#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.”