When one part of the dark night passed,

The nightingale began to circle in the rotating sky.

Speaking began in secret,

They softly opened the door of the sleeping chamber.

A servant with an amber-scented candle in hand,

Came gracefully to the bedside of the intoxicated one.

Behind the curtain, a moon-faced one,

Like the shining sun, full of color and fragrance.

Two eyebrows like bows and two tresses like lassos,

In height, like a tall cypress tree.

Her soul was wisdom, her body a pure soul,

You would say she had no share of earth.

From her, Rostam, the lion-hearted, remained astonished,

He invoked the Creator of the world upon her.

He asked her and said, “What is your name?

What do you seek in the dark night? What is your desire?”

She gave this answer: “I am Tahmineh,

You would say that I am split in two from sorrow.”

“I am a daughter of the king of Samangan,

I am from the lineage of lions and leopards.”

“In the world, there is no match for me among the beautiful ones,

There are few like me under the blue sky.”

“No one has seen me outside the curtain,

Nor has anyone ever heard my voice.”

“Like a legend, from everyone,

I have heard many stories of you.”

“That from lion and demon and whale and leopard,

You do not fear and you are so fierce-clawed.”

“You go alone to Turan in the dark night,

You wander on that border and do not grieve.”

“You alone roast a wild ass,

You make the air weep with your sword.”

“Anyone who sees your mace in your hand,

Tears the heart of a lion and the claws of a leopard.”

When an eagle sees your naked sword,

It does not dare to hasten to hunt.

The mark of your lasso holds the lion,

From fear of your spear, the cloud rains blood.

When I heard these stories from you,

I bit my lip many times because of you (in admiration).

I have been seeking your stature, mane, and chest,

God has made your destiny in this city.

Now, if you want me,

No one but these birds and fish will see me (I will be devoted to you).

One reason is that I have become like this because of you,

I have sacrificed my reason for love.

And another is that perhaps God from you,

Will place a son in my embrace.

Perhaps he will be like you in manliness and strength,

The heavens will give him the share of Saturn and the Sun (greatness).

The third is that I will bring your horse back,

I will bring all of Samangan under your feet (at your service).

When Rostam saw such a fairy-faced person,

He saw a share of every knowledge in her.

And furthermore, she gave news of Rakhsh,

He saw no other outcome than prosperity.

He ordered that a skilled priest,

Should come and ask for her from her father.

When the king heard this speech, he became happy,

He became like a free cypress tree (joyful and upright).

He gave his daughter to that champion,

In the way that was the custom and religion.

With his consent, opinion, and command,

He arranged his pact well.

When he entrusted his daughter to that champion,

Everyone became happy, old and young.

From joy, they scattered much gold,

They invoked blessings upon the champion.

May this new moon be auspicious for you,

May the heads of your enemies be cut off.

When he became her companion with splendor,

That dark night was long and drawn out.

When the shining sun from the high sky,

Began to cast its shining lasso (rays).

On Rostam's arm there was a bead,

That bead was famous in the world.

He gave it to her and said, “Keep this,

If fate brings you a daughter.

Take it and sew it onto her tresses,

With a good star and omen, illuminate the world.

And if a son comes from fate,

Tie it on his arm as a sign of his father.”

He was in height like Sam Nariman,

He was in manliness and character like generous men.

He would bring down the flying eagle from the cloud,

The sun would not shine fiercely upon him.

He spent that night with the moon-faced one,

Speaking to her of all kinds of things.

When the shining sun rose on the sky,

It adorned the face of the earth with light.

To say farewell, he took her in his arms,

He gave her many kisses on her eyes and head.

The fairy-faced one returned from him weeping,

She became a companion to sorrow and pain.

The esteemed king came to Rostam,

He asked him about his sleep and resting place.

When this was said, he gave him the good news about Rakhsh,

The heart of the crown-bestower became joyful because of it.

He came, petted him, and placed the saddle on him,

He became radiant from Rakhsh and happy from the king.