When another week dawned, Bahram Gur, the sovereign of the world, set out for the hunting grounds accompanied by his wise mobads and noble chieftains. For a full month, the king lingered in the wilds, hunting wild asses and lions while holding banquets under the open sky. The quarry taken from mountain and plain exceeded all measure, and when the monarch's heart was filled with joy, he turned his army home. As dark night wrapped the world in blackness, the nobles rode alongside him, reciting tales of ancient kings.
From afar, a brilliant fire gleamed through the shadow, radiating like a grand festival flame. Gazing toward the light, the king beheld a lush, pleasant village with a watermill standing at its edge. On one side sat the elders of the village, while beside the fire, four maiden daughters of the miller had arranged a merry gathering. Each wore a crown of fresh blossoms upon her head, surrounded by musicians. They sang ballads of the king's battles and grandeur—their faces beamed like full moons, their locks scented with musk, jewels gleaming on their robes as they held flower bouquets, half-intoxicated with joy and wine. Their voices echoed into the night: 'Long live King Bahram! He whose countenance shines with divine glory, he who hunts none but lions and wild asses, wherefore he is called Bahram Gur!'
Hearing their songs, the ruler pulled his reins and rode toward the flame. Seeing the plain transformed into a garden of moon-faced maidens, he ordered his cupbearers to bring crystal goblets of wine. Four renowned sisters stepped forward from the midst—Meshk, Sisanak, Nar, and Susanak. Wearing golden bracelets, with spring-like cheeks and tall statures, they sang praises to Bahram. The king was enchanted and asked: 'Fair maidens, whose daughters are you, and why do you light this flame?' One replied: 'Our father is an old miller who hunts in the high crags; he will return as the darkness deepens.'
Presently, the old miller descended from the mountain laden with game. Seeing the magnificent rider, he pressed his face to the dust in homage. Bahram commanded that a golden goblet of wine be presented to the old man, then asked: 'Why have you not wed these four sun-faced maidens?' The miller bowed, replying: 'They are chaste and pure maidens, yet they possess no dowry, no land, no silver, nor cattle.' Bahram smiled and said: 'Their poverty matters not to me; give all four to me as my brides.' The miller joyfully consented. Bahram accepted them before God and ordered his retinue to convey the maidens to the royal quarters.
The miller and his wife stood in utter amazement through the night. At dawn, Rozbeh, the village headman, arrived to inform the miller that his guest had been none other than King Bahram Gur himself, and that the king had granted him governance over the district. Overwhelmed by grace, the old man and his wife fell to their knees, praising Yazdan for the miraculous turn of fortune.
#1
دگر هفته با موبدان و ردان
✦
به نخچیر شد شهریار جهان
“The following week, the king of the world went forth to hunt alongside his mobads and noblemen.”
#2
چنان بد که ماهی به نخچیرگاه
✦
همی بود میخواره و با سپاه
“Thus it was that for a whole month he remained at the hunting grounds, drinking wine with his host.”
#3
ز نخچیر کوه و ز نخچیر دشت
✦
گرفتن ز اندازه اندر گذشت
“The game taken from both mountain and plain exceeded all imaginable measure.”
#4
سوی شهر شد شاددل با سپاه
✦
شب آمد به ره گشت گیتی سیاه
“With a joyful heart, he headed back toward the city with his army; when night fell, the world turned dark.”
#5
برزگان لشکر همی راندند
✦
سخنهای شاهنشهان خواندند
“The commanders of the army rode onwards, reciting tales of ancient emperors.”
#6
یکی آتشی دید رخشان ز دور
✦
بران سان که بهمن کند شاه سور
“He beheld a shining fire from afar, glowing brilliant like the festive fires of Bahman.”
#7
شهنشاه بر روشنی بنگرید
✦
به یک سو دهی خرم آمد پدید
“The king of kings gazed upon the light, and a flourishing, green village appeared to one side.”
#8
یکی آسیا دید در پیش ده
✦
نشسته پراگنده مردان مه
“He saw a watermill before the village, where prominent men sat scattered about.”
#9
وزان سوی آتش همه دختران
✦
یکی جشنگه ساخته بر کران
“On the other side of the fire, all the young maidens had set up a merry celebration at the edge.”
#10
ز گل هر یکی بر سرش افسری
✦
نشسته به هرجای رامشگری
“Each wore a crown of fresh flowers on her head, and musicians sat everywhere around them.”
#11
همی چامهٔ رزم خسرو زدند
✦
وزان جایگه هر زمان نو زدند
“They sang heroic ballads of the king's battles, striking new melodies at every moment.”
#12
همه ماه‌روی و همه جعدموی
✦
همه جامه گوهر همه مشک موی
“All were moon-faced, with curly hair, jewel-bedecked garments, and tresses fragrant as musk.”
#13
به نزدیک پیش در آسیا
✦
به رامش کشیده نخی بر گیا
“Near the doorway of the mill, they had spread a rug upon the green grass in joyful revelry.”
#14
وزان هر یکی دسته گل به دست
✦
ز شادی و از می شده نیم‌مست
“Each held a bouquet of flowers in her hand, half-intoxicated with joy and wine.”
#15
ازان پس خروش آمد از جشنگاه
✦
که جاوید ماناد بهرامشاه
“Then a shout arose from the festive ground: 'May King Bahram reign forever eternal!'”
#16
که با فر و برزست و با مهر و چهر
✦
برویست بر پای گردان سپهر
“'He who possesses divine glory, grandeur, love, and grace; by whose face the revolving heavens endure.'”
#17
همی می چکد گویی از روی اوی
✦
همی بوی مشک آید از موی اوی
“'It is as though wine drips from his countenance, and the fragrance of musk wafts from his hair.'”
#18
شکارش نباشد جز از شیر و گور
✦
ازیراش خوانند بهرام گور
“'His prey is none but lions and wild asses; for this reason he is named Bahram Gur.'”
#19
جهاندار کاواز ایشان شنید
✦
عنان را بپیچید و زان سو کشید
“When the ruler of the world heard their voices, he turned his reins and rode toward them.”
#20
چو آمد به نزدیکی دختران
✦
نگه کرد جای از کران تا کران
“As he approached the maidens, he surveyed the place from end to end.”
#21
همه دشت یکسر پر از ماه دید
✦
به شهر آمدن راه کوتاه دید
“He saw the entire plain filled with moon-faced beauties, and found the road back to the city short.”
#22
بفرمود تا میگساران ز راه
✦
می آرند و میخواره نزدیک شاه
“He ordered the cupbearers to bring wine from the road, so they might drink in the king's presence.”
#23
گسارنده آورد جام بلور
✦
نهادند بر دست بهرام گور
“The cupbearer brought a crystal goblet and placed it into the hands of Bahram Gur.”
#24
ازان دختران آنک بد نامدار
✦
برون آمدند از میانه چهار
“From among those maidens, four who were most renowned stepped forward from the midst.”
#25
یکی مشک نام و دگر سیسنک
✦
یکی نام نار و دگر سوسنک
“One named Meshk, another Sisanak, one named Nar, and the fourth Susanak.”
#26
بر شاه رفتند با دست‌بند
✦
به رخ چون بهار و به بالا بلند
“They approached the king wearing bracelets, their cheeks like springtime, tall and graceful.”
#27
یکی چامه گفتند بهرام را
✦
شهنشاه با دانش و نام را
“They sang a sweet poem in honor of Bahram, the wise and glorious monarch.”
#28
ز هر چار پرسید بهرام گور
✦
کزیشان به دلش اندر افتاد شور
“Bahram Gur questioned all four, for passion and intrigue had entered his heart for them.”
#29
که ای گلرخان دختران که‌اید
✦
وزین آتش افروختن بر چه‌اید
“'O rose-cheeked maidens, whose daughters are you, and why have you kindled this fire?'”
#30
یکی گفت کای سرو بالا سوار
✦
به هر چیز ماننده شهریار
“One replied: 'O cypress-statured rider, who in every accent resembles our monarch!'”
#31
پدرمان یکی آسیابان پیر
✦
بدین کوه نخچیر گیرد به تیر
“'Our father is an aged miller who hunts game with arrows in these mountains.'”
#32
بیاید همانا چو شب تیره شد
✦
ورا دیده از تیرگی خیره شد
“'He will surely return when the night grows dark, for his eyes grow dazzled by the gloom.'”
#33
هم‌اندر زمان آسیابان ز کوه
✦
بیاورد نخچیر خود با گروه
“At that very moment, the miller descended from the mountain, bringing his hunt along with his group.”
#34
چو بهرام را دید رخ را به خاک
✦
بمالید آن پیر آزاده پاک
“When he saw Bahram, that pure and noble old man pressed his face into the dust.”
#35
یکی جام زرین بفرمود شاه
✦
بدان پیر دادن که آمد ز راه
“The king ordered a golden goblet to be presented to the old man who had arrived from the road.”
#36
بدو گفت کاین چار خورشید روی
✦
چه داری چو هستند هنگام شوی
“He said to him: 'What plan have you for these four sun-faced maidens, now that it is time for them to wed?'”
#37
برو پیرمرد آفرین کرد و گفت
✦
که این دختران مرا نیست جفت
“The old man praised him and said: 'These daughters of mine have no spouses.'”
#38
رسیده بدین سال دوشیزه‌اند
✦
به دوشیزگی نیز پاکیزه‌اند
“'Having reached this age, they remain maidens, and in their maidenhood they are immaculate.'”
#39
ولیکن ندارند چیزی فزون
✦
نگوییم زین بیش چیزی کنون
“'Yet they possess nothing more; we shall say no more of this at present.'”
#40
بدو گفت بهرام کاین هر چهار
✦
به من ده وزین بیش دختر مکار
“Bahram said to him: 'Give all four to me, and plant no more daughters beyond these!'”
#41
چنین داد پاسخ ورا پیرمرد
✦
کزین در که گفتی سوارا مگرد
“The old man answered him: 'O noble rider, turn not away from what you have spoken!'”
#42
نه جا هست ما را نه بوم و نه بر
✦
نه سیم و سرای و نه گاو و نه خر
“'We have neither land, nor domain, nor silver, nor estate, nor cattle, nor donkeys.'”
#43
بدو گفت بهرام شاید مرا
✦
که بی‌چیز ایشان بباید مرا
“Bahram replied: 'They suit me well; I desire them precisely without any possessions.'”
#44
بدو گفت هرچار جفت تواند
✦
پرستارگان نهفت تواند
“The old man said: 'All four are your spouses and the handmaidens of your private sanctuary.'”
#45
به عیب و هنر چشم تو دیدشان
✦
بدین‌سان که دیدی پسندیده‌شان
“'Your eye has beheld their flaws and virtues, and as you have seen them, you have approved of them.'”
#46
بدو گفت بهرام کاین هر چهار
✦
پذیرفتم از پاک پروردگار
“Bahram said to him, "I accept all four of these maidens as a gift from the Pure Creator."”
#47
بگفت این و از جای بر پای خاست
✦
به دشت اندر آوای بالای خاست
“Saying this, he stood up from his place, and across the plain a loud shout resounded.”
#48
بفرمود تا خادمان سپاه
✦
برند آن بتان را به مشکوی شاه
“He commanded the servants of his army to escort those idol-like beauties to the royal harem.”
#49
سپاه اندر آمد یکایک ز دشت
✦
همه شب همی دشت لشکر گذشت
“The army arrived one by one from the plain; all through the dark night, troops swept across the fields.”
#50
فروماند زان آسیابان شگفت
✦
شب تیره اندیشه اندر گرفت
“The miller remained lost in astonishment, and in the dark night his mind became filled with anxious thoughts.”
#51
به زن گفت کاین نامدار چو ماه
✦
بدین برز بالا و این دستگاه
“He said to his wife, "This moon-like nobleman, with such grand stature and immense splendour..."”
#52
شب تیره بر آسیا چون رسید
✦
زنش گفت کز دور آتش بدید
“"How came he to the mill in the dark of night?" His wife replied that he had seen their fire from afar.”
#53
بر آواز این رامش دختران
✦
ز مستی می آورد و رامشگران
“"Drawn by the joyful music of our daughters, in his merry state he brought wine and musicians."”
#54
چنین گفت پس آسیابان به زن
✦
که ای زن مرا داستانی بزن
“Then the miller spoke to his wife, saying, "O wife, recount to me a tale or wisdom regarding this."”
#55
که نیکیست فرجام این گر بدی
✦
زنش گفت کاری بود ایزدی
“"Will the outcome of this be good or ill?" His wife replied, "This is surely a divine decree."”
#56
نپرسید چون دید مرد از نژاد
✦
نه از خواسته بر دلش بود یاد
“"He did not ask of their lineage when he saw them, nor did wealth cross his mind."”
#57
به روی زمین بر همی ماه جست
✦
نه دینار و نه دختر شاه جست
“"Upon the face of the earth, he sought only moons; he sought neither gold nor kings' daughters."”
#58
بت آرا ببیند چو ایشان به چین
✦
گسسته شود بر بتان آفرین
“"Should an idol-carver in China behold beauties like them, all praise for standard idols would cease."”
#59
برین گونه تا شید بر پشت راغ
✦
برآمد جهان شد چو روشن چراغ
“Thus they conversed until the sun rose over the hills, making the world shine bright like a lamp.”
#60
همی رفت هرگونه‌ای داستان
✦
چه از بدنژاد و چه از راستان
“All kinds of rumors and stories were spreading around, concerning both the ignoble and the righteous.”
#61
چو شب روز شد مهتر آمد به ده
✦
بدین پیر گفتا که ای روزبه
“When night turned to day, a nobleman came to the village and said to the old man, "O Roozbeh..."”
#62
به بالینت آمد شب تیره‌بخت
✦
به بار آمد آن سبز شاخ درخت
“"Good fortune arrived at your bedside in the dark night; that green branch of your tree has borne fruit!"”
#63
شب تیره‌گون دوش بهرامشاه
✦
همی آمد از دشت نخچیرگاه
“"Last dark night, King Bahram was returning from the hunting grounds across the plain."”
#64
نگه کرد این جشن و آتش بدید
✦
عنان را بپیچید و زین سو کشید
“"He noticed your celebration and saw the fire, so he turned his reins and rode toward this place."”
#65
کنون دختران تو جفت وی‌اند
✦
به آرام اندر نهفت وی‌اند
“"Now your daughters are his wives, dwelling in peace under his royal protection."”
#66
بدان روی و آن موی و آن راستی
✦
همی شاه را دختر آراستی
“"With those beautiful faces, hair, and grace, your daughters have truly adorned the King."”
#67
شهنشاه بهرام داماد تست
✦
به هر کشوری زین سپس یاد تست
“"The Emperor Bahram is now your son-in-law; henceforth your name shall be remembered in every realm."”
#68
ترا داد این کشور و مرز پاک
✦
مخور غم که رستی ز اندوه و باک
“"He has bestowed this pure land and realm upon you; grieve no more, for you are freed from fear and sorrow."”
#69
بفرمای فرمان که پیمان تراست
✦
همه بندگانیم و فرمان تراست
“"Issue your commands, for the covenant is yours; we are all your servants, and your word is law."”
#70
کنون ما همه کهتران توایم
✦
چه کهتر همه چاکران توایم
“"Now we are all your subordinates—nay, lower than that, we are all your humble servants."”
#71
بدو آسیابان و زن خیره ماند
✦
همی هر یکی نام یزدان بخواند
“The miller and his wife stared at him in utter bewilderment, each repeatedly praising the name of God.”
#72
چنین گفت مهتر که آن روی و موی
✦
ز چرخ چهارم خور آورد شوی
“The chieftain said, "Those radiant faces and locks have drawn the Sun itself down from the fourth heaven to be their groom."”