Between Dastan, the warlord of Zabulistan, and the cypress-statured maiden of Kabul, a sweet-tongued woman served as a trusted messenger, bearing love tokens and secret tidings. Zal summoned her to his presence and shared the glorious news: after much debate, his father Sam had consented to their match and promised to seek King Manuchehr's approval. Zal instructed her to hasten to Rudabeh with words of comfort: 'When straits become tightest, the key to deliverance is at hand.'
The messenger flew like the wind to Rudabeh, delivering the joyous news. Overjoyed, the fairy-faced princess showered coins upon her, seated her upon a golden chair, and presented her with a magnificent gem-studded turban woven with rubies and gold, alongside a pair of rings radiant as the planet Jupiter, to carry back to Zal as tokens of her devotion.
However, as the woman stepped into the palace courtyard, Queen Sindokht spotted her sneaking away nervously. Suspicion flared in Sindokht's heart. Pale with terror, the woman claimed to be a peddler selling gems to the princess, but Sindokht, sensing deceit, searched her garments and unveiled the royal treasure and correspondence. Enraged, Sindokht dragged the woman to the ground, bound her, and locked the palace doors.
Distressed beyond measure, Sindokht wept and struck her own cheeks in despair before summoning Rudabeh. She confronted her daughter bitterly: 'O proud moon, why have you traded a royal throne for a pit of ruin? What love have I withheld from you? Who is the owner of these noble gems, and why do you risk bringing total destruction upon our house?' Rudabeh stood with downcast eyes, her tears flowing like rain, until she bravely confessed her soul's true allegiance: 'Mother, love for Dastan has set my heart ablaze. We have pledged our troth, Sam has granted his assent, and this woman was merely bringing his response.'
Sindokht was struck with awe by the nobility of Zal, yet terrified of King Manuchehr's impending wrath—for she knew the Iranian monarch would never easily tolerate an alliance between the seed of Zahhak and the champion line of Sam. Releasing the messenger with soft words, Sindokht collapsed onto her couch in deep grief and heavy foreboding, helpless against the unyielding power of her daughter's destiny.
#1
میان سپهدار و آن سرو بن
✦
زنی بود گوینده شیرین سخن
“Between the commander and that cypress-statured maiden stood a woman of sweet eloquence.”
#2
پیام آوریدی سوی پهلوان
✦
هم از پهلوان سوی سرو روان
“She carried messages to the hero, and brought back his tidings to the flowing cypress.”
#3
سپهدار دستان مر او را بخواند
✦
سخن هر چه بشنید با او براند
“Dastan, the leader of hosts, summoned her and recounted all that he had heard from Sam.”
#4
بدو گفت نزدیک رودابه رو
✦
بگویش که ای نیک دل ماه نو
“He said to her, 'Go to Rudabeh and tell her: O pure-hearted new moon!'”
#5
سخن چون ز تنگی به سختی رسید
✦
فراخیش را زود بینی کلید
“'When matters reach their tightest straits, you shall soon see the key to their opening.'”
#6
فرستاده باز آمد از پیش سام
✦
ابا شادمانی و فرخ پیام
“'The messenger has returned from Sam, bringing glad tidings and an auspicious response.'”
#7
بسی گفت و بشنید و زد داستان
✦
سرانجام او گشت همداستان
“'Much did he speak and debate, but at last he agreed with our design.'”
#8
سبک پاسخ نامه زن را سپرد
✦
زن از پیش او بازگشت و ببرد
“Swiftly he entrusted the reply to the woman, and she departed from his presence carrying it.”
#9
به نزدیک رودابه آمد چو باد
✦
بدین شادمانی ورا مژده داد
“She came like the wind to Rudabeh and gave her the joyful news.”
#10
پری روی بر زن درم برفشاند
✦
به کرسی زر پیکرش برنشاند
“The fairy-faced maiden showered coins upon the woman and seated her upon a chair adorned with gold.”
#11
یکی شاره سربند پیش آورید
✦
شده تار و پود اندرو ناپدید
“She brought forth a precious head-cloth whose warp and weft were hidden under fine craft.”
#12
همه پیکرش سرخ یاقوت و زر
✦
شده زر همه ناپدید از گهر
“Its whole surface was studded with red rubies and gold, so densely gemmed that the gold was scarcely visible.”
#13
یکی جفت پر مایه انگشتری
✦
فروزنده چون بر فلک مشتری
“Likewise a pair of precious rings, radiant as the planet Jupiter in the heavens.”
#14
فرستاد نزدیک دستان سام
✦
بسی داد با آن درود و پیام
“These she sent to Dastan, son of Sam, bestowing with them many greetings and loving messages.”
#15
زن از حجره آنگه به ایوان رسید
✦
نگه کرد سیندخت او را بدید
“As the woman stepped from the chamber into the hall, Sindokht looked up and perceived her.”
#16
زن از بیم برگشت چون سندروس
✦
بترسید و روی زمین داد بوس
“Pale with fear like yellow resin, the woman trembled and kissed the ground before her.”
#17
پر اندیشه شد جان سیندخت ازوی
✦
به آواز گفت از کجایی بگوی
“Sindokht's heart filled with dark suspicions; she cried out, 'Speak! Whence come you?'”
#18
زمان تا زمان پیش من بگذری
✦
به حجره درآیی به من ننگری
“'Time and again you pass before me, entering this chamber without casting a glance my way!'”
#19
دل روشنم بر تو شد بدگمان
✦
بگویی مرا تا زهی گر کمان
“'My bright heart has grown suspicious of you; tell me the truth, or feel the string of the bow!'”
#20
بدو گفت زن من یکی چاره‌جوی
✦
همی نان فراز آرم از چند روی
“The woman replied, 'I am but a poor resourceful peddler, striving to earn my bread through various means.'”
#21
بدین حجره رودابه پیرایه خواست
✦
بدو دادم اکنون همینست راست
“'Rudabeh asked for ornaments in this chamber, and I supplied them to her; that is the whole truth.'”
#22
بیاوردمش افسر پرنگار
✦
یکی حلقه پرگوهر شاهوار
“'I brought her an ornate crown and a ring set with royal gems.'”
#23
بدو گفت سیندخت بنمایی‌ام
✦
دل بسته ز اندیشه بگشایی‌ام
“Sindokht said to her, 'Show them to me, that you may free my bound heart from anxiety!'”
#24
سپردم به رودابه گفت این دو چیز
✦
فزون خواست اکنون بیارمش نیز
“She replied, 'I delivered those two items to Rudabeh, and she has ordered more, which I must now fetch.'”
#25
بها گفت بگذار بر چشم من
✦
یکی آب بر زن برین خشم من
“Sindokht said, 'Show me the payment then, and pour a soothing drop upon my rising anger!'”
#26
درم گفت فردا دهد ماه روی
✦
بها تا نیابم تو از من مجوی
“'The moon-faced lady said she would pay tomorrow,' replied the woman; 'seek not the coin from me till I receive it.'”
#27
همی کژ دانست گفتار او
✦
بیاراست دل را به پیکار او
“Sindokht perceived the deceit in her words and prepared her heart to confront her.”
#28
بیامد بجستش بر و آستی
✦
همی جست ازو کژی و کاستی
“She stepped forward, searching the woman's garments and sleeves, seeking to expose her falsehood and deceit.”
#29
به خشم اندرون شد ازان زن غمی
✦
به خواری کشیدش بروی زمی
“Overcome with fury, Sindokht grew wroth with the woman, dragging her contemptuously across the floor.”
#30
چو آن جامه‌های گرانمایه دید
✦
هم از دست رودابه پیرایه دید
“When she discovered the sumptuous garments and the ornaments from Rudabeh's hands...”
#31
در کاخ بر خویشتن بر ببست
✦
از اندیشگان شد به کردار مست
“She barred the palace doors behind her, bewildered and frantic with heavy thoughts.”
#32
بفرمود تا دخترش رفت پیش
✦
همی دست برزد به رخسار خویش
“She ordered her daughter to step forward, while Sindokht beat her own cheeks in dismay.”
#33
دو گل را به دو نرگس خوابدار
✦
همی شست تا شد گلان آبدار
“She washed the roses of her cheeks with the tears from her languid narcissus eyes until they shone wet.”
#34
به رودابه گفت ای سرافراز ماه
✦
گزین کردی از ناز برگاه چاه
“She said to Rudabeh, 'O proud moon! Have you chosen a pit over your throne out of pride?'”
#35
چه ماند از نکو داشتی در جهان
✦
که ننمودمت آشکار و نهان
“'What honor or love in all the world remained that I did not lavish upon you, in public and in secret?'”
#36
ستمگر چرا گشتی ای ماه‌روی
✦
همه رازها پیش مادر بگوی
“'Why have you become cruel, O moon-faced child? Reveal all your secrets to your mother!'”
#37
که این زن ز پیش که آید همی
✦
به پیشت ز بهر چه آید همی
“'From whom does this woman come, and for what purpose does she visit you?'”
#38
سخن بر چه سانست و آن مرد کیست
✦
که زیبای سربند و انگشتریست
“'What is this matter, and who is the man worthy of this splendid headdress and ring?'”
#39
ز گنج بزرگ افسر تازیان
✦
به ما ماند بسیار سود و زیان
“'From the great treasure of the Arab kings' crown, much profit and peril have come down to us.'”
#40
بدین نام بد دادخواهی به باد
✦
چو من زاده‌ام دخت هرگز مباد
“'You will give our honor to the winds by this evil name! Would that no daughter were born to a mother as I have born!'”
#41
زمین دید رودابه و پشت پای
✦
فرو ماند از خشم مادر به جای
“Rudabeh stared at the ground and at her feet, standing frozen before her mother's wrath.”
#42
فرو ریخت از دیدگان آب مهر
✦
به خون دو نرگس بیاراست چهر
“Tears of passionate love streamed from her eyes, staining her cheeks as though her narcissus eyes wept blood.”
#43
به مادر چنین گفت کای پر خرد
✦
همی مهر جان مرا بشکرد
“She said to her mother, 'O wise mother! Love has hunted down my soul.'”
#44
مرا مام فرخ نزادی ز بن
✦
نرفتی ز من نیک یا بد سخن
“'Would that my blessed mother had not given birth to me at all, so no words—good or ill—would be spoken of me!'”
#45
سپهدار دستان به کابل بماند
✦
چنین مهر اویم بر آتش نشاند
“'The warlord Dastan came to Kabul, and love for him has cast my heart into the fire.'”
#46
چنان تنگ شد بر دلم بر جهان
✦
که گریان شدم آشکار و نهان
“The world grew so narrow and oppressive to my heart that I wept bitterly, both in secret and before all.”
#47
نخواهم بدن زنده بی‌روی او
✦
جهانم نیرزد به یک موی او
“I wish not to remain alive without seeing his face; to me, the entire world is not worth a single strand of his hair.”
#48
بدان کو مرا دید و بامن نشست
✦
به پیمان گرفتیم دستش بدست
“For he saw me and sat beside me, and hand in hand, we pledged our solemn vow to one another.”
#49
فرستاده شد نزد سام بزرگ
✦
فرستاد پاسخ به زال سترگ
“A messenger was dispatched to the great Sam, who in turn sent his reply back to the mighty Zal.”
#50
زمانی بپیچید و دستور بود
✦
سخنهای بایسته گفت و شنود
“For a time he pondered while his advisor stood by, discussing and weighing all that was required.”
#51
فرستاده را داد بسیار چیز
✦
شنیدم همه پاسخ سام نیز
“He bestowed rich gifts upon the messenger, and I too have heard all of Sam's reply.”
#52
به دست همین زن که کندیش موی
✦
زدی بر زمین و کشیدی به روی
“It was brought by the hand of this very woman whose hair you pulled, whom you struck down and dragged face-first upon the ground.”
#53
فرستاده آرندهٔ نامه بود
✦
مرا پاسخ نامه این جامه بود
“She was merely the messenger bearing the letter, and the answer to that letter was this fine garment given to me.”
#54
فروماند سیندخت زان گفت‌گوی
✦
پسند آمدش زال را جفت اوی
“Sindokht was left bewildered by her speech, yet in her heart she deemed Zal a fitting match for her daughter.”
#55
چنین داد پاسخ که این خرد نیست
✦
چو دستان ز پرمایگان گرد نیست
“She answered thus: 'This choice is not foolish, for among noble heroes none is the equal of Dastan.'”
#56
بزرگست پور جهان پهلوان
✦
همش نام و هم رای روشن روان
“Exalted is the son of the World-Champion, glorious in renown, wise in counsel, and enlightened of soul.”
#57
هنرها همه هست و آهو یکی
✦
که گردد هنر پیش او اندکی
“He possesses every virtue, save for one grave flaw, beside which all virtues may seem diminished.”
#58
شود شاه گیتی بدین خشمناک
✦
ز کابل برآرد به خورشید خاک
“The King of the world will turn wrathful at this match, and raise the very dust of Kabul to the sun!”
#59
نخواهد که از تخم ما بر زمین
✦
کسی پای خوار اندر آرد به زین
“He will never consent that anyone of our lineage should put foot into stirrup or hold power on earth.”
#60
رها کرد زن را و بنواختش
✦
چنان کرد پیدا که نشناختش
“She released the woman and treated her with kindness, acting as though she had never mistreated her.”
#61
چنان دید رودابه را در نهان
✦
کجا نشنود پند کس در جهان
“She saw Rudabeh's heart so consumed by love in secret that she would listen to no one's counsel in the world.”
#62
بیامد ز تیمار گریان بخفت
✦
همی پوست بر تنش گفتی بکفت
“Full of anguish she retired to sleep weeping, as though the skin upon her body were bursting with grief.”