#1
چو هنگامه زادن آمد فراز
✦
ازان کار بر باد نگشاد راز
“When the time of childbirth drew near, no secret of that matter was divulged to the wind.”
#2
پسر زاد پس دختر اردوان
✦
یکی خسروآیین و روشن‌روان
“Then Ardavan's daughter gave birth to a son—a child of royal disposition and radiant soul.”
#3
از ایوان خویش انجمن دور کرد
✦
ورا نام دستور شاپور کرد
“The minister kept all assembly away from his hall, and named the child Shapur.”
#4
نهانش همی داشت تا هفت سال
✦
یکی شاه نو گشت با فر و یال
“He kept him in secret for seven years, until he grew into a young monarch endowed with divine glory and stature.”
#5
چنان بد که روزی بیامد وزیر
✦
بدید آب در چهرهٔ اردشیر
“It came to pass that one day the minister approached and saw tears glistening upon Ardashir's face.”
#6
بدو گفت شاها انوشه بدی
✦
روان را به اندیشه توشه بدی
“He said to him: 'O King, may you live immortal! Why do you feed your soul with grief and dark thoughts?'”
#7
ز گیتی همه کام دل یافتی
✦
سر دشمن از تخت برتافتی
“'You have achieved every desire of your heart in this world and cast down the heads of your foes from their thrones.'”
#8
کنون گاه شادی و می خوردنست
✦
نه هنگام اندیشه‌ها کردنست
“'Now is the time for joy and drinking wine, not for surrendering your mind to anxiety.'”
#9
زمین هفت کشور سراسر تراست
✦
جهان یکسر از داد تو گشت راست
“'The earth of the seven climes is entirely yours; through your justice, the whole world has become righteous.'”
#10
چنین داد پاسخ ورا شهریار
✦
که ای پاک‌دل موبد رازدار
“The sovereign answered him: 'O pure-hearted and trustworthy Mobad,'”
#11
زمانه به شمشیر ما راست گشت
✦
غم و رنج و ناخوبی اندر گذشت
“'The times were set right by my sword, and pain, hardship, and evil have passed away.'”
#12
مرا سال بر پنجه و یک رسید
✦
ز کافور شد مشک و گل ناپدید
“'Yet my years have now reached fifty-one; camphor has replaced musk, and the rose of youth has withered.'”
#13
پسر بایدی پیشم اکنون به پای
✦
دلارای و نیروده و رهنمای
“'I ought now to have a son standing before me—heart-delighting, strength-giving, and a guide for the realm.'”
#14
پدر بی‌پسر چون پسر بی‌پدر
✦
که بیگانه او را نگیرد به بر
“'A childless father is like a fatherless son; no stranger will ever embrace him as his own.'”
#15
پس از من بدشمن رسد تاج و گنج
✦
مرا خاک سود آید و درد و رنج
“'After me, crown and treasure will fall into the hands of enemies, while for me only dust, grief, and suffering will remain.'”
#16
به دل گفت بیدار مرد کهن
✦
که آمد کنون روزگار سخن
“The wise old man said within his heart: 'Now has arrived the proper time to speak.'”
#17
بدو گفت کای شاه کهتر نواز
✦
جوانمرد روشن‌دل و سرفراز
“He said: 'O King who favors his servants, chivalrous, clear-sighted, and exalted!'”
#18
گر ایدونک یابم به جان زینهار
✦
من این رنج بردارم از شهریار
“'If I receive a pledge of safety for my life, I shall lift this heavy sorrow from the King.'”
#19
بدو گفت شاه ای خردمند مرد
✦
چرا بیم جان ترا رنجه کرد
“The King said to him: 'O wise man! Why should fear for your life distress you?'”
#20
بگوی آنچ دانی و بفزای نیز
✦
ز گفت خردمند برتر چه چیز
“'Speak what you know, and speak freely; what can be greater than the counsel of a wise man?'”
#21
چنین داد پاسخ بدو کدخدای
✦
که ای شاه روشن‌دل و پاک‌رای
“The grandee replied: 'O King of illuminated soul and pure judgment!'”
#22
یکی حقه بد نزد گنجور شاه
✦
سزد گر بخواهد کنون پیش گاه
“'There was a sealed casket entrusted to the King's treasurer; it is fitting that you ask for it to be brought before the throne now.'”
#23
به گنجور گفت آنک او زینهار
✦
ترا داد آمد کنون خواستار
“The minister said to the treasurer: 'He who gave you that pledge has now come to claim it back.'”
#24
بدو بازده تا ببینم که چیست
✦
مگرمان نباید به اندیشه زیست
“'Hand it over so I may see what it contains, that we need no longer live in dark uncertainty.'”
#25
بیاورد آن حقه گنجور اوی
✦
سپرد آنک بستد ز دستور اوی
“The treasurer brought that casket and returned what he had taken from the minister.”
#26
بدو گفت شاه اندرین حقه چیست
✦
نهاده برین بند بر مهر کیست
“The King asked him: 'What is inside this casket? Whose seal is placed upon this lock?'”
#27
بدو گفت کان خون گرم منست
✦
بریده ز بن پاک شرم منست
“The minister replied: 'It is my warm blood; it is my manhood, cleanly severed from the root!'”
#28
سپردی مرا دختر اردوان
✦
که تا بازخواهی تن بی‌روان
“'You entrusted to me the daughter of Ardavan, commanding me to bring back her lifeless corpse.'”
#29
نکشتم که فرزند بد در نهان
✦
بترسیدم از کردگار جهان
“'I did not kill her, for she carried a child within her; I feared the Creator of the world.'”
#30
بجستم ز فرمانت آزرم خویش
✦
بریدم هم‌اندر زمان شرم خویش
“'To protect my honor while disobeying your command in secret, I instantly severed my own manhood,'”
#31
بدان تا کسی بد نگوید مرا
✦
به دریای تهمت نشوید مرا
“'So that no man could speak evil of me, nor wash me in the ocean of slander.'”
#32
کنون هفت‌ساله‌ست شاپور تو
✦
که دایم خرد باد دستور تو
“'Now your son Shapur is seven years old—may wisdom ever be your trusted advisor!'”
#33
چنو نیست فرزند یک شاه را
✦
نماند مگر بر فلک ماه را
“'No king possesses a son like him; he resembles none save the moon in the sky.'”
#34
ورا نام شاپور کردم ز مهر
✦
که از بخت تو شاد بادا سپهر
“'Out of love, I named him Shapur—may the heavens be joyful through your royal fortune!'”
#35
همان مادرش نیز با او به جای
✦
جهانجوی فرزند را رهنمای
“'Her mother too remains safe with him, guiding the world-seeking child.'”
#36
بدو ماند شاه جهان درشگفت
✦
ازان کودک اندیشه‌ها برگرفت
“The King of the World was struck with marvel by his deeds, and his mind turned to thoughts of the child.”
#37
ازان پس چنین گفت با کدخدای
✦
که ای مرد روشن‌دل و پاک‌رای
“Then he spoke thus to the grandee: 'O man of radiant heart and pure judgment!'”
#38
بسی رنج برداشتی زین سخن
✦
نمانم که رنج تو گردد کهن
“'You have endured great suffering in this matter; I shall not let your pain go unrewarded or forgotten.'”
#39
کنون صد پسر گیر همسال اوی
✦
به بالا و دوش و بر و یال اوی
“'Now assemble a hundred boys of his exact age, matching him in height, shoulder, chest, and stature.'”
#40
همان جامه پوشیده با او بهم
✦
نباید که چیزی بود بیش و کم
“'Dressed in identical garments as he, so that there is not the slightest difference between them.'”
#41
همه کودکان را به میدان فرست
✦
به بازیدن گوی و چوگان فرست
“'Send all these children to the polo field to play with ball and polo stick.'”
#42
چو یک دشت کودک بود خوب‌چهر
✦
بپیچد ز فرزند جانم به مهر
“'When a field is filled with fair-faced children, my soul will yearn with love toward my true son.'”
#43
بدان راستی دل گواهی دهد
✦
مرا با پسر آشنایی دهد
“'My heart will testify to the truth, and grant me recognition of my son.'”