#1
ببودند یک ماه نزدیک شاه
✦
به ایوان بزم و به نخچیرگاه
“For a month they remained near the King, within the banquet halls and the hunting grounds.”
#2
یکی بارگه ساخت روزی به دشت
✦
ز گردسواران هوا تیره گشت
“One day he pitched a pavilion upon the plain, and the air turned dark from the dust of mounted knights.”
#3
همه مرزبانان زرین کمر
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بلوچی و گیلی به زرین سپر
“All the golden-belted border-lords came, Baloches and Gilanis bearing golden shields,”
#4
سراسر بدان بارگاه آمدند
✦
پرستنده نزدیک شاه آمدند
“All gathered at that court; attendants came near to the King.”
#5
چوسیصدز پیلان زرین ستام
✦
ببردند وشمشیر زرین نیام
“They brought nearly three hundred elephants with golden trappings and swords in golden scabbards.”
#6
درخشیدن تیغ و ژوپین وخشت
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تو گویی که زر اندر آهن سرشت
“So bright was the gleam of swords, javelins, and darts, you would say gold was alloyed into iron.”
#7
بدیبا بیاراسته پشت پیل
✦
بدو تخت پیروزه هم رنگ نیل
“The backs of the elephants were adorned with brocade, bearing turquoise thrones as blue as the Nile.”
#8
زمین پرخروش وهوا پر ز جوش
✦
همی کر شده مردم تیزگوش
“The earth was full of clamor and the air full of roar, deafening even those with the keenest ears.”
#9
فرستادهٔ بردع وهند و روم
✦
ز هر شهریاری ز آباد بوم
“Emissaries arrived from Barda'a, India, and Rome—from every monarch of inhabited lands.”
#10
ز دشت سواران نیزه گزار
✦
برفتند یک سر سوی شهریار
“From the plain of spear-wielding cavalry, they all advanced together toward the King.”
#11
به چینی نمود آنک شاهی کراست
✦
ز خورشید تا پشت ماهی کراست
“He demonstrated to the Chinese envoy who truly holds kingship from the high sun to the abyssal fish.”
#12
هوا پر شد از جوش گرد سوار
✦
زمین پرشد از آلت کار زار
“The air filled with the roar of horsemen's dust, and the earth was covered with instruments of battle.”
#13
به دشت اندر آورد گه ساختند
✦
سواران جنگی همی‌تاختند
“Upon the plain they prepared the arena of combat; warlike knights galloped forth.”
#14
به کوپال و تیغ و بتیر و کمان
✦
بگشتند گردنکشان یک زمان
“With heavy maces, swords, arrows, and bows, the proud warriors wheeled about for a time.”
#15
همه دشت ژوپین‌زن و نیزه‌دار
✦
به یک سو پیاده به یک سو سوار
“The entire plain was filled with javelin-throwers and spearmen, infantry on one side, cavalry on the other.”
#16
فرستادگان را ز هر کشوری
✦
ز هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“The envoys from every country, sent by every renowned ruler and chief,”
#17
شگفت آمد از لشکر و ساز اوی
✦
همان چهره و نام وآواز اوی
“Were filled with wonder at his army and its gear, as well as at his visage, fame, and mighty voice.”
#18
فرستادگان یک به دیگر به راز
✦
بگفتند کین شاه گردن‌فراز
“The envoys whispered to one another in secret, saying, 'This exalted King...'”
#19
هنر جوید وهیچ پیچد عنان
✦
به کردار پیکر نماید سنان
“'...displays martial skill yet turns his reins away; he presents his spearpoint merely like a painted image.'”
#20
هنر گر نمودی به ما شهریار
✦
ازو داشتی هر یکی یادگار
“'If the King were to show us his own prowess, each of us would hold a prized memory of him.'”
#21
چو هریک برفتی برشاه خویش
✦
سخن داشتی یارهمراه خویش
“'So that when each returns to his own ruler, he would have great tales to tell his companions,'”
#22
بگفتی که چون شاه نوشین‌روان
✦
بدیده نبینند پیر و جوان
“'Saying that neither old nor young have ever beheld a king like Nushinravan.'”
#23
سخن هرچ گفتند اندر نهان
✦
بگفتند با شهریار جهان
“Whatever they spoke in secret was conveyed directly to the King of the world.”
#24
به گنجور فرمود پس شهریار
✦
که آرد به دشت آلت کارزار
“The King then commanded his treasurer to bring his battle gear out to the plain.”
#25
بیاورد خفتان وخود و زره
✦
بفرمود تا برگشاید گره
“He brought the mail-coat, helmet, and armor, and ordered the knots to be unloosed.”
#26
گشاده برون کرد زورآزمای
✦
نبرداشتی جوشن او زجای
“When unpacked, even a strong champion could not lift his chainmail coat from the ground!”
#27
همان خود و خفتان و کوپال اوی
✦
نبرداشتی جز بر و یال اوی
“Likewise, none could raise his helmet, mail-coat, or mace save his own powerful chest and neck.”
#28
کمانکش نبودی به لشکر چنوی
✦
نه ازنامداران چنان جنگجوی
“There was no archer in the army like him, nor any warrior of such renown in battle.”
#29
به آوردگه رفت چون پیل مست
✦
یکی گُرزه گاو پیکر به دست
“He strode into the arena like a raging elephant, holding a bull-headed mace in his hand.”
#30
به زیر اندرون با رهٔ گامزن
✦
ز بالای او خیره شد انجمن
“Mounted upon his swift warhorse, the entire assembly was dazzled by his stature.”
#31
خروش آمد و ناله کرنای
✦
هم از پشت پیلان جرنگ درای
“Shouts and the sound of trumpets arose, alongside the ringing bells from the backs of elephants.”
#32
تبیره زنان پیش بردند سنج
✦
زمین آمد از سم اسبان به رنج
“The drum-beaters brought forward the cymbals, and the earth groaned beneath the hooves of the horses.”
#33
شهنشاه با خود و گبر و سنان
✦
چپ و راست گردان و پیچان عنان
“The Shahanshah in helmet, armor, and lance, turned left and right, wheeling his reins.”
#34
فرستادگان خواندند آفرین
✦
یکایک نهادند سر بر زمین
“The envoys sang praises unto him, and one by one bowed their heads down to the earth.”