#1
چو بر پادشاهیش شد پنج‌سال
✦
به گیتی نبودش سراسر همال
“When five years of his reign had passed, he had no equal in all the world.”
#2
ششم سال زان دخت قیصر چو ماه
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یکی پورش آمد همانند شاه
“In the sixth year, from Caesar's moon-like daughter, a son was born to him like the king himself.”
#3
نبود آن زمان رسم بانگ نماز
✦
به گوش چنان پروریده بناز
“In those times, it was not the custom to whisper the call to prayer into the ear of a child so delicately reared.”
#4
یکی نام گفتی مر او را پدر
✦
نهانی دگر آشکارا دگر
“His father gave him two names: one in secret, and another in public.”
#5
نهانی به گفتی بگوش اندرون
✦
همی‌خواندی آشکارا برون
“The secret one he whispered softly into his ear, while calling him publicly by the other.”
#6
بگوش اندرون خواند خسرو قباد
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همی‌گفت شیروی فرخ نژاد
“Into his ear Khosrow whispered 'Qobad', while calling the noble-born child 'Shiroye' to the world.”
#7
چو شب کودک آمد گذشته سه پاس
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بیامد بر خسرو اخترشناس
“When three watches of the night had passed on the child's birth, the astrologer came before Khosrow.”
#8
از اخترشناسان بپرسید شاه
✦
که هرکس که دارند اختر نگاه
“The king questioned the astrologers, those who observe the movements of the stars:”
#9
بدیدی که فرجام این کار چیست
✦
ز زیچ اختر این جهاندار چیست
“'Have you seen what the outcome of this birth will be? What says the horoscope for this world-ruler?'”
#10
چنین داد پاسخ ستاره شمر
✦
که بر چرخ گردان نیابی گذر
“The astrologer replied: 'You cannot alter or bypass the turns of the revolving sky;”
#11
ازین کودک آشوب گیرد زمین
✦
نخواند سپاهت برو آفرین
“From this child turmoil will grip the earth, and your army will utter no blessings upon him.”
#12
هم از راه یزدان بگردد بنیز
✦
ازین بیشتر چون سراییم چیز
“He will also turn away from the path of God; how can we utter more than this?'”
#13
دل شاه غمگین شد از کارشان
✦
وزان ناسزاوار گفتارشان
“The king's heart grew grieved by their work and by their ill-omened words.”
#14
چنین گفت با مرد داننده شاه
✦
که نیکو کنید اندر اختر نگاه
“The king said to the learned men: 'Examine the stars carefully once more,”
#15
نگر تا نگردد زبانتان برین
✦
به پیش بزرگان ایران زمین
“And take heed that your tongues do not speak of this before the nobles of the land of Iran.'”
#16
همی‌داشت آن اختران را نگاه
✦
نهاده بران بسته بر مهر شاه
“He kept that horoscope document sealed and bound with the king's royal stamp.”
#17
پر اندیشه بد زان سخن شهریار
✦
بران هفته کس را ندادند بار
“Full of dark thoughts from those words, the monarch granted audience to no one for a week.”
#18
ز نخچیر و از می به یکسو کشید
✦
بدان چندگه روی کس را ندید
“He turned away from hunting and wine, and for some time saw the face of no man.”
#19
همه مهتران سوی موبد شدند
✦
ز هر گونه‌ای داستانها زدند
“All the grandees went to the High Mobad, discussing all manner of concerns,”
#20
بدان تا چه بد نامور شاه را
✦
که بربست بر کهتران راه را
“To discover what ill had befallen the renowned king that he closed his door to his subjects.”
#21
چو بشنید موبد بشد نزد شاه
✦
بدو داد یکسر پیام سپاه
“When the Mobad heard this, he went to the king and delivered the message of the army.”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ ورا شهریار
✦
که من تنگ دل گشتم از روزگار
“The king answered him: 'My heart has grown heavy and sorrowful because of time and fate,”
#23
ز گفتار این مرد اخترشناس
✦
ز گردون گردان شدم ناسپاس
“From the words of this astrologer, I have grown discontented with the revolving heavens.'”
#24
به گنجور گفت آن یکی پرنیان
✦
بیاور یکی رقعه اندر میان
“He said to the treasurer: 'Bring forth that silk cloth with the parchment inside.'”
#25
بیاورد گنجور و موبد بدید
✦
دلش تنگ شد خامشی برگزید
“The treasurer brought it, and when the Mobad saw it, his heart sank and he chose silence.”
#26
ازان پس بدو گفت یزدان بس است
✦
کجا برتر از دانش هر کس است
“Thereafter he said to him: 'God alone is sufficient, whose wisdom is far beyond that of any man.”
#27
گر ایدون که ناچار گردان سپهر
✦
دگرگون نماید به جوینده چهر
“If the revolving sky inevitably turns a changed countenance upon the seeker,”
#28
به تیمار کی باز گردد ز بد
✦
چنین گفته از دانشی کی سزد
“How can grief turn away evil? How is such despair fitting for a man of wisdom?”
#29
جز از شادمانیت هرگز مباد
✦
ز گفتار ایشان مکن هیچ یاد
“May you never have anything but joy; take no heed of their predictions!'”
#30
ز موبد چو بشنید خسرو سخن
✦
بخندید و کاری نو افگند بن
“When Khosrow heard these words from the Mobad, he smiled and began a new undertaking.”
#31
دبیر پسندیده را خواند پیش
✦
سخن گفت با او ز اندازه بیش
“He summoned his approved scribe before him and spoke to him at great length.”