#1
کس آمد به ماهوی سوری بگفت
✦
که شاه جهان گشت با خاک جفت
“Someone came to Mahuy Suri and reported that the King of the World had become one with the dust.”
#2
سکوبا و قسیس و رهبان روم
✦
همه سوگواران آن مرز و بوم
“The bishop, the priest, and the monks of Rum, all mourning in that land,”
#3
برفتند با مویه برنا و پیر
✦
تن شاه بردند زان آبگیر
“Young and old went forth weeping, and lifted the king's body from that stream.”
#4
یکی دخمه کردند او را به باغ
✦
بلند و بزرگیش برتر ز راغ
“They built for him a tomb within a garden, grand and elevated above the mountain slope.”
#5
چنین گفت ماهوی بدبخت و شوم
✦
که ایران نبُد پیش از این خویشِ روم
“The wretched and ill-omened Mahuy spake: 'Iran was never a relative to Rum before this!'”
#6
فرستاد تا هر که آن دخمه کرد
✦
هم آنکس کزان کار تیمار خوَرد
“He dispatched troops to seize whoever built that tomb, and whoever felt sorrow over that deed.”
#7
بکشتند و تاراج کردند مرز
✦
چنین بود ماهوی را کام و ارز
“They slew them all and plundered the realm; such was Mahuy's desire and worth.”
#8
ازان پس بگرد جهان بنگرید
✦
ز تخم بزرگان کسی را ندید
“Thereafter he looked across the world, and saw no one left of the seed of the nobles.”
#9
همان تاج با او بد و مهر شاه
✦
شبان‌زاده را آرزو کرد گاه
“Possessing the royal crown and the king's signet, the shepherd's son lusted for the throne.”
#10
همه رازدارانش را پیش خواند
✦
سخن هرچ بودش به دل در براند
“He summoned all his confidants before him, and revealed every thought that lay in his heart.”
#11
به دستور گفت ای جهاندیده مرد
✦
فراز آمد آن روز ننگ و نبرد
“He said to his vizier, 'O experienced man! The day of disgrace and strife hath arrived.”
#12
نه گنجست با من نه نام و نژاد
✦
همی داد خواهم سر خود بباد
“'I have neither treasure, nor royal lineage, nor fame; I am giving my own head to the wind.”
#13
بر انگشتری یزدگردست نام
✦
به شمشیر بر من نگردند رام
“'The name of Yazdegerd is engraved upon the ring; by the sword alone men will not submit to me.”
#14
همه شهر ایران ورا بنده بود
✦
اگر خویش بد ار پراگنده بود
“'All the realm of Iran was subject to him, whether kin or scattered folk.”
#15
نخواند مرا مرد داننده شاه
✦
نه بر مهرم آرام گیرد سپاه
“'No wise man will address me as King, nor will the army find peace under my seal.”
#16
جزین بود چاره مرا در نهان
✦
چرا ریختم خون شاه جهان
“'I had no other hidden remedy; alas, why did I spill the blood of the King of the World?'”
#17
همه شب ز اندیشه پر خون بُدم
✦
جهاندار داند که من چون بدم
“'All night my heart was filled with blood from angst; the Creator knows what turmoil was in me!'”
#18
بدو رای‌زن گفت که اکنون گذشت
✦
ازین کار گیتی پرآواز گشت
“The counselor said to him: 'What is done is done; the world is now loud with this deed.”
#19
کنون بازجویی همی کار خویش
✦
که بگسستی آن رشتهٔ تار خویش
“'Dost thou now seek to mend thy cause, when thou hast severed thine own thread?”
#20
کنون او بدخمه درون خاک شد
✦
روان ورا زهر تریاک شد
“'Now he lies in the tomb within the dust; his spirit's antidote hath turned to poison.”
#21
جهاندیدگان را همه گرد کن
✦
زبان تیز گردان به شیرین سخُن
“'Gather all the experienced elders, and sharpen thy tongue with sweet discourse.”
#22
چنین گوی کاین تاج و انگشتری
✦
مرا شاه داد از پی مهتری
“'Speak thus: "This crown and signet ring were given to me by the King for my leadership.”
#23
چو دانست کامد ز ترکان سپاه
✦
چو شب تیره‌تر شد مرا خواند شاه
“'"When he learned that the army of Turks was approaching, as night darkened, the King called me.”
#24
مرا گفت چون خاست باد نبرد
✦
که داند به گیتی که بر کیست گرد
“'"He said to me: When the dust of battle rises, who knows in this world upon whom the ruin falls?”
#25
تو این تاج و انگشتری را بدار
✦
بود روز کین تاجت آید به کار
“'"Keep thou this crown and signet ring; a day of vengeance may come when this crown will serve thee.”
#26
مرا نیست چیزی جزین در جهان
✦
همانا که هست این ز تازی نهان
“'"I have nothing else in this world; surely this must be hidden from the Arab invader.”
#27
تو زین پس به دشمن مده گاه من
✦
نگه‌دار هم زین نشان راه من
“'"Henceforth yield not my throne to the enemy, and preserve my path in this manner."'”
#28
من این تاج میراث دارم ز شاه
✦
به فرمان او برنشینم به گاه
“'"I hold this crown as an inheritance from the King; by his order I mount the throne."'”
#29
بدین چاره ده بند بد را فروغ
✦
که داند که این راستست از دروغ
“'By this ruse give light to thy dark plight; for who can distinguish truth from falsehood in this?'”
#30
چو بشنید ماهوی گفتا که زه
✦
تو دستوری و بر تو بر نیست مه
“When Mahuy heard this, he exclaimed: 'Bravo! Thou art a true counselor, and none excels thee!'”
#31
همه مهتران را ز لشکر بخواند
✦
وزین گونه چندین سخنها براند
“He summoned all the chieftains of the army, and uttered many such deceitful words.”
#32
بدانست لشکر که این نیست راست
✦
به شوخی ورا سر بریدن سزاست
“The army knew well that this was not true, and that for his impudence his head deserved to be severed.”
#33
یکی پهلوان گفت کاین کارِ تست
✦
سخن گر درستست گر نادرست
“Yet one chieftain said: 'This is thy affair, whether thy words be true or false.'”
#34
چو بشنید بر تخت شاهی نشست
✦
به افسون خراسانش آمد بدست
“Hearing this, he sat upon the royal throne, and through trickery Khorasan fell into his hands.”
#35
ببخشید روی زمین بر مهان
✦
منم گفت با مهر شاه جهان
“He partitioned the lands among the grandees, proclaiming, 'I hold the signet ring of the King of the World!'”
#36
جهان را سراسر به بخشش گرفت
✦
ستاره نظاره برو ای شگفت
“He began distributing the realm entirely; wondrous it was that the stars looked down upon him!”
#37
به مهتر پسر داد بلخ و هری
✦
فرستاد بر هر سوی لشکری
“He gave Balkh and Herat to his eldest son, and dispatched armies to every corner.”
#38
بداندیشگان را همه برکشید
✦
بدانسان که از گوهر او سزید
“He elevated all ill-minded evil men, as befitted his own vile origin.”
#39
بدان را بهَر جای سالار کرد
✦
خردمند را سرنگونسار کرد
“He made the wicked rulers in every place, and cast down the wise into ruin.”
#40
چو زیر اندر آمد سر راستی
✦
پدید آمد از هر سوی کاستی
“When the head of righteousness was dragged down, decay and corruption appeared on every side.”
#41
چو لشکر فراوان شد و خواسته
✦
دل مرد بی تن شد آراسته
“As his army grew large and wealth accumulated, the heart of that base man became arrogant.”
#42
سپه را درم داد و آباد کرد
✦
سر دوده خویش پرباد کرد
“He distributed coin to the army and enriched them, inflating the pride of his own base lineage.”
#43
به آموی شد پهلو پیش رو
✦
ابا لشکری جنگ‌سازان نو
“The advance general marched to Amuy with an army of newly equipped warriors.”
#44
طلایه به پیش سپاه اندرون
✦
جهان‌دیده‌ای نام او گرستون
“At the vanguard of the army was a seasoned officer whose name was Garestun.”
#45
به شهر بخارا نهادند روی
✦
چنان ساخته لشکری جنگجوی
“They turned their faces toward the city of Bukhara, an army fully equipped and eager for battle.”
#46
بدو گفت ما را سمرقند و چاچ
✦
بباید گرفتن بدین مهر و تاج
“He said to him, "With this royal seal and crown, we must now conquer Samarqand and Chach."”
#47
به فرمان شاه جهان یزدگرد
✦
که سالار بُد او بر این هفت گرد
“"Under the mandate of Yazdgard, king of the world, who reigned supreme as sovereign over these seven realms."”
#48
ز بیژن بخواهم به شمشیر کین
✦
کزو تیره شد بخت ایران‌زمین
“"I shall seek vengeance upon Bijan with the blade of wrath, for it was through him that the fortune of Iran grew dark."”