When the daughter of Gozhdaham became aware,

That the leader of that assembly was lost.

There was a woman like a brave rider,

Always renowned in battle.

Whose name was Gordafarid,

Time had not brought forth such a one from a mother.

She felt such shame from Hojir's deed,

That her tulip-colored face became like pitch (dark).

She put on the armor of the warring riders,

There was no place for delay in that matter.

She hid her tresses beneath the armor,

She tied a Roman knot on her helmet.

She descended from the fortress like a lion,

With a belt around her waist and a swift horse beneath her.

She came before the army like dust (a whirlwind),

She made a cry roaring like thunder.

“Which are the warriors and the fighters,

The brave ones and the experienced leaders?”

When Sohrab, the lion-slayer, saw her,

He laughed and bit his lip.

He said thus, “Another wild ass has come,

Into the trap of the master of sword and strength.”

He put on his coat of mail and placed on his head,

A Chinese helmet like the wind.

He came rushing towards Gordafarid,

When the lasso-throwing maiden saw him.

She strung her bow and opened her chest (prepared to fight),

No bird could pass before her arrow.

She began to rain arrows upon Sohrab,

She fought the battle of riders to the left and right.

Sohrab looked and felt shame,

He became enraged and quickly entered the battle.

He brought his shield over his head and turned his face (towards her),

Blood began to flow in streams from the battle.

When Gordafarid saw Sohrab,

Who was blazing like fire.

She cast the strung bow upon her arm,

Her steed rose high as the clouds.

She turned the head of her spear towards Sohrab,

She filled the reins and spear with power.

Sohrab became enraged and became like a leopard,

As his adversary was skilled in battle.

He turned the reins and turned his horse,

He came like Adhargoshnasp (a mythical fire horse).

He then seized his polished spear,

He rushed at her also like smoke.

He struck at Gordafarid's belt,

He tore her armor piece by piece on her chest.

He lifted her from the saddle like a ball,

As a polo stick strikes a ball.

When Gordafarid twisted on the saddle,

She drew a sharp sword from her waist.

She struck and broke his spear in two,

She sat on her horse and dust rose.

Fighting with him was not enough,

She turned her face from him and quickly turned back.

The commander entrusted the reins to the dragon (her horse),

She angrily took the light from the world (she rode away quickly).

When he came rushing close to her,

She moved and took her helmet off her head.

Her hair was released from the confines of the armor,

Her face shone like the sun.

Sohrab realized that she was a girl,

Her head and hair were outside the helmet.

He was amazed and said, “From the Iranian army,

Such a girl comes to the battlefield.”

The warring riders on the day of battle,

Truly bring dust into the clouds.

He opened the twisted lasso from the saddle strap,

He threw it and it came to bind her waist.

He said to her, “Do not seek release from me,

Why do you seek battle, O moon-faced one?”

“No wild ass like you has fallen into my trap,

You will not find release from my grasp, do not even think about it.”

Gordafarid realized that she was caught,

She saw no remedy for that except a trick.

She showed her face to him and said, “O brave one,

Among the brave, like a lion.”

“The two armies are watching this battle of ours,

This mace, sword, and our fighting.”

“Now if I reveal my face and hair like this,

Your army will become full of gossip.”

“That he fought with a girl in the field of battle,

And in this way raised dust to the clouds.”

“If we do it secretly, it will be better,

Having wisdom is the work of elders.”

“For my sake, do not seek a deer from every side,

With the army drawn up between the two lines.”

“Now the army and the fortress are under your command,

There is no need to seek war over this peace.”

“The fortress, treasure, and the fortress guard are all yours,

When you come to it, prepare as your heart desires.”

When she showed her face to Sohrab,

She opened the jujube from the sweet water (revealed her beauty).

There was a garden inside like paradise,

The gardener did not plant a cypress taller than her height.

Her two eyes were like a gazelle's, and her two eyebrows like bows,

You would say she was blossoming every moment.

He said to her, “Now do not turn back from this,

That you have seen me in the time of battle.”

Do not set your heart on this fortress's wall,

For it is not higher than the tall clouds.

My mace brings destruction to the ground,

No one will drive a spear through my mane (I am invincible).

Gordafarid twisted the reins,

And drew her proud steed towards the fortress.

She went, and Sohrab went along with her,

They came to the gate of Gozhdaham's fortress.

Gordafarid opened the fortress gate,

And drew her tired and wounded body into the fortress.

They closed the fortress gate and became sad,

Their hearts filled with sorrow and their eyes became bloody (from weeping).

Because of the suffering of Gordafarid and Hojir,

Both young and old were full of pain.

They said, “O good-hearted lion-woman,

The hearts of the assembly were full of sorrow because of you.”

“That you both sought battle and used trickery and deception,

No shame came to the lineage from your actions.”

Gordafarid laughed much,

She went up to the wall and looked at the army.

When she saw Sohrab on horseback,

She said thus, “O king of the Turks of China.”

“Why have you troubled yourself? Now turn back,

Both from coming and from the battlefield.”

He laughed and said to her mockingly,

“That the Turks will not find a match from Iran.”

“This is how it was, and you had no fortune from me,

Do not make yourself sad with this pain.”

“Indeed, you yourself are not from the Turks,

For you are nothing but the praise of the elders.”

“With that strength and arm and that shoulder and mane,

You do not have any equal among the heroes.”

“But when news reaches the king,

That a brave one has brought an army from Turan.”

The Shahanshah and Rostam will move from their place,

You cannot stand against Tahmtan.

Not one will remain alive from your army,

I do not know what evil will befall you.

I regret that such a stature and strength,

Must be hidden from the leopards (wasted).

It is better for you to obey,

And turn your renowned face towards Turan.

Do not be so confident in your own arm,

The foolish ox is harmed by its own flank.

When Sohrab heard this, he felt shame,

That the fortress had come into his grasp so easily.

Underneath the fortress there was a place,

Where the fortress stood on that place.

He gave all that land and villages to plunder,

He completely washed his hands of evil (gave up on further destruction that day).

He said thus, "Today it has become late,

Our hand has become short from fighting (we must stop fighting).

I will raise dust from this wall at nightfall,

They will see the damage of the day's battle.