#1
جز از گوی و میدان نبودیش کار
✦
گهی زخم چوگان و گاهی شکار
“He had no work save ball and polo field; at times wielding the mallet, and at times the hunt.”
#2
چنان بد که یک روز بی‌انجمن
✦
به نخچیرگه رفت با چنگ زن
“It so befell that one day, apart from any retinue, he went to the hunting ground with a harpist.”
#3
کجا نام آن رومی آزاده بود
✦
که رنگ رخانش به می داده بود
“Whose name was Azadeh the Roman, whose cheeks possessed the glowing color of wine.”
#4
به پشت هیون چمان برنشست
✦
ابا سرو آزاده چنگی به دست
“He rode upon the back of a swift, prancing camel, accompanied by that cypress-like, harp-playing beauty.”
#5
دلارام او بود و هم کام اوی
✦
همیشه به لب داشتی نام اوی
“She was his heart's comfort and his soul's desire; he kept her name forever upon his lips.”
#6
به روز شکارش هیون خواستی
✦
که پشتش به دیبا بیاراستی
“On hunting days he would call for his camel, its back adorned with rich silk brocade.”
#7
فروهشته زو چار بودی رکیب
✦
همی تاختی در فراز و نشیب
“Four stirrups hung down from its sides, as he galloped through high lands and steep slopes.”
#8
رکابش دو زرین دو سیمین بدی
✦
همان هر یکی گوهر آگین بدی
“Two stirrups were of gold and two of silver, each one studded with precious gems.”
#9
همان زیر ترکش کمان مهره داشت
✦
دلاور ز هر دانشی بهره داشت
“Beneath his quiver he carried a pellet-bow; the young hero was skilled in every art.”
#10
به پیش اندر آمدش آهو دو جفت
✦
جوانمرد خندان به آزاده گفت
“Before them appeared two pairs of gazelles; the noble youth smiled and said to Azadeh:”
#11
که ای ماه من چون کمان را به زه
✦
برآرم به شست اندر آرم گره
“"O my moon, when I draw the string of my bow and notch the arrow,”
#12
کدام آهو افگنده خواهی به تیر
✦
که ماده جوانست و همتاش پیر
“Which gazelle wouldst thou have me strike down with an arrow? For the female is young and her mate is old."”
#13
بدو گفت آزاده کای شیرمرد
✦
به آهو نجویند مردان نبرد
“Azadeh said to him, "O lion-hearted man, brave heroes do not battle gazelles in ordinary fashion.”
#14
تو آن ماده را نر گردان به تیر
✦
شود ماده از تیر تو نر پیر
“Turn that female into a male with thy arrow, so that through thy shot she appears as a horned male.”
#15
ازان پس هیون را برانگیز تیز
✦
چو آهو ز چنگ تو گیرد گریز
“Thereafter spur thy swift camel forward, when the gazelle flees from thy grasp,”
#16
کمان مهره انداز تا گوش خویش
✦
نهد همچنان خوار بر دوش خویش
“Shoot a pellet with thy sling-bow near its ear, so it lifts its foot to scratch,”
#17
هم‌انگه ز مهره بخاردش گوش
✦
بی‌آزار پایش برآرد به دوش
“And instantly scratches its ear because of the pellet, lifting its foot without injury to its shoulder.”
#18
به پیکان سر و پای و گوشش بدوز
✦
چو خواهی که خوانمت گیتی فروز
“Then stitch head, foot, and ear together with an arrowhead, if thou wouldst have me call thee world-shining!"”
#19
کمان را به زه کرد بهرام گور
✦
برانگیخت از دشت آرام شور
“Bahram Gur strung his bow; he raised a clamor of excitement in the quiet plain.”
#20
دو پیکان به ترکش یکی تیر داشت
✦
به دشت اندر از بهر نخچیر داشت
“He carried a double-barbed arrow in his quiver, crafted specifically for the hunt in the desert.”
#21
هم‌انگه چو آهو شد اندر گریز
✦
سپهبد سروهای آن نره تیز
“The moment the male gazelle turned to flee, the prince aimed at the sharp horns of the beast,”
#22
به تیر دو پیکان ز سر برگرفت
✦
کنیزک بدو ماند اندر شگفت
“And clipped off its horns with the double-barbed arrow; the maiden stood in absolute astonishment.”
#23
هم‌اندر زمان نر چون ماده گشت
✦
سرش زان سروی سیه ساده گشت
“In an instant the male became like a female, its head rendered smooth where the black horns had been.”
#24
همان در سروگاه ماده دو تیر
✦
بزد همچنان مرد نخچیرگیر
“Likewise, into the place of horns upon the female's head, the master hunter loosed two arrows,”
#25
دو پیکان به جای سرو در سرش
✦
به خون اندرون لعل گشته برش
“So two arrowheads stood like horns upon her head, and her neck was dyed ruby-red with blood.”
#26
هیون را سوی جفت دیگر بتاخت
✦
به خم کمان مهره در مهره ساخت
“He spurred his camel toward the other pair, and fitted a pellet into the notch of his pellet-bow.”
#27
به گوش یکی آهو اندر فکند
✦
پسند آمد و بود جای پسند
“He loosed the pellet at the ear of one gazelle; his aim hit true right where it was meant.”
#28
بخارید گوش آهو اندر زمان
✦
به تیر اندر آورد جادو کمان
“The gazelle scratched its ear at once; and instantly the prince drew his magical bow.”
#29
سر و گوش و پایش به پیکان بدوخت
✦
بدان آهو آزاده را دل بسوخت
“He stitched its head, ear, and foot together with an arrow; at that sight, Azadeh's heart burned with grief.”
#30
بزد دست بهرام و او را ز زین
✦
نگونسار برزد به روی زمین
“Bahram reached out his hand, cast her down from the saddle, and hurled her headlong to the ground.”
#31
هیون از بر ماه‌چهره براند
✦
برو دست و چنگش به خون درفشاند
“He drove the camel over the moon-faced maiden, trampling her hands and harp into crimson blood.”
#32
چنین گفت کای بی‌خرد چنگ‌زن
✦
چه بایست جستن به من برشکن
“He spoke thus: "O foolish harpist! Why didst thou seek to set a trap and breaking-test for me?”
#33
اگر کند بودی گشاد برم
✦
ازین زخم ننگی شدی گوهرم
“Had my draw been slow or my aim unsteady, this wound would have brought shame upon my royal lineage!"”
#34
چو او زیر پای هیون در سپرد
✦
به نخچیر زان پس کنیزک نبرد
“Having trampled her beneath the feet of the camel, he never took a maiden with him to the hunt again.”