#1
سخن هر چه گویم همه گفته‌اند
✦
بَرِ باغِ دانش همه رُفته‌اند
“Whatever words I might utter have all been spoken before; every path in the garden of knowledge has been trodden.”
#2
اگر بر درختِ برومند جای
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نیابم که از بَر شدن نیست رای
“Yet though I find no place atop that fruitful tree, for climbing to its highest bough is beyond my reach...”
#3
کسی کو شَوَد زیرِ نخلِ بلند
✦
همان سایه ز او بازدارَد گَزَند
“...He who rests beneath the shade of a tall palm tree shall at least find shelter from harm in its shade.”
#4
توانم مگر پایه‌ای ساختن
✦
بَرِ شاخِ آن سروِ سایه فکن
“Perchance I may build a pedestal beside the branch of that shade-casting cypress,”
#5
کز این ناموَر نامهٔ شهریار
✦
به گیتی بمانم یکی یادگار
“So that from this renowned Book of Kings, I may leave a lasting monument in the world.”
#6
تو این را دروغ و فَسانه مَدان
✦
به رنگِ فُسون و بهانه مَدان
“Do not consider this to be falsehood or mere myth, nor view it as the deceit of enchantment and pretext.”
#7
از او هر چه اندر خورَد با خِرَد
✦
دگر بَر رَهِ رمز و معنی بَرَد
“Whatever in it accords with reason accept as truth; all else leads along the path of allegory and hidden meaning.”
#8
یکی نامه بود از گَهِ باستان
✦
فراوان بِدو اندرون داستان
“There was an ancient chronicle from times of old, containing countless tales and narratives within.”
#9
پراگَنده دَر دستِ هَر موبَدی
✦
از او بَهره‌ای نزدِ هَر بِخرَدی
“Scattered in the hands of various Mobads, with a portion of it held by every wise man.”
#10
یکی پهلوان بود دهقان‌نژاد
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دلیر و بزرگ و خردمند و راد
“There was a noble hero of Dehqan lineage—brave, exalted, wise, and generous.”
#11
پژوهندهٔ روزگارِ نَخُست
✦
گذشته سخن‌ها همه باز جُست
“A seeker of ancient times, who searched out all the tales of the bygone past.”
#12
زِ هر کشوری موبَدی سال‌خَورد
✦
بیاورد کاین نامه را یاد کرد
“He brought forth aged Mobads from every realm, who held the memory of this ancient book.”
#13
بپرسیدشان از کیانِ جهان
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وزان نامدارانِ فرخ مَهان
“He questioned them of the ancient Kayan sovereigns of the world, and of those glorious, noble figures.”
#14
که گیتی به آغاز چون داشتند
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که ایدون به ما خوار بگذاشتند
“How they held the world in the beginning, and how they ultimately left it behind to us so fleetingly.”
#15
چگونه سَر آمد به نیک اختری
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بر ایشان همه روزِ کُندآوری
“How their days of valor came to an end, even when guided by auspicious stars.”
#16
بگفتند پیشَش یکایک مَهان
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سخن‌های شاهان و گشتِ جهان
“The noble elders recounted to him one by one the stories of kings and the turning wheel of the world.”
#17
چو بشنید از ایشان سِپَهبَد سَخُن
✦
یکی ناموَر نامه اَفکند بُن
“When the chieftain heard these tales from them, he laid the foundation of a renowned chronicle.”
#18
چنین یادگاری شد اندر جهان
✦
بر او آفرین از کهان و مهان
“Thus such a monument was created in the world, receiving praise from both the humble and the great.”