For seventy long days, Bandoy remained bound like a caged cheetah under the guard of Bahram, the son of Siyavash. Yet his sharp mind never faltered. Using words forged in wisdom, he persuaded his jailer that the dark fortune of King Khosrow Parviz would turn bright once more, and that an unstoppable army from Rum would soon enter Iran to restore the true monarch. Bandoy bound Bahram with sacred oaths upon the Avesta and Adar Gushnasp, promising to secure royal clemency for him if he unchained Bandoy's legs. Moved by hope and Bandoy's radiant sincerity, Bahram removed the bonds and unveiled his own perilous secret: he had conspired with five allies to assassinate Bahram Chubin on the polo field with a poisoned blade.
When dawn tore through the dark cloak of night, Bahram Chubin made his way to the field for a game of polo and ball. Bahram son of Siyavash donned iron coat-of-mail beneath his silk robe and rode out. However, his unfaithful wife, who secretly harbored love for Bahram Chubin and deep malice toward her own husband, dispatched a covert warning to Chubin, revealing that her husband wore armor beneath his robes with evil intent. Forewarned, Chubin entered the field and rode up to each player, clapping them warmly on the back. When he reached the son of Siyavash and felt the rigid armor beneath the silk, Chubin roared in anger: 'O worse than a thorn bush! Who wears armor under silk to play polo?' He drew his sword of vengeance and cleaved the conspirator asunder.
News of the execution reached Bandoy, warning him that his own life hung in the balance. Donning his armor and trembling with haste, he mounted his steed and fled the city with a handful of loyal companions toward Ardabil. When Bahram Chubin returned from the field and commanded that Bandoy be brought forth, he was told that the captive had vanished like the wind. Chubin lamented the turn of events and the loss of his informant, uttering profound maxims on the foolishness of taking rash risks—sleeping on an elephant's tusk, braving the waves of the Nile, or defying a crowned ruler.
Meanwhile, Bandoy and his small troop rode relentlessly through desolate wastes until they spotted a grand pavilion in the wilderness. There resided Musil the Armenian, surrounded by fresh water and provisions. Bandoy approached alone and bowed before Musil, who welcomed him warmly and advised him to remain there to await fresh tidings of Khosrow Parviz's alliances in Rum. Bandoy summoned his companions from the plain and took refuge, awaiting the turn of destiny.
#1
همی‌بود بندوی بسته چو یوز
✦
به زندان بهرام هفتاد روز
“Bandoy remained bound like a captive cheetah in the prison of Bahram for seventy days.”
#2
نگهبان بندوی بهرام بود
✦
کزان بند او نیک ناکام بود
“His guard was Bahram, who was deeply unhappy with keeping him in chains.”
#3
ورا نیز بندوی بفریفتی
✦
ببند اندر از چاره نشکیفتی
“Bandoy also deceived him, never ceasing to seek a way out while still in bonds.”
#4
که از شاه ایران مشو ناامید
✦
اگر تیره شد روز گردد سپید
“He said: 'Do not lose hope in the King of Iran; though the day turned dark, it shall turn bright again.'”
#5
اگرچه شود بخت او دیرساز
✦
شود بخت پیروز با خوشنواز
“'Though his fortune seems slow to act, victorious fate will yet favor the sweet-voiced king.'”
#6
جهان آفرین برتن کیقباد
✦
ببخشید و گیتی بدو باز داد
“'The Creator of the world granted grace to Kay Qobad and restored the world to him.'”
#7
نماند به بهرام هم تاج وتخت
✦
چه اندیشد این مردم نیک بخت
“'The crown and throne will not remain with Bahram Chubin; what is this fortunate man thinking?'”
#8
ز دهقان نژاد ایچ مردم مباد
✦
که خیره دهد خویشتن رابباد
“'May no noble dehqan-descendant foolishly give himself up to the wind!'”
#9
بانگشت بشمر کنون تا دوماه
✦
که از روم بینی به ایران سپاه
“'Count on your fingers for two months, and you shall see an army from Rum entering Iran.'”
#10
بدین تاج و تخت آتش اندرزنند
✦
همه زیورش بر سرش بشکنند
“'They will set fire to this crown and throne, and shatter all his jewels upon his head.'”
#11
بدو گفت بهرام گر شهریار
✦
مرا داد خواهد به جان زینهار
“Bahram said to him: 'If the King will grant me sanctuary and spare my life...'”
#12
زپند توآرایش جان کنم
✦
همه هرچ گویی توفرمان کنم
“'I shall adorn my soul with your advice, and whatever you command, I will obey.'”
#13
یکی سخت سوگند خواهم بماه
✦
به آذرگشسپ و بتخت و کلاه
“'I require a firm oath by the moon, by Adar Gushnasp, and by the throne and crown...'”
#14
که گر خسرو آید برین مرز وبوم
✦
سپاه آرد از پیش قیصر ز روم
“'That if Khosrow comes to this realm bringing an army from Caesar of Rum before him...'”
#15
به خواهی مرا زو به جان زینهار
✦
نگیری تو این کار دشوار خوار
“'You will plead with him for my life and safety, and not treat this grave matter lightly.'”
#16
ازو بر تن من نیاید زیان
✦
نگردد به گفتار ایرانیان
“'So that no harm comes to my body from him, and he be not turned by the speech of Iranians.'”
#17
بگفت این و پس دفتر زند خواست
✦
به سوگند بندوی رابند خواست
“He spoke thus and brought forth the Zand scriptures, asking Bandoy to take the oath.”
#18
چو بندوی بگرفت استا و زند
✦
چنین گفت کز کردگار بلند
“When Bandoy took up the Avesta and Zand, he swore: 'By the Creator on high...'”
#19
مبیناد بندوی جز درد ورنج
✦
مباد ایمن اندر سرای سپنج
“'May Bandoy see nothing but grief and pain, and find no safety in this fleeting world...'”
#20
که آنگه که خسرو بیاید زجای
✦
ببینم من او را نشینم ز پای
“'If, when Khosrow arrives from his place, I see him and fail to stand up for you...'”
#21
مگر کو به نزد تو انگشتری
✦
فرستد همان افسر مهتری
“'Until he sends you a signet ring and the diadem of noble leadership!'”
#22
چوبشنید بهرام سوگند او
✦
بدید آن دل پاک و پیوند او
“When Bahram heard his oath and perceived his pure heart and allegiance...”
#23
بدو گفت کاکنون همه راز خویش
✦
بگویم بر افرازم آواز خویش
“He said: 'Now I shall tell you all my secrets and raise my voice in truth.'”
#24
بسازم یکی دام چوبینه را
✦
بچاره فراز آورم کینه را
“'I shall prepare a wooden trap and through trickery fulfill my vengeance.'”
#25
به زهراب شمشیر در بزمگاه
✦
بکوشش توانمش کردن تباه
“'With a poison-dipped sword on the feast-ground, I can bring about his destruction.'”
#26
بدریای آب اندرون نم نماند
✦
که بهرام را شاه بایست خواند
“Not a drop of moisture remained in the sea that could ever justify calling Bahram king.”
#27
بدو گفت بندوی کای کاردان
✦
خردمند و بیدار و بسیاردان
“Bandoy said to him: 'O capable, wise, vigilant, and all-knowing one!'”
#28
بدین زودی اندر جهاندار شاه
✦
بیاید نشیند برین پیشگاه
“'So very soon the world-conquering King will arrive and sit upon this throne.'”
#29
تودانی که من هرچ گویم بدوی
✦
نپیچد ز گفتار این بنده روی
“'You know that whatever I tell him, he will not turn his face from this servant's counsel.'”
#30
بخواهم گناهی که رفت از تو پیش
✦
ببخشد به گفتار من تاج خویش
“'I will ask forgiveness for your past sins, and he will grant his royal favor at my word.'”
#31
اگر خود برآنی که گویی همی
✦
به دل رای کژی نجویی همی
“'If you truly intend what you say and harbor no crookedness in your heart...'”
#32
ز بند این دو پای من آزاد کن
✦
نخستین ز خسرو برین یادکن
“'Free these two feet of mine from chains first, so I may remember this in Khosrow's presence.'”
#33
گشاده شود زین سخن راز تو
✦
بگوش آیدش روشن آواز تو
“'Thus your secret will be revealed, and your clear voice will reach his ear.'”
#34
چو بشنید بهرام شد تازه روی
✦
هم اندر زمان بند برداشت زوی
“When Bahram heard this, his face brightened, and he instantly removed the bonds from him.”
#35
چو روشن شد آن چادر مشک رنگ
✦
سپیده بدو اندر آویخت چنگ
“When the musk-colored cloak of night vanished and dawn laid hold of the sky...”
#36
ببندوی گفت ار دلم نشکند
✦
چو چوبینه امروز چوگان زند
“Bahram said to Bandoy: 'If my heart fails not, when Chubin plays polo today...'”
#37
سگالیده‌ام دوش با پنج یار
✦
که از تارک او برآرمم دمار
“'I conspired last night with five companions to destroy him and bring down his head.'”
#38
چوشد روز بهرام چوبینه روی
✦
به میدان نهاد و بچوگان و گوی
“When daylight came, Bahram Chubin went to the field with mallet and ball.”
#39
فرستاده آمد ز بهرام زود
✦
به نزدیک پور سیاوش چودود
“A messenger swiftly came from Bahram like smoke to the son of Siyavash.”
#40
زره خواست و پوشید زیرقبای
✦
ز درگاه باسپ اندر آورد پای
“He called for armor, put it on beneath his cloak, and rode forth from the court.”
#41
زنی بود بهرام یل را نه پاک
✦
که بهرام را خواستی زیر خاک
“Bahram the hero had an unfaithful wife who wished him under the earth.”
#42
به دل دوست بهرام چوبینه بود
✦
که از شوی جانش پر از کینه بود
“Her heart was filled with love for Bahram Chubin, and her soul overflowed with malice toward her husband.”
#43
فرستاد نزدیک بهرام کس
✦
که تن را نگه دار و فریاد رس
“She sent a messenger to Bahram Chubin, saying: 'Protect yourself and save yourself!'”
#44
که بهرام پوشید پنهان زره
✦
برافگند بند زره را گره
“'For Bahram has put on hidden armor beneath his robes and tied tight its latches.'”
#45
ندانم که در دل چه دارد ز بد
✦
تو زو خویشتن دور داری سزد
“'I know not what evil he harbors in his heart; it behooves you to keep your distance from him.'”
#46
چو بشنید چوبینه گفتار زن
✦
که با او همی‌گفت چوگان مزن
“When Chubineh heard the woman's words, as she said to him: 'Do not play polo,'”
#47
هرآنکس که رفتی به میدان اوی
✦
چو نزدیک گشتی بچوگان و گوی
“Whoever entered his polo field and drew near to the ball and mallet,”
#48
زدی دست بر پشت اونرم نرم
✦
سخن گفتن خوب و آواز گرم
“He would gently pat him on the back, speaking sweet words in a warm tone.”
#49
چنین تا به پور سیاوش رسید
✦
زره در برش آشکارا بدید
“Until he reached the son of Siyavash, and saw chainmail plainly visible beneath his garment.”
#50
بدو گفت ای بتر از خار گز
✦
به میدان که پوشد زره زیر خز
“He said to him, 'O worse than a tamarisk thorn! Who wears chainmail under silk on the polo field?'”
#51
بگفت این و شمشیر کین برکشید
✦
سراپای او پاک بر هم درید
“He spoke, drew his vengeful sword, and cleaved him completely from head to toe.”
#52
چوبندوی زان کشتن آگاه شد
✦
برو تابش روز کوتاه شد
“When Bandoy learned of that slaying, the light of day grew dark in his eyes.”
#53
بپوشید پس جوشن و برنشست
✦
میان یلی لرزلرزان ببست
“He donned his body armor, mounted his steed, and trembling, girded his warrior waist.”
#54
ابا چند تن رفت لرزان به راه
✦
گریزان شد از بیم بهرامشاه
“With a few men he set out trembling on the road, fleeing in terror of King Bahram.”
#55
گرفت او ازان شهر راه گریز
✦
بدان تا نبینند ازو رستخیز
“He took the road of flight from that city, so that doom would not overtake him.”
#56
به منزل رسیدند و بفزود خیل
✦
گرفتند تازان ره اردبیل
“They reached a station where their troop increased, and galloping fast, took the road to Ardabil.”
#57
زمیدان چو بهرام بیرون کشید
✦
همی دامن ازخشم در خون کشید
“When Bahram rode out of the field, he trailed his skirts in blood out of fierce anger.”
#58
ازان پس بفرمود مهروی را
✦
که باشد نگهدار بندوی را
“Thereafter he commanded Mehroy to keep strict watch over Bandoy.”
#59
ببهرام گفتند کای شهریار
✦
دلت را ببندوی رنجه مدار
“They said to Bahram, 'O King! Do not trouble your heart concerning Bandoy,'”
#60
که اوچون ازین کشتن آگاه شد
✦
همانا که با باد همراه شد
“'For when he learned of this slaying, he surely vanished like the wind!'”
#61
پشیمان شد از کشتن یار خویش
✦
کزان تیره دانست بازار خویش
“He regretted killing his companion, knowing that it would darken his own fortune.”
#62
چنین گفت کآنکس که دشمن ز دوست
✦
نداند مبادا ورا مغز و پوست
“He spoke: 'May he who cannot distinguish friend from foe have neither brain nor skin!”
#63
یکی خفته بر تیغ دندان پیل
✦
یکی ایمن از موج دریای نیل
“'One who sleeps on the point of an elephant's tusk, one who feels secure amid the Nile's wild waves,”
#64
دگر آنک بر پادشا شد دلیر
✦
چهارم که بگرفت بازوی شیر
“'The third, he who grows bold against the king; and fourth, he who grasps a lion's arm—”
#65
ببخشای برجان این هر چهار
✦
کزیشان بپیچد سر روزگار
“'Pity the life of these four, for fate itself turns away from their foolishness!”
#66
دگر هرک جنباند او کوه را
✦
بران یارگر خواهد انبوه را
“'Furthermore, whoever tries to move a mountain, seeking a host of helpers for that task,”
#67
تن خویشتن را بدان رنجه داشت
✦
وزان رنج تن باد در پنجه داشت
“'Has only tormented his own body, and from that toil caught nothing but wind in his fist.”
#68
بکشتی ویران گذشتن برآب
✦
به آید که بر کارکردن شتاب
“'Crossing water in a broken boat is better than acting with rash haste in deeds.”
#69
اگر چشمه خواهی که بینی بچشم
✦
شوی خیره زو بازگردی بخشم
“'If you seek to gaze directly at the sun with your eye, you will be blinded and turn away in anger.”
#70
کسی راکجا کور بد رهنمون
✦
بماند به راه دراز اندرون
“'Whoever relies on a blind man as a guide will remain stranded along a long road.”
#71
هرآنکس که گیرد بدست اژدها
✦
شد او کشته و اژدها زو رها
“'Whoever takes a dragon in his bare hands will be slain, while the dragon goes free.”
#72
وگر آزمون را کسی خورد زهر
✦
ازان خوردنش درد و مرگست بهر
“'And if one drinks poison merely to test it, his only gain from that drinking is pain and death.”
#73
نکشتیم بندوی را از نخست
✦
ز دستم رها شد در چاره جست
“'We did not slay Bandoy at the outset; now he has slipped from my hand, seeking a remedy.”
#74
برین کرده خویش باید گریست
✦
ببینیم تا رای یزدان بچیست
“'One must weep over this deed of ours; let us see what God's will shall be.'”
#75
وزان روی بندوی و اندک سپاه
✦
چوباد دمان بر گرفتند راه
“Meanwhile Bandoy and his small force sped along like a howling wind.”
#76
همی‌برد هرکس که بد بردنی
✦
به راهی که موسیل بود ارمنی
“Taking whatever was worth taking, they rode toward the path where Musil the Armenian was.”
#77
بیابان بی‌راه و جای دده
✦
سراپرده‌ای دید جایی زده
“In a trackless desert, the haunt of wild beasts, he saw a pavilion pitched somewhere.”
#78
نگه کرد موسیل بود ارمنی
✦
هم آب روان یافت هم خوردنی
“He looked and saw Musil the Armenian; there he found both running water and sustenance.”
#79
جهان جوی بندوی تنها برفت
✦
سوی خیمه‌ها روی بنهاد تفت
“The world-seeking Bandoy went forward alone, swiftly turning his face toward the tents.”
#80
چو مو سیل را دید بردش نماز
✦
بگفتند با او زمانی دراز
“When he saw Musil, he paid him homage, and they spoke together for a long while.”
#81
بدو گفت موسیل زایدر مرو
✦
که آگاهی آید تو را نوبنو
“Musil spoke to him: "Depart not from this place, for fresh tidings shall reach thee constantly,”
#82
که در روم آباد خسرو چه کرد
✦
همی آشتی نو کند گر نبرد
“"Tidings of what Khosrow hath wrought in prosperous Rum, whether he reneweth peace or kindleth war anew."”
#83
چو بشنید بندوی آنجا بماند
✦
وزان دشت یاران خود رابخواند
“Hearing this counsel, Bandoy remained in that place, and summoned his companions from that plain.”