#1
برآمد برین روزگاری دراز
✦
بسیم و زر آمد سپه را نیاز
“A long period of time passed, and the army fell into dire need of silver and gold.”
#2
سپهدار روزی‌دهان را بخواند
✦
وزان جنگ چندی سخنها براند
“The army commander summoned the paymasters and spoke at length of the recent wars,”
#3
که این کار با رنج بسیار گشت
✦
به آب و به کنده نشاید گذشت
“Saying: 'This campaign was won with immense hardship; one cannot cross rivers and trenches without funds.'”
#4
سپه را درم باید و دستگاه
✦
همان اسب وخفتان و رومی کلاه
“'The troops require money and equipment, as well as horses, coats of mail, and Roman helmets.'”
#5
سوی گنج رفتند روزی‌دهان
✦
دبیران و گنجور شاه جهان
“The paymasters went to the royal treasury, along with the scribes and the treasurer of the Lord of the World.”
#6
از اندازه لشکر شهریار
✦
کم آمد درم تنگ سیصد هزار
“Compared to the vast size of the King's army, the money fell short by three hundred thousand bags of silver.”
#7
بیامد برشاه موبد چوگرد
✦
به گنج آنچ بود از درم یاد کرد
“The Mobad came swiftly before the King like a dust storm and recounted what money remained in the vault.”
#8
دژم کرد شاه اندران کار چهر
✦
بفرمود تا رفت بوزرجمهر
“The King's face turned grim at this matter, and he ordered Bozorjmehr to be brought forth.”
#9
بدو گفت گر گنج شاهی تهی
✦
چه باید مرا تخت شاهنشهی
“He said to him: 'If the royal treasury is empty, of what use to me is the throne of kingship?'”
#10
بروهم کنون ساروان را بخواه
✦
هیونان بختی برافگن به راه
“'Go right now, summon the camel-drivers, and send forth the sturdy Bactrian camels onto the road.'”
#11
صد از گنج مازندران بارکن
✦
وزو بیشتر بار دینار کن
“'Load a hundred camels from the treasury of Mazandaran, and let the greater portion of the load be golden dinars.'”
#12
بشاه جهان گفت بوزرجمهر
✦
که ای شاه با دانش و داد و مهر
“Bozorjmehr said to the Shah of the world: 'O King of wisdom, justice, and loving-kindness!'”
#13
سوی گنج ایران درازست راه
✦
تهی دست و بیکار باشد سپاه
“'The road to the treasury of Iran is long, and the army will remain empty-handed and idle in the meantime.'”
#14
بدین شهرها گرد ماهرکسست
✦
کسی کو درم بیش دارد بدست
“'Around these cities, there are many wealthy people—anyone who holds abundant silver in hand.'”
#15
ز بازارگان و ز دهقان درم
✦
اگر وام خواهی نگردد دژم
“'If you request a loan of money from the merchants and rural landlords, they will not be grieved.'”
#16
بدین کار شد شاه همداستان
✦
که دانای ایران بزد داستان
“The Shah agreed to this plan, for the wise counsellor of Iran had struck upon a sound tradition.”
#17
فرستاده‌ای جست بوزرجمهر
✦
خردمند و شادان دل و خوب چهر
“Bozorjmehr sought an envoy—wise, joyful of heart, and handsome of face.”
#18
بدو گفت ز ایدر سه اسبه برو
✦
گزین کن یکی نامبردار گو
“He said to him: 'Go from here with three swift horses, and select a renowned hero,'”
#19
ز بازارگان و ز دهقان شهر
✦
کسی را کجا باشد از نام بهر
“'From among the merchants and country landlords of the town—anyone who has a share of good name.'”
#20
ز بهر سپه این درم فام خواه
✦
بزودی بفرماید از گنج شاه
“'Ask for this silver as a loan for the army; the King's treasury will soon order it repaid.'”
#21
بیامد فرستادهٔ خوش منش
✦
جوان وخردمندی و نیکوکنش
“The pleasant-natured envoy set forth—a youth wise and noble in deeds.”
#22
پیمبر باندیشه باریک بود
✦
بیامد بشهری که نزدیک بود
“The messenger possessed subtle thoughts; he came to a city that was nearby.”
#23
درم خواست فام از پی شهریار
✦
برو انجمن شد بسی مایه دار
“He requested a loan of silver for the King, and many wealthy citizens gathered before him.”
#24
یکی کفشگر بود و موزه فروش
✦
به گفتار او تیز بگشاد گوش
“There was a shoemaker who sold boots, who opened his ears sharply to his words.”
#25
درم چند باید بدو گفت مرد
✦
دلاور شمار درم یاد کرد
“The man asked him: 'How much silver is needed?' The brave envoy stated the total count.”
#26
چنین گفت کای پرخرد مایه دار
✦
چهل من درم هرمنی صدهزار
“He said: 'O wise wealthy man! Forty 'man' of silver, each 'man' equal to a hundred thousand coins.'”
#27
بدو کفشگر گفت من این دهم
✦
سپاسی ز گنجور بر سر نهم
“The shoemaker replied: 'I shall provide this, and I place this favor upon the treasurer's head with gratitude.'”
#28
بیاورد قپان و سنگ و درم
✦
نبد هیچ دفتر به کار و قلم
“He brought out steelyards, weights, and silver; no ledgers or pens were needed for the count.”
#29
چو بازارگان را درم سخته شد
✦
فرستاده زان کار پردخته شد
“When the merchant's silver was weighed out, the envoy was relieved of his task.”
#30
بدو کفشگر گفت کای خوب چهر
✦
به رنج‌ی بگویی به بوزرجمهر
“The shoemaker said to him: 'O handsome courier! Speak without trouble to Bozorjmehr,'”
#31
که اندر زمانه مرا کودکیست
✦
که بازار او بر دلم خوار نیست
“'That I have a young child in this world, whose market and future are dear to my heart.'”
#32
بگویی مگر شهریار جهان
✦
مرا شاد گرداند اندر نهان
“'May you ask if the King of the world might make me secretly happy in my heart,'”
#33
که او را سپارد بفرهنگیان
✦
که دارد سرمایه و هنگ آن
“'By entrusting my son to the men of culture and learning, for he has the means and capacity for it.'”
#34
فرستاده گفت این ندارم به رنج
✦
که کوتاه کردی مرا راه گنج
“The envoy said: 'I do not count this a burden, for you have shortened my path to the treasury.'”
#35
بیامد بر مرد دانا به شب
✦
وزان کفشگر نیز بگشاد لب
“He came to the wise minister by night, and opened his lips to speak of the shoemaker.”
#36
برشاه شد شاد بوزرجمهر
✦
بران خواسته شاه بگشاد چهر
“Bozorjmehr went joyfully before the Shah, and the King's face brightened at the sight of that wealth.”
#37
چنین گفتن زان پس که یزدان سپاس
✦
مبادم مگر پاک و یزدان شناس
“The Shah then spoke: 'Praise be to God! May I never be anything but pure and God-fearing,'”
#38
که در پادشاهی یکی موزه دوز
✦
برین گونه شادست و گیتی فروز
“'That in my realm a simple cobbler is so prosperous and world-illuminating,'”
#39
که چندین درم ساخته باشدش
✦
مبادا که بیداد بخراشدش
“'That he possesses so much silver prepared; may injustice never harm him!'”
#40
نگر تا چه دارد کنون آرزوی
✦
بماناد بر ما همین راه و خوی
“'Go see what desire he holds now; may this tradition of equity remain ours forever.'”
#41
چو فامش بتوزی درم صدهزار
✦
بده تا بماند ز ما یادگار
“'When you repay his loan of a hundred thousand silver coins, give a extra gift so a memory of us endures.'”
#42
بدان زیردستان دلاور شدند
✦
جهانجوی با تخت وافسر شدند
“By such justice, subjects grew courageous, and the world-conqueror sat secure with throne and crown.”
#43
مبادا که بیدادگر شهریار
✦
بود شاد برتخت و به روزگار
“May an unjust ruler never rejoice upon the throne or in his time!”
#44
بشاه جهان گفت بوزرجمهر
✦
که ای شاه نیک اختر خوب چهر
“Bozorjmehr said to the Shah of the world: 'O King of good star and handsome face!'”
#45
یکی آرزو کرد موزه فروش
✦
اگر شاه دارد بمن بنده گوش
“'The cobbler made one wish, if the Shah will listen to me, his servant.'”
#46
فرستاده گوید که این مرد گفت
✦
که شاه جهان با خرد باد جفت
“The envoy reported: 'This man declared, "May the King of the World ever be joined with wisdom!"'”
#47
یکی پور دارم رسیده بجای
✦
بفرهنگ جوید همی رهنمای
“'"I have a son who has reached maturity, who eagerly seeks a mentor to lead him toward learning and culture.'"”
#48
اگر شاه باشد بدین دستگیر
✦
که این پاک فرزند گردد دبیر
“'"If the King would lend his aiding hand, so that this pure child might become a royal scribe...'"”
#49
ز یزدان بخواهم همی جان شاه
✦
که جاوید باد این سزاوار گاه
“'"...I shall ever pray to God for the King’s life, that this worthy throne may remain eternal."'”
#50
بدو گفت شاه ای خردمند مرد
✦
چرا دیو چشم تو را تیره کرد
“The King answered him: 'O wise man! Why has a demon clouded your vision?'”
#51
برو همچنان بازگردان شتر
✦
مبادا کزو سیم خواهیم و در
“'Go forthwith and turn back the camels; heaven forbid that we should demand silver and pearls from him!'”
#52
چو بازارگان بچه گردد دبیر
✦
هنرمند و بادانش و یادگیر
“'If a merchant’s child becomes a royal scribe, cultured, knowledgeable, and quick to learn,'”
#53
چو فرزند ما برنشیند بتخت
✦
دبیری ببایدش پیروزبخت
“'And when our prince ascends the throne, he will require a scribe of noble fortune;'”
#54
هنر باید از مرد موزه فروش
✦
بدین کار دیگر تو با من مکوش
“'Should culture and high office be bought from a shoe-seller? Urge me no further in this affair!'”
#55
بدست خردمند و مرد نژاد
✦
نماند به جز حسرت وسرد باد
“'For the wise and noble-born, nothing would remain except grief and cold sighs!'”
#56
شود پیش او خوار مردم شناس
✦
چوپاسخ دهد زو پذیرد سپاس
“'The noble judge of character would be humbled before him; when he renders service, he expects subservient thanks.'”
#57
بما بر پس از مرگ نفرین بود
✦
چوآیین این روزگار این بود
“'Curses would follow us after death, if such were to become the custom of our realm.'”
#58
نخواهیم روزی جز از گنج داد
✦
درم زو مخواه و مکن هیچ یاد
“'We desire sustenance only from the treasury of justice; take no dirhams from him and speak of this no more!'”
#59
هم اکنون شتر بازگردان به راه
✦
درم خواه وز موزه دوزان مخواه
“'Turn the camels back on the road this instant; seek wealth elsewhere, but ask nothing from shoe-sewers!'”
#60
فرستاده برگشت و شد با درم
✦
دل کفشگر گشت پر درد و غم
“The envoy returned, bringing back the money, while the cobbler's heart turned heavy with sorrow and despair.”
#61
شب آمد غمی شد ز گفتار شاه
✦
خروش جرس خاست از بارگاه
“Night fell, darkened by the King's stern decree, and the clamor of bells arose from the royal court.”
#62
طلایه پراگنده بر گرد دشت
✦
همه شب همی گرد لشکر بگشت
“Night-patrols were deployed across the plain, riding around the army camp all through the night.”
#63
ز ماهی چو بنمود خورشید تاج
✦
برافگند خلعت زمین را ز عاج
“When the sun displayed its crown above the cosmic Fish, it cast a robe of ivory over the earth.”