Section 18: He wrote a letter to King Fereydun

بخش ۱۸: به شاه آفریدون یکی نامه کرد

To King Fereydun, a letter he wrote

With musk and amber, the pen's head was made

به شاه آفریدون یکی نامه کرد

ز مشک و ز عنبر سر خامه کرد

First, he remembered the Creator of the world

The Lord of goodness, purity, and justice

نخست از جهان آفرین کرد یاد

خداوند خوبی و پاکی و داد

Thanks to the World-Ruler, the Rescuer

No one grasps the hand of another in hardship, but His

سپاس از جهاندار فریادرس

نگیرد به سختی جز او دست کس

Another praise for Fereydun, the mighty

The Lord of the crown and the Lord of the mace

دگر آفرین بر فریدون برز

خداوند تاج و خداوند گرز

All of justice, all of religion, all of wisdom

All of the crown and all of the throne of kingship

همش داد و هم دین و هم فرهی

همش تاج و هم تخت شاهنشهی

All truth comes from his fortune

All glory and beauty come from his throne

همه راستی راست از بخت اوست

همه فر و زیبایی از تخت اوست

I reached the goodness of the land of Turan

We raised the army and sought revenge

رسیدم به خوبی بتوران زمین

سپه برکشیدیم و جستیم کین

Three warriors were made in three days

Whether by night or by the blazing sun

سه جنگ گران کرده شد در سه روز

چه در شب چه در هور گیتی فروز

From them a night attack, and from us an ambush

We dragged and sought every form of enmity

از ایشان شبیخون و از ماکمین

کشیدیم و جستیم هر گونه کین

I heard the preparation for a night raid began

From despair, it took hold like a spell

شنیدم که ساز شبیخون گرفت

ز بیچارگی بند افسون گرفت

I set up an ambush behind his back

Nothing remained but the wind in his grasp

کمین ساختم از پس پشت اوی

نماندم به جز باد در مشت اوی

One by one, as they turned their faces from war

I followed and reached them quickly

یکایک چو از جنگ برگاشت روی

پی اندر گرفتم رسیدم بدوی

I placed his sleeping form upon the spear

With strength, I took his saddle from him

بخفتانش بر نیزه بگذاشتم

به نیرو ازان زینش برداشتم

I threw him down like a dragon

I severed his head from his worthless body

بینداختم چون یکی اژدها

بریدم سرش از تن بی‌بها

I sent this now to the ancestor

Now, I will make peace with Alchemy

فرستادم اینک به نزد نیا

بسازم کنون سلم را کیمیا

Just as the head of the Shah, Iraj

Was cast into a golden coffin, humiliated

چنان چون سر ایرج شهریار

به تابوت زر اندر افگند خوار

In the letter, this was written as a reminder

A monster was unleashed, carried by the wind

به نامه درون این سخن کرد یاد

هیونی برافگند برسان باد

A messenger came, his face full of shame

Two eyes of Fereydun full of hot tears

فرستاده آمد رخی پر ز شرم

دو چشم از فریدون پر از آب گرم

For when he brings the head of the King of China

It will be severed from the King of Iran's land

که چون برد خواهد سر شاه چین

بریده بر شاه ایران زمین

If a child turns his head away from religion

A father will give more love than hatred to him

که فرزند گر سر بپیچید ز دین

پدر را بدو مهر افزون ز کین

The sin was great, and no apology was offered

And another who sought revenge stood around

گنه بس گران بود و پوزش نبرد

و دیگر که کین خواه او بود گرد

The messenger with the playful face arrived

He placed the head of Tur in front of him

بیامد فرستادهٔ شوخ روی

سر تور بنهاد در پیش اوی

Fereydun, too, placed his hopes upon Manouchehr

He asked for a blessing from the Justice-bringer

فریدون همی بر منوچهر بر

یکی آفرین خواست از دادگر