✦
یکی بانگ برزد به مرد جوان
“Ardavan burned with anger at the youth and shouted fiercely at Ardashir.”
#27
بدو گفت شاه این گناه منست
✦
که پروردن آیین و راه منست
“The King said to him, "This is my fault, for my custom is to nurture and exalt!"”
#28
ترا خود به بزم و به نخچیرگاه
✦
چرا برد باید همی با سپاه
“"Why should I ever have brought thee along with my host to banquets and hunts?"”
#29
بدان تا ز فرزند من بگذری
✦
بلندی گزینی و کنداوری
“"So that thou mightest surpass my son, seeking loftiness and bragging of thy prowess?"”
#30
برو تازی اسپان ما را ببین
✦
هم آن جایگه بر سرایی گزین
“"Go now and tend our Arabian steeds, and choose a dwelling place in that very stable!"”
#31
بران آخر اسپ سالار باش
✦
به هر کار با هر کسی یار باش
“"Be the master of the horse in those stables, and assist everyone in their labors!"”
#32
بیامد پر از آب چشم اردشیر
✦
بر آخر اسپ شد ناگزیر
“Ardashir departed with eyes full of tears and perforce went to the stables.”
#33
یکی نامه بنوشت پیش نیا
✦
پر از غم دل و سر پر از کیمیا
“He wrote a letter to his grandfather Babak, his heart full of sorrow and his head full of schemes.”
#34
که ما را چه پیش آمد از اردوان
✦
که درد تنش باد و رنج روان
“Recounting, "See what has befallen me from Ardavan—may he suffer pain of body and affliction of soul!"”
#35
همه یاد کرد آن کجا رفته بود
✦
کجا اردوان از چه آشفته بود
“He recalled all that had transpired and why Ardavan had grown so enraged.”
#36
چو آن نامه نزدیک بابک رسید
✦
نکرد آن سخن نیز بر کس پدید
“When that letter reached Babak, he revealed its contents to no one.”
#37
دلش گشت زان کار پر درد و رنج
✦
بیاورد دینار چندی ز گنج
“His heart grew full of grief over the matter, and he brought out much gold coin from his treasury.”
#38
فرستاد نزدیک او ده هزار
✦
هیونی برافگند گرد و سوار
“He sent ten thousand coins to Ardashir, dispatching a swift courier on a dromedary.”
#39
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
یکی نامه فرمود زی اردشیر
“He summoned a scribe to his presence and dictated a letter to Ardashir.”
#40
که این کم خرد نورسیده جوان
✦
چو رفتی به نخچیر با اردوان
“Writing: "O foolish, youthful lad, when thou wentest hunting with Ardavan,"”
#41
چرا تاختی پیش فرزند اوی
✦
پرستنده‌ای تو نه پیوند اوی
“"Why didst thou ride ahead of his son? Thou art a servant in his eyes, not of his blood!"”
#42
نکردی به تو دشمنی ار بدی
✦
که خود کرده‌ای تو به نابخردی
“"He would not have been thy foe had he been evil; thou hast brought this upon thyself through foolishness!"”
#43
کنون کام و خشنودی او بجوی
✦
مگردان ز فرمان او هیچ روی
“"Now seek his desire and pleasure, and turn not thy face away from his command!"”
#44
ز دینار لختی فرستادمت
✦
به نامه درون پندها دادمت
“"I have sent thee a portion of gold dinars, and bestowed advice upon thee in this letter."”
#45
هرانگه که این مایه بردی بکار
✦
دگر خواه تا بگذرد روزگار
“"Whenever thou hast spent this wealth, ask for more, that time may pass smoothly for thee."”
#46
تگاور هیون جهاندیده پیر
✦
بیامد دوان تا بر اردشیر
“A swift-stepping camel, bearing a wise and seasoned messenger, came running straight to Ardashir.”
#47
چو آن نامه برخواند خرسند گشت
✦
دلش سوی نیرنگ و اروند گشت
“When Ardashir read that letter, his heart was pleased, and his mind turned toward cunning, strategy, and power.”
#48
بگسترد هرگونه گستردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنیها و از خوردنی
“He spread out every manner of fine provision—garments of all kinds and abundant food.”
#49
به نزدیک اسپان سرایی گزید
✦
نه اندر خور کار جایی گزید
“He took up residence near the royal stables—a humble spot in no way worthy of his noble worth.”
#50
شب و روز خوردن بدی کار اوی
✦
می و جام و رامشگران یار اوی
“Night and day, feasting became his routine, with wine, goblets, and minstrels as his sole companions.”