#1
چو خورشید گردنده بی‌رنگ شد
✦
ستاره به برج شباهنگ شد
“When the revolving sun lost its vivid hues, the night-star ascended into the cosmic tower.”
#2
بفرمود قیصر به نیرنگ ساز
✦
که پیش آرد اندیشه‌های دراز
“Caesar commanded his clever artisans and tricksters to bring forth their most far-reaching designs.”
#3
بسازید جای شگفتی طلسم
✦
که کس بازنشناسد او را به جسم
“He bade them build a wondrous talisman, such that no living person could distinguish its physical body from reality.”
#4
نشسته زنی خوب برتخت ناز
✦
پراز شرم با جامه‌های طراز
“A fair woman sat upon a throne of ease, full of modesty and clad in embroidered robes.”
#5
ازین روی و زان رو پرستندگان
✦
پس پشت و پیش اندرش بندگان
“On this side and that stood handmaidens, while before and behind her stood attentive servants.”
#6
نشسته بران تخت بی گفت وگوی
✦
بگریان زنی ماند آن خوب روی
“Sitting upon the throne without a word, that beautiful face resembled a woman weeping in deep sorrow.”
#7
زمان تا زمان دست برآختی
✦
سرشکی ز مژگان بینداختی
“From time to time she lifted her hand and shed a tear from her eyelashes.”
#8
هرآنکس که دیدی مر او را ز دور
✦
زنی یافتی شیفته پر ز نور
“Whoever beheld her from afar saw a radiant woman, seemingly enraptured by grief.”
#9
که بگریستی بر مسیحا بزار
✦
دو رخ زرد و مژگان چو ابر بهار
“As if she wept bitterly over the Messiah, her cheeks pale yellow and her eyelashes like spring rain-clouds.”
#10
طلسم بزرگان چو آمد بجای
✦
بر قیصر آمد یکی رهنمای
“When the great automaton was completed, a master guide came before Caesar.”
#11
ز دانا چو بشنید قیصر برفت
✦
به پیش طلسم آمد آنگاه تفت
“Hearing this from the sage, Caesar departed quickly and came swiftly before the talisman.”
#12
ازان جادویی در شگفتی بماند
✦
فرستاد و گستهم را پیش خواند
“He stood in wonder at that craftiness, then sent for Gostahm and summoned him into his presence.”
#13
بگستهم گفت ای گو نامدار
✦
یکی دختری داشتم چون نگار
“He said to Gostahm: 'O famous warrior, I had a daughter beautiful as a painted idol.'”
#14
ببالید و آمدش هنگام شوی
✦
یکی خویش بُد مر ورا نامجوی
“'She grew up and reached marriageable age, and a noble relative sought her hand.'”
#15
به راه مسیحا بدو دادمش
✦
ز بی‌دانشی روی بگشادمش
“'According to the faith of the Messiah, I gave her to him; in my ignorance, I unveiled her face to the world.'”
#16
فرستادم او رابخان جوان
✦
سوی آسمان شد روان جوان
“'I sent her to the young man's house, but his youth vanished as his soul ascended to the heavens.'”
#17
کنون او نشستست با سوک و درد
✦
شده روز روشن برو لاژورد
“'Now she sits in grief and pain; the bright day has turned dark as lapis lazuli for her.'”
#18
نه پندم پذیرد نه گوید سخن
✦
جهان نو از رنج او شد کهن
“'She heeds no counsel nor utters a word; the fresh world has turned old to her through affliction.'”
#19
یکی رنج بردار و او راببین
✦
سخنهای دانندگان برگزین
“'Take up this task and go visit her; choose the noble words of wise sages to comfort her.'”
#20
جوانی و از گوهر پهلوان
✦
مگر با تو او برگشاید زبان
“'You are young and of heroic stock; perchance she will open her lips and speak to you.'”
#21
بدو گفت گستهم کایدون کنم
✦
مگر از دلش رنج بیرون کنم
“Gostahm said to him: 'I shall do so; perchance I may lift this sorrow from her heart.'”
#22
بنزد طلسم آمد آن نامدار
✦
گشاده دل و بر سخن کامگار
“The famous champion approached the talisman with an open heart and eloquent speech.”
#23
چوآمد به نزدیک تختش فراز
✦
طلسم از بر تخت بردش نماز
“As he drew near her throne, the talisman bowed low to him from atop the dais.”
#24
گرانمایه گستهم بنشست خوار
✦
سخن گفت با دختر سوکوار
“The noble Gostahm sat down humbly and spoke gentle words to the mourning maiden.”
#25
دلاور نخست اندر آمد بپند
✦
سخنها که او را بدی سودمند
“The brave warrior began with wise advice, uttering discourse that would be beneficial to her.”
#26
بدو گفت کای دخت قیصر نژاد
✦
خردمند نخروشد از کار داد
“He said: 'O maiden of Caesar's lineage, a wise person does not cry out against divine justice.'”
#27
رهانیست از مرگ پران عقاب
✦
چه در بیشه شیر و چه ماهی در آب
“'There is no escape from death, whether for the swift-flying eagle, the forest lion, or the fish in the sea.'”
#28
همه باد بد گفتن پهلوان
✦
که زن بی‌زبان بود و تن بی‌روان
“All the champion's words were as wind, for the woman possessed no tongue and the body had no soul.”
#29
به انگشت خود هر زمانی سرشک
✦
بینداختی پیش گویا پزشک
“With her finger, she continually cast a tear before the eloquent physician of words.”
#30
چوگستهم ازو در شگفتی بماند
✦
فرستاد قیصر کس او را بخواند
“As Gostahm stood there in deep wonder, Caesar sent a messenger to recall him.”
#31
چه دیدی بدوگفت از دخترم
✦
کزو تیره گردد همی افسرم
“Caesar asked him: 'What did you observe in my daughter, over whose plight my crown grows dark?'”
#32
بدو گفت بسیار دادمش پند
✦
نبد پند من پیش او کاربند
“Gostahm replied: 'I gave her much counsel, but my advice took no hold upon her heart.'”
#33
دگر روز قیصر به بالوی گفت
✦
که امروز با اندیان باش جفت
“On the next day Caesar said to Baloy: 'Today go in company with Andiyan...'”
#34
همان نیز شاپور مهتر نژاد
✦
کند جان ما رابدین دخت شاد
“'And noble Shapur of exalted lineage shall likewise join to gladden our soul regarding this maiden.'”
#35
شوی پیش این دختر سوکوار
✦
سخن گویی ازنامور شهریار
“'Go before this mourning daughter, and speak to her of famous rulers and kings.'”
#36
مگر پاسخی یابی از دخترم
✦
کزو آتش آید همی برسرم
“'Perchance you may receive an answer from my daughter, for her sorrow brings fire upon my head.'”
#37
مگر بشنود پند و اندرزتان
✦
بداند سرماهی وارزتان
“'Perchance she will listen to your wisdom and understand her noble worth.'”
#38
برآنم که امروز پاسخ دهد
✦
چوپاسخ به آواز فرخ دهد
“'I believe she will answer today, and when she replies with a blessed voice...'”
#39
شود رسته زین انده سوکوار
✦
که خوناب بارد همی برکنار
“'She will be delivered from this grief, she who sheds bloody tears upon her bosom.'”
#40
برفت آن گرامی سه آزادمرد
✦
سخن گوی وهریک بننگ نبرد
“Those three noble, eloquent men went forth, champions fearless of shame or battle.”
#41
ازیشان کسی روی پاسخ ندید
✦
زن بی‌زبان خامشی برگزید
“None of them saw the face of an answer; the tongue-less woman chose absolute silence.”
#42
ازان چاره نزدیک قیصر شدند
✦
ببیچارگی نزد داور شدند
“In their helplessness they returned to Caesar, coming in despair before the ruler.”
#43
که هرچند گفتیم ودادیم پند
✦
نبد پند ما مر ورا سودمند
“They said: 'However much we spoke and gave advice, our counsel was of no avail to her.'”
#44
چنین گفت قیصر که بد روزگار
✦
که ما سوکواریم زین سوکوار
“Caesar said: 'Evil was our fortune, that we are plunged in sorrow because of this mourning maid!'”
#45
ازان نامداران چو چاره نیافت
✦
سوی رای خراد بر زین شتافت
“Finding no solution through those chieftains, Caesar turned his mind toward Kharad Barzin.”
#46
بدو گفت کای نامدار دبیر
✦
گزین سر تخمهٔ اردشیر
“He said to him: 'O renowned scribe, elite scion of Ardashir's noble line,”
#47
یکی سوی این دختر اندر شوی
✦
مگر یک ره آواز او بشنوی
“Go now unto this maiden, that perchance thou mayest hear her voice but once.'”
#48
فرستاد با او یکی استوار
✦
ز ایوان به نزدیک آن سوکوار
“He dispatched a trusted confidant along with him, leading from the court to the mourning maiden's presence.”
#49
چوخراد بر زین بیامد برش
✦
نگه کرد روی و سر و افسرش
“When Kharad, son of Barzin, arrived before her, he gazed intently upon her face, her head, and her crown.”
#50
همی‌بود پیشش زمانی دراز
✦
طلسم فریبنده بردش نماز
“He stood before her for a long span of time; the deceptive talisman almost beguiled him into homage.”
#51
بسی گفت و زن هیچ پاسخ نداد
✦
پراندیشه شد مرد مهتر نژاد
“He spoke at great length, yet the woman returned no answer; the high-born lord became fraught with suspicion.”
#52
سراپای زن راهمی‌بنگرید
✦
پرستندگان را بر او بدید
“He scrutinized the woman from head to toe, and observed the maidservants standing round her.”
#53
همی‌گفت گر زن زغم بیهش است
✦
پرستنده باری چرا خامش است
“He mused within himself: 'If the woman is senseless from grief, why then is her servant equally silent?'”
#54
اگر خود سرشکست در چشم اوی
✦
سزیدی اگر کم شدی خشم اوی
“'Though tears linger in her eyes, it were fitting had her sorrow diminished somewhat over time.'”
#55
به پیش برش بر چکاند همی
✦
چپ وراست جنبش نداند همی
“'Tears drip perpetually down her bosom, yet she makes no movement to the left or right.'”
#56
سرشکش که انداخت یک جای رفت
✦
نه جنبان شدش دست ونه پای رفت
“'Her falling tears land continually in one single spot; neither moves her hand, nor steps her foot.'”
#57
اگرخود درین کالبد جان بدی
✦
جز از دست جاییش جنبان بدی
“'Were there indeed a living soul within this form, some part of her body other than her hand would stir.'”
#58
سرشکش سوی دیگر انداختی
✦
وگر دست جای دگر آختی
“'She would have shed her tears elsewhere, or reached her hand in a different direction.'”
#59
نبینم همی جنبش جان و جسم
✦
نباشد جز از فیلسوفی طلسم
“'I perceive no living impulse of body or soul; this is nothing but a mechanical talisman of the sages!'”
#60
بر قیصر آمد بخندید وگفت
✦
که این ماه رخ را خرد نیست جفت
“He returned to Caesar, laughed, and declared: 'Wisdom is no companion to this moon-faced beauty!”
#61
طلسمست کاین رومیان ساختند
✦
که بالوی و گستهم نشناختند
“It is a talisman engineered by the Romans, which Baloy and Gustahm failed to comprehend!'”
#62
بایرانیان بربخندی همی
✦
وگر چشم ما را ببندی همی
“'Dost thou seek to mock the Iranians, or blind our discerning eyes with sorcery?'”
#63
چواین بشنود شاه خندان شود
✦
گشاده رخ و سیم دندان شود
“When the King heard this, he broke into joyful laughter, his face radiant and his silver teeth exposed.”