When the fair handmaidens of Kabul returned from the flower-strewn meadows toward the palace, each bore two fragrant blossoms in her hands. The stern gatekeeper barred their path with harsh words, questioning why they walked abroad at so unseemly an hour. The beauties replied spiritedly that today was no different from any other, that no evil spirit lurked along the flower path, and that they had merely gone to harvest the hyacinths and roses of spring. Yet the guard warned them gravely that Kabul was no longer as it had been, for the mighty Zal and his Zabulian legions were encamped outside, and King Mehrab himself patrolled the city at dawn. Should the king discover them wandering with flowers, his wrath would be swift and severe.
Slipping inside the grand palace, the five maidens entered the private chamber of Rudabeh. Setting before her the sparkling gems and gold coins bestowed by Zal, they were eagerly questioned by the princess, who burned to know if the son of Sam truly matched the grand tales of his renown. With unified passion, the maidens described Zal's majestic presence: he was tall as a towering cypress, possessed of royal glory and supreme elegance, narrow-waisted yet broad-chested with the strength of a fierce lion. His heart was that of a wise priest, his thighs like a champion rider's, and though his hair was utterly snow-white, it brought no shame—it sat upon his glowing cheeks like silver armor resting upon purple rose petals, only enhancing his breathtaking splendor.
Rudabeh listened with a radiant smile, her cheeks blushing red like pomegranate blossoms. She playfully teased her maidens, pointing out how drastically their words had changed—from scorning Zal as a bird-reared, withered old man to exalting him as a glorious, handsome champion. The handmaidens urged her to embrace this divine fortune granted by Yazdan and prepare for the noble guest.
Overjoyed, Rudabeh commanded her secret pavilion to be adorned like a lush spring realm. The walls were hung with portraits of legendary kings, and the floors were draped in Chinese silk and strewn with carnelian and chrysolite. Golden trays and turquoise goblets were filled with clear rosewater and rich wine, while violet, narcissus, and purple blooms were combined with musk and ambergris until the intoxicating perfume of the moon-faced princess's bower ascended to the very sun.
#1
رسیدند خوبان به درگاه کاخ
✦
به دست اندرون هر یک از گل دو شاخ
“The fair maidens arrived at the palace gate, each holding two sprigs of flowers in hand.”
#2
نگه کرد دربان برآراست جنگ
✦
زبان کرد گستاخ و دل کرد تنگ
“The doorkeeper looked upon them and stirred conflict, speaking insolently with a hardened heart.”
#3
که بی‌گه ز درگاه بیرون شوید
✦
شگفت آیدم تا شما چون شوید
“'Why do you leave the palace at such an unseemly hour? I marvel at what will become of you!'”
#4
بتان پاسخش را بیاراستند
✦
به تنگی دل از جای برخاستند
“The idols prepared their answer, rising in indignation from their spots.”
#5
که امروز روزی دگر گونه نیست
✦
به راه گلان دیو واژونه نیست
“'Today is no different from any other; no inverted demon lurks along the path of flowers.'”
#6
بهار آمد ازگلستان گل چنیم
✦
ز روی زمین شاخ سنبل چنیم
“'Spring has arrived, and we pick roses from the garden; we gather hyacinth stems from the earth.'”
#7
نگهبان در گفت کامروز کار
✦
نباید گرفتن بدان هم شمار
“The gatekeeper said, 'Today's affairs must not be treated in the same manner as before.'”
#8
که زال سپهبد به کابل نبود
✦
سراپردهٔ شاه زابل نبود
“'For Commander Zal was not in Kabul before, nor was the royal pavilion of Zabul's lord pitched here.'”
#9
نبینید کز کاخ کابل خدای
✦
به زین اندر آرد بشبگیر پای
“'Do you not see that the lord of Kabul rides out from the palace into the saddle at dawn?'”
#10
اگرتان ببیند چنین گل بدست
✦
کند بر زمین‌تان هم آنگاه پست
“'If he catches sight of you with flowers in hand, he will strike you down upon the earth instantly!'”
#11
شدند اندر ایوان بتان طراز
✦
نشستند و با ماه گفتند راز
“The Taraz idols entered the hall, sat down, and shared their secret with the moon-faced lady.”
#12
نهادند دینار و گوهر به پیش
✦
بپرسید رودابه از کم و بیش
“They laid coins and precious gems before her, while Rudabeh asked them of every detail.”
#13
که چون بودتان کار با پور سام
✦
به دیدن به است ار به آواز و نام
“'How went your meeting with Sam's son? Is he grander to look upon than in fame and report?'”
#14
پری چهره هر پنج بشتافتند
✦
چو با ماه جای سخن یافتند
“All five fairy-faced maidens hastened to speak when they found the opportunity with their lady.”
#15
که مردیست بر سان سرو سهی
✦
همش زیب و هم فر شاهنشهی
“'He is a man formed like a tall cypress, possessing both grand beauty and imperial glory.'”
#16
همش رنگ و بوی و همش قد و شاخ
✦
سواری میان لاغر و بر فراخ
“'He has radiant color, sweet charm, fine stature; a knight slender of waist and broad of chest.'”
#17
دو چشمش چو دو نرگس قیرگون
✦
لبانش چو بسد رخانش چو خون
“'His two eyes are like dark narcissi, his lips like coral, his cheeks like red blood.'”
#18
کف و ساعدش چو کف شیر نر
✦
هیون ران و موبد دل و شاه فر
“'His hands and forearms are like a male lion's paws, his thighs like a war-steed's, his heart a priest's, his glory a king's.'”
#19
سراسر سپید ست مویش به رنگ
✦
از آهو همین است و این نیست ننگ
“'His hair is completely white in color; this is his only flaw, yet it brings no shame.'”
#20
سر جعد آن پهلوان جهان
✦
چو سیمین زره بر گل ارغوان
“'The curls of that world champion's hair resemble silver armor upon a purple rose.'”
#21
که گویی همی خود چنان بایدی
✦
وگر نیستی مهر نفزایدی
“'One would say it ought to be just so; for had it not been white, it would not add to his charm!'”
#22
به دیدار تو داده‌ایمش نوید
✦
ز ما بازگشتست دل پر امید
“'We gave him promise of beholding you, and he returned from us with a heart filled with hope.'”
#23
کنون چارهٔ کار مهمان بساز
✦
بفرمای تا بر چه گردیم باز
“'Now devise a remedy for your guest's yearning, and command us how we should proceed.'”
#24
چنین گفت با بندگان سرو بن
✦
که دیگر شدستی به رای و سخن
“The cypress-tall lady spoke to her handmaids: 'How completely you have altered your words and thought!'”
#25
همان زال کو مرغ پرورده بود
✦
چنان پیر سر بود و پژمرده بود
“'Was this not the same Zal reared by a bird, whom you called old-headed and withered?'”
#26
به دیدار شد چون گل ارغوان
✦
سهی قد و زیبا رخ و پهلوان
“'Now upon seeing him, he has become like a purple rose, tall of stature, fair of face, and a champion!'”
#27
رخ من به پیشش بیاراستی
✦
به گفتار و زان پس بها خواستی
“'You praised my countenance before him in speech, and now you demand a reward!'”
#28
همی گفت و لب را پر از خنده داشت
✦
رخان هم چو گلنار آگنده داشت
“She spoke thus while her lips were filled with laughter, her cheeks glowing red like pomegranate blooms.”
#29
پرستنده با بانوی ماه‌روی
✦
چنین گفت کاکنون ره چاره جوی
“The handmaiden said to the moon-faced lady: 'Now seek the path of remedy for this matter.'”
#30
که یزدان هر آنچت هوا بود داد
✦
سرانجام این کار فرخنده باد
“'For God has granted whatever your heart desired; may the outcome of this work be blessed!'”
#31
یکی خانه بودش چو خرم بهار
✦
ز چهر بزرگان برو بر نگار
“She possessed a chamber like joyful spring, painted with the countenances of noble rulers.”
#32
به دیبای چینی بیاراستند
✦
طبق‌های زرین بپیراستند
“They adorned it with Chinese brocade and arranged golden trays.”
#33
عقیق و زبرجد برو ریختند
✦
می و مشک و عنبر برآمیختند
“They scattered carnelian and chrysolite upon it, blending wine, musk, and ambergris.”
#34
همه زر و پیروزه بد جامشان
✦
به روشن گلاب اندر آشامشان
“All their goblets were of gold and turquoise, filled with clear rosewater for drinking.”
#35
بنفشه گل و نرگس و ارغوان
✦
سمن شاخ و سنبل به دیگر کران
“Violets, roses, narcissi, and purple blooms, with jasmine branches and hyacinths on every side.”
#36
از آن خانهٔ دخت خورشید روی
✦
برآمد همی تا به خورشید بوی
“From the chamber of the sun-faced maiden, sweet scent rose all the way to the sun.”