#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."”