#1
همان زاد فرخ بدرگاه بر
✦
همی‌بود و کس را ندادی گذر
“Zad-Farrokh likewise stood guard at the royal court, permitting none to pass through the gate.”
#2
که آگه شدی زان سخن شهریار
✦
به درگاه بر بود چون پرده دار
“Lest the King should become aware of what transpired, he stood at the portal like a vigilant chamberlain.”
#3
چو پژمرده شد چادر آفتاب
✦
همی‌ساخت هر مهتری جای خواب
“As the sun’s bright cloak faded into dark, every noble retired to prepare his resting place.”
#4
بفرمود تا پاسبانان شهر
✦
هر آنکس که از مهتری داشت بهر
“He commanded that all the night-watchmen of the city who held rank among the nobles,”
#5
برفتند یکسر سوی بارگاه
✦
بدان جای شادی و آرام شاه
“Should proceed together unto the royal court—that place of the King's joy and repose.”
#6
بدیشان چنین گفت کامشب خروش
✦
دگرگونه‌تر کرد باید ز دوش
“He addressed them, saying: 'Tonight, the midnight cry must be raised far differently than yesternight.'”
#7
همه پاسبانان بنام قباد
✦
همی‌کرد باید بهر پاس یاد
“'All watchmen, at every shift of the night, must invoke the sovereign name of Qobad.'”
#8
چنین داد پاسخ که ایدون کنم
✦
ز سر نام پرویز بیرون کنم
“They made answer: 'So shall we do, and banish the name of Parviz entirely from our minds.'”
#9
چو شب چادر قیرگون کرد نو
✦
ز شهر و ز بازار برخاست غو
“When night cast anew her pitch-black cloak, a great tumult arose from the city and the bazaar.”
#10
همه پاسبانان بنام قباد
✦
چو آواز دادند کردند یاد
“All the watchmen shouted aloud, acclaiming the reign in the name of Qobad.”
#11
شب تیره شاه جهان خفته بود
✦
چو شیرین به بالینش بر جفته بود
“In that dark night, the Lord of the World slept, while Shirin lay nestled beside his pillow.”
#12
چو آواز آن پاسبانان شنید
✦
غمی گشت و زیشان دلش بردمید
“When she heard the cries of the night-guards, sorrow seized her, and her heart trembled with dread.”
#13
بدو گفت شاها چه شاید بدن
✦
برین داستانی بباید زدن
“She said to him: 'O King, what can this mean? There lies a story behind this portent that we must unravel.'”
#14
از آواز او شاه بیدار شد
✦
دلش زان سخن پر ز آزار شد
“Awakened by her voice, the King awoke; his heart grew heavy and filled with torment at her words.”
#15
به شیرین چنین گفت کای ماه روی
✦
چه داری بخواب اندرون گفت وگوی
“He spoke to Shirin, saying: 'O moon-faced beauty, why do you murmur and speak while wrapped in sleep?'”
#16
بدو گفت شیرین که بگشای گوش
✦
خروشیدن پاسبانان نیوش
“Shirin answered him: 'Open your ears, and listen closely to the outcry of the watchmen!'”
#17
چو خسرو بدان گونه آوا شنید
✦
به رخساره شد چون گل شنبلید
“When Khosrow heard those distant shouts, his countenance withered like the pale fenugreek bloom.”
#18
چنین گفت کز شب گذشته سه پاس
✦
بیابید گفتار اخترشناس
“He said: 'Three watches of the night have passed; now comes to pass the heavy word of the astrologer!'”
#19
که این بد گهر تا ز مادر بزاد
✦
نهانی و را نام کردم قباد
“'For when this ill-starred prince was born of his mother, I secretly gave him the name Qobad.'”
#20
به آواز شیرویه گفتم همی
✦
دگر نامش اندر نهفتم همی
“'Aloud I called him Shirouyeh, while keeping his other name concealed in secret.'”
#21
ورا نام شیروی بد آشکار
✦
قبادش همی‌خواند این پیشکار
“'His public name was Shiroy, yet this retainer now calls him Qobad!'”
#22
شب تیره باید شدن سوی چین
✦
وگر سوی ما چین و مکران زمین
“'Under cover of dark night we must flee toward China, or make our way to the realm of Makran.'”
#23
بریشان به افسون بگیریم راه
✦
ز فغفور چینی بخواهم سپاه
“'With cunning artifice we shall block their way, and I will demand a mighty army from the Faghfoor of China.'”
#24
ازان کاخترش به آسمان تیره بود
✦
سخنهای او بر زمین خیره بود
“Yet because his star in the heavens had dimmed, his plans on earth were confused and vain.”
#25
شب تیره افسون نیامد به کار
✦
همی‌آمدش کار دشوار خوار
“In the dark night no magic brought relief, yet he foolishly deemed this dire task easy.”
#26
به شیرین چنین گفت که آمد زمان
✦
بر افسون ما چیره شد بدگمان
“He said to Shirin: 'The hour has struck; the malicious foe has overcome our spells.'”
#27
بدو گفت شیرین که نوشه بدی
✦
همیشه ز تو دور دست بدی
“Shirin said to him: 'May you live forever immortal! May the reach of evil be forever far from you!'”
#28
بدانش کنون چارهٔ خویش ساز
✦
مبادا که آید به دشمن نیاز
“'Now fashion your remedy with wisdom; let it not come to pass that you depend upon your foe.'”
#29
چو روشن شود دشمن چاره جوی
✦
نهد بی‌گمان سوی این کاخ روی
“'When dawn brightens, the plotting enemy will undoubtedly turn his face toward this palace.'”
#30
هم آنگه زره خواست از گنج شاه
✦
دو شمشیر هندی و رومی کلاه
“At once he called for armor from the King's treasury, two Indian swords, and a Roman helmet,”
#31
همان ترکش تیرو زرین سپر
✦
یکی بندهٔ گرد و پرخاشخر
“As well as a quiver of arrows, a golden shield, and a brave, battle-eager servant.”
#32
شب تیره‌گون اندر آمد به باغ
✦
بدان گه که برخیزد ازخواب زاغ
“In the pitch-black night he retreated into the garden, at the hour when the crow stirs from sleep.”
#33
به باغ بزرگ اندر از بس درخت
✦
نبد شاه را در چمن جای تخت
“Within that vast garden, crowded with trees, there was no space on the lawn to place the King's throne.”
#34
بیاویخت از شاخ زرین سپر
✦
بجایی کزو دور بودی گذر
“He hung his golden shield upon a branch, in a secluded spot far removed from any path.”
#35
نشست از برنرگس و زعفران
✦
یکی تیغ در زیر زانو گران
“He seated himself upon the narcissus and saffron flowers, resting a heavy sword beneath his knee.”
#36
چو خورشید برزد سنان از فراز
✦
سوی کاخ شد دشمن دیو ساز
“As the sun raised its golden spear from on high, the demonic enemy advanced toward the palace.”
#37
یکایک بگشتند گرد سرای
✦
تهی بد ز شاه سرافراز جای
“They searched all around the palace one by one, yet the exalted king's throne stood empty.”
#38
به تاراج دادند گنج ورا
✦
نکرد ایچ کس یاد رنج ورا
“They delivered his treasures to plunder, not one among them remembering all his toil to gather it.”
#39
همه باز گشتنددیده پرآب
✦
گرفته ز کار زمانه شتاب
“All returned with tearful eyes, astonished by the swift turning of fortune.”
#40
چه جوییم ازین گنبد تیزگرد
✦
که هرگز نیاساید از کارکرد
“What can we seek from this swift-revolving sphere, which never rests from its relentless wheel?”
#41
یک را همی تاج شاهی دهد
✦
یکی رابه دریا به ماهی دهد
“To one it grants the royal crown of kingship, while another it casts deep into the sea to the fish.”
#42
یکی را برهنه سر و پای و سفت
✦
نه آرام و خورد و نه جای نهفت
“One it leaves with bare head, feet, and shoulders—without rest, food, or a hidden refuge.”
#43
یکی را دهد نوشه و شهد و شیر
✦
بپوشد به دیبا و خز و حریر
“To another it offers sweet drink, honey, and milk, clothing them in fine brocade, fur, and silk.”
#44
سرانجام هردو به خاک اندرند
✦
به تاریک دام هلاک اندرند
“In the end, both lie beneath the dust, ensnared in the dark trap of destruction.”
#45
اگر خود نزادی خردمند مرد
✦
نبودی ورا روز ننگ و نبرد
“If a wise man had never been born into this world, he would never have known days of shame and struggle.”
#46
ندیدی جهان از بنه به بدی
✦
اگر که بدی مرد اگر مه بدی
“He would never have witnessed the evil of this world at all, whether he were of high degree or low.”
#47
کنون رنج در کار خسرو بریم
✦
بخواننده آگاهی نوبریم
“Now let us bestow our toil upon the tale of Khosrow, bringing fresh news to the reader.”