As dawn painted the earth in golden hues, the valiant Bandoy ascended to the roof of the citadel and hailed Bahram, son of Siyavash. He revealed the bitter truth: King Khosrow Parviz had already departed swiftly toward the realms of Rome long before the pursuing forces arrived. Bandoy declared that even if they flew like eagles into the sun, Khosrow was now beyond their reach. He demanded safe-conduct to descend and reveal the details of the king's host, warning that he was otherwise prepared to don armor and fight to the death.
Realizing the futility of slaying Bandoy on the spot, Bahram son of Siyavash resolved to bring him alive before the supreme rebel general, Bahram Chubin. When Bahram Chubin received the news that Khosrow had slipped through his grasp into Byzantine lands, fury consumed him. He raged bitterly against Bahram son of Siyavash for his gullibility and failure to execute his orders.
Summoning Bandoy to his throne, Bahram Chubin vented his burning anger, vilifying him as a deceitful schemer. Yet Bandoy stood resolute and fearless, declaring that Khosrow was his sovereign and kinsman, and that sacrificing his life for the true King of Kings was the highest mark of honor. Impressed yet embittered by Bandoy's unwavering devotion, Bahram Chubin refrained from execution, instead foretelling that Bandoy would ironically meet his end at the hands of Khosrow himself. Heavy iron shackles were bound upon Bandoy's feet, and Bahram Chubin retired into the night, his heart heavy with ominous forebodings.
#1
چوروی زمین گشت خورشید فام
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سخن گوی بندوی برشد ببام
“When the face of the earth took on the golden hue of the sun, the eloquent Bandoy went up onto the roof.”
#2
ببهرام گفت ای جهاندیده مرد
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برانگه که برخاست از دشت گرد
“He said to Bahram, 'O experienced man of the world, when dust rose from the battlefield...'”
#3
چو خسرو شما را بدید او برفت
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سوی روم با لشکر خویش تفت
“'When Khosrow saw you, he departed swiftly toward Rome with his host.'”
#4
کنون گر تو پران شوی چون عقاب
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وگر برتر آری سر از آفتاب
“'Now even if you fly like an eagle or soar higher than the sun...'”
#5
نبیند کسی شاه را جز بروم
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که اکنون کهن شد بران مرز وبوم
“'No one shall see the King except in Rome, for he has now reached that ancient land.'”
#6
کنون گر دهیدم به جان زینهار
✦
بیایم بر پهلوان سوار
“'Now if you grant me pledge of safety for my life, I will come down to the mounted warrior.'”
#7
بگویم سخن هرچ پرسد زمن
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ز کمی و بیشی آن انجمن
“'I shall tell whatever is asked of me regarding the details of that assembly.'”
#8
وگرنه بپوشم سلیح نبرد
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به جنگ اندر آیم بکردار گرد
“'Otherwise, I will put on armor of battle and enter the fight like a storm of dust.'”
#9
چو بهرام بشنید زو این سخن
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دل مرد برنا شد از غم کهن
“When Bahram heard these words from him, the young warrior's heart grew heavy with old sorrow.”
#10
به یاران چنین گفت کاکنون چه سود
✦
اگر من برآرم ز بندوی دود
“He said to his companions, 'What gain is there now if I bring ruin upon Bandoy?'”
#11
همان به که او را برپهلوان
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برم هم برین گونه روشن روان
“'It is better that I bring him alive with an open spirit to the chief commander.'”
#12
بگوید بدو هرچ داند ز شاه
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اگر سر دهد گر ستاند کلاه
“'So he may reveal all he knows of the King, whether it costs him his head or saves his crown.'”
#13
به بندوی گفت ای بد چاره‌جوی
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تو این داوریها ببهرام گوی
“He said to Bandoy, 'O cunning schemer, go present these arguments to Bahram himself!'”
#14
فرود آمد از بام بندوی شیر
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همی‌راند با نامدار دلیر
“The lion-like Bandoy descended from the roof and rode alongside the renowned warrior.”
#15
چوبشنید بهرام کامد سپاه
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سوی روم شد خسرو کینه خواه
“When Bahram Chubin heard that the army had returned and Khosrow had fled toward Rome,”
#16
زپور سیاوش بر آشفت سخت
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بدو گفت کای بدرگ شوربخت
“He flared up fiercely against the son of Siyavash and said to him, 'O ill-fated wretch!'”
#17
نه کار تو بود اینک فرمودمت
✦
همی بی‌هنر خیره بستودمت
“'Was this how you fulfilled my command? In vain did I praise a man lacking true virtue!'”
#18
جهانجوی بندوی را پیش خواند
✦
همی خشم بهرام با او براند
“The world-seeking chieftain summoned Bandoy into his presence and unleashed his anger upon him.”
#19
بدو گفت کای بدتن بدکنش
✦
فریبنده مرد از در سرزنش
“He said to him, 'O evil-bodied, ill-doing man, deceitful person worthy of reproach!'”
#20
سپاه مرا خیره بفریفتی
✦
زبد گوهر خویش نشکیفتی
“'You foolishly deceived my army; you could not restrain your evil nature!'”
#21
تو با خسرو شوم گشتی یکی
✦
جهاندیده‌ای کردی از کودکی
“'You joined hands with ill-omened Khosrow; despite your experience, you acted like an ignorant youth!'”
#22
کنون آمدی با دلی پر سخن
✦
که من نو کنم روزگار کهن
“'Now you come with a tongue full of bold words, thinking to make old times new?'”
#23
بدو گفت بندوی کای سرفراز
✦
زمن راستی جوی و تندی مساز
“Bandoy said to him, 'O exalted leader, seek truth from me and do not give way to anger.'”
#24
بدان کان شهنشاه خویش منست
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بزرگیش ورادیش پیش منست
“'Know that the King of Kings is my kinsman; his greatness and generosity are clear to me.'”
#25
فداکردمش جان وبایست کرد
✦
تو گر مهتری گرد کژی مگرد
“'I sacrificed my life for him, as was required. If you are a true leader, do not turn toward crookedness.'”
#26
بدو گفت بهرام من زین گناه
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که کردی نخواهمت کردن تباه
“Bahram said to him, 'For this crime you committed, I shall not destroy your life.'”
#27
ولیکن تو هم کشته بر دست اوی
✦
شوی زود و خوانی مرا راست گوی
“'Yet you shall soon be slain by his own hand, and you will call my words true!'”
#28
نهادند بر پای بندوی بند
✦
ببهرام دادش ز بهر گزند
“They placed heavy chains upon Bandoy's feet and handed him over to Bahram for safekeeping.”
#29
همی‌بود تا خور شد اندر نهفت
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بیامد پر اندیشه دل بخفت
“Thus he remained until the sun hid in darkness, and Bahram went to sleep with a heart full of anxious thoughts.”