#1
بسی برنیامد برین روزگار
✦
که شد مردم لشکری شش هزار
“Not much time had passed before his army grew to six thousand men.”
#2
فرستاد شاپور کارآگهان
✦
سوی طیسفون کاردیده مهان
“Shapur dispatched experienced scouts and noble elders toward Ctesiphon,”
#3
بدان تا ز قیصر دهند آگهی
✦
ازان برز درگاه با فرهی
“So that they might bring news of Caesar and his lofty, glorious court.”
#4
برفتند کارآگهان ناگهان
✦
نهفته بجستند کار جهان
“The scouts departed suddenly and secretly investigated the state of affairs.”
#5
بدیدند هرگونه بازآمدند
✦
بر شاه گردن‌فراز آمدند
“Having observed everything, they returned to the proud and noble king,”
#6
که قیصر ز می خوردن و از شکار
✦
همی هیچ نندیشد از کارزار
“Reporting that Caesar thought of nothing but drinking wine and hunting, heedless of battle.”
#7
سپاهش پراگنده از هر سوی
✦
به تاراج کردن به هر پهلوی
“His army was scattered in every direction, engaged everywhere in plundering.”
#8
نه روزش طلایه نه شب پاسبان
✦
سپاهش همه چون رمه بی‌شبان
“With no advance guards by day nor sentries by night, his troops were like a flock without a shepherd.”
#9
نبیند همی دشمن از هیچ روی
✦
پسند آمدش زیستن برزوی
“Seeing no threat of an enemy anywhere, he was content to live in high luxury.”
#10
چو شاپور بشنید زان شاد شد
✦
همه رنجها بر دلش باد شد
“When Shapur heard this, he rejoiced, and all his past hardships vanished like wind from his heart.”
#11
گزین کرد ز ایرانیان سه هزار
✦
زره‌دار و برگستوان ور سوار
“From among the Iranians he chose three thousand armored, barded horsemen.”
#12
شب تیره جوشن به بر در کشید
✦
سپه را سوی طیسفون برکشید
“In the dark night he put on his coat of mail and led his army toward Ctesiphon.”
#13
به تیره شبان تیز بشتافتی
✦
چو روشن شدی روی برتافتی
“Through dark nights he rode swiftly, and when morning broke, he concealed his course.”
#14
همی راندی در بیابان و کوه
✦
بران راه بی‌راه خود با گروه
“He rode through deserts and mountains, leading his band along trackless paths.”
#15
فزون از دو فرسنگ پیش سپاه
✦
همی دیده‌بان بود بی‌راه و راه
“More than two leagues ahead of the army, lookouts scouted the terrain along every route.”
#16
چنین تا به نزدیکی طیسفون
✦
طلایه همی راند پیش اندرون
“Thus they advanced until near Ctesiphon, with the vanguard riding ever onward.”
#17
به لشکر گه آمد گذشته دو پاس
✦
ز قیصر نبودش به دل در هراس
“Two watches of the night having passed, he reached the camp; he harbored no fear of Caesar in his heart.”
#18
ازان مرز بشنید آواز کوس
✦
غو پاسبانان چو بانگ خروس
“From that border rang the sound of war-drums, and the cries of guards echoed like roosters at dawn.”
#19
پر از خیمه یک دشت و خرگاه بود
✦
ازان تاختن خود که آگاه بود
“The entire plain was filled with tents and pavilions, for who could have known of this sudden raid?”
#20
ز می مست قیصر به پرده‌سرای
✦
ز لشکر نبود اندران مرز جای
“Caesar lay drunk with wine inside his royal tent, while his vast army filled the region.”
#21
چو گیتی چنان دید شاپور گرد
✦
عنان کیی بارگی را سپرد
“When the valiant Shapur saw the situation, he gave free rein to his royal steed.”
#22
سپه را به لشکرگه اندر کشید
✦
بزد دست و گرز گران برکشید
“He drove his army straight into the camp, reached out, and drew his heavy mace.”
#23
به ابر اندر آمد دم کرنای
✦
جرنگیدن گرز و هندی درای
“The blast of war horns rose to the clouds, mixed with the clatter of maces and Indian bells.”
#24
دهاده برآمد ز هر پهلوی
✦
چکاچاک برخاست از هر سوی
“Shouts of battle erupted from every flank, and the clashing of steel echoed from all sides.”
#25
تو گفتی همی آسمان بترکید
✦
ز خورشید خون بر هوا برچکید
“You would have said the sky burst open, dripping sunlit blood across the air.”
#26
درفشیدن کاویانی درفش
✦
شب تیره و تیغهای بنفش
“The Kavian Banner gleamed bright in the dark night, amid violet-flashing blades.”
#27
تو گفتی هوا تیغ بارد همی
✦
جهان یکسره میغ دارد همی
“As though the sky rained swords and the entire world was shrouded in dark storm-clouds.”
#28
ز گرد سپه کوه شد ناپدید
✦
ستاره همی دامن اندرکشید
“Mountains vanished beneath the dust of armies, and stars withdrew their radiant skirts.”
#29
سراپردهٔ قیصر بی‌هنر
✦
همی کرد شاپور زیر و زبر
“Shapur turned the pavilion of the talentless Caesar upside down.”
#30
به هر گوشه‌ای آتش اندر زدند
✦
همی آسمان بر زمین بر زدند
“They set fire to every corner, crashing heaven down upon the earth.”
#31
سرانجام قیصر گرفتار شد
✦
وزو اختر نیک بیزار شد
“At last, Caesar was taken captive, as his benevolent star turned its face away from him.”
#32
وزان خیمه‌ها نامداران اوی
✦
دلیر و گزیده سواران اوی
“And from those tents, his illustrious nobles, valiant warriors, and elite horsemen...”
#33
گرفتند بسیار و کردند بند
✦
چنین است کردار چرخ بلند
“...were bound and taken captive in great numbers; such is the way of the lofty heavens.”
#34
گهی زو فراز آید و گه نشیب
✦
گهی شادمانی و گاهی نهیب
“At times bringing rise, at times fall; now moments of joy, and now moments of dread.”
#35
بی‌آزاری و مردمی بهترست
✦
کرا کردگار جهان یاورست
“Innocence and nobility of spirit are best for him who has the Creator of the world as his helper.”