#1
تو لشکر بیارای و بر ساز جنگ
✦
مدارا کن اندر میان با درنگ
“Array your army and prepare for war, yet act with moderation and exercise patience.”
#2
ور ای دون که تنگ اندر آید سخن
✦
به جنگ اندرون هیچ تندی مکن
“And if it comes to tight words and open strife, show no rash anger in the midst of battle.”
#3
گرفتنش بهتر ز کشتن بود
✦
مگرش از گنه بازگشتن بود
“To capture him is far better than to slay him, peradventure he may turn back from his sin.”
#4
از آبی کزو سرو آزاد رست
✦
سزد گر نباید بدو خاک شست
“From the water that nourished the free cypress, it is not fitting that dust should wash it away.”
#5
وگر خوار گیرد تن ارجمند
✦
به پستی نهد روی سرو بلند
“Yet if he holds his own exalted self in contempt, and casts down the face of the tall cypress to the dust,”
#6
سرش برگراید ز بالین ناز
✦
مدار ایچ ازو گرز و شمشیر باز
“And turns his head away from the pillow of luxury, withhold not the mace and sword from him.”
#7
گرامی که خواری کند آرزوی
✦
نشاید جدا کرد او را ز خوی
“A noble soul that hungers for its own humiliation cannot be severed from its disposition.”
#8
یکی ارجمندی بود کشته خوار
✦
چو با شاه گیتی کند کارزار
“An exalted one becomes ignobly slain when he enters into battle against the King of the World.”
#9
تواز کشتن او مدار ایچ باک
✦
چوخون سرخویش گیرد به خاک
“Have no fear of slaying him if he himself pours the red blood of his head upon the dust.”
#10
سوی کیش قیصر گراید همی
✦
ز دیهیم ما سر بتابدهمی
“He leans toward the faith of Caesar, turning his head away from our royal crown.”
#11
عزیزی بود زار و خوار و نژند
✦
گزیده به شاهی ز چرخ بلند
“A cherished child has become wretched and low, though chosen for sovereignty by the high sphere.”
#12
بدین داستان زد یکی مهرنوش
✦
پرستار با هوش و پشمینه پوش
“Upon this tale, Mehrnush once uttered a proverb—a wise and wool-clad servant:”
#13
که هرکو به مرگ پدر گشت شاد
✦
ورا رامش و زندگانی مباد
“'Whoever rejoices in the death of his father, may he know neither joy nor long life!'”
#14
تو از تیرگی روشنایی مجوی
✦
که با آتش آب اندر آید به جوی
“Seek not light from darkness, for water does not flow along the stream with fire.”
#15
نه آسانیی دید بی رنج کس
✦
که روشن زمانه برینست و بس
“No man has seen ease without suffering, for such is the nature of luminous Time, and no other.”
#16
تو با چرخ گردان مکن دوستی
✦
که‌گه مغز اویی و گه پوستی
“Do not strike up friendship with the turning sky, for at times it is the marrow, and at times the husk.”
#17
چه جویی زکردار او رنگ و بوی
✦
بخواهد ربودن چو به نمود روی
“What color or fragrance do you seek from its deeds, when it will snatch away whatever it presents?”
#18
بدان گه بود بیم رنج و گزند
✦
که گردون گردان برآرد بلند
“The fear of pain and affliction arises precisely when the turning heaven raises a man high.”
#19
سپاهی که هستند با نوش زاد
✦
کجا سر به پیچند چندین ز داد
“As for the army that stands with Nushzad, why should they turn their heads so far from justice?”
#20
تو آن را جز از باد و بازی مدان
✦
گزاف زنان بود و رای بدان
“Consider that to be nothing but wind and folly—the empty talk of women and evil counsel.”
#21
هران کس که ترساست از لشکرش
✦
همی از پی کیش پیچد سرش
“Whoever among his army is Christian, turns his head solely out of devotion to his faith.”
#22
چنینست کیش مسیحا که دم
✦
زنی تیز و گردد کسی زو دژم
“Such is the faith of the Messiah, that if you speak sharply, one becomes aggrieved by it.”
#23
نه پروای رای مسیحابود
✦
به فرجام خصمش چلیپا بود
“They care not for the wisdom of the Messiah; in the end, their enemy shall be the Cross itself.”
#24
دگر هرکه هست از پراگندگان
✦
بدآموز و بدخواه و از بندگان
“As for the rest, the scattered vagrants, bad teachers, malevolent ones, and servants,”
#25
از ایشان یکی برتری رای نیست
✦
دم باد با رای ایشان یکیست
“Not one among them holds a lofty thought; the blowing wind is one with their counsel.”
#26
به جنگ ار گرفته شود نوش‌زاد
✦
برو زین سخنها مکن هیچ یاد
“If Nushzad is taken captive in battle, recall none of these harsh matters to his face.”
#27
که پوشیده رویان او در نهان
✦
سرآرند برخویشتن بر زمان
“Lest his veiled women in secret bring an end to their own lives in despair.”
#28
هم ایوان او ساز زندان اوی
✦
ابا آنک بردند فرمان اوی
“Make his own palace his place of confinement, along with those who obeyed his command.”
#29
در گنج یک سر بدو برمبند
✦
وگرچه چنین خوار شد ارجمند
“Lock not the door of the treasury against him, even though the noble one has thus been humbled.”
#30
ز پوشیده رویان و از خوردنی
✦
ز افگندنی هم ز گستردنی
“In terms of veiled women, food, bedding, and soft carpets,”
#31
برو هیچ تنگی نباید به چیز
✦
نباید که چیزی نیابد به نیز
“He should suffer no scarcity in anything, nor should he fail to receive whatever he desires.”
#32
وزین مرزبانان ایرانیان
✦
هران کس که بستند با او میان
“As for those Iranian marchlords who bound their girdles in alliance with him,”
#33
چو پیروز گردی مپیچان سخن
✦
میانشان به خنجر به دو نیم کن
“When you emerge victorious, mince no words—cleave them in two with the dagger!”
#34
هران کس که او دشمن پادشاست
✦
به کام نهنگش سپاری رواست
“Whoever is an enemy to the Sovereign, it is lawful to yield him up to the dragon's maw.”
#35
جزان هرک ما را به دل دشمنست
✦
ز تخم جفا پیشه آهرمنست
“Furthermore, whoever harbors enmity against us in heart is of the seed of malicious Ahriman.”
#36
ز ما نیکوییها نگیرند یاد
✦
تو را آزمایش بس ازنوش زاد
“They remember no goodness from us; your trial of Nushzad is proof enough for you.”
#37
ز نظاره هرکس که دشنام داد
✦
زبانش بجنبید بر نوش زاد
“Whoever among the onlookers hurled insults and let his tongue wag against Nushzad,”
#38
بران ویژه دشنام ما خواستند
✦
به هنگام بدگفتن آراستند
“Particularly those who aimed their curses at us, preparing themselves for evil speech,”
#39
مباش اندرین نیزهمداستان
✦
که بدخواه راند چنین داستان
“Do not agree with them either, for no ill-wisher should recite such tales.”
#40
گراو بی هنرشد هم ازپشت ماست
✦
دل ما برین راستی برگواست
“Though he proved void of virtue, he is still from our loins; our heart bears witness to this truth.”
#41
زبان کسی کو ببد کرد یاد
✦
وزو بود بیداد برنوش زاد
“The tongue of anyone who spoke ill, and brought injustice upon Nushzad,”
#42
همه داغ کن برسر انجمن
✦
مبادش زبان ومبادش دهن
“Brand it entirely before the assembled court; let him possess neither tongue nor mouth!”
#43
کسی کو بجوید همی روزگار
✦
که تا سست گردد تن شهریار
“Whoever seeks such opportunities, hoping that the monarch's body may grow feeble,”
#44
به کار آورد کژی و دشمنی
✦
بداندیشی و کیش آهرمنی
“And employs deceit, enmity, malice, and the creed of Ahriman,”
#45
بدین پادشاهی نباشد رواست
✦
که فر و سر و افسر و چهر ماست
“Is not fit for this realm, which is our divine glory, head, crown, and countenance!”