When the Caesar of Rome learned of Khosrow Parviz's urgent quest to reclaim his crown, he assembled a grand army of one hundred thousand renowned Roman warriors. Alongside this formidable host, Caesar bestowed his brilliant and dignified daughter, Princess Maryam, to be Khosrow's bride. She departed adorned with unmatched royal treasures: golden litters, ebony sedans, jewel-encrusted crowns, fine Roman brocades, and a retinue of five hundred wise servants, forty fair maidens, and four venerable Roman philosophers. The valiant Gustahm received the princess and her caravan with great honor. In his letters, Caesar lauded the Iranian envoys—praising Gustahm, Shapur, Baluy, and especially Kharrad Barzin, whom he likened to an incomparable sun of divine wisdom and integrity.
Consulting the astrologers, Caesar chose the auspicious day of Bahram for the departure. He escorted the procession for two days before delivering his final counsel to Maryam, urging her to maintain royal dignity and chastity. Entrusting her and the expedition to his warrior brother, Niyatus, Caesar bade a loving farewell. Upon news of their approach, King Khosrow rode out at the head of his host. He warmly embraced Niyatus, offering profound gratitude for Caesar's generous aid. Khosrow then approached Maryam's covered carriage, respectfully kissed her hand, and rejoiced at her arrival. For three days, Khosrow hosted magnificent feasts for the Roman commanders, including Sargas and Kut. When Niyatus presented seventy elite captains to Khosrow, the Persian king offered heartfelt praise to the Almighty, confident that with Roman alliance and divine favor, he would overcome his foes and restore his throne.
#1
وزان پس چو دانست کامد سپاه
✦
جهان شد ز گرد سواران سیاه
“And thereafter, when he realized that the army had gathered, the world turned dark with the dust of cavalry.”
#2
گزین کرد زان رومیان صدهزار
✦
همه نامدار ازدرکارزار
“He chose a hundred thousand renowned warriors from among the Romans, all suited for the field of battle.”
#3
سلیح و درم خواست واسپان جنگ
✦
سرآمد برو روزگار درنگ
“He provided arms, coin, and warhorses; the time of delay had come to an end.”
#4
یکی دخترش بود مریم بنام
✦
خردمند و با سنگ و با رای وکام
“He had a daughter named Maryam, wise, dignified, prudent, and noble of mind.”
#5
بخسرو فرستاد به آیین دین
✦
همی‌خواست ازکردگار آفرین
“He sent her to Khosrow according to holy rites, seeking blessings from the Creator.”
#6
بپذرفت دخترش گستهم گرد
✦
به آیین نیکو بخسرو سپرد
“The brave warrior Gustahm received the maiden and entrusted her to Khosrow with splendid rites.”
#7
وزان پس بیاورد چندان جهیز
✦
کزان کند شد بارگیهای تیز
“And after that, so vast a dowry was brought forth that swift steeds slowed beneath its weight.”
#8
ز زرینه و گوهر شاهوار
✦
ز یاقوت وز جامهٔ زرنگار
“Of gold and royal gems, of rubies and gold-woven garments of splendour,”
#9
ز گستردنیها و دیبای روم
✦
به زر پیکر و از بریشمش بوم
“Of Roman carpets and silk fabrics, woven with golden patterns upon silk backings,”
#10
همان یاره و طوق با گوشوار
✦
سه تاج گرانمایه گوهرنگار
“Armlets, collars, earrings, and three magnificent jewel-bedecked crowns,”
#11
عماری بیاراست زرین چهار
✦
جلیلش پر ازگوهر شاهوا ر
“They adorned four golden litters, their coverings laden with royal gems,”
#12
چهل مهد دیگر بد از آبنوس
✦
ز گوهر درفشان چو چشم خروس
“And forty other sedan-chairs of ebony, gleaming with gems like the bright eyes of a rooster.”
#13
ازان پس پرستنده ماه روی
✦
زایوان برفتند با رنگ وبوی
“Then moon-faced maidens emerged from the palace, arrayed in beauty and sweet fragrance.”
#14
خردمند و بیدار پانصد غلام
✦
بیامد بزرین وسیمین ستام
“Five hundred wise and alert page-boys came, bearing gold- and silver-embossed reins.”
#15
ز رومی همان نیز خادم چهل
✦
پری چهره و شهره ودلگسل
“Also forty Roman maidens, fairy-faced, renowned, and captivating to the heart.”
#16
وزان فیلسوفان رومی چهار
✦
خردمند و با دانش ونامدار
“And four Roman philosophers, learned, prudent, and famed for wisdom.”
#17
بدیشان بگفت آنچ بایست گفت
✦
همان نیز با مریم اندرنهفت
“Caesar spoke to them all that was needful, and counselled Maryam in secret as well,”
#18
از آرام وز کام و بایستگی
✦
همان بخشش و خورد و شایستگی
“Concerning composure, desire, duty, generosity, banquet etiquette, and fitting conduct.”
#19
پس از خواسته کرد رومی شمار
✦
فزون بد ز سیصد هزاران هزار
“After reckoning the riches, the Roman counted them far exceeding three hundred thousand thousands.”
#20
فرستاد هر کس که بد بردرش
✦
ز گوهر نگار افسری بر سرش
“He sent forth everyone at his court, bestowing jewel-studded crowns upon their heads.”
#21
مهان را همان اسپ و دینار داد
✦
ز شایسته هر چیز بسیار داد
“To the nobles he gave horses and gold dinars, bestowing abundance of all worthy things.”
#22
چنین گفت کای زیردستان شاه
✦
سزد گر بر آرید گردن بماه
“He said: 'O subjects of the King, it is fitting if you raise your heads unto the moon.'”
#23
ز گستهم شایسته‌تر در جهان
✦
نخیزد کسی از میان مهان
“'No one more worthy than Gustahm shall ever arise among the nobles of the world.'”
#24
چوشاپور مهتر کرانجی بود
✦
که اندر سخنها میانجی بود
“'For Shapur is a noble leader and mediator in all grave matters.'”
#25
یکی راز دارست بالوی نیز
✦
که نفروشد آزادگان را بچیز
“'Baluy is also a keeper of secrets who would never sell noble men for any price.'”
#26
چوخراد برزین نبیند کسی
✦
اگر چند ماند بگیتی بسی
“'None shall ever match Kharrad Barzin, though one were to live long in this world.'”
#27
بران آفریدش خدای جهان
✦
که تا آشکارا شود زو نهان
“'God created him so that through him hidden truths might be made plain.'”
#28
چو خورشید تابنده او بی‌بدیست
✦
همه کار و کردار او ایزدیست
“'Like the radiant sun he is peerless, and all his deeds and actions are divine.'”
#29
همه یاد کرد این به نامه درون
✦
برفتند با دانش و رهنمون
“He recorded all these praises in a letter, and they set forth with knowledge and guidance.”
#30
ستاره شمر پیش با رهنمای
✦
که تارفتنش کی به آید ز جای
“The astrologer went ahead as a guide, calculating when it was best to depart.”
#31
به جنبید قیصر به بهرام روز
✦
به نیک اختر و فال گیتی فروز
“Caesar moved on the day of Bahram, beneath a blessed star and a world-illuminating omen.”
#32
دو منزل همی‌رفت قیصر به راه
✦
سدیگر بیامد به پیش سپاه
“Caesar accompanied the caravan for two stages; on the third, he came before the host.”
#33
به فرمود تا مریم آمد به پیش
✦
سخن گفت با او ز اندازه بیش
“He commanded Maryam to step forward, and spoke to her beyond all measure.”
#34
بدو گفت دامن ز ایرانیان
✦
نگه دار و مگشای بند ازمیان
“He said to her: 'Guard your virtue before the Iranians, and loose not your girdle.'”
#35
برهنه نباید که خسرو تو را
✦
ببیند که کاری رسد نو تو را
“'Let not Khosrow behold you unveiled, lest some new adversity befall you.'”
#36
بگفت این و بدرود کردش به مهر
✦
که یار تو بادا برفتن سپهر
“He said this and bade her farewell with love, saying: 'May the heavens be your companion on the journey!'”
#37
نیاطوس جنگی برادرش بود
✦
بدان جنگ سالار لشکرش بود
“Niyatus, his warlike brother, was the supreme commander of that fighting army.”
#38
بدو گفت مریم به خون خویش تست
✦
بران برنهادم که هم کیش تست
“Caesar said to him: 'Maryam is of your own blood, and I have resolved that she shares your faith.'”
#39
سپردم تو را دختر وخواسته
✦
سپاهی برین گونه آراسته
“'I entrust to you my daughter, my treasures, and an army arrayed in this wise.'”
#40
نیاطوس یکسر پذیرفت از وی
✦
بگفتند و گریان بپیچید روی
“Niyatus accepted everything from him; they spoke, and tears streamed down their faces as he turned back.”
#41
همی‌رفت لشکر به راه و به ریغ
✦
نیا طوس در پیش با گرز وتیغ
“The army marched along the road in dust, Niyatus leading them with mace and sword.”
#42
چو بشنید خسروکه آمد سپاه
✦
ازان شارستان برد لشکر به راه
“When Khosrow heard that the army had arrived, he led his own host forth from the city.”
#43
چو آمد پدیدار گرد سران
✦
درفش سواران جوشن وران
“When the dust of the chieftains appeared, along with the banners of armor-clad horsemen,”
#44
همی‌رفت لشکر بکردار گرد
✦
سواران بیدار و مردان مرد
“The host advanced like a storm-cloud, filled with alert horsemen and brave warriors.”
#45
دل خسرو از لشکر نامدار
✦
بخندید چون گل بوقت بهار
“Khosrow's heart bloomed at the sight of that famed army, like a flower in springtime.”
#46
دل روشن راد راتیز کرد
✦
مران باره را پاشنه خیز کرد
“He quickened his bright, noble heart, spurring his charger into a swift gallop.”
#47
نیاطوس را دید و در برگرفت
✦
بپرسیدن آزادی اندرگرفت
“He saw Niyatus and embraced him warmly, beginning to greet him with utter nobility and grace.”
#48
ز قیصر که برداشت زانگونه رنج
✦
ابا رنج دیگر تهی کرد گنج
“He inquired after Caesar, who had endured such toil and emptied his treasures to aid him.”
#49
وزانجای سوی عماری کشید
✦
بپرده درون روی مریم بدید
“From there he turned toward the litter, and within the curtains he beheld the face of Maryam.”
#50
بپرسید و بر دست او بوس داد
✦
ز دیدار آن خوب رخ گشت شاد
“He greeted her and kissed her hand, his heart gladdened by the sight of that fair-faced maiden.”
#51
بیاورد لشکر به پرده سرای
✦
نهفته یکی ماه را ساخت جای
“He led the army to the pavilion, preparing a grand and veiled abode for that moon-like beauty.”
#52
سخن گفت و بنشست بااوسه روز
✦
چهارم چو بفروخت گیتی فروز
“He conversed and feasted with him for three days; on the fourth, as the world-illuminating sun blazed forth,”
#53
گزیده سرایی بیاراستند
✦
نیاطوس را پیش اوخواستند
“They adorned a splendid palace chamber and summoned Niyatus into his presence.”
#54
ابا سرگس و کوت جنگی بهم
✦
سران سپه را همه بیش و کم
“Together with Sargis and the warlike Kut, alongside all the commanders of the host, great and small.”
#55
بدیشان چنین گفت کاکنون سران
✦
کدامند و مردان جنگاوران
“He addressed them thus: 'Who among you now are the principal leaders and valiant warriors?'”
#56
نیاطوس بگزید هفتاد مرد
✦
که آورد گیرند روز نبرد
“Niyatus chose seventy champions capable of taking the field on the day of battle,”
#57
که زیر درفشش برفتی هزار
✦
گزیده سواران خنجر گزار
“Each of whom commanded a thousand chosen horsemen, skilled in wielding the blade.”
#58
چو خسرو بدید آن گزیده سپاه
✦
سواران گردنکش ورزمخواه
“When Khosrow beheld that elite host, those proud and battle-eager horsemen,”
#59
همی‌خواند بر کردگار آفرین
✦
که چرخ آفرید و زمان و زمین
“He offered praises to the Almighty Creator, who fashioned the heavens, time, and the earth;”
#60
همان بر نیاطوس وبر لشکرش
✦
چه برنامور قیصر وکشورش
“And likewise invoked blessings upon Niyatus, his army, the renowned Caesar, and his realm.”
#61
بدان مهتران گفت اگر کردگار
✦
مرا یارباشد گه کارزار
“He said to those chieftains: 'If the Creator aids me in the hour of battle,”
#62
توانایی خویش پیداکنم
✦
زمین رابکوکب ثریاکنم
“I shall make my might manifest, making the earth shine bright as the Pleiades.'”
#63
نباشد جزاندیشهٔ دوستان
✦
فلک یارومهر ردان بوستان
“'Naught shall fill my thoughts save the well-being of friends; Heaven be our ally and the affection of nobles our garden.'”