#1
چنان بد که یک روز پرویز شاه
✦
همی آرزو کرد نخچیرگاه
“It came to pass that one day King Parviz yearned to ride forth unto the royal hunting grounds.”
#2
بیاراست برسان شاهنشهان
✦
که بودند از او پیشتر در جهان
“He prepared the expedition after the fashion of the supreme monarchs who had governed the world before him.”
#3
چو بالای سیصد به زرین ستام
✦
ببردند با خسرو نیک نام
“More than three hundred steeds adorned with golden bridles were led alongside the renowned Khosrow.”
#4
هزار و صد و شست خسرو پرست
✦
پیاده همی‌رفت ژوپین بدست
“Eleven hundred and sixty devoted attendants marched on foot, javelins in hand.”
#5
هزار و چهل چوب و شمشیر داشت
✦
که دیبای در بر زره زیر داشت
“A thousand and forty men held staves and swords, wearing Roman silk brocade over their coats of mail.”
#6
پس اندر بدی پانصد بازدار
✦
هم از واشه و چرغ و شاهین کار
“Behind them came five hundred falconers, skilled with hawks, falcons, and royal eagles.”
#7
ازان پس برفتند سیصد سوار
✦
پس بازداران با یوزدار
“Thereafter rode three hundred horsemen following the falconers and cheetah-keepers.”
#8
به زنجیر هفتاد شیروپلنگ
✦
به دیبای چین اندرون بسته تنگ
“Seventy lions and leopards were bound in chains, wrapped tightly in fine Chinese brocade.”
#9
پلنگان و شیران آموخته
✦
به زنجیر زرین دهن دوخته
“Trained leopards and lions had their jaws muzzled with chains of gold.”
#10
قلاده بزر بسته صد بود سگ
✦
که دردشت آهو گرفتی بتگ
“A hundred hounds wore collars of gold, swifter than gazelles across the open plain.”
#11
پس اندر ز رامشگران دوهزار
✦
همه ساخته رود روز شکار
“Behind them walked two thousand musicians, their instruments attuned for the hunt.”
#12
به زیر اندرون هریکی اشتری
✦
به سر برنهاده ز زر افسری
“Each musician rode a camel, wearing upon his head a crown of gold.”
#13
ز کرسی و خرگاه و پرده سرای
✦
همان خیمه و آخر چارپای
“Carrying thrones, royal pavilions, outer tents, and equipment for the beasts,”
#14
شتر بود پیش اندرون پانصد
✦
همه کرده آن بزم را نامزد
“Five hundred camels marched ahead, all designated to serve that grand banquet.”
#15
ز شاهان برنای سیصد سوار
✦
همی‌راند با نامور شهریار
“Three hundred young princes of noble blood rode alongside the renowned monarch.”
#16
ابا یاره و طوق و زرین کمر
✦
بهر مهره‌ای در نشانده گهر
“Adorned with armlets, torques, and golden belts, every jewel-bead set with precious stones.”
#17
دوصد برده تامجمر افروختند
✦
برو عود و عنبر همی‌سوختند
“Two hundred slaves kindled censers, burning aloe-wood and ambergris before the King.”
#18
دوصد مرد برنای فرمانبران
✦
ابا هریکی نرگس و زعفران
“Two hundred obedient youths walked ahead, each bearing narcissus and saffron.”
#19
همه پیش بردند تا باد بوی
✦
چو آید ز هر سو رساند بدوی
“They marched ahead so that whenever a breeze stirred, it would carry sweet fragrance to him.”
#20
همه پیش آنکس که با بوی خوش
✦
همی‌رفت با مشک صد آبکش
“All walked before the one who bore sweet scents, alongside a hundred water-bearers with musk-infused water,”
#21
که تا ناورد ناگهان گرد باد
✦
نشاند بران شاه فرخ نژاد
“Lest a sudden whirlwind rise and cast dust upon that monarch of blessed line.”
#22
چو بشنید شیرین که آمد سپاه
✦
به پیش سپاه آن جهاندار شاه
“When Shirin heard that the host of the world-ruling king had arrived before the palace,”
#23
یکی زرد پیراهن مشک بوی
✦
بپوشید و گلنارگون کرد روی
“She put on a musk-scented yellow robe and flushed her cheeks like pomegranate blossoms.”
#24
یکی از برش سرخ دیبای روم
✦
همه پیکرش گوهر و زر بوم
“Over it she draped a cloak of crimson Roman silk, its whole fabric woven with gold and gems.”
#25
به سر بر، نهاد افسر خسروی
✦
نگارش همه پیکر پهلوی
“Upon her head she placed a royal crown, fashioned entirely after Pahlavi motifs.”
#26
از ایوان خسرو برآمد ببام
✦
به روز جوانی نبد شادکام
“She ascended to the roof of Khosrow's palace—she who in her youth had known no happiness.”
#27
همی‌بود تاخسرو آنجا رسید
✦
سرشکش ز مژگان به رخ برچکید
“She stood waiting until Khosrow arrived below, tears trickling from her lashes onto her cheeks.”
#28
چو روی ورا دید برپای خاست
✦
به پرویز بنمود بالای راست
“When she beheld his face, she stood upright and showed her tall, graceful stature to Parviz.”
#29
زبان کرد گویا بشیرین سخن
✦
همی‌گفت زان روزگار کهن
“She opened her speech with sweet words, recounting tales of their ancient days of love.”
#30
به نرگس گل و ارغوان را بشست
✦
که بیمار بد نرگس وگل درست
“With tears she washed the rose and red pomegranate blossoms, for her narcissus eyes were sorrowful while the blossoms were fresh.”
#31
بدان آبداری و آن نیکوی
✦
زبان تیز بگشاد برپهلوی
“With such radiance and beauty, she loosed her eloquent tongue in the Pahlavi tongue:”
#32
که تهما هژبرا سپهبد تنا
✦
خجسته کیا گرد شیراوژنا
“'O mighty lion, champion general! O blessed monarch, lion-subduing hero!”
#33
کجا آن همه مهر و خونین سرشک
✦
که دیدار شیرین بد او را پزشک
“Where is all that devotion and those bloody tears, when beholding Shirin was your only remedy?”
#34
کجا آن همه روز کردن به شب
✦
دل و دیده گریان و خندان دو لب
“Where are those long days spent yearning into night, with weeping heart and eyes, yet smiling lips?”
#35
کجا آن همه بند و پیوندما
✦
کجا آن همه عهد و سوگند ما
“Where are all our ties and affection? Where are all our sacred covenants and solemn vows?'”
#36
همی‌گفت وز دیده خوناب زرد
✦
همی‌ریخت برجامهٔ لاژورد
“Thus she spoke, shedding amber tears mixed with blood upon her lapis lazuli robe.”
#37
به چشم اندر آورد زو خسرو آب
✦
به زردی رخش گشت چون آفتاب
“At her words, tears welling in Khosrow's eyes, his face turned pale as the glowing sun.”
#38
فرستاد بالای زرین ستام
✦
ز رومی چهل خادم نیک نام
“He dispatched forty noble Roman attendants with a golden-harnessed steed for her,”
#39
که او را به مشکوی زرین برند
✦
سوی خانهٔ گوهر آگین برند
“To conduct her to the golden harem and escort her unto the gem-bedecked palace.”
#40
ازان جایگه شد به دشت شکار
✦
ابا باده ورود و با میگسار
“From that spot the King departed for the hunting plain, accompanied by wine, songs, and cupbearers.”
#41
چو از کوه وز دشت برداشت بهر
✦
همی‌رفت شادی کنان سوی شهر
“Having reaped his share of joy from mountain and plain, he returned rejoicing toward the city.”
#42
ببستند آذین بشهر و به راه
✦
که شاه آمد از دشت نخچیرگاه
“They decorated the city and the highways with splendor, celebrating the King's return from the hunt.”
#43
ز نالیدن بوق و بانگ سرود
✦
هوا گشت ز آواز بی‌تار و پود
“With the sounding of trumpets and the chorus of songs, the very air seemed filled with music.”
#44
چنان خسروی برز و شاخ بلند
✦
ز دشت اندر آمد به کاخ بلند
“With such majestic grandeur, the lofty branch of royalty returned from the wilderness to his high palace.”
#45
ز مشکوی شیرین بیامد برش
✦
ببوسید پای و زمین و برش
“Shirin emerged from the royal harem, kissed his feet, the ground before him, and his breast.”
#46
به موبد چنین گفت شاه آن زمان
✦
که بر ما مبر جز به نیکی گمان
“The King then addressed the High Priest, saying: 'Think of us with naught but goodness;”
#47
مرین خوب رخ را به خسرو دهید
✦
جهان را بدین مژدهٔ نو دهید
“Give this fair-faced maiden to Khosrow in marriage, and give the world this glad news.'”
#48
مر او را به آیین پیشی بخواست
✦
که آن رسم و آیین بد آنگاه راست
“He claimed her according to ancient customs, for that custom and rite was then deemed right and just.”