When the days of the wise King Ardashir drew to a close, tidings of his passing reverberated across the realms, and the crown of Iran descended upon his valiant son, Shapur. Taking advantage of the transition of power, the Romans withheld their customary tribute. When King Shapur learned of their defiance, he ordered the war drums sounded and marched swift and unencumbered toward the Roman borderlands near Altuvina.
Out from the Roman lands came a formidable army led by Baranush, a renowned commander held in high esteem by Caesar, famed for his mastery of the lasso and battlefield tactics. As the war horns blared from both flanks, the earth shook beneath the thunder of hooves, and spears gleamed like blazing fires. From the Iranian ranks stepped forth the heroic Gorzasp the Lion, and the battle turned ferocious at the center of the field. Amidst the deafening roar of elephant drums and bronze bells, Baranush was overwhelmed and taken captive, while three thousand Roman warriors fell and thirteen hundred were bound as prisoners.
Seeing his forces crushed, Caesar dispatched an envoy to Shapur, pleading for clemency and reminding the Great King of divine judgment regarding the shedding of blood. Caesar promised to restore the full annual tribute, accompanied by ten ox-hides filled with wealth, a thousand Roman attendants, countlessly woven silks, and noble hostages. Shapur accepted the terms and waited seven days at Altuvina until the tribute arrived in full.
Returning victorious to Ahvaz, Shapur founded the splendid city of Shapur-Gard to house the Roman captives, and further ordered magnificent public works across Pars, Seistan, and Nishapur. Taking the learned Baranush with him to Shushtar, where a wide and torrential river flowed, Shapur commissioned him: 'If thou art a master of engineering, assemble the wise philosophers of Rome and raise a bridge one thousand cubits long across these waters, drawing whatever riches thou needest from my treasury.' Baranush set to work with immense skill, completing the great bridge of Shushtar, whereupon Shapur fulfilled his royal promise and granted him safe passage back to his homeland in joy and honor.
#1
وزان پس پراگنده شد آگهی
✦
که بیکار شد تخت شاهنشهی
“Thereafter, word spread far and wide that the throne of the King of Kings stood vacant.”
#2
بمرد اردشیر آن خردمند شاه
✦
به شاپور بسپرد گنج و سپاه
“Ardashir, that wise king, passed away, committing his treasury and army unto Shapur.”
#3
خروشی برآمد ز هر مرز و بوم
✦
ز قیدافه برداشتند باژ روم
“A clamor arose from every march and realm, and Rome withheld its tribute from Qidafa's land.”
#4
چو آگاهی آمد به شاپور شاه
✦
بیاراست کوس و درفش و سپاه
“When news reached King Shapur, he readied the drums, the banners, and his army.”
#5
همی راند تا پیش التوینه
✦
سپاهی سبک بی‌نیاز از بنه
“He marched straight toward Altuvina, leading a light-footed host unburdened by heavy baggage.”
#6
سپاهی ز قیدافه آمد برون
✦
که از گرد خورشید شد تیره‌گون
“An army emerged from Qidafa’s territory, so vast that the sun grew dark with their dust.”
#7
ز التوینه هم‌چنین لشکری
✦
بیامد سپهدارشان مهتری
“From Altuvina likewise came a mighty host, led by a great chieftain.”
#8
برانوش بد نام آن پهلوان
✦
سواری سرافراز و روشن‌روان
“Baranush was that champion's name—a proud knight of enlightened spirit.”
#9
کجا بود بر قیصران ارجمند
✦
کمند افگنی نامداری بلند
“He was cherished among the Caesars, a renowned master of the lasso and high standing.”
#10
چو برخاست آواز کوس از دو روی
✦
ز قلب اندر آمد گو نامجوی
“When the roar of war drums rose from both sides, that famous warrior advanced into the center.”
#11
وزین سو بشد نامداری دلیر
✦
کجا نام او بود گرزسپ شیر
“And from this side advanced a brave champion named Gorzasp the Lion.”
#12
برآمد ز هر دو سپه کوس و غو
✦
بجنبید در قلبگه شاه نو
“Drums and shouts echoed from both armies, and the new king stirred in the heart of the host.”
#13
ز بس نالهٔ بوق و هندی درای
✦
همی چرخ و ماه‌اندر آمد ز جای
“From the walling of trumpets and Indian bells, heaven and the moon seemed shaken from their spheres.”
#14
تبیره ببستند بر پشت پیل
✦
همی‌بر شد آوازشان بر دو میل
“Drums were bound upon the backs of elephants, their thunderous sound carrying two miles away.”
#15
زمین جنب جنبان شد و پر ز گرد
✦
چو آتش درخشان سنان نبرد
“The earth trembled and filled with dust, while battle spear-tips glistened like fire.”
#16
روانی کجا با خرد بود جفت
✦
ستاره همی بارد از چرخ گفت
“Any soul linked with wisdom said: 'Stars are raining down from heaven!'”
#17
برانوش جنگی به قلب اندرون
✦
گرفتار شد با دلی پر ز خون
“Baranush the warrior was captured in the heart of battle, his heart filled with blood.”
#18
وزان رومیان کشته شد سه هزار
✦
بالتوینه در صف کارزار
“And three thousand Romans were slain in the battle-lines at Altuvina.”
#19
هزار و دو سیصد گرفتار شد
✦
دل جنگیان پر ز تیمار شد
“One thousand and three hundred were captured, leaving the hearts of the warriors heavy with grief.”
#20
فرستاد قیصر یکی یادگیر
✦
به نزدیک شاپور شاه اردشیر
“Caesar sent a wise envoy to Shapur, son of King Ardashir.”
#21
که چندین تو از بهر دینار خون
✦
بریزی تو با داور رهنمون
“Saying: 'Why wilt thou shed so much blood for coin, before the guiding Judge above?”
#22
چه گویی چو پرسند روز شمار
✦
چه پوزش کنی پیش پروردگار
“What wilt thou say when asked on the Day of Reckoning? What excuse wilt thou make before the Creator?”
#23
فرستیم باژی چنان هم که بود
✦
برین نیز دردی نباید فزود
“We shall send the tribute even as it was before; no more grief need be added to this.”
#24
همان نیز با باژ فرمان کنیم
✦
ز خویشان فراوان گروگان کنیم
“Along with tribute, we shall submit to thy command and offer many hostages from our own kin.”
#25
ز التوینه بازگردی رواست
✦
فرستیم با باژ هرچت هواست
“It is fitting that thou turn back from Altuvina; we shall send whatever thou desirest with the tribute.'”
#26
همی بود شاپور تا باژ و ساو
✦
فرستاد قیصر ده انبان گاو
“Shapur tarried until Caesar dispatched the tribute—ten ox-hides packed with wealth.”
#27
غلام و پرستار رومی هزار
✦
گرانمایه دیبا نه اندر شمار
“A thousand Roman male and female servants, and precious brocades beyond all count.”
#28
بالتوینه در ببد روز هفت
✦
ز روم اندر آمد به اهواز رفت
“He remained seven days in Altuvina, then departed Rome and journeyed unto Ahvaz.”
#29
یکی شارستان نام شاپور گرد
✦
برآورد و پرداخت در روز ارد
“He built a great city named Shapur-Gard, founding and finishing it upon a auspicious day.”
#30
همی برد سالار زان شهر رنج
✦
بپردخت بسیار با رنج گنج
“The ruler expended great toil upon that city, spending vast treasuries for its completion.”
#31
یکی شارستان بود آباد بوم
✦
بپردخت بهر اسیران روم
“It was a prosperous city, built as a dwelling place for the captives of Rome.”
#32
در خوزیان دارد این بوم و بر
✦
که دارند هرکس بروبر گذر
“It lies within the land of Khuzestan, where travelers pass back and forth.”
#33
به پارس اندرون شارستان بلند
✦
برآورد پاکیزه و سودمند
“In Pars also, he built a lofty city, immaculate and full of benefit.”
#34
یکی شارستان کرد در سیستان
✦
در آنجای بسیار خرماستان
“He built another city in Seistan, surrounded by abundant date orchards.”
#35
که یک نیم او کرده بود اردشیر
✦
دگر نیم شاپور گرد و دلیر
“Half of which had been crafted by Ardashir, and the other half Shapur finished with noble courage.”
#36
کهن دژ به شهر نشاپور کرد
✦
که گویند با داد شاپور کرد
“He built the Ancient Citadel in Nishapur, which men say was established with justice by Shapur.”
#37
همی برد هر سو برانوش را
✦
بدو داشتی در سخن گوش را
“He took Baranush with him everywhere, listening closely to his spoken counsel.”
#38
یکی رود بد پهن در شوشتر
✦
که ماهی نکردی بروبر گذر
“Now there was a wide river at Shushtar, so swift that even fish could scarcely cross it.”
#39
برانوش را گفت گر هندسی
✦
پلی ساز آنجا چنانچون رسی
“He said to Baranush: 'If thou art skilled in engineering, construct a bridge there as best thou canst.”
#40
که ما بازگردیم و آن پل به جای
✦
بماند به دانایی رهنمای
“So that when we return, that bridge may stand firmly through thy guiding skill.”
#41
به رش کرده بالای این پل هزار
✦
بخواهی ز گنج آنچ آید به کار
“Make the length of this bridge one thousand cubits, and take whatever is required from the treasury.”
#42
تو از دانشی فیلسوفان روم
✦
فراز آر چندی بران مرز و بوم
“Gather several learned philosophers of Rome unto that region.”
#43
چو این پل برآید سوی خان خویش
✦
برو تازیان باش مهمان خویش
“When this bridge is raised, return unto thine own home, riding across it as a welcome guest unto thy kin.”
#44
ابا شادمانی و با ایمنی
✦
ز بد دور وز دست اهریمنی
“In gladness and in safety, far from harm and the reach of evil spirits.'”
#45
به تدبیر آن پل باستاد مرد
✦
فراز آوریدش بران کارکرد
“The man set about planning the bridge, bringing skilled artisans together for the work.”
#46
بپردخت شاپور گنجی بران
✦
که زان باشد آسانی مردمان
“Shapur spent a vast treasury upon it, that it might bring lasting comfort to the people.”
#47
چو شد شه برانوش کرد آن تمام
✦
پلی کرد بالا هزارانش گام
“When the king departed, Baranush completed it, raising a bridge a thousand paces long.”
#48
چو شد پل تمام او ز ششتر برفت
✦
سوی خان خود روی بنهاد تفت
“When the bridge was finished, he left Shushtar and turned his face swiftly toward his home.”