#1
چنان بد که یک روز با تاج و گنج
✦
همی داشت از بودنی دل به رنج
“It so happened that one day, possessed of crown and treasure, his heart was burdened by destined events.”
#2
ز تیره شب اندر گذشته سه پاس
✦
بفرمود تا شد ستاره‌شناس
“When three watches of the dark night had passed, he ordered an astrologer to be brought before him.”
#3
بپرسیدش از تخت شاهنشهی
✦
هم از رنج وز روزگار بهی
“He questioned him concerning the imperial throne, his upcoming hardship, and prosperous days.”
#4
منجم بیاورد صلاب را
✦
بینداخت آرامش و خواب را
“The astrologer brought out the astrolabe, casting aside rest and sleep.”
#5
نگه کرد روشن به قلب اسد
✦
که هست او نماینده فتح و جد
“He looked clearly at the Heart of Leo, which heralds victory and energetic struggle.”
#6
بدان تا رسد پادشا را بدی
✦
فزاید بدو فره ایزدی
“He saw that harm would reach the king, yet through it, his Divine Glory would increase.”
#7
چو دیدند گفتندش ای پادشا
✦
جهانگیر و روشن‌دل و پارسا
“When they saw this, they said: 'O King, conqueror of the world, enlightened and pious...'”
#8
یکی کار پیش است با رنج و درد
✦
نیارد کس آن بر توبر یاد کرد
“'A trial lies ahead with hardship and pain, which no man dares remind you of.'”
#9
چنین داد شاپور پاسخ بدوی
✦
که ای مرد داننده و راه‌جوی
“Shapur answered him: 'O wise man and seeker of truth...'”
#10
چه چارست تا این ز من بگذرد
✦
تنم اختر بد به پی نسپرد
“'What remedy is there for this to pass me by, so my body does not follow a bad star?'”
#11
ستاره‌شمر گفت کای شهریار
✦
ازین گردش چرخ ناپایدار
“The astrologer said: 'O Monarch, against this turning of the unstable heavens...'”
#12
به مردی و دانش نیابی گذر
✦
خردمند گر مرد پرخاشخر
“'You cannot pass through by valor or wisdom, even if a man be a fierce warrior.'”
#13
بباشد همه بودنی بی‌گمان
✦
نتابیم با گردش آسمان
“'Whatever is destined will surely come to pass; we cannot twist away from the heavens' revolution.'”
#14
چنین داد پاسخ گرانمایه شاه
✦
که دادار باشد ز هر بد نگاه
“The noble king replied: 'The Creator is the protector against every evil,'”
#15
که گردان بلند آسمان آفرید
✦
توانایی و ناتوان آفرید
“'Who created the high turning heavens, and fashioned both the powerful and the weak.'”
#16
بگسترد بر پادشاهیش داد
✦
همی بود یک چند بی‌رنج و شاد
“He spread justice across his kingdom, living for a time unburdened and glad.”
#17
چو آباد شد زو همه مرز و بوم
✦
چنان آرزو کرد کاید به روم
“When all the land became prosperous through him, he desired to travel to Rome,”
#18
ببیند که قیصر سزاوار هست
✦
ابا لشکر و گنج و نیروی دست
“To see if Caesar was truly worthy, with his army, treasure, and physical power.”
#19
همان راز بگشاد با کدخدای
✦
یکی پهلوان گرد با داد و رای
“He revealed this secret to his minister, a noble paladin of justice and counsel.”
#20
همه راز و اندیشه با او بگفت
✦
همی داشت از هرکس اندر نهفت
“He shared all his secrets and thoughts with him, keeping it hidden from everyone else.”
#21
چنین گفت کاین پادشاهی به داد
✦
بدارید کزداد باشید شاد
“He said: 'Hold this realm with justice, so that you may be happy through justice.'”
#22
شتر خواست پرمایه ده کاروان
✦
به هر کاروان بر یکی ساروان
“He ordered ten caravans of valuable camels, with a driver for each caravan.”
#23
ز دینار وز گوهران بار کرد
✦
ازان سی شتر بار دینار کرد
“He loaded them with dinars and gems, thirty camels packed with gold dinars.”
#24
بیامد پراندیشه ز آبادبوم
✦
همی رفت زین سان سوی مرز روم
“Thoughtful, he departed the prosperous realm, journeying in this manner toward the land of Rome.”
#25
یکی روستا بود نزدیک شهر
✦
که دهقان و شهری بدو بود بهر
“There was a village near the city where peasants and townsfolk dwelt.”
#26
بیامد به خان یکی کدخدای
✦
بپرسید کایدر مرا هست جای
“He came to the house of a village chief and asked: 'Is there a lodging for me here?'”
#27
برو آفرین کرد مهتر بسی
✦
که چون تو نیابیم مهمان کسی
“The elder praised him greatly, saying: 'We could find no guest as noble as you.'”
#28
ببود آن شب و خورد و بخشید چیز
✦
ز دهقان بسی آفرین یافت نیز
“He stayed that night, ate, and bestowed gifts, earning abundant praise from the village chief.”
#29
سپیده برآمد بنه برنهاد
✦
سوی خانهٔ قیصر آمد چو باد
“At dawn he packed his baggage and rode like the wind toward Caesar's palace.”
#30
بیامد به نزدیک سالار بار
✦
برو آفرین کرد و بردش نثار
“He approached the chamberlain, offered praises, and brought him gifts.”
#31
بپرسید و گفتش چه مردی بگوی
✦
که هم شاه‌شاخی و هم شاه‌روی
“The chamberlain asked: 'Tell me, what man are you? For you have both the face and branch of royalty.'”
#32
چنین داد پاسخ که ای پادشا
✦
یکی پارسی مردم و پارسا
“He replied: 'O king's officer, I am a pious merchant from Persia.'”
#33
به بازارگانی برفتم ز جز
✦
یکی کاروان دارم از خز و بز
“'I set out in trade from Gaz, leading a caravan of silk and fine cloth.'”
#34
کنون آمدستم بدین بارگاه
✦
مگر نزد قیصر گشاینده راه
“'Now I have come to this royal court, hoping to find a way into Caesar's presence.'”
#35
ازین بار چیزی کش اندر خورست
✦
همه گوهر و آلت لشکرست
“'Among these loads are goods fitting for him—all manner of jewels and military arms.'”
#36
پذیرد سپارد به گنجور گنج
✦
بدان شاد باشم ندارم به رنج
“'Let him accept them for his treasury; I shall be glad and unburdened by toil.'”
#37
دگر را فروشم به زر و به سیم
✦
به قیصر پناهم نپیچم ز بیم
“'The rest I shall sell for gold and silver, seeking Caesar's refuge without fear.'”
#38
بخرم هرانچم بباید ز روم
✦
روم سوی ایران ز آباد بوم
“'I shall buy whatever I need from Rome, and return from this prosperous land to Iran.'”
#39
ز درگاه برخاست مرد کهن
✦
بر قیصر آمد بگفت این سخن
“The old courtier rose from the threshold, came before Caesar, and relayed these words.”
#40
بفرمود تا پرده برداشتند
✦
ز در سوی قیصرش بگذاشتند
“Caesar ordered the curtain to be drawn, allowing him to enter into his presence.”
#41
چو شاپور نزدیک قیصر رسید
✦
بکرد آفرینی چنان چون سزید
“When Shapur reached Caesar, he offered praise as was fitting.”
#42
نگه کرد قیصر به شاپور گرد
✦
ز خوبی دل و دیده او را سپرد
“Caesar gazed upon Shapur the valiant, giving his heart and eyes to his beauty.”
#43
بفرمود تا خوان و می ساختند
✦
ز بیگانه ایوان بپرداختند
“He ordered a banquet with wine to be prepared, clearing strangers from the palace hall.”
#44
جفادیده ایرانیی بد به روم
✦
چنانچون بود مرد بیداد و شوم
“A wronged, evil-minded Iranian was present in Rome, as a bad and ominous man would be.”
#45
به قیصر چنین گفت کای سرفراز
✦
یکی نو سخن بشنو از من به راز
“He whispered to Caesar: 'O exalted ruler, listen to a secret tale from me...'”
#46
که این نامور مرد بازارگان
✦
که دیبا فروشد به دینارگان
“"That this famous merchant who sells fine silk for golden dinars,"”
#47
شهنشاه شاپور گویم که هست
✦
به گفتار و دیدار و فر و نشست
“"Is none other, I say, than King of Kings Shapur himself, in speech, sight, royal farr, and bearing."”
#48
چو بشنید قیصر سخن تیره شد
✦
همی چشمش از روی او خیره شد
“When Caesar heard these words, his mood grew dark, and his gaze fixed intently upon Shapur's face.”
#49
نگهبانش برکرد و با کس نگفت
✦
همی داشت آن راز را در نهفت
“He set a guard over him and spoke to no one, keeping the secret hidden in silence.”
#50
چو شد مست برخاست شاپور شاه
✦
همی داشت قیصر مر او را نگاه
“When Shapur the King grew drunken and arose, Caesar kept a watchful eye upon him.”
#51
بیامد نگهبان و او را گرفت
✦
که شاپور نرسی توی ای شگفت
“The guard came forward and seized him, saying, 'O wondrous thing, art thou Shapur, son of Narseh?'”
#52
به جای زنان برد و دستش ببست
✦
به مردی ز دام بلا کس نجست
“They dragged him to the women's quarters and bound his hands; by valour alone none escapes the snare of doom.”
#53
چو زین باره دانش نیاید به بر
✦
چه باید شمار ستاره‌شمر
“When wisdom yields no fruit against such fate, of what avail is the astrologer's reckoning?”
#54
بر مست شمعی همی سوختند
✦
به زاریش در چرم خر دوختند
“Beside the drunk man they lit a candle, and in wretched plight sewed him into an ass's hide.”
#55
همی گفت هرکس که این شوربخت
✦
همی پوست خر جست و بگذاشت تخت
“Everyone mocked, saying, 'This ill-fated wretch sought an ass's hide and abandoned his throne!'”
#56
یکی خانه‌ای بود تاریک و تنگ
✦
ببردند بدبخت را بی‌درنگ
“There was a dark and narrow room, to which they dragged the ill-starred King without delay.”
#57
بدان جای تنگ اندر انداختند
✦
در خانه را قفل بر ساختند
“They cast him inside that narrow vault, and secured the door with a sturdy lock.”
#58
کلیدش به کدبانوی خانه داد
✦
تنش را بدان چرم بیگانه داد
“Caesar gave the key to the lady of the palace, leaving his captive bound within that alien hide.”
#59
به زن گفت چندان دهش نان و آب
✦
که از داشتن زو نگیرد شتاب
“He commanded his wife: 'Give him only enough bread and water that he may not swiftly perish.'”
#60
اگر زنده ماند به یک چندگاه
✦
بداند مگر ارج تخت و کلاه
“If he lingers alive for a space, he may perchance learn the true worth of throne and crown.”
#61
همان تخت قیصر نیایدش یاد
✦
کسی را کجا نیست قیصر نژاد
“Nor will he covet the throne of Caesar, which belongs not to one of un-Caesarean blood.”
#62
زن قیصر آن خانه را در ببست
✦
به ایوان دگر جای بودش نشست
“Caesar's queen locked the door of that prison and took her seat in another hall.”
#63
یکی ماه‌رخ بود گنجور اوی
✦
گزیده به هر کار دستور اوی
“She had a moon-faced maiden as her treasurer, trusted and chosen for every affair.”
#64
که ز ایرانیان داشتی او نژاد
✦
پدر بر پدر بر همی داشت یاد
“This maiden was of Iranian descent, mindful of her lineage through generations of fathers.”
#65
کلید در خانه او را سپرد
✦
به چرم اندرون بسته شاپور گرد
“The queen entrusted to her the key to the room wherein Shapur the hero lay bound in the hide.”
#66
همان روز ازان مرز لشکر براند
✦
ورا بسته در پوست آنجا بماند
“That very day Caesar marched his army from that borderland, leaving Shapur bound in the hide behind.”
#67
چو قیصر به نزدیک ایران رسید
✦
سپه یک به یک تیغ کین برکشید
“As Caesar approached the borders of Iran, his troops one by one drew their swords of vengeance.”
#68
از ایران همی برد رومی اسیر
✦
نبود آن یلان را کسی دستگیر
“The Romans took countless captives from Iran, for those brave warriors had none to aid them.”
#69
به ایران زن و مرد و کودک نماند
✦
همان چیز بسیار و اندک نماند
“In Iran neither woman, man, nor child remained safe, nor was any property, great or small, left unplundered.”
#70
نبود آگهی در میان سپاه
✦
نه مرده نه زنده ز شاپور شاه
“Among the Iranian host there was no news of King Shapur, whether he were dead or alive.”
#71
گریزان همه شهر ایران ز روم
✦
ز مردم تهی شد همه مرز و بوم
“All the cities of Iran fled before the Romans, and the entire realm became desolate of inhabitants.”
#72
از ایران بی‌اندازه ترسا شدند
✦
همه مرز پیش سکوبا شدند
“Countless Iranians turned to Christianity, and the whole realm fell under the sway of the bishop.”