Whether a man be a mighty monarch upon his throne or a humble servant, or a pure-hearted devotee of the Divine, none can escape the innate human need for a soulmate, a sheltered refuge, and daily sustenance. And among all blessings, if the wife who shares a man's life be chaste, wise, and prudent, she is like a boundless treasure within his house—all the more so if she possesses a tall, cypress-like stature, musky tresses cascading to her feet, and speech that is gentle, soft, and bathed in modesty.
The great King of Kings, Khosrow Anushirvan, possessed such an exalted lady within his royal court. This moon-faced queen followed the faith of the Messiah, and the fame of her breathtaking beauty resounded throughout the capital. In time, she bore the King a son whose radiant countenance shone like the sun, outshining even the bright star Venus in the heavens.
The renowned monarch named his beloved child Nush-Zad, guarding him with such delicate affection that he would not let even a harsh wind blow past the prince. Under this royal care, Nush-Zad grew tall and straight like an upright cypress, endowed with noble accomplishments, wondrous grace, and every virtue worthy of the imperial crown.
#1
اگر شاه دیدی وگر زیردست
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وگر پاکدل مرد یزدان‌پرست
“Whether you see a king, a subject, or a pure-hearted man worshipping God...”
#2
چنان دان که چاره نباشد ز جفت
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ز پوشیدن و خورد و جای نهفت
“Know that one cannot escape the need for a mate, nor for clothing, food, and a sheltered dwelling.”
#3
اگر پارسا باشد و رای‌زن
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یکی گنج باشد براگنده زن
“If a woman be virtuous and a wise counselor, she is like a scattered treasure within the home.”
#4
بویژه که باشد به بالا بلند
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فروهشته تا پای مشکین کمند
“Especially if she be tall of stature, with musky tresses cascading down to her feet.”
#5
خردمند و هشیار و با رای و شرم
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سخن گفتنش خوب و آوای نرم
“Wise, prudent, filled with judgment and modesty, fair in speech and gentle of voice.”
#6
برین سان زنی داشت پرمایه شاه
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به بالای سرو و به دیدار ماه
“Such a noble wife did the great King possess—tall as a cypress and radiant as the moon.”
#7
بدین مسیحا بد این ماه‌روی
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ز دیدار او شهر پر گفت و گوی
“This moon-faced lady followed the faith of the Messiah, and the whole city was filled with talk of her beauty.”
#8
یکی کودک آمدش خورشید چهر
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ز ناهید تابنده‌تر بر سپهر
“To her was born a child with a face like the sun, more radiant than Venus in the high heavens.”
#9
ورا نامور خواندی نوش‌زاد
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نجستی ز ناز از برش تندباد
“The renowned King named him Nush-Zad, and so cherished him that not even a fierce wind was allowed near him.”
#10
ببالید برسان سرو سهی
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هنرمند و زیبای شاهنشهی
“He grew tall like an upright cypress, accomplished, handsome, and worthy of royal sovereignty.”