New NaqqaliFereydoon and His Sons · A6.21
Manuchehr Brings Vengeance
Intelligence defeats the planned night assault. Tur’s own offensive becomes the setting of his death.
The chapter in five texts
| Text | Chapter treatment and distinctive choices |
|---|---|
| F&R English | Twenty-five couplets expand the transitions and add a motive-explicit cry while preserving the tactical sequence. |
| Moscow | The attempted night raid is defeated through foreknowledge and ambush. |
| Mohl | Pp 95–96 preserve the raid, counter-ambush and Tur’s death. |
| Ganjoor | Sh17 has 23 couplets. The English expands around nightfall and the final pursuit. |
| Khaleghi | The main-text episode gives Manuchehr tactical agency and makes Tur’s flight part of his defeat. |
Parallel text
English left · Persian right. Ganjoor is the reference except where a row names a printed source. Select a number to open the relevant note. G identifiers distinguish digital sections across chapter boundaries.
1–7+
When half the shining day had passed from sight,
Both brothers’ hearts burned hot with hate and spite.
Together they devised a reckless scheme,
A useless counsel born of hatred’s dream.
“When night comes down, we launch a sudden raid,
And flood the plain with blood beneath the blade.”
Then night arrived; the day withdrew from view,
And darkness veiled the world in deepest hue.
The two unjust men formed their ranks that night,
And longed to launch the raid before first light.
The scouts learned all and hastened from the field,
And to the Shah the hidden plan revealed.
They reached the Shah: “Raise up the battle line;
The foe will strike by night; that is their design.”
چو از روز رخشنده نیمی برفت
دل هر دو جنگی ز کینه بتفت
به تدبیر یک با دگر ساختند
همه رای بیهوده انداختند
که چون شب شود ما شبیخون کنیم
همه دشت و هامون پر از خون کنیم
چو کارآگهان آگهی یافتند
دوان زی منوچهر بشتافتند
رسیدند پیش منوچهر شاه
بگفتند تا برنشاند سپاه
Ganjoor · f17:1-5
8–13+
Manuchehr listened closely to their word,
And then shaped his course from what he had heard.
He gave the whole command to Gharan’s care,
Then chose the ground where he would set the snare.
He took full thirty thousand chiefs renowned,
Bold khanjar-bearing warriors, battle-bound.
The ambush ground he judged both fit and right,
With chosen horsemen ready for the fight.
When night grew black, Tur came in war array,
A hundred thousand armed to force their way.
The night assault was planned; their bows were bent,
With arrows set, their force to battle went.
منوچهر بشنید و بگشاد گوش
سوی چاره شد مرد بسیار هوش
سپه را سراسر به قارن سپرد
کمین‌گاه بگزید سالار گرد
ببرد از سران نامور سی‌هزار
دلیران و گردان خنجر‌گزار
کمین‌گاه را جای شایسته دید
سواران جنگی و بایسته دید
چو شب تیره شد تور با صدهزار
بیامد کمربستهٔ کارزار
شبیخون سگالیده و ساخته
بپیوسته تیر و کمان آخته
Ganjoor · f17:6-11
14–19+
He saw Iran’s ranks standing firm in line;
Before them blazed the royal battle-sign.
He saw no course but battle left to take,
And raised a war cry till the night would shake.
The riders’ dust wrapped all the air in cloud,
While steel blades flashed like lightning through the shroud.
The air itself seemed set alight with flame;
Like diamonds, flashing blades through darkness came.
Steel’s clamor hammered deep within the head,
As fire and smoke rose through the cloud-bank spread.
Then Manuchehr sprang out to close the snare,
And Tur found neither side a passage bare.
چو آمد سپه دید بر جای خویش
درفش فروزنده بر پای پیش
جز از جنگ و پیکار چاره ندید
خروش از میان سپه بر کشید
ز گَرد‌ِ سواران هوا بست میغ
چو برق درخشنده پولاد تیغ
هوا را تو گفتی همی برفروخت
چو الماس روی زمین را بسوخت
به مغز اندرون بانگ پولاد خاست
به ابر اندرون آتش و باد خاست
برآورد شاه از کمین‌گاه سر
نبد تور را از دو رویه گذر
Ganjoor · f17:12-17
20–25+
He wheeled his reins and turned his face away;
A mighty uproar rose from the array.
Then Manuchehr drove after him at speed,
And caught the blood-stained murderer on his steed.
He cried, “For Iraj’s blood your head is due!”
Then cast his spear and drove it cleanly through.
He swept him from the saddle like a gust,
Then dashed him down and hurled him in the dust.
He struck the head from Tur’s now lifeless frame,
And left his flesh for beasts of field to claim.
Then Manuchehr returned to his own line,
And saw his proud, triumphant army shine.
عنان را بپیچید و برگاشت روی
برآمد ز لشکر یکی های هوی
دمان از پس ایدر منوچهر شاه
رسید اندر آن نامور کینه خواه
یکی نیزه انداخت بر پشت او
نگونسار شد خنجر از مشت او
ز زین برگرفتش به کردار باد
بزد بر زمین، داد‌ِ مردی بداد
سرش را هم آنگه ز تن دور کرد
دد و دام را از تنش سور کرد
بیامد به لشکرگه خویش باز
به دیدار آن لشکر سرفراز
Ganjoor · f17:18-23
Narrative and poetic form
The English does not merely report a heroic kill: it keeps the intelligence, delegated command and closing trap that make the victory comprehensible. The avenging cry is properly identified as an explicit dramatic formulation of the shared motive.
Couplet commentary
Quoted text · evidence · interpretation1–7A raid discovered
1–7
When half the shining day had passed from sight,
Both brothers’ hearts burned hot with hate and spite.
Together they devised a reckless scheme,
A useless counsel born of hatred’s dream.
“When night comes down, we launch a sudden raid,
And flood the plain with blood beneath the blade.”
Then night arrived; the day withdrew from view,
And darkness veiled the world in deepest hue.
The two unjust men formed their ranks that night,
And longed to launch the raid before first light.
The scouts learned all and hastened from the field,
And to the Shah the hidden plan revealed.
They reached the Shah: “Raise up the battle line;
The foe will strike by night; that is their design.”
چو از روز رخشنده نیمی برفت
دل هر دو جنگی ز کینه بتفت
به تدبیر یک با دگر ساختند
همه رای بیهوده انداختند
که چون شب شود ما شبیخون کنیم
همه دشت و هامون پر از خون کنیم
چو کارآگهان آگهی یافتند
دوان زی منوچهر بشتافتند
رسیدند پیش منوچهر شاه
بگفتند تا برنشاند سپاه
Ganjoor · f17:1-5
Textual evidence
The brothers decide to attack at night; scouts bring warning to Manuchehr. English supplies an additional nightfall transition before the warning.
G f17 1 ↗ G f17 2 ↗ G f17 3 ↗ G f17 4 ↗ G f17 5 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Moscow p 125 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Mohl p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗ Khaleghi p 143 ↗ Khaleghi p 144 ↗
Interpretation
The interpolated transition makes time feel more continuous but slightly redistributes the source’s sequence. The essential causal fact remains intact: the warning reaches Manuchehr early enough for a counter-plan.
8–13Command and ambush
8–13
Manuchehr listened closely to their word,
And then shaped his course from what he had heard.
He gave the whole command to Gharan’s care,
Then chose the ground where he would set the snare.
He took full thirty thousand chiefs renowned,
Bold khanjar-bearing warriors, battle-bound.
The ambush ground he judged both fit and right,
With chosen horsemen ready for the fight.
When night grew black, Tur came in war array,
A hundred thousand armed to force their way.
The night assault was planned; their bows were bent,
With arrows set, their force to battle went.
منوچهر بشنید و بگشاد گوش
سوی چاره شد مرد بسیار هوش
سپه را سراسر به قارن سپرد
کمین‌گاه بگزید سالار گرد
ببرد از سران نامور سی‌هزار
دلیران و گردان خنجر‌گزار
کمین‌گاه را جای شایسته دید
سواران جنگی و بایسته دید
چو شب تیره شد تور با صدهزار
بیامد کمربستهٔ کارزار
شبیخون سگالیده و ساخته
بپیوسته تیر و کمان آخته
Ganjoor · f17:6-11
Textual evidence
Manuchehr leaves the main force with Gharan and takes thirty thousand chosen men into ambush; Tur advances with a hundred thousand.
G f17 10 ↗ G f17 11 ↗ G f17 6 ↗ G f17 7 ↗ G f17 8 ↗ G f17 9 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Moscow p 125 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Mohl p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗ Khaleghi p 143 ↗ Khaleghi p 144 ↗
Interpretation
The English gives success a tactical basis. It is neither unexplained heroic strength nor a chance intervention. The large numbers remain those of epic martial narration.
14–19The trap closes
14–19
He saw Iran’s ranks standing firm in line;
Before them blazed the royal battle-sign.
He saw no course but battle left to take,
And raised a war cry till the night would shake.
The riders’ dust wrapped all the air in cloud,
While steel blades flashed like lightning through the shroud.
The air itself seemed set alight with flame;
Like diamonds, flashing blades through darkness came.
Steel’s clamor hammered deep within the head,
As fire and smoke rose through the cloud-bank spread.
Then Manuchehr sprang out to close the snare,
And Tur found neither side a passage bare.
چو آمد سپه دید بر جای خویش
درفش فروزنده بر پای پیش
جز از جنگ و پیکار چاره ندید
خروش از میان سپه بر کشید
ز گَرد‌ِ سواران هوا بست میغ
چو برق درخشنده پولاد تیغ
هوا را تو گفتی همی برفروخت
چو الماس روی زمین را بسوخت
به مغز اندرون بانگ پولاد خاست
به ابر اندرون آتش و باد خاست
برآورد شاه از کمین‌گاه سر
نبد تور را از دو رویه گذر
Ganjoor · f17:12-17
Textual evidence
Tur finds the army in position; steel and dust fill the night until Manuchehr emerges from hiding and blocks his escape.
G f17 12 ↗ G f17 13 ↗ G f17 14 ↗ G f17 15 ↗ G f17 16 ↗ G f17 17 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Moscow p 125 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Mohl p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗ Khaleghi p 143 ↗ Khaleghi p 144 ↗
Interpretation
The translation retains the difference between the visible army and the concealed strike force. Lightning and diamond imagery make the confused darkness legible without converting it into daylight.
20–25Pursuit and the death of Tur
20–25
He wheeled his reins and turned his face away;
A mighty uproar rose from the array.
Then Manuchehr drove after him at speed,
And caught the blood-stained murderer on his steed.
He cried, “For Iraj’s blood your head is due!”
Then cast his spear and drove it cleanly through.
He swept him from the saddle like a gust,
Then dashed him down and hurled him in the dust.
He struck the head from Tur’s now lifeless frame,
And left his flesh for beasts of field to claim.
Then Manuchehr returned to his own line,
And saw his proud, triumphant army shine.
عنان را بپیچید و برگاشت روی
برآمد ز لشکر یکی های هوی
دمان از پس ایدر منوچهر شاه
رسید اندر آن نامور کینه خواه
یکی نیزه انداخت بر پشت او
نگونسار شد خنجر از مشت او
ز زین برگرفتش به کردار باد
بزد بر زمین، داد‌ِ مردی بداد
سرش را هم آنگه ز تن دور کرد
دد و دام را از تنش سور کرد
بیامد به لشکرگه خویش باز
به دیدار آن لشکر سرفراز
Ganjoor · f17:18-23
Textual evidence
The source describes Tur’s turn to flee, the pursuit, the spear-strike, removal from the saddle, decapitation and body abandoned to animals. English 22 adds an explicit Iraj-avenging cry.
G f17 18 ↗ G f17 19 ↗ G f17 20 ↗ G f17 21 ↗ G f17 22 ↗ G f17 23 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Moscow p 125 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Mohl p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗ Khaleghi p 143 ↗ Khaleghi p 144 ↗
Interpretation
The cry states the motive already governing the battle; it is dramatic explicitness rather than an additional independent source speech. The body’s treatment deliberately recalls Iraj’s fate, showing vengeance’s repetition of the original violence.