At the break of dawn, King Bahram Gur sat upon his throne and called for radiant wine, whereupon the noble lords of his army gathered around him in joy. Presenting himself at the royal court came a prominent chief of the countryside named Kobravi, bringing camel-loads of pomegranates, crisp apples, fragrant quinces, and royal bouquets of blossoms. Recognizing his devotion, the King welcomed him warmly and granted him a seat of honor among the champions. Elated by the royal favor and the splendor of the feast, Kobravi seized a crystalline goblet holding two mans of wine and drained it in a single draught to the King's glory. Emboldened, he declared before the assembly that he would down seven more goblets—each holding five mans—and still ride home in full possession of his senses without raising a drunken clamor. He drank every last drop, eclipsing all wine-bibbers in the hall.
With the King's leave, Kobravi departed, but as he reached the open plains, the potent wine surged through his veins. He spurred his horse toward the base of a mountain, dismounted in a quiet shadow, and sank into a deep, unconscious stupor. From the craggy peaks above, a black crow swooped down and pecked out the sleeping chief's bright eyes. When his attendants galloped up and found their master blinded and helpless, they wept aloud and carried the grim tidings back to court. Bahram Gur's countenance turned pale with anguish at Kobravi's tragic fate, and he immediately issued a royal decree across the realm: henceforth, the drinking of wine was forbidden to all people, whether high-born or low.
#1
چو بنشست می خواست از بامداد
✦
بزرگان لشکر برفتند شاد
“When dawn arrived, he sat and called for wine; the army's chieftains gathered in high delight.”
#2
بیامد هم‌انگه یکی مرد مه
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ورا میوه آورد چندی ز ده
“Just then there arrived a notable man, bringing fruits for the King from his village.”
#3
شتربارها نار و سیب و بهی
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ز گل دسته‌ها کرده شاهنشهی
“Camel-loads of pomegranates, apples, and quinces, with nosegays of flowers fit for a king.”
#4
جهاندار چون دید بنواختش
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میان یلان پایگه ساختش
“When the ruler of the world saw him, he welcomed him and granted him a seat among the heroes.”
#5
همین مه که با میوه و بوی بود
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ورا پهلوی نام کبروی بود
“This chief who brought the fruits and fragrance was named Kobravi in the Pahlavi tongue.”
#6
به روی جهاندار جام نبید
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دو من را به یکبار اندر کشید
“In honor of the world-king, he lifted a goblet of wine holding two mans, and downed it in a single draught.”
#7
چو شد مرد خرم ز دیدار شاه
✦
ازان نامداران و آن جشنگاه
“When the man grew merry from seeing the King, the illustrious lords, and that festive hall,”
#8
یکی جام دیگر پر از می بلور
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به دلش اندر افتاد زان جام شور
“He set his heart upon another goblet filled with crystal wine, a fire igniting within him.”
#9
ز پیش بزرگان بیازید دست
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بدان جام می تاخت و بر پای جست
“He reached out his hand before the nobles, seized the goblet of wine, and leaped to his feet.”
#10
به یاد شهنشاه بگرفت جام
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منم گفت میخواره کبروی نام
“He took the cup to toast the King of kings, shouting: 'I am Kobravi, the famous wine-bibber!'”
#11
به روی شهنشاه جام نبید
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چو من درکشم یار خواهم گزید
“'When I drain this cup to the King's face, I challenge any companion to match me!'”
#12
به جام اندرون بود می پنج من
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خورم هفت ازین بر سر انجمن
“'Within this cup are five mans of wine; I shall drink seven like this before the assembly!'”
#13
پس انگه سوی ده روم من به هوش
✦
ز من نشنود کس به مستی خروش
“'And then I shall return to my village in full consciousness, without anyone hearing a drunken clamor from me.'”
#14
چنان هفت جام پر از می بخورد
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ازان می پرستان برآورد گرد
“He drank seven such cups brimful of wine, out-drinking all the wine-worshippers in the hall.”
#15
به دستوری شاه بیرون گذشت
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که داند که می در تنش چون گذشت
“With the King's permission he departed outside; who could tell how that wine surged through his veins?”
#16
وزان جای خرم بیامد به دشت
✦
چو در سینهٔ مرد، می گرم گشت
“He rode away from that joyful place into the open plain as the heat of the wine warmed within his chest.”
#17
برانگیخت اسپ از میان گروه
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ز هامون همی تاخت تا پیش کوه
“He spurred his steed away from the company, galloping from the level plain to the mountain's edge.”
#18
فرود آمد از باره جایی نهفت
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یله کرد و در سایهٔ کوه خفت
“He dismounted from his horse in a sheltered nook, loosed his steed, and fell asleep in the mountain's shade.”
#19
ز کوه اندرآمد کلاغ سیاه
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دو چشمش بکند اندران خوابگاه
“A black raven swooped down from the mountain and pecked out both his eyes as he lay sleeping.”
#20
همی تاختند از پس‌اندر گروه
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ورا مرده دیدند بر پیش کوه
“His companions galloped after him, only to find him lying helpless and destroyed before the mountain.”
#21
دو چشمش ز سر کنده زاغ سیاه
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برش اسپ او ایستاده به راه
“His two eyes gouged from his head by the black raven, while his horse stood waiting upon the path.”
#22
برو کهترانش خروشان شدند
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وزان مجلس و جام جوشان شدند
“His servants raised a bitter wail over him, weeping over that banquet and those boiling cups.”
#23
چو بهرام برخاست از خوابگاه
✦
بیامد بر او یکی نیک‌خواه
“When Bahram awoke from his sleeping quarters, a well-wisher came before him with the news.”
#24
که کبروی را چشم روشن کلاغ
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ز مستی بکندست در پیش راغ
“'A crow has pecked out the bright eyes of Kobravi in the meadow because of his drunkenness!'”
#25
رخ شهریار جهان زرد شد
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ز تیمار کبروی پر درد شد
“The countenance of the lord of the world turned pale, filled with grief and pain for Kobravi's sorrow.”
#26
هم‌انگه برآمد ز درگه خروش
✦
که ای نامداران با فر و هوش
“Instantly a cry went out from the royal court: 'O glorious and wise chieftains...'”
#27
حرامست می در جهان سربسر
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اگر زیردستست گر نامور
“'Wine is forbidden throughout the world entirely, whether for the common subject or the renowned lord!'”