#1
خبر زین به شهر مداین رسید
✦
ازان که آمد از پور کسری پدید
“News reached the city of Ctesiphon of what had manifested through the son of Kasra.”
#2
نگهبان مرز مداین ز راه
✦
سواری برافگند نزدیک شاه
“The guardian of Ctesiphon's frontier dispatched a swift horseman to the King.”
#3
سخن هرچ بشنید با او بگفت
✦
چنین آگهی کی بود در نهفت
“He recounted all that he had heard to him; for how could such grave news remain hidden?”
#4
فرستاده برسان آب روان
✦
بیامد به نزدیک نوشین‌روان
“The messenger arrived before Nushin-Ravan as swiftly as flowing water.”
#5
بگفت آنچ بشنید و نامه بداد
✦
سخنها که پیدا شد از نوش‌زاد
“He related what he had heard and delivered the letter detailing all that Nush-Zad had wrought.”
#6
ازو شاه بشنید و نامه بخواند
✦
غمی گشت زان کار و تیره بماند
“When the King heard this and read the letter, he grew deeply grieved and his world turned dark.”
#7
جهاندار با موبد سرفراز
✦
نشست و سخن رفت چندی به راز
“The World-Lord sat in secret with the noble Mobad, and long they spoke in confidence.”
#8
چو گشت آن سخن بر دلش جای گیر
✦
بفرمود تا نزد او شد دبیر
“When those words took root in his heart, he commanded the royal scribe to appear before him.”
#9
یکی نامه بنوشت با داغ و درد
✦
پرآژنگ رخ لب پر از باد سرد
“He composed a letter steeped in anguish and pain, with a furrowed brow and cold sighs upon his lips.”
#10
نخستین بران آفرین گسترید
✦
که چرخ و زمان و زمین آفرید
“First, he lavished praise upon Him who created the heavens, time, and the earth,”
#11
نگارندهٔ هور و کیوان و ماه
✦
فروزندهٔ فر و دیهیم و گاه
“The Painter of the sun, Saturn, and the moon; the Illuminator of glory, crown, and throne.”
#12
ز خاشاک ناچیز تا شیر و پیل
✦
ز گرد پی مور تا رود نیل
“From worthless dust to the lion and elephant, from the dust of an ant's foot to the River Nile,”
#13
همه زیر فرمان یزدان بود
✦
وگر در دم سنگ و سندان بود
“All exist under the command of God, even if sealed within stone and anvil.”
#14
نه فرمان او را کرانه پدید
✦
نه زو پادشاهی بخواهد برید
“No end is visible to His decree, nor can any realm cut itself off from His authority.”
#15
بدانستم این نامهٔ ناپسند
✦
که آمد ز فرزند چندین گزند
“I have learned of this unworthy letter, and how such harm has proceeded from my son,”
#16
وزان پرگناهان زندان‌شکن
✦
که گشتند با نوش‌زاد انجمن
“And of those sin-laden breakers of prisons who assembled alongside Nush-Zad.”
#17
چنین روز اگر چشم دارد کسی
✦
سزد گر نماند به گیتی بسی
“If anyone anticipates such a dark day, it were fitting if he remained not long in this world.”
#18
که جز مرگ را کس ز مادر نزاد
✦
ز کسری بر آغاز تا نوش‌زاد
“For no one is born of a mother except for death—from Kasra at the top down to Nush-Zad.”
#19
رها نیست از چنگ و منقار مرگ
✦
پی پشه و مور با پیل و کرگ
“None can escape the claws and beak of death, whether gnat or ant, elephant or rhinoceros.”
#20
زمین گر گشاده کند راز خویش
✦
بپیماید آغاز و انجام خویش
“If the earth should open up its secrets, measuring out its beginning and its end,”
#21
کنارش پر از تاجداران بود
✦
برش پر ز خون سواران بود
“Its bosom is filled with crown-bearing kings, its lap soaked with the blood of horsemen.”
#22
پر از مرد دانا بود دامنش
✦
پر از خوب رخ جیب پیراهنش
“Its skirt is packed with wise men, its folds filled with fair-faced maidens.”
#23
چه افسر نهی بر سرت بر چه ترگ
✦
بدو بگذرد زخم پیکان مرگ
“Whether you place a royal crown upon your head or a helmet of war, the arrow-strike of death shall pierce it.”
#24
گروهی که یارند با نوش‌زاد
✦
که جز مرگ کسری ندارند یاد
“That group who stand as allies to Nush-Zad look forward to nothing save the death of Kasra.”
#25
اگر خود گذر یابی از روز بد
✦
به مرگ کسی شاد باشی سزد
“Even if you yourself escape the evil day, is it fitting to rejoice in another's death?”
#26
و دیگر که از مرگ شاهان داد
✦
نگیرد کسی یاد جز بدنژاد
“And furthermore, none recalls the death of just kings with joy except those of evil lineage.”
#27
سر نوش‌زاد از خرد بازگشت
✦
چنین دیو با او هم‌آواز گشت
“Nush-Zad's mind has strayed from wisdom; thus a demon has become his companion.”
#28
نباشد برو پایدار این سخن
✦
برافراخت چون خواست آمد ببن
“This glory will not endure for him; he exalted himself just as his end drew near.”
#29
نبایست کو نزد ما دستگاه
✦
بدین آگهی خیره کردی تباه
“He ought not to have foolishly ruined his status and honor in our eyes over such news.”
#30
اگر تخت گشتی ز خسرو تهی
✦
همو بود زیبای شاهنشهی
“If the throne were emptied of Khosrow, he himself was the worthy ornament of royalty.”
#31
چنین بود خود در خور کیش اوی
✦
سزاوار جان بداندیش اوی
“Yet such was fitting for his faith, and worthy of his ill-wishing soul.”
#32
ازین بر دل اندیشه و باک نیست
✦
اگر کیش فرزند ما پاک نیست
“Yet my heart harbors no dread or worry, even if our son's faith be unpure.”
#33
وزین کس که با او بهم ساختند
✦
وز آزرم ما دل بپرداختند
“Nor do I grieve for those who conspired with him and cast off respect for us from their hearts,”
#34
وزان خواسته کو تبه کرد نیز
✦
همی بر دل ما نسنجد به چیز
“Nor for the treasures he ruined; none of this weighs upon my heart at all.”
#35
بداندیش و بیکار و بدگوهرند
✦
بدین زیردستی نه اندر خورند
“They are ill-wishers, idle, and of vile nature; they are unfit even for low subjection.”
#36
ازین دست خوارست بر ما سخن
✦
ز کردار ایشان تو دل بد مکن
“Such matters are trivial to us; do not let your heart be troubled by their deeds.”
#37
مرا بیم و باک از جهانداورست
✦
که از دانش برتران برترست
“My only fear and awe is of the World-Lord, who is higher in knowledge than all the exalted.”
#38
نباید که شد جان ما بی‌سپاس
✦
به نزدیک یزدان نیکی‌شناس
“Lest our soul become ungrateful before God, the knower of all goodness.”
#39
مرا داد پیروزی و فرهی
✦
فزونی و دیهیم شاهنشهی
“He granted me victory, divine glory, abundance, and the crown of kingship.”
#40
سزای دهش گر نیایش بدی
✦
مرا بر فزونی فزایش بدی
“If my praise matched His gifts, His blessings upon me would multiply even more.”
#41
گر از پشت من رفت یک قطره آب
✦
به جای دگر یافته جای خواب
“If a drop of water from my loins went forth and found its resting place elsewhere,”
#42
چو بیدار شد دشمن آمد مرا
✦
بترسم که رنج از من آمد مرا
“And waking up, became my enemy, I fear only that trouble may have come from me.”
#43
وگر گاه خشم جهاندار نیست
✦
مرا از چنین کار تیمار نیست
“Yet if it is not the moment of the Creator's wrath, I hold no sorrow over such an affair.”
#44
وزان کس که با او شدند انجمن
✦
همه زار و خوارند بر چشم من
“As for those who joined with him, they are all wretched and vile in my eyes.”
#45
وزان نامه کز قیصر آمد بدوی
✦
همی آب تیره درآمد به جوی
“And regarding that letter sent to him by Caesar, dark water has indeed entered the stream.”
#46
ازان کو هم‌آواز و هم کیش اوست
✦
گمانند قیصر بتن خویش اوست
“Since Caesar shares his creed and vocal faith, he deems him to be of his very own flesh and blood.”
#47
کسی را که کوتاه باشد خرد
✦
بدین نیاکان خود ننگرد
“Whosoever is short of wisdom and insight pays no heed to the noble faith of his ancestors.”
#48
گران بی‌خرد سر بپیچد ز داد
✦
به دشنام او لب نباید گشاد
“Though a fool in his foolishness turns away from justice, one ought not open one's lips to revile him.”
#49
که دشنام او ویژه دشنام ماست
✦
کجا از پی و خون و اندام ماست
“For to curse him is to curse ourselves indeed, since he is fashioned from our own sinews, blood, and body.”