#1
ببین این شگفتی که دهقان چه گفت
✦
بدانگه که بگشاد راز از نهفت
“Behold this wonder which the Dehqan told, when he unsealed the secrets of old.”
#2
به شهر کجاران به دریای پارس
✦
چه گوید ز بالا و پهنای پارس
“Concerning the city of Kajaran by the Persian Sea, and what he tells of the vast length and breadth of Pars.”
#3
یکی شهر بد تنگ و مردم بسی
✦
ز کوشش بدی خوردن هر کسی
“It was a narrow city teeming with populace, where every person earned their bread only through relentless toil.”
#4
بدان شهر دختر فراوان بدی
✦
که بی‌کام جویندهٔ نان بدی
“In that city dwelt many young maidens, seeking their daily bread with hardship and little joy.”
#5
به یک روی نزدیک او بود کوه
✦
شدندی همه دختران همگروه
“On one side lay a mountain near the town, where all the maidens gathered together in groups.”
#6
ازان هر یکی پنبه بردی به سنگ
✦
یکی دوکدانی ز چوب خدنگ
“Each carried a weighed portion of raw cotton, alongside a distaff box carved of hard populus wood.”
#7
به دروازه دختر شدی همگروه
✦
خرامان ازین شهر تا پیش کوه
“Gathering as a sisterhood at the city gate, they walked gracefully from the town up to the mountain's foot.”
#8
برآمیختندی خورشها بهم
✦
نبودی به خورد اندرون بیش و کم
“They shared their provisions together equally, offering no grievance over much or little food.”
#9
نرفتی سخن گفتن از خواب و خورد
✦
ازان پنبه‌شان بود ننگ و نبرد
“No words were spent on slumber or feast; their pride and gentle rivalry lay only in spinning their cotton.”
#10
شدندی شبانگه سوی خانه باز
✦
شده پنبه‌شان ریسمان طراز
“At nightfall they returned to their homes, their raw cotton transformed into fine, woven yarn.”
#11
بدان شهر بی‌چیز و خرم نهاد
✦
یکی مرد بد نام او هفتواد
“In that city lived a poor yet cheerful man named Haftvad.”
#12
برین‌گونه بر نام او از چه رفت
✦
ازیراک او را پسر بود هفت
“Why was he known by such a title? Because seven sons had been born unto him.”
#13
گرامی یکی دخترش بود و بس
✦
که نشمردی او دختران را به کس
“He had but one cherished daughter, a maiden he held dearer than any other girl in the land.”
#14
چنان بد که روزی همه همگروه
✦
نشستند با دوک در پیش کوه
“It so happened that one day the maidens sat together with their distaffs beneath the mountain shade.”
#15
برآمیختند آن کجا داشتند
✦
به گاه خورش دوک بگذاشتند
“They shared what food they brought, putting aside their spindles when it was time to eat.”
#16
چنان بد که این دختر نیک‌بخت
✦
یکی سیب افگنده باد از درخت
“By chance, a wind-blown apple fell near this fortunate daughter from a tree.”
#17
به ره بر بدید و سبک برگرفت
✦
ز من بشنو این داستان شگفت
“She saw it on the path and swiftly picked it up—now hear from me this wondrous tale!”
#18
چو آن خوب رخ میوه اندرگزید
✦
یکی در میان کرم آگنده دید
“As the fair-faced girl bit into the fruit, she found a worm nestling in its core.”
#19
به انگشت زان سیب برداشتش
✦
بدان دوکدان نرم بگذاشتش
“Gently with her finger she plucked the worm from the apple, placing it softly inside her spindle-box.”
#20
چو برداشت زان دوکدان پنبه گفت
✦
به نام خداوند بی‌یار و جفت
“Taking out cotton from her box, she spoke: "In the name of the Lord who has no peer nor match,"”
#21
من امروز بر اختر کرم سیب
✦
به رشتن نمایم شما را نهیب
“"Today, by the star of this apple worm, I shall astound you all with the speed of my spinning!"”
#22
همه دختران شاد و خندان شدند
✦
گشاده‌رخ و سیم دندان شدند
“All the maidens laughed and grew joyful, their faces beaming and silver teeth shining.”
#23
دو چندان که رشتی به روزی برشت
✦
شمارش همی بر زمین برنوشت
“Twice as much as she ever spun in a day she accomplished now, counting the strands upon the ground.”
#24
وزانجا بیامد به کردار دود
✦
به مادر نمود آن کجا رشته بود
“Swift as smoke she hastened home, showing her mother the vast yarn she had spun.”
#25
برو آفرین کرد مادر به مهر
✦
که برخوردی از مادر ای خوب‌چهر
“Her mother blessed her with deep affection, saying: "May you reap joy from your mother, fair child!"”
#26
به شبگیر چون ریسمان برشمرد
✦
دو چندانک هر بار بردی ببرد
“When dawn broke and the yarn was counted, it was double what she usually produced.”
#27
چو آمد بدان چاره‌جوی انجمن
✦
به رشتن نهاده دل و گوش و تن
“When she rejoined the industrious maiden circle, she devoted her heart, ear, and body to her spinning.”
#28
چنین گفت با نامور دختران
✦
که ای ماه‌رویان و نیک‌اختران
“She spoke thus to the renowned maidens: "O moon-faced, blessed companions!"”
#29
من از اختر کرم چندان طراز
✦
بریسم که نیزم نیاید نیاز
“"By the auspicious fortune of this worm, I shall spin so much fine yarn that we shall never know want again."”
#30
به رشت آنکجا برده بد پیش ازین
✦
به کار آمدی گر بدی بیش ازین
“She spun all the raw cotton she had brought before, and had there been more, she would have spun it all.”
#31
سوی خانه برد آن طرازی که رشت
✦
دل مام او شد چو خرم بهشت
“She carried the exquisite thread home, filling her mother's heart with the joy of paradise.”
#32
همی لختکی سیب هر بامداد
✦
پری‌روی دختر بران کرم داد
“Every morning, the fairy-faced girl gave a small morsel of apple to the worm.”
#33
ازان پنبه هرچند کردی فزون
✦
برشتی همی دختر پرفسون
“No matter how much cotton was brought to her, that wondrous girl spun it effortlessly.”
#34
چنان بد که یک روز مام و پدر
✦
بگفتند با دختر پرهنر
“It happened one day that her mother and father spoke to their talented child:”
#35
که چندین بریسی مگر با پری
✦
گرفتستی ای پاک تن خواهری
“"How is it that you spin so vastly? Have you befriended a Peri, O pure-hearted girl?"”
#36
سبک سیم تن پیش مادر بگفت
✦
ازان سیب و آن کرمک اندر نهفت
“The silver-limbed maiden at once revealed to her mother the secret of the apple and the little worm.”
#37
همان کرم فرخ بدیشان نمود
✦
زن و شوی را روشنایی فزود
“She showed them the blessed worm; seeing it brought immense joy and brightness to the couple.”
#38
به فالی گرفت آن سخن هفتواد
✦
ز کاری نکردی به دل نیز یاد
“Haftvad took this omen of fortune to heart, dismissing all other anxieties from his mind.”
#39
چنین تا برآمد برین روزگار
✦
فروزنده‌تر گشت هر روز کار
“As time passed, their fortunes grew brighter and more radiant day by day.”
#40
مگر ز اختر کرم گفتی سخن
✦
برو نو شدی روزگار کهن
“It seemed as if by the star of the worm, their old, worn-out life was made entirely new.”
#41
مر این کرم را خوار نگذاشتند
✦
بخوردنش نیکو همی داشتند
“They did not neglect the worm, but fed and tended to it with utmost care.”
#42
تن‌آور شد آن کرم و نیرو گرفت
✦
سر و پشت او رنگ نیکو گرفت
“The worm grew massive and strong, its head and back assuming a splendid hue.”
#43
همی تنگ شد دوکدان بر تنش
✦
چو مشک سیه گشت پیراهنش
“The spindle-box became too narrow for its body, and its skin turned black as black musk.”
#44
به مشک اندرون پیکر زعفران
✦
برو پشت او از کران تا کران
“Amidst that musk-black hide, saffron patterns spanned across its back from end to end.”
#45
یکی پاک صندوق کردش سیاه
✦
بدو اندرون ساخته جایگاه
“They crafted a fine, dark chest for it, making therein a commodious dwelling.”
#46
چنان شد که در شهر بی‌هفتواد
✦
نگفتی سخن کس به بیداد و داد
“So great did his sway become that in that city, none would speak of justice or injustice without invoking Haftvad's name.”
#47
فراز آمدش ارج و آزرم و چیز
✦
توانگر شد آن هفت فرزند نیز
“His dignity, honor, and wealth grew immensely, and his seven sons likewise became prosperous.”
#48
یکی میر بد اندر آن شهراوی
✦
سرافراز با لشکر و رنگ و بوی
“Now, there was a lord in that province, proud and exalted, boasting an army, splendor, and renown.”
#49
بهانه همی ساخت بر هفتواد
✦
که دینار بستاند از بدنژاد
“He constantly sought pretexts against Haftvad, seeking to extort gold coins from the man he deemed low-born.”
#50
ازان آگهی مرد شد در نهیب
✦
بیامد ازان شهر دل با شکیب
“When Haftvad learned of this, he was filled with resolute anger; with a patient yet firm heart, he marched out from that city.”
#51
همان هفت فرزند پیش اندرون
✦
پر از درد دل دیدگان پر ز خون
“His seven sons marched ahead of him, their hearts aching with grief and their eyes weeping blood with rage.”
#52
ز هر سو برانگیخت بانگ و نفیر
✦
برو انجمن گشت برنا و پیر
“From every side he raised a cry and call to arms, and young and old gathered around him in response.”
#53
هرانجا که بایست دینار داد
✦
به کنداوران چیز بسیار داد
“Wherever gold was needed, he spent it freely, bestowing abundant riches upon the brave warriors.”
#54
یکی لشکری شد بر او انجمن
✦
همه نامداران شمشیرزن
“Thus a great host assembled under his banner, all renowned and formidable swordsmen.”
#55
همه یکسره پیش فرزند اوی
✦
برفتند و گشتند پیکارجوی
“One and all, they marched before his sons, eager for battle and resolved upon combat.”