Section 17: When half of the shining day had passed

بخش ۱۷: چو از روز رخشنده نیمی برفت

When half the shining day had passed away

The hearts of both warriors burned with hate’s sway

چو از روز رخشنده نیمی برفت

دل هر دو جنگی ز کینه بتفت

By strategy, they made a plan as one

All thoughts of folly were finally undone

به تدبیر یک با دگر ساختند

همه رای بیهوده انداختند

When night falls, we shall raid with swift might

The plains and marshes we’ll fill with blood’s fright

که چون شب شود ما شبیخون کنیم

همه دشت و هامون پر از خون کنیم

When the skilled warriors learned of the plot

They rushed to Manouchehr, seeking him on the spot

چو کارآگهان آگهی یافتند

دوان زی منوچهر بشتافتند

They arrived before Manouchehr, the king

They told him to rally his army and bring

رسیدند پیش منوچهر شاه

بگفتند تا برنشاند سپاه

Manouchehr listened and opened his ear

The man of great wisdom sought a solution clear

منوچهر بشنید و بگشاد گوش

سوی چاره شد مرد بسیار هوش

He entrusted the army to Qaren’s command

The commander chose the ambush’s stand

سپه را سراسر به قارن سپرد

کمین‌گاه بگزید سالار گرد

He took thirty thousand renowned warriors brave

The daring and those with daggers to wave

ببرد از سران نامور سی‌هزار

دلیران و گردان خنجر‌گزار

He saw the ambush site as a fitting place

For mounted warriors, ready for the chase

کمین‌گاه را جای شایسته دید

سواران جنگی و بایسته دید

As the dark night fell, Tur came with a hundred thousand strong

They arrived, ready for battle all along

چو شب تیره شد تور با صدهزار

بیامد کمربستهٔ کارزار

They had planned and prepared their stealthy raid

With bows and arrows, their weapons laid

شبیخون سگالیده و ساخته

بپیوسته تیر و کمان آخته

When the army arrived, they saw their mark

A banner shining, set on a post stark

چو آمد سپه دید بر جای خویش

درفش فروزنده بر پای پیش

They saw no way but to fight and clash

From the army, a roar rose in a flash

جز از جنگ و پیکار چاره ندید

خروش از میان سپه بر کشید

The dust from the riders filled the sky’s brink

Like lightning, the steel of swords did wink

ز گَرد‌ِ سواران هوا بست میغ

چو برق درخشنده پولاد تیغ

The air seemed to burn with the clash and roar

Like diamonds, the earth scorched to its core

هوا را تو گفتی همی برفروخت

چو الماس روی زمین را بسوخت

The sound of steel rose from deep within their minds

Within the clouds, fire and wind intertwined

به مغز اندرون بانگ پولاد خاست

به ابر اندرون آتش و باد خاست

The king rose from the ambush, taking charge

Tur could not escape from the two-sided barge

برآورد شاه از کمین‌گاه سر

نبد تور را از دو رویه گذر

He twisted the reins and turned his face

From the army, a shout rose with great pace

عنان را بپیچید و برگاشت روی

برآمد ز لشکر یکی های هوی

From behind, Manouchehr, the king, came fast

And reached the infamous enemy, so steadfast

دمان از پس ایدر منوچهر شاه

رسید اندر آن نامور کینه خواه

He threw a spear at the back of his foe

And a dagger fell from his hand, no longer aglow

یکی نیزه انداخت بر پشت او

نگونسار شد خنجر از مشت او

He grabbed him from the saddle, like the wind’s blast

And struck him to the ground, showing his might at last

ز زین برگرفتش به کردار باد

بزد بر زمین‌، داد‌ِ مردی بداد

He then severed his head from his body’s place

The beasts and the fiends were now out of space

سرش را هم آنگه ز تن دور کرد

دد و دام را از تنش سور کرد

He returned to his own army once again

To join his victorious army in the end

بیامد به لشکرگه خویش باز

به دیدار آن لشکر سرفراز