The servant rose from before his face

To that hopeless solution, they set their gaze

They adorned them in Roman silk and style

Their locks on flowers they did compile

All five set out towards the river plain

With scents and hues like spring again

It was Farvardin, the year's bright start

At the riverbank lay Zal's encampment's heart

They plucked flowers from the river's shore

Their faces were gardens, flowers in store

Dastan looked down from his lofty throne

And asked who these flower gatherers are, alone

Thus the speaker said to the warrior bold

From Mehrab’s palace, of bright soul told

Servants were sent to the flowered field

By the moon of Kabul, their beauty revealed

Zal approached those fairy-like in face

He asked for a bow and rose with grace

He walked on foot in pursuit of prey

He spotted reeds by the river's array

The bowstring he set on the Turkish bow

And placed it in the world champion’s hold

He watched as the bird rose from the stream

With haste, he loosed an arrow in its gleam

From its flight, he brought it tumbling down

Its blood dripping, the river's hue turned brown

He told the Turk to cross over there

And bring back the bird with the fallen feathered air

The mighty Turk crossed the stream by boat

And gracefully walked to the servant afloat

The servant asked, 'O valiant knight,

Speak now with words so sweet and bright'

Who is this lion-armed, elephant-bodied man?

What man is he, and what court is his clan?

Who has ever shot an arrow like this from a bow

What compares before him with doubt

We have not seen a rider more elegant than this

So successful with bow and arrow

The fairy-faced bit her lip

Do not speak of the king in this way

The king of Nimruz is Sam's son

Whom kings call by the name Dastan

If he rides around the world

He will not see another renowned one like this

The servant with the moon-faced child

Laughed and said, 'Do not speak so much'

For Mehrab has a moon in his house

Who stands head and shoulders above your king

Tall like teak and the color of ivory

A divine one with a crown of musk on her head

Two sad daffodils and two arched eyebrows

The pillars of her eyebrows like silver pens

Her mouth as tight as a poor heart

Her hair like a looped shackle

Two enchanting eyes, full of sleep and tears

Her cheeks full of tulips, her hair full of musk

Perhaps breath has no path to her lips

There is not one moon like her in the world

Each of the servants openly

Described the face of that beauty

With this plan, so that those ruby lips

May become acquainted with Sam's son's lips

She said to the beautiful servants

That with the moon, a shining love is good

But in saying it, there may be no face

The plan to find the way may not succeed

A brave man who seeks to avoid a partner

Will easily remain hidden

Know that unless the daughter is from the root

Hearing of it should not bring shame to the suit

Thus spoke the male bird to its mate again

As it sat on the egg and spread its feathers in vain

If from this egg I bring forth the seed

I’ll take it from the father's lineage indeed

When the young servant returned with a smile

The famed son of Sam asked him after a while

What was said to you that made you so glad?

With lips parted and silver teeth unclad

He told the warrior what he had heard

The warrior’s heart grew young with the word

Thus he said to the fair-faced servant boy

Go and tell the maidservants this with joy

Do not leave the flower garden for even a while

Unless with flowers and gems from the garden’s aisle

He sought coins, gold, and jewels from the treasure

And five fine brocades of golden measure

He ordered these to be taken to them

To tell no one and deliver in secret gem

They should not return to the palace again

So that I may send a message through them plain

The five went to the moon-faced maiden bright

With warm words, coins, and treasures alight

To them they gave the gold and the jewel

And Zal the warrior's message, noble and cool

The servant spoke with the moon-faced belle

That words never remain in secret to tell

Unless it is shared between only two

Three breaks the secret, and four is a gathering too

Speak, O wise one of pure intention and mind

If your words are secret, with us you’ll find

The servants spoke one to another there

The mighty lion has fallen into the snare

Now the affair of Rudabeh and the desire of Zal

Came to fruition and this was a good omen

The dark-eyed treasurer of the king arrived

Who was the king's advisor in that matter

Whatever he heard from that kind-hearted one

He conveyed it secretly to the commander

The commander walked to the garden

Hoping for the sun of Kabulistan

Fairy-faced, rose-cheeked, idol-like beauties

They went and offered prayers before him

The commander asked them about

The height and appearance of that cypress-like one

About his speech, appearance, opinion, and wisdom

So that it matches his character

Tell me each word

Do not distort the truth in the slightest

If your conversation is truthful

You will have honor with me

But if I suspect any falsehood

I will trample you under the elephants' feet

The tulip-like face turned red like saffron

They kissed the ground before the commander

They said, 'From a mother in this world

No one among the nobles is born

With the appearance of Sam and his stature

With his pure heart, knowledge, and opinion

Another like you, O brave hero

With this tall stature and lion-like strength

It seems that honey drips from your face

Your scent is like ambergris

And another, like moon-faced Rudabeh

A silver cypress with color and fragrance

From head to toe, she is covered in roses and jasmine

Like a tall cypress next to the star Soheil in Yemen

From that silver dome, the head descends to the earth

A snare from the ambush binds the flower's worth

Her head is woven with musk and amber rare

Her body adorned with rubies, emeralds in pair

Her hair and curls like a dark musk armor be

Intertwined as though knots upon knots we see

Ten fingers stretch to the silver pen's command

Drawing from the essence of fragrant dust from the land

Who sees not his statue, will not pick the bloom

Praise shall rise for him, the moon and Pleiades in loom

The commander spoke warmly to the servant near

Sweet words were said in soft tones clear

What now is the plan, tell me truly, I say

What path should we seek to his presence today

For our hearts and souls are filled with his love

Our only wish is to behold his face from above

The servant replied, when you command the way

We will travel to the lofty palace today

From the auspicious mind of the mighty hero

From the words and vision of the bright soul's glow

We will deceive and speak in every way we may

Within, there are no lies or deceits in play

We will capture him with the scent of musk's head

We will bring him to Sam’s son, lips to be fed

The hero, with a rope, advances with grace

To the tall palace wall, he moves to embrace

He makes a ring around the palace’s peak

The lion rejoices from the captured prey so sleek

The beauties departed and Zal returned with zest

His heart filled with joy and satisfaction, blessed