Mehrab, the ruler of Kabul, returned to his palace radiant with joy, his speech laden with praise for the white-haired champion, Zal. Yet upon entering his inner chambers, he found his noble consort, Sindokht, lying despondent, her countenance withered like a faded rose. When asked the cause of her grief, Sindokht spoke in heavy allegories of the transience of all earthly glory—how palace halls, Arabian steeds, royal crowns, and mortal lives must inevitably yield to the narrow tomb. Then she revealed the hidden truth: their fair daughter Rudabeh had been entangled in the coils of love for Zal, the son of Sam.
Upon hearing these words, fury erupted within Mehrab like a dormant volcano. His complexion turned dark as lapis lazuli, his limbs trembled with rage, and drawing his keen blade, he roared that he would drench the floor of the palace in Rudabeh’s blood. He foresaw the terrible vengeance of King Manuchehr and Sam the warrior, whose armies would turn the lands of Kabul into ash and smoke. Desperate to save her daughter, Sindokht threw her arms around Mehrab, imploring him with tears and wisdom until she bound him by a solemn oath that no harm should befall Rudabeh.
With his wrath stayed by oath, Sindokht hastened to Rudabeh, telling her that the fierce leopard had been mollified. She urged her daughter to present herself before her father. Rudabeh, arrayed in magnificent robes adorned with rubies and gold, stepped forth radiant as the springtime sun. Astonished by her splendor yet consumed by anger, Mehrab sternly rebuked her, lamenting how a fairy could bind herself to a demon. Rudabeh lowered her dark eyelashes in sorrowful silence. Glaring fiercely, Mehrab swept away, leaving Sindokht and the heart-stricken maiden to cast their prayers toward Yazdan, seeking divine shelter from the looming tempest.
#1
چو آمد ز درگاه مهراب شاد
✦
همی کرد از زال بسیار یاد
“When Mehrab returned happy from the royal court, he continually spoke of Zal with praise.”
#2
گرانمایه سیندخت را خفته دید
✦
رخش پژمریده دل آشفته دید
“He found the noble Sindokht resting, her cheeks withered and her heart deeply troubled.”
#3
بپرسید و گفتا چه بودت بگوی
✦
چرا پژمرید آن چو گلبرگ روی
“He asked her, saying: 'Tell me what has happened! Why has your flower-like face wilted?'”
#4
چنین داد پاسخ به مهراب باز
✦
که اندیشه اندر دلم شد دراز
“She answered Mehrab: 'A long and heavy melancholy has entered my heart.'”
#5
ازین کاخ آباد و این خواسته
✦
وزین تازی اسپان آراسته
“'Thinking of this prosperous palace and wealth, and these adorned Arabian horses,'”
#6
وزین بندگان سپهبدپرست
✦
ازین تاج و این خسروانی نشست
“'And of these royal-worshipping servants, this crown, and this kingly throne,'”
#7
وزین چهره و سرو بالای ما
✦
وزین نام و این دانش و رای ما
“'And of our fair faces, tall cypress statures, our fame, wisdom, and sound judgment,'”
#8
بدین آبداری و این راستی
✦
زمان تا زمان آورد کاستی
“'Yet despite all this luster and righteousness, time continually brings decay and decline.'”
#9
به ناکام باید به دشمن سپرد
✦
همه رنج ما باد باید شمرد
“'In the end, all must be unwillingly surrendered to the foe, and our labor counted as dust.'”
#10
یکی تنگ تابوت ازین بهر ماست
✦
درختی که تریاک او زهر ماست
“'Our only share shall be a narrow coffin; we are like a tree whose antidote turns to poison.'”
#11
بکشتیم و دادیم آبش به رنج
✦
بیاویختیم از برش تاج و گنج
“'We planted it and watered it with toil, and hung crowns and treasures upon its branches.'”
#12
چو بر شد به خورشید و شد سایه‌دار
✦
به خاک اندر آمد سر مایه‌دار
“'Yet when it reached the sun and cast its shade, the owner's head sank down into the dust.'”
#13
برینست فرجام و انجام ما
✦
بدان تا کجا باشد آرام ما
“'This is our ultimate end and fate; who knows where our final rest shall be?'”
#14
به سیندخت مهراب گفت این سخن
✦
نوآوردی و نو نگردد کهن
“Mehrab said to Sindokht: 'This is no new riddle you tell; what is ancient does not become novel.'”
#15
سرای سپنجی بدین سان بود
✦
خرد یافته زو هراسان بود
“'Such is the nature of this transient world; the wise soul remains ever fearful of it.'”
#16
یکی اندر آید دگر بگذرد
✦
گذر نی که چرخش همی بسپرد
“'One enters while another departs; nay, not mere passing, for time tramples us down.'”
#17
به شادی و انده نگردد دگر
✦
برین نیست پیکار با دادگر
“'It turns not for joy nor sorrow; one cannot struggle against the Just Creator.'”
#18
بدو گفت سیندخت این داستان
✦
بروی دگر بر نهد باستان
“Sindokht said to him: 'I recited this parable to turn the ancient tale to another face.'”
#19
خرد یافته موبد نیک بخت
✦
به فرزند زد داستان درخت
“'A wise and fortunate priest once struck a parable of a tree concerning a child.'”
#20
زدم داستان تا ز راه خرد
✦
سپهبد به گفتار من بنگرد
“'I told this allegory so that through wisdom the commander might consider my words.'”
#21
فرو برد سرو سهی داد خم
✦
به نرگس گل سرخ را داد نم
“'The tall cypress has bent its posture; it has moistened the red rose with narcissus eyes.'”
#22
که گردون به سر بر چنان نگذرد
✦
که ما را همی باید ای پرخرد
“'For the heavens pass above us not as we desire, O wise ruler.'”
#23
چنان دان که رودابه را پور سام
✦
نهانی نهادست هر گونه دام
“'Know that Sam's son has secretly set all manner of snares for Rudabeh.'”
#24
ببردست روشن دلش را ز راه
✦
یکی چاره مان کرد باید نگاه
“'He has led her radiant heart astray; we must seek a remedy.'”
#25
بسی دادمش پند و سودش نکرد
✦
دلش خیره بینم همی روی زرد
“'I gave her much counsel, but it availed nothing; I see her heart distracted and her cheeks pale.'”
#26
چو بشنید مهراب بر پای جست
✦
نهاد از بر دست شمشیر دست
“When Mehrab heard this, he leaped to his feet and laid his hand upon his sword hilt.”
#27
تنش گشت لرزان و رخ لاجورد
✦
پر از خون جگر دل پر از باد سرد
“His body trembled and his face turned lapis blue; his heart filled with blood and his lungs with cold sighs.”
#28
همی گفت رودابه را رود خون
✦
بروی زمین بر کنم هم کنون
“He kept shouting: 'I shall spill a river of Rudabeh's blood upon the face of the earth right now!'”
#29
چو این دید سیندخت برپای جست
✦
کمر کرد بر گردگاهش دو دست
“Seeing this, Sindokht leaped forward and wrapped both arms around his waist.”
#30
چنین گفت کز کهتر اکنون یکی
✦
سخن بشنو و گوش دار اندکی
“She said: 'Listen now for a moment to a word from your humble servant!'”
#31
ازان پس همان کن که رای آیدت
✦
روان و خرد رهنمای آیدت
“'Afterward, do whatever your judgment decrees, letting your soul and wisdom guide you.'”
#32
بپیچید و بنداخت او را بدست
✦
خروشی برآورد چون پیل مست
“He twisted away and flung her back with his hand, uttering a shout like a furious elephant.”
#33
مرا گفت چون دختر آمد پدید
✦
ببایستش اندر زمان سر برید
“He said: 'When that daughter was born, her head ought to have been severed at once!'”
#34
نکشتم بگشتم ز راه نیا
✦
کنون ساخت بر من چنین کیمیا
“'I killed her not, departing from the way of my ancestors, and now she has wrought such alchemy against me!'”
#35
پسر کو ز راه پدر بگذرد
✦
دلیرش ز پشت پدر نشمرد
“'A child who strays from the father's path—the brave father considers them not of his seed!'”
#36
همم بیم جانست و هم جای ننگ
✦
چرا بازداری سرم را ز جنگ
“'I fear both for my life and for shame; why do you restrain my head from battle?'”
#37
اگر سام یل با منوچهر شاه
✦
بیابند بر ما یکی دستگاه
“'If Sam the hero and King Manuchehr gain mastery over us,'”
#38
ز کابل برآید به خورشید دود
✦
نه آباد ماند نه کشت و درود
“'Smoke shall rise from Kabul to the sun, leaving neither town, nor crop, nor harvest.'”
#39
چنین گفت سیندخت با مرزبان
✦
کزین در مگردان به خیره زبان
“Sindokht said to the ruler: 'Do not turn your tongue to vain talk on this matter!'”
#40
کزین آگهی یافت سام سوار
✦
به دل ترس و تیمار و سختی مدار
“'For Sam the warrior has already learned of this; harbor no fear or grief in your heart.'”
#41
وی از گرگساران بدین گشت باز
✦
گشاده شدست این سخن نیست راز
“'He returned from Gurgsaran for this very cause; this matter has been revealed and is no secret.'”
#42
چنین گفت مهراب کای ماه‌روی
✦
سخن هیچ با من به کژی مگوی
“Mehrab said: 'O moon-faced lady, speak no words of falsehood to me!'”
#43
چنین خود کی اندر خورد با خرد
✦
که مر خاک را باد فرمان برد
“'How could it accord with reason that the wind should obey the dust?'”
#44
مرا دل بدین نیستی دردمند
✦
اگر ایمنی یابمی از گزند
“'My heart grieves not at this nonexistence, if only I were secure from harm.'”
#45
که باشد که پیوند سام سوار
✦
نخواهد ز اهواز تا قندهار
“'Who is there from Ahvaz to Qandahar that would not desire alliance with Sam the knight?'”
#46
بدو گفت سیندخت کای سرفراز
✦
به گفتار کژی مبادم نیاز
“Sindokht said: 'O exalted one, may I never have need for crooked speech!'”
#47
گزند تو پیدا گزند منست
✦
دل دردمند تو بند منست
“'Your harm is my harm; your suffering heart is my bond.'”
#48
چنین است و این بر دلم شد درست
✦
همین بدگمانی مرا از نخست
“'This is the truth, and it has been proven to my heart; my initial suspicion was the same.'”
#49
اگر باشد این نیست کاری شگفت
✦
که چندین بد اندیشه باید گرفت
“'If this be so, it is no cause for wonder that such foreboding thoughts arose.'”
#50
فریدون به سرو یمن گشت شاه
✦
جهانجوی دستان همین دید راه
“'Fereydun became king through the Cypress of Yemen; Dastan the seeker of the world seeks the same path.'”
#51
هرانگه که بیگانه شد خویش تو
✦
شود تیره رای بداندیش تو
“'Whenever a stranger becomes your kinsman, the dark counsel of your ill-wisher is turned to gloom.'”
#52
به سیندخت فرمود پس نامدار
✦
که رودابه را خیز پیش من آر
“Then the renowned ruler ordered Sindokht: 'Arise and bring Rudabeh before me!'”
#53
بترسید سیندخت ازان تیز مرد
✦
که او را ز درد اندر آرد به گرد
“Sindokht feared that fierce man, lest in his pain he should cast her to the dust.”
#54
بدو گفت پیمانت خواهم نخست
✦
به چاره دلش را ز کینه بشست
“She said: 'I demand your solemn oath first'; by cleverness she washed his heart of malice.”
#55
زبان داد سیندخت را نامجوی
✦
که رودابه را بد نیارد بروی
“The famous ruler gave his word to Sindokht that he would bring no harm upon Rudabeh's face.”
#56
بدو گفت بنگر که شاه زمین
✦
دل از ما کند زین سخن پر ز کین
“He said to her: 'Consider how the King of the Earth will fill his heart with vengeance against us.'”
#57
نه ماند بر و بوم و نه مام و باب
✦
شود پست رودابه با رودآب
“'Neither land, realm, mother, nor father shall remain; Rudabeh shall be cast down along with river waters.'”
#58
چو بشنید سیندخت سر پیش اوی
✦
فرو برد و بر خاک بنهاد روی
“When Sindokht heard this, she bowed her head and laid her face upon the ground.”
#59
بر دختر آمد پر از خنده لب
✦
گشاده رخ روزگون زیر شب
“She went to her daughter with a smiling lip, her day-like face revealed beneath the night of her hair.”
#60
همی مژده دادش که جنگی پلنگ
✦
ز گور ژیان کرد کوتاه چنگ
“She gave her the good news: 'The warlike leopard has drawn back his claws from the fierce wild ass.'”
#61
کنون زود پیرایه بگشای و رو
✦
به پیش پدر شو به زاری بنو
“'Now strip off your ornaments at once and go before your father in humble supplication.'”
#62
بدو گفت رودابه پیرایه چیست
✦
به جای سر مایه بی‌مایه چیست
“Rudabeh said to her: 'What need of ornaments? What is worthless ornament when the primary treasure is safe?'”
#63
روان مرا پور سامست جفت
✦
چرا آشکارا بباید نهفت
“'My soul's mate is the son of Sam; why should I hide in secret what ought to be manifest?'”
#64
به پیش پدر شد چو خورشید شرق
✦
به یاقوت و زر اندرون گشته غرق
“She went before her father radiant as the eastern sun, steeped in rubies and gold.”
#65
بهشتی بد آراسته پرنگار
✦
چو خورشید تابان به خرم بهار
“She was like a paradise adorned with figures, shining like the sun in cheerful spring.”
#66
پدر چون ورا دید خیره بماند
✦
جهان آفرین را نهانی بخواند
“When her father saw her, he was astonished and secretly invoked the Creator of the World.”
#67
بدو گفت ای شسته مغز از خرد
✦
ز پرگوهران این کی اندر خورد
“He said to her: 'O you whose brain is empty of wisdom, how is this fitting for noble gems?'”
#68
که با اهرمن جفت گردد پری
✦
که مه تاج بادت مه انگشتری
“'That a fairy should pair with a demon! May you have neither crown nor signet ring!'”
#69
چو بشنید رودابه آن گفت‌وگوی
✦
دژم گشت و چون زعفران کرد روی
“When Rudabeh heard those words, she grew sorrowful and her face turned pale as saffron.”
#70
سیه مژه بر نرگسان دژم
✦
فرو خوابنید و نزد هیچ دم
“She lowered her black eyelashes over her sad narcissus eyes and uttered not a breath.”
#71
پدر دل پر از خشم و سر پر ز جنگ
✦
همی رفت غران بسان پلنگ
“Her father, his heart filled with anger and head full of strife, strode away roaring like a leopard.”
#72
سوی خانه شد دختر دل‌شده
✦
رخان معصفر بزر آژده
“The enamored maiden returned to her chamber, her cheeks pale yellow, woven with gold.”
#73
به یزدان گرفتند هر دو پناه
✦
هم این دل شده ماه و هم پیشگاه
“Both took refuge in Yazdan—the enamored moon-like maiden and her royal mother.”