#1
چنان شد ز گفتار او پهلوان
✦
که گفتی برافشاند خواهد روان
“So stirred was the champion by his father's words, that you would say he was ready to pour out his very soul.”
#2
گله هرچ بودش به زابلستان
✦
بیاورد لختی به کابلستان
“Whatever herds were in Zabulistan, they drove a portion of them into Kabulistan.”
#3
همه پیش رستم همی راندند
✦
برو داغ شاهان همی خواندند
“They drove them all before Rostam, who read upon them the brands of kings.”
#4
هر اسپی که رستم کشیدیش پیش
✦
به پشتش بیفشاردی دست خویش
“Every horse that Rostam drew toward himself, he pressed his mighty hand upon its back.”
#5
ز نیروی او پشت کردی به خم
✦
نهادی به روی زمین بر شکم
“Under his immense power, its back would bend until its belly touched the ground.”
#6
چنین تا ز کابل بیامد زرنگ
✦
فسیله همی تاخت از رنگ‌رنگ
“Thus he searched from Kabul to Zarang, running droves of all colors before him.”
#7
یکی مادیان تیز بگذشت خنگ
✦
برش چون بر شیر و کوتاه لنگ
“Then passed a swift grey mare, broad-chested like a lion and short of leg.”
#8
دو گوشش چو دو خنجر آبدار
✦
بر و یال فربه میانش نزار
“Her two ears were like sharp daggers; her chest and mane were thick, her waist slender.”
#9
یکی کره از پس به بالای او
✦
سرین و برش هم به پهنای او
“Behind her trotted a colt of her own height, with hips and chest as broad as hers.”
#10
سیه چشم و بورابرش و گاودم
✦
سیه خایه و تند و پولادسم
“Dark-eyed, chestnut-browed, with a tail like an ox, fierce-natured and steel-hooved.”
#11
تنش پرنگار از کران تا کران
✦
چو داغ گل سرخ بر زعفران
“His body was dappled from edge to edge, like red rose spots sprinkled upon saffron.”
#12
چو رستم بران مادیان بنگرید
✦
مر آن کرهٔ پیلتن را بدید
“When Rostam looked upon that mare and saw that elephant-bodied colt,”
#13
کمند کیانی همی داد خم
✦
که آن کره را بازگیرد ز رم
“He coiled his Kiani lasso to catch that colt from the herd.”
#14
به رستم چنین گفت چوپان پیر
✦
که ای مهتر اسپ کسان را مگیر
“An old shepherd spoke to Rostam, saying: 'O lord, do not take the horse of others!'”
#15
بپرسید رستم که این اسپ کیست
✦
که دو رانش از داغ آتش تهیست
“Rostam asked: 'Whose horse is this, whose thighs are free from the mark of fire?'”
#16
چنین داد پاسخ که داغش مجوی
✦
کزین هست هر گونه‌ای گفت‌وگوی
“The shepherd answered: 'Seek not his brand, for concerning him there are many tales.”
#17
همی رخش خوانیم بورابرش است
✦
به خو آتشی و به رنگ آتش است
“We call him Rakhsh; he is rose-dappled, fiery in temper and in color like fire itself.”
#18
خداوند این را ندانیم کس
✦
همی رخش رستمش خوانیم و بس
“We know no owner for him; we call him only Rostam's Rakhsh, and nothing more.”
#19
سه سالست تا این بزین آمدست
✦
به چشم بزرگان گزین آمدست
“For three years he has been fit for the saddle, approved by the eyes of the great.”
#20
چو مادرش بیند کمند سوار
✦
چو شیر اندرآید کند کارزار
“Yet when his mother sees a rider's lasso, she rushes in like a lion to wage battle.'”
#21
بینداخت رستم کیانی کمند
✦
سر ابرش آورد ناگه ببند
“Rostam cast his royal lasso and suddenly caught the rose-dappled colt by the neck.”
#22
بیامد چو شیر ژیان مادرش
✦
همی خواست کندن به دندان سرش
“The mother came on like a fierce lion, seeking to tear off his head with her teeth.”
#23
بغرید رستم چو شیر ژیان
✦
از آواز او خیره شد مادیان
“Rostam roared like a raging lion, and at his voice the mare was stunned and bewildered.”
#24
یکی مشت زد نیز بر گردنش
✦
کزان مشت برگشت لرزان تنش
“He struck her neck with a blow of his fist, so that her body trembled from the stroke.”
#25
بیفتاد و برخاست و برگشت از وی
✦
بسوی گله تیز بنهاد روی
“She fell, rose again, turned away from him, and fled swiftly toward the herd.”
#26
بیفشارد ران رستم زورمند
✦
برو تنگتر کرد خم کمند
“Mighty Rostam pressed his thighs and tightened the coils of the lasso upon the colt.”
#27
بیازید چنگال گردی بزور
✦
بیفشارد یک دست بر پشت بور
“The hero stretched forth his mighty hand and pressed with strength upon the back of the bay colt.”
#28
نکرد ایچ پشت از فشردن تهی
✦
تو گفتی ندارد همی آگهی
“The colt's back did not yield at all under the pressure; you would say he felt nothing.”
#29
بدل گفت کاین برنشست منست
✦
کنون کار کردن به دست منست
“Rostam said in his heart: 'This is my mount; now the work of battle lies in my hands.'”
#30
ز چوپان بپرسید کاین اژدها
✦
به چندست و این را که خواهد بها
“He asked the shepherd: 'What is the price of this dragon, and who claims its payment?'”
#31
چنین داد پاسخ که گر رستمی
✦
برو راست کن روی ایران زمی
“The shepherd answered: 'If thou art Rostam, set right the face of the land of Iran!”
#32
مر این را بر و بوم ایران بهاست
✦
بدین بر تو خواهی جهان کرد راست
“The realm of Iran is its price, for mounted upon him thou shalt make the world righteous.'”
#33
لب رستم از خنده شد چون بسد
✦
همی گفت نیکی ز یزدان سزد
“Rostam's lips parted in a smile like coral, as he said: 'Goodness is fitting unto Yazdan.'”
#34
به زین اندر آورد گلرنگ را
✦
سرش تیز شد کینه و جنگ را
“He put the saddle upon the rose-dappled beast, and its heart grew eager for strife and war.”
#35
گشاده زنخ دیدش و تیزتگ
✦
بدیدش که دارد دل و تاو و رگ
“He saw him wide of jaw and swift of stride, possessing courage, endurance, and power.”
#36
کشد جوشن و خود و کوپال او
✦
تن پیلوار و بر و یال او
“Capable of bearing his coat of mail, helmet, heavy mace, and his own elephant-like body, neck, and mane.”
#37
چنان گشت ابرش که هر شب سپند
✦
همی سوختندش ز بیم گزند
“Such did the dappled charger become that every night they burned wild rue for him for fear of evil eyes.”
#38
چپ و راست گفتی که جادو شدست
✦
به آورد تا زنده آهو شدست
“To left and right he moved as if by magic; in battle he could catch a live gazelle.”
#39
دل زال زر شد چو خرم بهار
✦
ز رخش نوآیین و فرخ سوار
“The heart of Zal Zar became joyful as green spring, at this novel Rakhsh and auspicious rider.”
#40
در گنج بگشاد و دینار داد
✦
از امروز و فردا نیامدش یاد
“He opened the doors of his treasury and gave away gold, taking no thought for today or tomorrow.”