#1
فرستادهٔ نیز چون برق و رعد
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فرستاد تازان به نزدیک سعد
“He dispatched a messenger swift as lightning and thunder, speeding post-haste towards Sa'd.”
#2
یکی نامه‌ای بر حریر سپید
✦
نویسنده بنوشت تابان چو شید
“A letter was written upon white silk, shimmering brightly like the shining sun.”
#3
به عنوان بر از پور هرمزد شاه
✦
جهان پهلوان رستم نیک خواه
“At its head was written: From the son of King Hormozd, the well-wishing World-Champion Rostam,”
#4
سوی سعدِ وَقاص جوینده جنگ
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جهان کرده بر خویشتن تار و تنگ
“Unto Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, the seeker of war, who hath made the world dark and narrow for himself.”
#5
سرنامه گفت از جهاندار پاک
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بباید که باشیم با بیم و باک
“The preamble declared: In the name of the Pure Ruler of the World, before Whom we must stand in awe and reverence,”
#6
کزویست بر پای گردان سپهر
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همه پادشاهیش دادست و مهر
“For by Him the revolving heavens are sustained, and His whole realm is built on justice and love.”
#7
ازو باد بر شهریار آفرین
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که زیبای تاجست و تخت و نگین
“May blessings from Him be upon our Sovereign, who is worthy of crown, throne, and signet ring,”
#8
که دارد به فر اهرمن راببند
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خداوند شمشیر و تاج بلند
“Who by his Royal Glory holds Ahriman bound, the lord of the high crown and the sharp sword.”
#9
به پیش آمد این ناپسندیده کار
✦
به بیهوده این رنج و این کارزار
“Unseemly has this situation come to pass—this futile toil and this bitter strife.”
#10
به من بازگوی آنک شاه تو کیست
✦
چه مردی و آیین و راه تو چیست
“Tell me now, who is thy king? What manner of man art thou, and what is thy law and custom?”
#11
به نزد که جویی همی دستگاه
✦
برهنه سپهبد برهنه سپاه
“Before whom dost thou seek rank and power—thou, a bare commander of a bare army?”
#12
به نانی تو سیری و هم گرسنه
✦
نه پیل و نه تخت و نه بار و بنه
“Thou art sated with a loaf of bread, yet remainest hungry; thou hast neither elephant nor throne, nor gear nor baggage.”
#13
به ایران تو را زندگانی بس است
✦
که تاج و نگین بهر دیگر کس است
“Suffice it for thee to live in thy own lands, for crown and signet belong to another.”
#14
که با پیل و گنجست و با فروجاه
✦
پدر بر پدر نامبردار شاه
“To one who possesses elephants, treasure, and glory, a renowned king descended from kings.”
#15
به دیدار او بر فلک ماه نیست
✦
به بالای او بر زمین شاه نیست
“Compared to his countenance, the moon in the heavens is naught; compared to his stature, no king on earth compares.”
#16
هر آن گه که در بزم خندان شود
✦
گشاده لب و سیم دندان شود
“Whenever he smiles at the royal banquet, his lips part to reveal teeth white as silver.”
#17
به بخشد بهای سر تازیان
✦
که بر گنج او زان نیاید زیان
“He bestows the value of a chief of the Arabs as gifts, yet no harm comes to his treasury thereby.”
#18
سگ و یوز و بازش ده و دو هزار
✦
که با زنگ و زرند و با گوشوار
“He possesses twelve thousand hounds, hunting leopards, and falcons, all adorned with golden bells and earrings.”
#19
به سالی همه دشت نیزه وران
✦
نیابند خورد از کران تا کران
“Throughout the year, the whole plain of spear-bearers cannot find enough sustenance from end to end,”
#20
که او را به باید به یوز و به سگ
✦
که در دشت نخچیر گیرد به تگ
“To match what is needed for his leopards and hounds, which sprint across the plain to catch game.”
#21
سگ و یوز او بیشتر زان خورد
✦
که شاه آن به چیزی همی‌نشمرد
“His hounds and leopards consume more than that, which the King considers a thing of no account.”
#22
شما را به دیده درون شرم نیست
✦
ز راه خرد مهر و آزرم نیست
“There is no shame in your eyes, nor love and modesty guided by wisdom.”
#23
بدان چهره و زاد و آن مهر و خوی
✦
چنین تاج و تخت آمدت آرزوی
“With such a face, birth, disposition, and manner, how canst thou desire such a throne and crown?”
#24
جهان گر بر اندازه جویی همی
✦
سخن بر گزافه نگویی همی
“If thou seekest the world with measure and restraint, thou wilt not speak words in vain arrogance.”
#25
سخن گوی مردی برِ ما فرست
✦
جهاندیده و گرد و زیبا فرست
“Send to us an eloquent man, a worldly-wise, valiant, and comely warrior,”
#26
بدان تا بگوید که رای تو چیست
✦
به تخت کیان رهنمای تو کیست
“So that he may declare what thy judgment is, and who guides thee toward the throne of the Kayans.”
#27
سواری فرستیم نزدیک شاه
✦
بخواهیم ازو هرچ خواهی بخواه
“We shall dispatch a horseman unto the King and request of him whatever thou desirest.”
#28
تو جنگ چنان پادشاهی مجوی
✦
که فرجام کارانده آید بروی
“Seek not war with such a monarch, lest a dire outcome come upon thee at the end.”
#29
نبیره جهاندار نوشین روان
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که با داد او پیرگردد جوان
“He is the grandson of the ruler Noshinravan, by whose justice the old become young again.”
#30
پدر بر پدر شاه و خود شهریار
✦
زمانه ندارد چنو یادگار
“King after king, his fathers were sovereigns; Time has no memorial like unto him.”
#31
جهانی مکن پر ز نفرین خویش
✦
مشو بد گمان اندر آیین خویش
“Make not a world full of curses against thyself; do not fall into ill thoughts regarding thy own faith.”
#32
به تخت کیان تا نباشد نژاد
✦
نجوید خداوند فرهنگ و داد
“Unless one possesses noble lineage for the throne of the Kayans, a master of wisdom and justice will not seek it.”
#33
نگه کن بدین نامهٔ پندمند
✦
مکن چشم و گوش و خرد را ببند
“Look upon this counsel-laden epistle; close not thine eyes, ears, and wisdom against it.”
#34
چو نامه به مهر اندر آمد به داد
✦
به پیروز شاپور فرخ نژاد
“When the letter was duly sealed, it was committed to Piruz Shapur of auspicious birth.”
#35
بر سعد وقاص شد پهلوان
✦
از ایران بزرگان روشن روان
“The champion departed unto Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, accompanied by luminous-souled nobles of Iran,”
#36
همه غرقه در جوشن و سیم و زر
✦
سپرهای زرین و زرین کمر
“All clad in coats of mail, silver, and gold, bearing golden shields and wearing golden girdles.”