When the blazing sun sank beneath the horizon and night wrapped the realm in shadows, the appointed hour arrived. The maiden messenger came unto Zal, bringing tidings that all was prepared. The valiant prince turned his steps toward the palace of Kabul, his heart burning with eager desire. Above upon the high battlements appeared the dark-eyed beauty, poised like a graceful cypress beneath the full moon. Seeing the knight beneath her wall, her ruby lips parted in welcome: 'May the blessings of the Creator of the World rest upon thee, noble youth! Welcome to this house.'
Then did Rudabeh loosen the fragrant coils of her long hair—a cascading rope of pure jet, twisting like serpents over her pomegranate cheeks. She cried out down the ramparts: 'Reach forth thy hands, O champion, and grasp these black locks! Climb up unto me, for they are thine!' Yet Zal gazed upon her beauty with awe and answered: 'Never shall I harm so precious a life, nor put stress upon thy delicate tresses.' Instead, he cast his own lasso of woven leather, catching the battlements above, and scaled the wall with effortless strength.
Reaching the parapet, he took her hand in his. Hand in hand, like figures enchanted, they descended into a golden, illuminated hall—a paradise adorned with radiant lights, surrounded by serving maidens. Zal stood spellbound by her majesty, her cheeks like tulip petals upon jasmine, wrapped in jewels, crown, and armlets. Zal sat beside her in all his kingly splendor, a ruby crown upon his brow and a dagger at his side.
Throughout the night they tasted the sweetness of love and devotion, yet bound by noble restraint. Zal confessed his fear: 'If King Manuchehr and my father Sam learn of this, their wrath will ignite like fire. Yet I hold my body and soul cheap compared to thee; I swear before the righteous Judge that I shall never break my oath, and I shall pray until God softens their hearts.' Rudabeh likewise bound herself by sacred oath, declaring that no man under heaven should ever be her lord save Zal of the White Hair. Thus they pledged their souls until the golden dawn broke, the morning drums echoed from the pavilion, and Zal descended the high walls by his rope.
#1
چو خورشید تابنده شد ناپدید
✦
در حجره بستند و گم شد کلید
“When the shining sun vanished from the skies, the door of the chamber was closed and the key was hid.”
#2
پرستنده شد سوی دستان سام
✦
که شد ساخته کار بگذار گام
“The maiden attendant hurried unto Dastan, son of Sam, saying: 'The work is prepared; step forth now!'”
#3
سپهبد سوی کاخ بنهاد روی
✦
چنان چون بود مردم جفت جوی
“The commander turned his face toward the palace, even as a lover seeking his matched beloved.”
#4
برآمد سیه چشم گلرخ به بام
✦
چو سرو سهی بر سرش ماه تام
“Upon the roof appeared the black-eyed blossom-cheeked maid, like a tall cypress surmounted by the full moon.”
#5
چو از دور دستان سام سوار
✦
پدید آمد آن دختر نامدار
“When from afar Dastan, the son of knightly Sam, appeared, that renowned maiden saw him.”
#6
دو بیجاده بگشاد و آواز داد
✦
که شاد آمدی ای جوانمرد شاد
“She opened her ruby lips and called out: 'Welcome, O joyful and gallant youth!'”
#7
درود جهان آفرین بر تو باد
✦
خم چرخ گردان زمین تو باد
“'May the blessing of the World-Creator be upon thee; may the arch of the turning heaven be thy ground!'”
#8
پیاده بدین سان ز پرده سرای
✦
برنجیدت این خسروانی دو پای
“'On foot hast thou traveled from thy pavilion; these royal feet of thine have been wearied!'”
#9
سپهبد کزان گونه آوا شنید
✦
نگه کرد و خورشید رخ را بدید
“When the commander heard that sweet voice, he looked up and beheld that sun-faced maid.”
#10
شده بام از آن گوهر تابناک
✦
به جای گل سرخ یاقوت خاک
“The roof was transformed by that radiant gem, as though ruby took the place of dust and red roses.”
#11
چنین داد پاسخ که ای ماه چهر
✦
درودت ز من آفرین از سپهر
“He answered her: 'O moon-faced lady! Greetings from me, and praise from the highest heavens upon thee!'”
#12
چه مایه شبان دیده اندر سماک
✦
خروشان بدم پیش یزدان پاک
“'How many nights have I gazed up at the stars, crying out in prayer before Holy God,'”
#13
همی خواستم تا خدای جهان
✦
نماید مرا رویت اندر نهان
“'Pleading that the Master of the World might reveal thy face unto me in secret!'”
#14
کنون شاد گشتم به آواز تو
✦
بدین خوب گفتار با ناز تو
“'Now am I gladdened by thy tender voice, and by these sweet, graceful words of thine.'”
#15
یکی چارهٔ راه دیدار جوی
✦
چه پرسی تو بر باره و من به کوی
“'Devise a way for us to meet; why speakest thou from the fortress top while I stand in the street?'”
#16
پری روی گفت سپهبد شنود
✦
سر شعر گلنار بگشاد زود
“The fairy-faced maiden listened to the prince, and swiftly unbound her pomegranate hair.”
#17
کمندی گشاد او ز سرو بلند
✦
کس از مشک زان سان نپیچد کمند
“She cast a lassolike length down from her tall height; none could weave such a rope out of pure musk.”
#18
خم اندر خم و مار بر مار بر
✦
بران غبغبش نار بر نار بر
“Coil upon coil and serpent upon serpent, falling over her chin like pomegranates resting upon pomegranates.”
#19
بدو گفت بر تاز و برکش میان
✦
بر شیر بگشای و چنگ کیان
“She said unto him: 'Hasten and gird thy loins; extend thy lion-brawn and Royal claws!'”
#20
بگیر این سیه گیسو از یک سوم
✦
ز بهر تو باید همی گیسوم
“'Grasp these black locks on one side, for my tresses were grown for thy sake!'”
#21
نگه کرد زال اندران ماه روی
✦
شگفتی بماند اندران روی و موی
“Zal gazed up at that moon-faced maid, marvelling at such beauty of face and hair.”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ که این نیست داد
✦
چنین روز خورشید روشن مباد
“He answered: 'This would not be justice! May such a bright sun never shine upon a day,'”
#23
که من دست را خیره بر جان زنم
✦
برین خسته دل تیز پیکان زنم
“'Wherein I lay harsh hands upon thy soul, or strike a sharp arrow into this wounded heart!'”
#24
کمند از رهی بستد و داد خم
✦
بیفگند خوار و نزد ایچ دم
“He took his own lasso from his attendant, gave it a turn, cast it aloft without a sound.”
#25
به حلقه درآمد سر کنگره
✦
برآمد ز بن تا به سر یکسره
“The loop caught upon the battlement's crest, and he climbed from base to top in a single bound.”
#26
چو بر بام آن باره بنشست باز
✦
برآمد پری روی و بردش نماز
“When he stood upon the roof of the fortress, the fairy-faced maiden stepped forward and bowed in reverence.”
#27
گرفت آن زمان دست دستان به دست
✦
برفتند هر دو به کردار مست
“She took the hand of Dastan in her own hand, and both walked as though intoxicated with love.”
#28
فرود آمد از بام کاخ بلند
✦
به دست اندرون دست شاخ بلند
“They came down together from the high roof, hand intertwined in hand like a slender blossom branch.”
#29
سوی خانهٔ زرنگار آمدند
✦
بران مجلس شاهوار آمدند
“They entered the gilded chamber, arriving at that royal assembly hall.”
#30
بهشتی بد آراسته پر ز نور
✦
پرستنده بر پای و بر پیش حور
“It was a paradise adorned and filled with light, with maidens standing ready before that houri.”
#31
شگفت اندرو مانده بد زال زر
✦
برآن روی و آن موی و بالا و فر
“Zal the Fair remained astonished at her face, her locks, her stature, and her divine splendor.”
#32
ابا یاره و طوق و با گوشوار
✦
ز دینار و گوهر چو باغ بهار
“Adorned with armlets, necklaces, and earrings, clad in gold and gems like a garden in spring.”
#33
دو رخساره چون لاله اندر سمن
✦
سر جعد زلفش شکن بر شکن
“Her two cheeks like tulips amid jasmine, the tips of her curled tresses winding fold upon fold.”
#34
همان زال با فر شاهنشهی
✦
نشسته بر ماه بر فرهی
“And Zal sat beside that moon with royal Glory, surrounded by majesty and splendor.”
#35
حمایل یکی دشنه اندر برش
✦
ز یاقوت سرخ افسری بر سرش
“A dagger girded at his side, and upon his head a crown adorned with red rubies.”
#36
همی بود بوس و کنار و نبید
✦
مگر شیر کو گور را نشکرید
“There was embracing and kissing and wine, yet like a lion that refrained from preying upon the wild ass.”
#37
سپهبد چنین گفت با ماه‌روی
✦
که ای سرو سیمین بر و رنگ بوی
“The commander said unto that moon-faced maid: 'O silver-breasted cypress of sweet fragrance!'”
#38
منوچهر اگر بشنود داستان
✦
نباشد برین کار همداستان
“'If King Manuchehr hear of this story, he will never consent unto our union.'”
#39
همان سام نیرم برآرد خروش
✦
ازین کار بر من شود او بجوش
“'Likewise Sam of Neriman will roar in rage, boiling over with fury against me.'”
#40
ولیکن نه پرمایه جانست و تن
✦
همان خوار گیرم بپوشم کفن
“'Yet my life and body are not dear to me; I hold them cheap and am ready to wear the shroud,'”
#41
پذیرفتم از دادگر داورم
✦
که هرگز ز پیمان تو نگذرم
“'I have pledged before the Righteous Judge that I shall never break my covenant with thee.'”
#42
شوم پیش یزدان ستایش کنم
✦
چو ایزد پرستان نیایش کنم
“'I shall go before God and praise Him, offering prayers as do the worshipers of God,'”
#43
مگر کو دل سام و شاه زمین
✦
بشوید ز خشم و ز پیکار و کین
“'Hoping that He will wash the heart of Sam and the King of the Earth clean of anger and malice,'”
#44
جهان آفرین بشنود گفت من
✦
مگر کاشکارا شوی جفت من
“'That the Creator of the World may hear my prayer, so that thou mayest openly become my spouse.'”
#45
بدو گفت رودابه من همچنین
✦
پذیرفتم از داور کیش و دین
“Rudabeh replied: 'I likewise pledge before the Judge of faith and religion,'”
#46
که بر من نباشد کسی پادشا
✦
جهان آفرین بر زبانم گوا
“None shall be lord and king over me—and the Creator of the World is witness to my words!”
#47
جز از پهلوان جهان زال زر
✦
که با تخت و تاجست وبا زیب و فر
“Save for the world's champion, Zal-e Zar, who possesses throne, crown, beauty, and divine glory.”
#48
همی مهرشان هر زمان بیش بود
✦
خرد دور بود آرزو پیش بود
“Their love grew deeper with every passing moment; wisdom receded, and longing took command.”
#49
چنین تا سپیده برآمد ز جای
✦
تبیره برآمد ز پرده‌سرای
“Thus did the night pass until dawn arose, and the morning drums resounded from the royal pavilion.”
#50
پس آن ماه را شید پدرود کرد
✦
بر خویش تار و برش پود کرد
“Then that radiant sun bade farewell to the moon, embracing her tightly as warp entwined with weft.”
#51
ز بالا کمند اندر افگند زال
✦
فرود آمد از کاخ فرخ همال
“Zal cast his lasso down from above, and the noble hero descended safely from the high palace.”