#1
طلایه چو گشت از لب کنده باز
✦
بیامد بر شاه گردن فراز
“When the vanguard returned from the edge of the trench, he came before the proud and exalted King.”
#2
که پیغمبر قیصر آمد بشاه
✦
پر از درد و پوزش کنان از گناه
“He reported that the envoy of Caesar had arrived before the Shah, full of sorrow and seeking pardon for his fault.”
#3
فرستاده آمد همانگه دوان
✦
نیایش کنان پیش نوشین روان
“The messenger hastily entered, bowing down in homage before Noshirvan.”
#4
چو رومی سر تاج کسری بدید
✦
یکی باد سرد از جگر برکشید
“When the Roman envoy beheld the crown and throne of Khosrow, he drew a cold sigh from his breast.”
#5
به دل گفت کینت سزاوار گاه
✦
بشاهی ومردی وچندین سپاه
“He said to his heart: 'Verily, this king alone is worthy of the throne, of sovereignty, of valour, and of such mighty hosts!'”
#6
وزان فیلسوفان رومی چهل
✦
زبان برگشادند پر باد دل
“And forty Roman philosophers opened their mouths to speak, their hearts filled with deep sighs.”
#7
ز دینار با هرکسی سی هزار
✦
نثار آوریده بر شهریار
“Bringing thirty thousand dinars for each man as tribute to shower upon the monarch.”
#8
چو دیدند رنگ رخ شهریار
✦
برفتند لرزان و پیچان چومار
“When they observed the stern face of the Shahanshah, they went forward trembling and twisting like serpents.”
#9
شهنشاه چون دید بنواختشان
✦
به آیین یکی جایگه ساختشان
“The King of kings, seeing their plight, showed them grace and assigned them a place of honor according to custom.”
#10
چنین گفت گوینده پیشرو
✦
که ای شاه قیصر جوانست و نو
“The leader of the spokesmen thus addressed the King: 'O Shah, the young Caesar is new to the throne.'”
#11
پدر مرده و ناسپرده جهان
✦
نداند همی آشکار و نهان
“'His father has passed away, and he has not yet traversed the ways of the world; he knows neither the manifest nor the hidden.'”
#12
همه سر به سر باژدار توایم
✦
پرستار و در زینهار توایم
“'We are all, from first to last, your tribute-payers, your servants, and under your royal protection.'”
#13
تو را روم ایران و ایران چو روم
✦
جدایی چرا باید این مرز و بوم
“'To you, Rome is as Iran and Iran as Rome; why should these two realms be kept apart?'”
#14
خرد در زمانه شهنشاه راست
✦
وزو داشت قیصر همی‌پشت راست
“'Wisdom in this world belongs truly to the King of kings, and Caesar leans upon his council for support.'”
#15
چه خاقان چینی چه در هند شاه
✦
یکایک پرستند این تاج و گاه
“'Be it the Khaqan of China or the ruler of India, all pay homage to this sublime crown and throne.'”
#16
اگر کودکی نارسیده بجای
✦
سخن گفت بی‌دانش و رهنمای
“'If an unripened youth has spoken words lacking wisdom and without a wise guide,'”
#17
ندارد شهنشاه ازو کین و درد
✦
که شادست ازو گنبد لاژورد
“'Let not the King of kings harbour anger or grudge against him, for the azure vault of heaven is rejoiced by your justice.'”
#18
همان باژ روم آنچ بود از نخست
✦
سپاریم و عهدی بتازه درست
“'We shall yield the customary tribute of Rome as of old, and seal a firm and renewed treaty.'”
#19
بخندید نوشین روان زان سخن
✦
که مرد فرستاده افگند بن
“Noshirvan smiled at those words, recognizing how cleverly the envoy had laid the foundation of his plea.”
#20
بدو گفت اگر نامور کودکست
✦
خرد با سخن نزد او اندکست
“He said to him: 'If your famous king is a child, then wisdom is scarce in his counsel and speech.'”
#21
چه قیصر چه آن بی خرد رهنمون
✦
ز دانش روان را گرفته زبون
“'Be it Caesar or his foolish advisor, their souls have been overcome and bound by ignorance.'”
#22
همه هوشمندان اسکندری
✦
گرفتند پیروزی و برتری
“'All the wise men of Alexander's line won victory and pre-eminence through wisdom.'”
#23
کسی کو بگردد ز پیمان ما
✦
بپیچید دل از رای و فرمان ما
“'Whoever turns away from our covenant has turned his heart away from counsel and order.'”
#24
از آباد بومش بر آریم خاک
✦
زگنج و ز لشکر نداریم باک
“'We shall turn the dust of his prosperous land into ruin, fearing neither his treasures nor his armies.'”
#25
فرستادگان خاک دادند بوس
✦
چنانچون بود مردم چابلوس
“The envoys kissed the ground, as flatterers are wont to do,”
#26
که ای شاه پیروز برترمنش
✦
ز کار گذشته مکن سرزنش
“Saying: 'O victorious and exalted King, reproach us not for what is already past!'”
#27
همه سر به سر خاک رنج توایم
✦
همه پاسبانان گنج توایم
“'We are all the dust beneath your feet in your toil, and all of us are guardians of your treasury.'”
#28
چوخشنود گردد ز ما شهریار
✦
نباشیم ناکام و بد روزگار
“'When the King is well-pleased with us, we shall not suffer ill fortune or discontent.'”
#29
ز رنجی که ایدر شهنشاه برد
✦
همه رومیان آن ندارند خرد
“'For the trouble the King of kings bore here, all the Romans lack the mind to measure its worth.'”
#30
ز دینار پرکرده ده چرم گاو
✦
به گنج آوریم از درباژ وساو
“'Ten hides of bull-leather filled with dinars shall we bring to your treasury as tribute and tax.'”
#31
بکمی وبیشیش فرمان رواست
✦
پذیرد ز ما گرچه آن ناسزاست
“'In whatever amount, small or great, your command holds sway; accept it from us, though it be unworthy of your throne.'”
#32
چنین داد پاسخ که ازکار گنج
✦
سزاوار دستور باشد به رنج
“The Shah answered thus: 'As for the treasury matters, it is fitting that the High Minister take up the toil.'”
#33
همه رومیان پیش موبد شدند
✦
خروشان و با اختر بد شدند
“All the Romans came before the High Mobad, crying out and fearing ill-fortune.”
#34
فراوان ز هر در سخن راندند
✦
همه راز قیصر برو راندند
“They spoke at length on every matter, disclosing all the secrets of Caesar to him.”
#35
ز دینار گفتند وز گاو پوست
✦
ز کاری که آرام روم اندروست
“They spoke of dinars and cow-hides of gold, and of the settlement wherein lay the peace of Rome.”
#36
چنین گفت موبد اگر زر دهید
✦
ز دیبا چه مایه بران سرنهید
“The Mobad said: 'If you offer gold, how much woven brocade will you add atop it?'”
#37
بهنگام برگشتن شهریار
✦
ز دیبای زربفت باید هزار
“'At the time of the King’s return, a thousand gold-woven brocades are required,'”
#38
که خلعت بود شاه را هر زمان
✦
چه با کهتران و چه با مهتران
“'To serve continuously as royal robes of honor, awarded to both the humble and the noble.'”
#39
برین برنهادند و گشتند باز
✦
همه پاک بردند پیشش نماز
“They agreed upon this condition and turned back, bowing down in homage before the Mobad.”
#40
ببد شاه چندی بران رزمگاه
✦
چوآسوده شد شهریار و سپاه
“The King remained for a while upon that battleground until his host and mind were rested.”
#41
ز لشکر یکی مرد بگزید گرد
✦
که داند شمار نبشت و سترد
“He selected a warrior from the army who was skilled in calculation and writing,”
#42
سپاهی بدو داد تا باژ روم
✦
ستاند سپارد به آباد بوم
“And entrusted him with a troop to collect the tribute of Rome and deliver it to the prosperous land.”
#43
وز آنجا بیامد سوی طیسفون
✦
سپاهی پس پشت و پیش اندرون
“From there, he marched toward Ctesiphon, flanked by armies before and behind.”
#44
همه یکسر آباد از سیم و زر
✦
به زرین ستام و به زرین کمر
“All splendidly arrayed with silver and gold, with golden bridles and golden belts.”
#45
ز بس پرنیانی درفش سران
✦
تو گفتی هوا شد همه پرنیان
“From the abundance of silk banners of the chieftains, you would say the very air had turned to silk.”
#46
در و دشت گفتی که زرین شدست
✦
کمرها ز گوهر چو پروین شدست
“The doors and plains seemed turned to gold; the gem-studded belts shone like the Pleiades.”
#47
چو نزدیک شهر اندر آمد ز راه
✦
پذیره شدندش فراوان سپاه
“As he drew near the city from the road, a vast host came forth to welcome him.”
#48
همه پیش کسری پیاده شدند
✦
کمر بسته و دل گشاده شدند
“All dismounted before Khosrow, belts girt in service, their hearts overflowing with joy.”
#49
هر آنکس که پیمود با شاه راه
✦
پیاده بشد تا در بارگاه
“Whoever journeyed along the path with the Shah walked on foot all the way to the royal palace doors.”
#50
همه مهتران خواندند آفرین
✦
بران شاه بیدار باداد ودین
“All the chieftains sang praises upon that vigilant king of justice and faith.”
#51
چو تنگ اندر آمد به جای نشست
✦
بهرمهتری شاه بنمود دست
“When he drew close to his royal seat, the Shah raised his hand to greet every grandee.”
#52
سرآمد سخن گفتن موزه دوز
✦
ز ماه محرم گذشته سه روز
“The tale of the shoemaker came to an end when three days had passed beyond the month of Muharram.”
#53
جهانجوی دهقان آموزگار
✦
چه گفت اندرین گردش روزگار
“What did the world-seeking scholar and teacher say regarding this wheel of fortune?”
#54
که روزی فرازست و روزی نشیب
✦
گهی با خرامیم و گه با نهیب
“That one day brings exaltation and another day decline; at times we walk proudly, and at times we dwell in fear.”
#55
سرانجام بستر بود تیره خاک
✦
یکی را فراز و یکی را مغاک
“In the end, our bed shall be the dark earth; one man finds an exalted place, another a sunken pit.”
#56
نشانی نداریم ازان رفته‌گان
✦
که بیدار و شادند اگر خفته گان
“We have no trace of those who have departed, whether they are awake and joyful or sleeping in dust.”
#57
بدان گیتی ار چندشان برگ نیست
✦
همان به که آویزش مرگ نیست
“Though they have no provisions in that world, it is better that there is no struggle against death.”
#58
اگر صد بود سال اگر بیست و پنج
✦
یکی شد چو یاد آید از روز رنج
“Whether one lives a hundred years or twenty-five, it becomes as one when the day of suffering is recalled.”
#59
چه آنکس که گوید خرامست وناز
✦
چه گوید که دردست و رنج و نیاز
“Whether a man says he lives in strutting luxury or in pain, suffering, and need,”
#60
کسی را ندیدم بمرگ آرزوی
✦
نه بی راه و از مردم نیکخوی
“I have seen no one who desires death, neither among the astray nor among virtuous folk.”
#61
چه دینی چه اهریمن بت پرست
✦
ز مرگند بر سر نهاده دو دست
“Be he religious or an idol-worshipping demon, all hold their hands over their heads in dread of death.”
#62
چوسالت شد ای پیر برشست و یک
✦
می‌و جام وآرام شد بی‌نمک
“When your age reaches sixty-one, O old man, wine, the cup, and rest lose their savor.”
#63
نبندد دل اندر سپنجی سرای
✦
خرد یافته مردم پاکرای
“The wise and pure-minded man does not bind his heart to this transient inn.”
#64
بگاه بسیجیدن مرگ می
✦
چو پیراهن شعر باشد بدی
“At the hour of preparing for death, sin is like a hair shirt upon the soul.”
#65
فسرده تن اندر میان گناه
✦
روان سوی فردوس گم کرده راه
“The body frozen amidst sin, while the soul has lost its path toward Paradise.”
#66
ز یاران بسی ماند و چندی گذشت
✦
تو با جام همراه مانده به دشت
“Many companions have departed and many remain, while you are left in the desert holding the goblet.”
#67
زمان خواهم از کردگار زمان
✦
که چندی بماند دلم شادمان
“I ask for time from the Creator of Time, that my heart may remain joyful for a while,”
#68
که این داستانها و چندین سخن
✦
گذشته برو سال و گشته کهن
“So that these stories and numerous tales, upon which many years have passed and grown old,”
#69
ز هنگام کی شاه تا یزدگرد
✦
ز لفظ من آمد پراگنده گرد
“From the time of King Kay down to Yazdegerd, may be gathered and scattered like dust through my words.”
#70
بپیوندم و باغ بی‌خو کنم
✦
سخنهای شاهنشهان نو کنم
“I shall weave them together and weed the garden, renewing the tales of the Shahanshahs.”
#71
هماناکه دل را ندارم به رنج
✦
اگر بگذرم زین سرای سپنج
“Verily, I shall not grieve in heart if I depart from this transient abode.”
#72
چه گوید کنون مرد روشن روان
✦
ز رای جهاندار نوشین روان
“What will the bright-souled scholar now recount of the counsel of the world-ruler Noshirvan?”