#1
برانوش چون پاسخ نامه دید
✦
ز شادی دل پاک‌تن بردمید
“When Baranush saw the letter's response, his pure heart bloomed with joy.”
#2
بفرمود تا نامداران روم
✦
برفتند صد مرد زان مرز و بوم
“He commanded that a hundred renowned men of Rome step forth from that land.”
#3
درم بار کردند خروار شست
✦
هم از گوهر و جامهٔ بر نشست
“They loaded sixty burdens of silver coins, together with jewels and fine apparel.”
#4
ز دینار گنجی ز بهر نثار
✦
فراز آمد از هر سوی سی هزار
“From every side, thirty thousand gold dinars were gathered as a royal tribute.”
#5
همه مهتران نزد شاه آمدند
✦
برهنه سر و بی‌کلاه آمدند
“All the nobles came before the king, bareheaded and stripped of their crowns.”
#6
چو دینار پیشش فرو ریختند
✦
بگسترده زر کهن بیختند
“As they poured the gold dinars before him, they sieved the ancient gold across the ground.”
#7
ببخشود و شاپور و بنواختشان
✦
به خوبی بر اندازه بنشاختشان
“Shapur showed mercy and favored them, seating each worthily according to his rank.”
#8
برانوش را گفت کز شهر روم
✦
بیامد بسی مرد بیداد و شوم
“He said to Baranush, 'Many oppressive and ill-omened men came from the realm of Rome;”
#9
به ایران زمین آنچ بد شارستان
✦
کنون گشت یکسر همه خارستان
“In the land of Iran, whatever was once a thriving city has now turned entirely to a thorn-field.”
#10
عوض خواهم آن را که ویران شدست
✦
کنام پلنگان و شیران شدست
“I demand recompense for all that was laid waste and became a lair for leopards and lions.'”
#11
برانوش گفتا چه باید بگوی
✦
چو زنهار دادی مه بر تاب روی
“Baranush replied, 'What must be done? Speak! Since you have granted quarter, turn not your face away.'”
#12
چنین داد پاسخ گرانمایه شاه
✦
چو خواهی که یکسر ببخشم گناه
“The noble king answered him, 'If you desire that I forgive your offenses entirely,”
#13
ز دینار رومی به سالی سه بار
✦
همی داد باید هزاران هزار
“Three times a year, millions in Roman gold dinars must be paid as tribute.”
#14
دگر آنک باشد نصیبین مرا
✦
چو خواهی که کوته شود کین مرا
“Furthermore, Nisibis shall belong to me, if you wish my vengeance to come to an end.'”
#15
برانوش گفتا که ایران تراست
✦
نصیبین و دشت دلیران تراست
“Baranush said, 'Iran is yours, and Nisibis and the plain of heroes belong to you.”
#16
پذیرفتم این مایه‌ور باژ و ساو
✦
که با کین و خشمت نداریم تاو
“I accept this heavy tribute and tax, for we cannot withstand your wrath and vengeance.'”
#17
نوشتند عهدی ز شاپور شاه
✦
کزان پس نراند ز ایران سپاه
“They drafted a treaty from King Shapur, pledging that he would no longer lead armies against Rome,”
#18
مگر با سزاواری و خرمی
✦
کجا روم را زو نیاید کمی
“Except with propriety and peace, so that no harm would come to Rome from him.”
#19
ازان پس گسی کرد و بنواختشان
✦
سر از نامداران برافراختشان
“Thereafter, he dismissed and favored them, exalting the heads of their nobles.”
#20
چو ایشان برفتند لشکر براند
✦
جهان‌آفرین را فراوان بخواند
“When they departed, he led his army onward, offering abundant praises to the Creator of the World.”
#21
همی رفت شادان به اصطخر پارس
✦
که اصطخر بد بر زمین فخر پارس
“Joyfully he traveled toward Istakhr of Fars, for Istakhr was the pride of Fars upon the earth.”
#22
چو اندر نصیبین خبر یافتند
✦
همه جنگ را تیز بشتافتند
“When news reached Nisibis, they quickly prepared for war,”
#23
که ما را نباید که شاپور شاه
✦
نصیبین بگیرد بیارد سپاه
“Saying, 'We must not allow King Shapur to take Nisibis and bring his host against us!”
#24
که دین مسیحا ندارد درست
✦
همش کیش زردشت و زند است و است
“He does not hold true the faith of the Messiah, for his religion is that of Zoroaster, the Avesta, and the Zand.”
#25
چو آید ز ما برنگیرد سخن
✦
نخواهیم استا و دین کهن
“If he comes to us, he will not listen to our words; we do not want the ancient Avesta and faith!'”
#26
زبردست شد مردم زیردست
✦
به کین مرد شهری به زین برنشست
“The lowly rose up against the powerful, and urban men mounted the saddle in vengeance.”
#27
چو آگاهی آمد به شاپور شاه
✦
که اندر نصیبین ندادند راه
“When news came to King Shapur that they had denied him passage in Nisibis,”
#28
ز دین مسیحا برآشفت شاه
✦
سپاهی فرستاد بی‌مر به راه
“The king grew enraged for the sake of the Messiah's religion and sent an uncounted host on their way.”
#29
همی گفت پیغمبری کش جهود
✦
کشد دین او را نشاید ستود
“He said, 'A prophet whom the Jews put to death—his religion ought not to be lauded!'”
#30
برفتند لشکر به کردار گرد
✦
سواران و شیران روز نبرد
“The army marched like dust—horsemen and lions of the day of battle.”
#31
به یک هفته آنجا همی جنگ بود
✦
دران شهر از جنگ بس تنگ بود
“For a week war raged there; in that city, life was constricted by the fighting.”
#32
بکشتند زیشان فراوان سران
✦
نهادند بر زنده بند گران
“They slew many of their leaders and placed heavy chains upon the survivors.”
#33
همه خواستند آن زمان زینهار
✦
نوشتند نامه بر شهریار
“All then begged for quarter and wrote a letter of submission to the monarch.”
#34
ببخشیدشان نامبردار شاه
✦
بفرمود تا بازگردد سپاه
“The renowned king forgave them and commanded his army to return.”
#35
به هر کشوری نامداری گرفت
✦
همان بر جهان کامگاری گرفت
“In every country, a ruler took charge, while Shapur achieved mastery over the world.”
#36
همی خواندندیش پیروز شاه
✦
همی بود یک چند با تاج و گاه
“They called him the Victorious King, and he reigned for a time with crown and throne.”
#37
کنیزک که او را رهانیده بود
✦
بدان کامگاری رسانیده بود
“The slave girl who had rescued him and brought him to such triumph—”
#38
دلفروزو فرخ‌پیش نام کرد
✦
ز خوبان مر او را دلارام کرد
“He named her Dilfruz-e Farrokh-Pesh ('Heart-Delighter of Auspicious Countenance') and made her his beloved among fair maidens.”
#39
همان باغبان را بسی خواسته
✦
بداد و گسی کردش آراسته
“To the gardener also he gave vast wealth and sent him away handsomely provided for.”
#40
همی بود قیصر به زندان و بند
✦
به زاری و خواری و زخم کمند
“Meanwhile, Caesar remained in prison and chains, in wretchedness, humiliation, and the sting of fetters.”
#41
به روم اندرون هرچ بودش ز گنج
✦
فراز آوریده ز هر سو به رنج
“Whatever treasure he had possessed in Rome, gathered from every quarter through hardship,”
#42
بیاورد و یکسر به شاپور داد
✦
همی بود یک چند لب پر ز باد
“Was brought forth and surrendered entirely to Shapur; for a time Caesar lingered with his lips full of sighs.”
#43
سرانجام در بند و زندان بمرد
✦
کلاه کیی دیگری را سپرد
“At last he died in bond and prison, surrendering the royal crown to another.”
#44
به رومش فرستاد شاپور شاه
✦
به تابوت وز مشک بر سر کلاه
“King Shapur sent his body to Rome, placing him in a casket with a crown scented with musk upon his head.”
#45
چنین گفت کاینست فرجام ما
✦
ندانم کجا باشد آرام ما
“Shapur said, 'This is our ultimate end; I know not where our final resting place shall be.'”
#46
یکی را همه زفتی و ابلهیست
✦
یکی با خردمندی و فرهیست
“One man's lot is sheer miserliness and folly, while another is blessed with wisdom and noble glory.”
#47
برین و بران روز هم بگذرد
✦
خنک آنک گیتی به بد نسپرد
“Days pass alike for both the fool and the wise; fortunate is he who hands not the world over to evil.”
#48
به تخت کیان اندر آورد پای
✦
همی بود چندی جهان کدخدای
“He stepped upon the royal throne of the Kians, and for a time remained the master and ruler of the world.”
#49
وزان پس بر کشور خوزیان
✦
فرستاد بسیار سود و زیان
“Thereafter, unto the realm of the Khuzis, he directed much benefit as well as measure of hardship.”
#50
ز بهر اسیران یکی شهر کرد
✦
جهان را ازان بوم پر بهر کرد
“For the sake of the captives he built a city, rendering the world prosperous through that land.”
#51
کجا خرم‌آباد بد نام شهر
✦
وزان بوم خرم کرا بود بهر
“Khorramabad was the name of that city; and who was there that did not reap joy from that pleasant domain?”
#52
کسی را که از پیش ببرید دست
✦
بدین مرز بودیش جای نشست
“Whosoever among the captives had previously lost a hand was granted a dwelling within this realm.”
#53
بر و بوم او یکسر او را بدی
✦
سر سال نو خلعتی بستدی
“The land and fields were granted entirely to him, and at each New Year he received a robe of honor.”
#54
یکی شارستان کرد دیگر به شام
✦
که پیروز شاپور کردش به نام
“He constructed another great city towards Syria, which he bestowed with the name Piruz-Shapur.”
#55
به اهواز کرد آن سیم شارستان
✦
بدو اندرون کاخ و بیمارستان
“The third city he built in Ahvaz, founding within its borders grandeur, palaces, and a hospital.”
#56
کنام اسیرانش کردند نام
✦
اسیر اندرو یافتی خواب و کام
“They named it 'The Abode of Captives', wherein every captive found restful sleep and contentment.”