As the dawn faded and darkness claimed the skies, Malika—enamored by the majesty of King Shapur—executed her bold gambit. Securing the keys to the cellars, she commanded the royal cupbearer to ply Tayer and his Arab garrison with potent, unmixed wine. The cupbearer obeyed, pouring endless goblets until over a thousand warriors sank into a deep, helpless stupor.
When midnight passed and the revelry fell silent, loyal servants stealthily unbarred the heavy citadel gates. Observing the candlelight signal from afar, Shapur knew that fortune favored him. He assigned Malika to a luxurious pavilion under escort, gathered his elite champions, and mounted a fierce night assault. The Arab troops awoke disoriented and drunken, only to be cut down by the swift blades of the Persian army.
At break of day, Shapur ascended a turquoise throne set within the captured fortress. Tayer was brought forward in chains. Spotting his daughter, Gol-e Nobahar, adorned in rubies and fine silks, Tayer realized her treachery had brought about his doom and cried out in agony. Shapur, holding that betrying one's own father is an unforgivable stain, ordered the executioner to behead the princess and burn her body. He then turned his wrath upon Tayer, ordering his shoulder blades dislocated from his back before his execution.
Continuing his campaign across the borderlands, Shapur ordered the shoulders of all captured Arab raiders extracted, prompting the Arabs to bestow upon him the fearsome title 'Zul-Aktaf' (Lord of Shoulders). Victorious and revered, the king returned to Pars as the world bowed in homage before his throne.
#1
ز خاور چو خورشید بنمود تاج
✦
گل زرد شد بر زمین رنگ ساج
“When the sun displayed its crown from the East, the yellow rose turned the color of dark ebony upon the earth.”
#2
ز گنجور دستور بستد کلید
✦
خورش خانه و خمهای نبید
“She took the key from the treasurer for the pantry and the vats of wine.”
#3
بدژدر هرانکس که بد مهتری
✦
وزان جنگیان رنج دیده سری
“Whosoever was a chieftain within that fortress, and every battle-worn commander who had suffered in war...”
#4
خورشها فرستاد و چندی نبید
✦
هم از بویها نرگس و شنبلید
“She sent them fine provisions and abundant wine, along with sweet scents of narcissus and fenugreek.”
#5
پرستندهٔ باده را پیش خواند
✦
به خوبی سخنها فراوان براند
“She summoned the cupbearer before her and addressed him with many gracious words.”
#6
بدو گفت کامشب تویی باده‌ده
✦
به طایر همه بادهٔ ساده ده
“She said to him: 'Tonight you are the cupbearer; give only pure, unmixed wine to Tayer.'”
#7
همان تا بدارند باده به دست
✦
بدان تا بخسپند و گردند مست
“'Keep bringing wine to their hands so that they fall asleep and become deeply intoxicated.'”
#8
بدو گفت ساقی که من بنده‌ام
✦
به فرمان تو در جهان زنده‌ام
“The cupbearer replied: 'I am your servant; I live in this world to execute your command.'”
#9
چو خورشید بر باختر گشت زرد
✦
شب تیره گفتش که از راه برد
“When the sun turned yellow in the west, the dark night banished daylight from the road.”
#10
می خسروی خواست طایر به جام
✦
نخستین ز غسانیان برد نام
“Tayer called for royal wine in goblets, first boasting of the Ghassanid lineage.”
#11
چو بگذشت یک پاس از تیره شب
✦
بیاسود طایر ز بانگ جلب
“When one watch of the dark night had passed, Tayer rested from the noise of the revelry.”
#12
برفتند یکسر سوی خوابگاه
✦
پرستندگان را بفرمود شاه
“They all departed toward their chambers, and the maiden commanded the servants...”
#13
که با کس نگوید سخن جز براز
✦
نهانی در دژ گشادند باز
“To speak to no one except in utmost secrecy, and to stealthily throw open the gate of the fortress.”
#14
بدان شاه شاپور خود چشم داشت
✦
از آواز مستان به دل خشم داشت
“King Shapur himself was watching for this, his heart raging at the sounds of the drunkards.”
#15
چو شمع از در دژ بیفروخت گفت
✦
که گشتیم با بخت بیدار جفت
“When the candle glowed at the fortress gate, he said: 'Our awake fortune has joined us!'”
#16
مر آن ماه‌رخ را به پرده‌سرای
✦
بفرمود تا خوب کردند جای
“He commanded that a suitable pavilion be comfortably prepared for that moon-faced maiden.”
#17
سپه را همه سر به سر گرد کرد
✦
گزین کرد مردان ننگ و نبرد
“He gathered his entire army together and selected men of honor and battle.”
#18
به باره برآورد چندی سوار
✦
هرانکس که بود از در کارزار
“He brought several horsemen up to the fortress wall, all who were suited for combat.”
#19
به دژ در شد و کشتن اندرگرفت
✦
همه گنجهای کهن برگرفت
“He entered the fortress and commenced the slaughter, seizing all the ancient treasures.”
#20
سپه بود با طایر اندر حصار
✦
همه مست خفته فزون از هزار
“The army remaining in the citadel with Tayer numbered over a thousand, all sleeping drunk.”
#21
دگر خفته آسیمه برخاستند
✦
به هر جای جنگی بیاراستند
“Others awoke bewildered from their sleep and frantically lined up to fight in every corner.”
#22
ازیشان کس از بیم ننمود پشت
✦
بسی نامور شاه ایران بکشت
“None of them turned their backs in fear, but the famous King of Iran slew many of them.”
#23
چو شد طایر اندر کف او اسیر
✦
بیامد برهنه دوان ناگزیر
“When Tayer became a captive in his grip, he ran helpless and destitute.”
#24
به چنگ وی آمد حصار و بنه
✦
گرفتار شد مردم بدتنه
“The fortress and baggage came into his power, and the evil-natured enemies were bound.”
#25
ببود آن شب و بامداد پگاه
✦
چو خورشید بنمود زرین کلاه
“That night passed, and at early dawn, when the sun displayed its golden helmet...”
#26
یکی تخت پیروزه اندر حصار
✦
به آیین نهادند و دادند بار
“A turquoise throne was set up in the fortress according to custom, and the king held court.”
#27
چو از بارپردخته شد شهریار
✦
به نزدیک او شد گل نوبهار
“When the king concluded the audience, Gol-e Nobahar came near him.”
#28
ز یاقوت سرخ افسری بر سرش
✦
درفشان ز زربفت چینی برش
“Upon her head was a crown of red ruby, and her robe gleamed with Chinese gold-embroidered silk.”
#29
بدانست کاین جادوی کار اوست
✦
بدو بد رسیدن ز کردار اوست
“Tayer knew this was her sorcery, and that this calamity had befallen him through her deeds.”
#30
چنین گفت کای شاه آزاد مرد
✦
نگه کن که که فرزند با من چه کرد
“He spoke thus: 'O noble king, behold what my own child has done to me!'”
#31
چنین گفت شاپور بدنام را
✦
که از پرده چون دخت بهرام را
“Shapur then spoke to the ill-famed Tayer: 'How did you bring the daughter of Bahram out from behind the curtain?'”
#32
بیاری و رسوا کنی دوده را
✦
برانگیزی آن کین آسوده را
“'To bring her and disgrace the dynasty, awakening that quiet hatred?'”
#33
به دژخیم فرمود تا گردنش
✦
زند به آتش اندر بسوزد تنش
“He commanded the executioner to strike off her head and burn her body in the fire.”
#34
سر طایر از ننگ در خون کشید
✦
دو کتف وی از پشت بیرون کشید
“He dragged Tayer's head into blood in shame, and pulled out both his shoulder blades from his back.”
#35
هرانکس کجا یافتی از عرب
✦
نماندی که با کس گشادی دو لب
“Whosoever among the Arab raiders he caught, he spared none to utter a word to anyone.”
#36
ز دو دست او دور کردی دو کفت
✦
جهان ماند از کار او در شگفت
“He dislocated both shoulder blades from their hands; the world remained astonished at his deeds.”
#37
عرابی ذوالاکتاف کردش لقب
✦
چو از مهره بگشاد کفت عرب
“The Arabs named him 'Zul-Aktaf' (Lord of Shoulders), when he unjointed the shoulders of the Arabs.”
#38
وزانجا یگه شد سوی پارس باز
✦
جهانی همه برد پیشش نماز
“And from there he returned in haste toward Pars, and the entire world bowed down before him.”
#39
برین نیز بگذشت چندی سپهر
✦
وزان پس دگرگونه بنمود چهر
“Time passed over this as well, and thereafter fate showed a different face.”