Early at break of day, Mehrab of Kabul retired from his royal court and stepped into the fragrant, sunlit sanctuary of his private garden. Within those embellished halls dwelled two radiant suns: Sindokht, his sagacious queen, and Rudabeh, their incomparable daughter. The palace was decorated like a springtime garden, filled with rare scents, vibrant tapestries, and precious ornaments. As Mehrab’s eyes fell upon Rudabeh, he stood transfixed by her breathtaking beauty and instantly invoked the holy name of Yazdan in blessing. Before him stood a silvery cypress surmounted by a full moon, crowned with raven locks of sweet ambergris, draped in shimmering silks and jewels—a living paradise of worldly desire.
Sindokht, her ruby lips opening with grace, welcomed her lord and prayed that evil hands might ever be turned away from his path. She then asked: 'How fared your encounter today with this white-haired son of Sam? Does this silver-headed warrior belong upon a throne of kings or in a wild beast's lair? Does he possess true human virtue and follow the exalted ways of noble heroes?'
Mehrab turned to his queen and answered with unfeigned wonder: 'O silver-bosomed cypress, moon-faced lady! Know that in all the wide earth, no hero can match the footsteps of Zal Zar. Neither painted upon the palace murals nor mounted upon a charger in the fury of battle has anyone beheld a knight like him. He possesses the heart of a fierce lion, the strength of a titan elephant, and two hands as bountiful as the roaring Nile. Sitting upon the royal throne, he scatters pearls and wealth; charging into battle, he scatters the heads of his foes. Though his countenance puts the fresh Judas-blossom to shame, he is young in years, alert in mind, and blessed with eternal good fortune. In vengeance he is a deadly sea-monster, and upon the saddle a swift-clawed dragon, staining the dust of battle red with enemy blood as his gleaming dagger flashes. The only fault that fault-finders cast upon him is his snowy hair; yet that very whiteness suits his noble face so exquisitely that it seems a magical enchantment to charm and capture human hearts!'
When Rudabeh heard these passionate words from her father, her cheeks flushed bright red like pomegranate blossoms. In a single instant, the spark of love for Zal ignited within her soul, turning her heart to fire. Peace, sleep, and appetite fled from her; desire supplanted reason and patience, completely transforming her thoughts, demeanor, and inner nature as the tempest of love claimed her heart.
#1
چنان بد که مهراب روزی پگاه
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برفت و بیامد از آن بارگاه
“Thus it was that one day at dawn, Mehrab left the court and returned to his palace.”
#2
گذر کرد سوی شبستان خویش
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همی گشت بر گرد بستان خویش
“He passed into his inner quarters and strolled around his blooming garden.”
#3
دو خورشید بود اندر ایوان او
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چو سیندخت و رودابهٔ ماه روی
“Two suns shone bright within his hall: Sindokht and the moon-faced Rudabeh.”
#4
بیاراسته همچو باغ بهار
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سراپای پر بوی و رنگ و نگار
“Adorned like a garden in spring, perfumed from head to foot with beauty and color.”
#5
شگفتی به رودابه اندر بماند
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همی نام یزدان بر او بر بخواند
“Mehrab remained in utter wonder at Rudabeh, reciting the holy name of God over her.”
#6
یکی سرو دید از برش گرد ماه
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نهاده ز عنبر به سر بر کلاه
“He saw a tall cypress topped by a shining moon, wearing a crown of ambergris hair upon her head.”
#7
به دیبا و گوهر بیاراسته
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به سان بهشتی پر از خواسته
“Adorned in silk and radiant jewels, like a paradise abundant with precious treasure.”
#8
بپرسید سیندخت مهراب را
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ز خوشاب بگشاد عناب را
“Sindokht asked Mehrab, opening her ruby lips like carnelian and precious gems.”
#9
که چون رفتی امروز و چون آمدی
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که کوتاه باد از تو دست بدی
“'How went your meeting today and how have you returned? May evil hands be kept short from you!'”
#10
چه مردست این پیر سر پور سام
✦
همی تخت یاد آیدش گر کنام
“'What manner of man is this white-haired son of Sam? Does he belong upon a royal throne or in a lair?'”
#11
خوی مردمی هیچ دارد همی
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پی نامداران سپارد همی
“'Does he possess any human character, and does he walk in the footsteps of noble heroes?'”
#12
چنین داد مهراب پاسخ بدوی
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که ای سرو سیمین بر ماه روی
“Mehrab replied to her: 'O silver-bosomed cypress, moon-faced lady!'”
#13
به گیتی در از پهلوانان گرد
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پی زال زر کس نیارد سپرد
“'In all the world, among giant heroes, none can match the footsteps of Zal Zar.'”
#14
چو دست و عنانش بر ایوان نگار
✦
نبینی نه بر زین چون او یک سوار
“'Neither painted upon the palace murals nor mounted upon the saddle will you see a warrior like him.'”
#15
دل شیر نر دارد و زور پیل
✦
دو دستش به کردار دریای نیل
“'He has the heart of a male lion and the strength of an elephant; his two hands are like the mighty River Nile.'”
#16
چو بر گاه باشد در افشان بود
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چو در جنگ باشد سر افشان بود
“'When seated on the throne he scatters pearls; when engaged in battle he scatters heads.'”
#17
رخش پژمرانندهٔ ارغوان
✦
جوان سال و بیدار و بختش جوان
“'His cheek puts the blooming red pomegranate flower to shame; young in years, alert in mind, and young in fortune.'”
#18
به کین اندرون چون نهنگ بلاست
✦
به زین اندرون تیز چنگ اژدهاست
“'In vengeance he is like a sea-monster of calamity; upon the saddle, a sharp-clawed dragon.'”
#19
نشانندهٔ خاک در کین به خون
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فشانندهٔ خنجر آبگون
“'He turns the dust of battle into blood, wielding his water-bright, gleaming dagger.'”
#20
از آهو همان کش سپیدست موی
✦
بگوید سخن مردم عیب جوی
“'His only flaw, of which fault-finders speak, is that his hair is white.'”
#21
سپیدی مویش بزیبد همی
✦
تو گویی که دلها فریبد همی
“'Yet the whiteness of his hair becomes him so well; you would say it enchants and lures all hearts!'”
#22
چو بشنید رودابه آن گفت‌گوی
✦
برافروخت و گلنارگون کرد روی
“When Rudabeh heard this discourse, her face lit up and turned red as a pomegranate blossom.”
#23
دلش گشت پرآتش از مهر زال
✦
از او دور شد خورد و آرام و هال
“Her heart caught fire with love for Zal; eating, rest, and peace departed from her.”
#24
چو بگرفت جای خرد آرزوی
✦
دگر شد به رای و به آیین و خوی
“When desire took the place of wisdom, her judgment, customs, and nature completely transformed.”