When the dust of the approaching hosts rose to the heavens, Ram-Barzin sounded the brass trumpets and marshaled the royal array. The churning hooves of armored horsemen and the brandishing of heavy maces raised such a tempest of dust that the very heart of the granite rocks shattered, and the radiant sun was swallowed by the dark sky. At the heart of the rebellious army stood Prince Nushzad, his head crowned with a Roman helmet. Surrounding him was an immense host of Roman Catholicoi and warriors, so vast that the bare earth vanished beneath iron shoes, as though the ground itself boiled and the heavens thundered above.
Out of the imperial ranks rode a brave, armored champion named Piruz-Shir. He raised his voice and addressed the prince: 'O renowned Nushzad! Who has turned your mind away from justice? Why have you abandoned the ancient paths of your forefathers—the rites of Keyumars, Hushang, and Tahmuras? Have you forgotten what your glorious father, King Khosrow, brought upon the Roman Caesar? How can you now raise your hand in battle against him?'
Looking upon Nushzad’s moon-like countenance and royal stature, Piruz-Shir grieved deeply and cried: 'Alas for this moon-like beauty, this mighty frame and majestic crown, that you now cast to the wind! Even were you a raging elephant or a roaring lion, you could never match the power of King Khosrow. Dismount your warhorse, lay down that Roman helmet and heavy mace, and crave quarter! Should even a cold wind dust your face, the King's heart will burn with sorrow. Do not sow the seeds of stubbornness, for it ill becomes a prince. Hear my counsel today, lest the whispers of evil flatterers bring you to ruin when it is too late.'
#1
چو گرد سپه رام برزین بدید
✦
بزد نای رویین وصف بر کشید
“When Ram-Barzin saw the dust of the army, he blew the brass trumpets and marshaled the battle line.”
#2
ز گرد سواران جوشنوران
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گراییدن گرزهای گران
“From the dust raised by armored horsemen, and the hefting of heavy maces...”
#3
دل سنگ خارا همی‌بردرید
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کسی روی خورشید تابان ندید
“The very heart of the hard granite split open, and none could behold the face of the shining sun.”
#4
به قلب سپاه اندرون نوش‌زاد
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یکی ترگ رومی به سر برنهاد
“In the center of the army stood Nushzad, placing a Roman helmet upon his head.”
#5
سپاهی بد از جاثلقیان روم
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که پیدا نبد از پی نعل بوم
“There was a host of Roman Catholicoi, so thick that the earth was hidden beneath horse-iron.”
#6
تو گفتی مگر خاک جوشان شدست
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هوا بر سر او خروشان شدست
“You would say the earth itself began to boil, while the air above roared with violent commotion.”
#7
زره دار گردی بیامد دلیر
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کجا نام اوبود پیروز شیر
“Then came forth a brave armored warrior, whose name was Piruz-Shir.”
#8
خروشید کای نامور نوش‌زاد
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سرت را که پیچید چونین ز داد
“He cried out: 'O renowned Nushzad! Who turned your mind away from justice in this manner?'”
#9
بگشتی ز دین کیومرثی
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هم از راه هوشنگ و طهمورثی
“'Have you turned away from the faith of Keyumars, and from the path of Hushang and Tahmuras?'”
#10
مسیح فریبنده خود کشته شد
✦
چو از دین یزدان سرش گشته شد
“'Even the deceptive Messiah was slain when his head strayed from God's true faith.'”
#11
ز دین آوران کین آنکس مجوی
✦
کجا کارخود را ندانست روی
“'Seek no vengeance from those who brought faith, for such a one knew not his own path.'”
#12
اگر فر یزدان برو تافتی
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جهود اندرو راه کی یافتی
“'If God's Divine Glory had shone upon him, how could a Jew ever have found a way to harm him?'”
#13
پدرت آن جهاندار آزادمرد
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شنیدی که با روم و قیصر چه کرد
“'Have you not heard what your father, that noble monarch, did unto Rome and Caesar?'”
#14
تو با او کنون جنگ سازی همی
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سرت به آسمان برفرازی همی
“'Yet now you make war against him, raising your head proudly unto the heavens!'”
#15
بدین چهرچون ماه و این فرو برز
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برین یال و کتف و برین دست و گرز
“'With such a moon-like face and sublime splendor, with such shoulders, arms, hands, and heavy mace...'”
#16
نبینم خرد هیچ نزدیک تو
✦
چنین خیره شد جان تاریک تو
“'I see no wisdom near you; so blindly has your dark soul grown confused.'”
#17
دریغ آن سرو تاج و نام و نژاد
✦
که اکنون همی‌داد خواهی به باد
“'Alas for that tall stature, crown, renowned name, and lineage, which you are now casting to the wind!'”
#18
تو با شاه کسری بسنده نه‌ای
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وگر پیل و شیر دمنده نه‌ای
“'You are no match for King Khosrow, even were you a raging war-elephant or a roaring lion!'”
#19
چو دست و عنان توای شهریار
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بایوان شاهان ندیدم نگار
“'I have seen no picture in royal palaces that matches the nobility of your hands and reins, O Prince!'”
#20
چو پای و رکیب تو و یال تو
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چنین شورش و دست و کوپال تو
“'Nor a rider of such footing, stirrups, and shoulders, nor such warlike prowess and heavy mace.'”
#21
نگارندهٔ چین نگاری ندید
✦
زمانه چو تو شهریاری ندید
“'The painter of China never painted such beauty, nor has Time ever witnessed a prince like you.'”
#22
جوانی دل شاه کسری مسوز
✦
مکن تیره این آب گیتی‌فروز
“'Burn not the heart of King Khosrow in your youth; do not darken this world-illuminating water!'”
#23
پیاده شو از باره زنهار خواه
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به خاک افگن این گرز و رومی کلاه
“'Dismount from your charger, ask for quarter, and cast this mace and Roman helmet to the dust!'”
#24
اگر دور از ایدر یکی باد سرد
✦
نشاند بروی تو بر تیره گرد
“'For if from afar a single cold wind should blow dark dust upon your face...'”
#25
دل شهریار از تو بریان شود
✦
ز روی تو خورشید گریان شود
“'The King's heart would burn for you, and the sun in heaven would weep over your countenance.'”
#26
به گیتی همه تخم زفتی مکار
✦
ستیزه نه خوب آید از شهریار
“'Sow no seed of harshness in this world, for stubbornness ill becomes a monarch.'”
#27
گر از رای من سر به یک سو بری
✦
بلندی گزینی و کنداوری
“'Yet if you turn your head away from my counsel, choosing pride and arrogant deeds...'”
#28
بسی پند پیروز یاد آیدت
✦
سخن های بد گوی یاد آیدت
“'You shall recall Piruz's advice full well, when the words of evil counselors come back to haunt you.'”