Fereydoon and His Sons · A6.3

The King of Yemen Answers Jandal

Sarv chooses a test rather than a direct refusal. Fereydoon anticipates the test, making knowledge as important as royal birth.

F&R English · 48 couplets · 5 commentary entries

Parallel text ↓Commentary ↓

The chapter in five texts

Text	Chapter treatment and distinctive choices
F&R English	Forty-eight couplets preserve a fuller advance briefing, including the daughters’ seating arrangement.
Moscow	The marriage negotiations continue into the princes’ visit; local inclusion and bracket status require reading the print presentation rather than inferring from Ganjoor.
Mohl	Pp 64–65 print the detailed warning that accounts for the English’s fuller preparation.
Ganjoor	Sh3 has 35 couplets and omits the detailed seating-test briefing.
Khaleghi	P 99 carries the fuller warning in square brackets. That status differs from both Mohl’s continuous text and Ganjoor’s omission.

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.

1–12+

At last he called the envoy to his side,

And answered him with measured words and pride:

“Before your Shah I bow to his decree;

Whatever he commands is law to me.

Say this: ‘Exalted Shah, your sons are dear,

And more so when their royal worth is clear.

A king holds dear a son of noble worth,

Especially one fit to rule the earth.

I too have children, daughters cherished three;

No worldly treasure is as dear to me.

If you should ask my eyes, my troops, my reign,

Or Yemen’s throne and all its royal gain,

I count all these beneath my daughters’ worth,

Whose faces are my eyes’ one light on earth.

Yet if the Shah desires this marriage tie,

I cannot spurn the wish of one so high.

But first let all three royal sons appear,

That I may judge their worth when they are here.

Let all three come and brighten this dark hall;

Their presence shall bring gladness over all.

My heart shall flourish when I see them near;

Their wakeful minds and judgment shall be clear.

I shall look closely: does each act with zest,

And does sound wisdom guide him through the test?

فرستادهٔ شاه را پیش خواند

فراوان سخن را به خوبی براند

که من شهریار ترا کهترم

به هرچ او بفرمود فرمانبرم

بگویش که گرچه تو هستی بلند

سه فرزند تو برتو بر ارجمند

پسر خود گرامی بود شاه را

بویژه که زیبا بود گاه را

سخن هر چه گفتی پذیرم همی

ز دختر من اندازه گیرم همی

اگر پادشا دیده خواهد ز من

و گر دشت گردان و تخت یمن

مرا خوارتر چون سه فرزند خویش

نبینم به هنگام بایست پیش

پس ار شاه را این چنین است کام

نشاید زدن جز به فرمانش گام

به فرمان شاه این سه فرزند من

برون آنگه آید ز پیوند من

کجا من ببینم سه شاه ترا

فروزندهٔ تاج و گاه ترا

بیایند هر سه به نزدیک من

شود روشن این شهر تاریک من

شود شادمان دل به دیدارشان

ببینم روانهای بیدارشان

Ganjoor · f3:1-12

13–23+

If justice guides them, I shall take their hand

Beneath my protection here in Yemen’s land.

Then by our custom I shall freely give

My daughters to those princes while I live.

Whenever Fereydoon would see them then,

I shall send all three swiftly home again.’”

Jandal received the answer Sarv had made,

And kissed the throne, then honors duly paid.

With blessings on his lips he left the hall,

And turned toward Iran at his sovereign’s call.

He came before Fereydoon with the word,

And told him all in Yemen he had heard.

The Shah called all three princes to his side,

And laid before them what the quest implied.

He told of Jandal’s journey and reply,

And all that passed beneath the Yemen sky.

“The Shah of Yemen rules his royal hall,

A cypress giving shade above them all.

Three daughters are his, unpierced jewels bright;

He has no son; they are his crown and light.

Were Soroush himself such brides to find,

He might bow down before their noble kind.

ببینم کشان دل پر از داد هست

به زنهارشان دست گیرم به دست

پس آنگه سه روشن جهان‌بین خویش

سپارم بدیشان بر آیین خویش

چو آید بدیدار ایشان نیاز

فرستم سبکشان سوی شاه باز

سراینده جندل چو پاسخ شنید

ببوسید تختش چنان چون سزید

پر از آفرین لب ز ایوان اوی

سوی شهریار جهان کرد روی

بیامد چو نزد فریدون رسید

بگفت آن کجا گفت و پاسخ شنید

سه فرزند را خواند شاه جهان

نهفته برون آورید از نهان

از آن رفتن جندل و رای خویش

سخنها همه پاک بنهاد پیش

چنین گفت کاین شهریار یمن

سر انجمن سرو سایه فکن

چو ناسفته گوهر سه دخترش بود

نبودش پسر دختر افسرش بود

سروش ار بیابد چو ایشان عروس

دهد پیش هر یک مگر خاک‌بوس

Ganjoor · f3:13-23

24–32+

These are the brides that I have sought for you;

Now what remains is yours to carry through.

Go now to Yemen, eloquent and wise;

Let keen intelligence guide ears and eyes.

Listen with care whenever Sarv may speak,

And let your answers show the truth you seek.

Be pious, bright of heart, and free from guile;

Let foresight guard you through each coming trial.

Speak only truth, let wisdom rule your way;

Keep thought and judgment wakeful through the day.

A prince whom royal nurture has refined

Must show true virtue both in deed and mind.

Now heed me well: King Sarv’s advice is sound;

In council, his the wisest voice around.

He has great treasure, troops, and knowledge too,

His crown and counsel both will challenge you.

Do not let Sarv outwit you by his schemes;

The wise man works more subtly than he seems.

ز بهر شما از پدر خواستم

سخنهای بایسته آراستم

کنون تان بباید بر او شدن

به هر بیش و کم رای فرخ زدن

سراینده باشید و بسیارهوش

به گفتار او برنهاده دوگوش

به خوبی سخنهاش پاسخ دهید

چو پرسد سخن رای فرخ نهید

ازیرا که پروردهٔ پادشا

نباید که باشد به جز پارسا

سخن‌گوی و روشن دل و پاک‌دین

به کاری که پیش آیدش پیش‌بین

زبان راستی را بیاراسته

خرد خیره کرده ابر خواسته

شما هر چه گویم ز من بشنوید

اگر کار بندید خرم بوید

یکی ژرف‌بین است شاه یمن

که چون او نباشد به هر انجمن

Ganjoor · f3:24-32

33–44+

At first King Sarv will feast you as his guest,

And seat you by his throne above the rest.

Then three sun-faced young women will appear,

Like spring gardens of color, scent, and cheer.

All cypress-tall, alike in face and height,

No outward difference will meet your sight.

The youngest of the sisters leads the line;

Remember well this ordering and sign.

The eldest follows, while between the two

The middle sister takes the central view.

The youngest maid will sit by eldest’s side;

The eldest by my youngest will reside.

The middle sister with my middle son;

Thus Sarv will seat you when the rites are done.

Then Sarv will ask you plainly to declare:

‘Which maid is eldest of the sisters fair?

Which is the middle, which is born the last?’

Take care to answer well, and judge it fast.

Reply: ‘The foremost is the youngest maid;

Her place shows how the sisters are arrayed.

The eldest has not gained her proper seat;

Her present place does not her birthright meet.

The middle sister rightly sits between;

Her proper rank is plainly to be seen.’”

نشاند بر آن تخت شاهنشهی

سه خورشیدرخ را چو سرو سهی

از آن هر سه کهتر بود پیشرو

مهین باز پس در میان ماه نو

میانین نشیند هم اندر میان

بدان! کت ز دانش نیاید زیان

Selected Khaleghi p 99 bracketed passage; compare Mohl pp 64–65

45–48+

The three pure-born young princes heard his voice,

And held his counsel as their guiding choice.

They left their father filled with knowledge bright,

And afsun fit for counsel and foresight.

What else should sons of such a father show

But counsel joined with everything they know?

From such a father, wisdom was their guide;

With knowledge armed, to Yemen they would ride.

گرانمایه و پاک هرسه پسر

همه دل‌نهاده به گفت پدر

ز پیش فریدون برون آمدند

پر از دانش و پرفسون آمدند

بجز رای و دانش چه اندرخورد

پسر را که چونان پدر پرورد

Ganjoor · f3:33-35

Narrative and poetic form

The additional briefing makes the identification scene intelligible and gives Fereydoon an active teaching role. The scholarly gain lies in recording its editorial status precisely while recognizing its clear narrative function.

Couplet commentary

Quoted text · evidence · interpretation

1–12Counsel under pressure

1–12

At last he called the envoy to his side,

And answered him with measured words and pride:

“Before your Shah I bow to his decree;

Whatever he commands is law to me.

Say this: ‘Exalted Shah, your sons are dear,

And more so when their royal worth is clear.

A king holds dear a son of noble worth,

Especially one fit to rule the earth.

I too have children, daughters cherished three;

No worldly treasure is as dear to me.

If you should ask my eyes, my troops, my reign,

Or Yemen’s throne and all its royal gain,

I count all these beneath my daughters’ worth,

Whose faces are my eyes’ one light on earth.

Yet if the Shah desires this marriage tie,

I cannot spurn the wish of one so high.

But first let all three royal sons appear,

That I may judge their worth when they are here.

Let all three come and brighten this dark hall;

Their presence shall bring gladness over all.

My heart shall flourish when I see them near;

Their wakeful minds and judgment shall be clear.

I shall look closely: does each act with zest,

And does sound wisdom guide him through the test?

فرستادهٔ شاه را پیش خواند

فراوان سخن را به خوبی براند

که من شهریار ترا کهترم

به هرچ او بفرمود فرمانبرم

بگویش که گرچه تو هستی بلند

سه فرزند تو برتو بر ارجمند

پسر خود گرامی بود شاه را

بویژه که زیبا بود گاه را

سخن هر چه گفتی پذیرم همی

ز دختر من اندازه گیرم همی

اگر پادشا دیده خواهد ز من

و گر دشت گردان و تخت یمن

مرا خوارتر چون سه فرزند خویش

نبینم به هنگام بایست پیش

پس ار شاه را این چنین است کام

نشاید زدن جز به فرمانش گام

به فرمان شاه این سه فرزند من

برون آنگه آید ز پیوند من

کجا من ببینم سه شاه ترا

فروزندهٔ تاج و گاه ترا

بیایند هر سه به نزدیک من

شود روشن این شهر تاریک من

شود شادمان دل به دیدارشان

ببینم روانهای بیدارشان

Ganjoor · f3:1-12

Textual evidence

The courtiers consider the power imbalance and counsel reception of the princes. The request to see them follows from the king’s reluctance.

Interpretation

The English sustains a court debating survival rather than simply a villain devising tricks. The test is the chosen political exit from a difficult proposal; it has not yet become the lethal frost scene.

Return to parallel text

13–23An answer that reserves judgment

13–23

If justice guides them, I shall take their hand

Beneath my protection here in Yemen’s land.

Then by our custom I shall freely give

My daughters to those princes while I live.

Whenever Fereydoon would see them then,

I shall send all three swiftly home again.’”

Jandal received the answer Sarv had made,

And kissed the throne, then honors duly paid.

With blessings on his lips he left the hall,

And turned toward Iran at his sovereign’s call.

He came before Fereydoon with the word,

And told him all in Yemen he had heard.

The Shah called all three princes to his side,

And laid before them what the quest implied.

He told of Jandal’s journey and reply,

And all that passed beneath the Yemen sky.

“The Shah of Yemen rules his royal hall,

A cypress giving shade above them all.

Three daughters are his, unpierced jewels bright;

He has no son; they are his crown and light.

Were Soroush himself such brides to find,

He might bow down before their noble kind.

ببینم کشان دل پر از داد هست

به زنهارشان دست گیرم به دست

پس آنگه سه روشن جهان‌بین خویش

سپارم بدیشان بر آیین خویش

چو آید بدیدار ایشان نیاز

فرستم سبکشان سوی شاه باز

سراینده جندل چو پاسخ شنید

ببوسید تختش چنان چون سزید

پر از آفرین لب ز ایوان اوی

سوی شهریار جهان کرد روی

بیامد چو نزد فریدون رسید

بگفت آن کجا گفت و پاسخ شنید

سه فرزند را خواند شاه جهان

نهفته برون آورید از نهان

از آن رفتن جندل و رای خویش

سخنها همه پاک بنهاد پیش

چنین گفت کاین شهریار یمن

سر انجمن سرو سایه فکن

چو ناسفته گوهر سه دخترش بود

نبودش پسر دختر افسرش بود

سروش ار بیابد چو ایشان عروس

دهد پیش هر یک مگر خاک‌بوس

Ganjoor · f3:13-23

Textual evidence

The formal response praises Fereydoon but asks that the three sons come in person. Jandal receives the conditional answer.

Interpretation

The rhetorical distinction matters: agreement to receive the princes is not the same as unconditional consent to all three marriages. The English’s ceremonious pace leaves that reservation audible.

Return to parallel text

24–32The embassy returns; the sons are instructed

24–32

These are the brides that I have sought for you;

Now what remains is yours to carry through.

Go now to Yemen, eloquent and wise;

Let keen intelligence guide ears and eyes.

Listen with care whenever Sarv may speak,

And let your answers show the truth you seek.

Be pious, bright of heart, and free from guile;

Let foresight guard you through each coming trial.

Speak only truth, let wisdom rule your way;

Keep thought and judgment wakeful through the day.

A prince whom royal nurture has refined

Must show true virtue both in deed and mind.

Now heed me well: King Sarv’s advice is sound;

In council, his the wisest voice around.

He has great treasure, troops, and knowledge too,

His crown and counsel both will challenge you.

Do not let Sarv outwit you by his schemes;

The wise man works more subtly than he seems.

ز بهر شما از پدر خواستم

سخنهای بایسته آراستم

کنون تان بباید بر او شدن

به هر بیش و کم رای فرخ زدن

سراینده باشید و بسیارهوش

به گفتار او برنهاده دوگوش

به خوبی سخنهاش پاسخ دهید

چو پرسد سخن رای فرخ نهید

ازیرا که پروردهٔ پادشا

نباید که باشد به جز پارسا

سخن‌گوی و روشن دل و پاک‌دین

به کاری که پیش آیدش پیش‌بین

زبان راستی را بیاراسته

خرد خیره کرده ابر خواسته

شما هر چه گویم ز من بشنوید

اگر کار بندید خرم بوید

یکی ژرف‌بین است شاه یمن

که چون او نباشد به هر انجمن

Ganjoor · f3:24-32

Textual evidence

Ganjoor brings Jandal back, reports the response and summons the sons. The father instructs them on conduct and speech before the journey.

Interpretation

Education prepares the princes for a contest in discernment. The English correctly allows the father’s instruction to precede the trial, so that subsequent success is partly learned skill rather than unexplained intuition.

Return to parallel text

33–44The anticipated seating testFuller printed passage

33–44

At first King Sarv will feast you as his guest,

And seat you by his throne above the rest.

Then three sun-faced young women will appear,

Like spring gardens of color, scent, and cheer.

All cypress-tall, alike in face and height,

No outward difference will meet your sight.

The youngest of the sisters leads the line;

Remember well this ordering and sign.

The eldest follows, while between the two

The middle sister takes the central view.

The youngest maid will sit by eldest’s side;

The eldest by my youngest will reside.

The middle sister with my middle son;

Thus Sarv will seat you when the rites are done.

Then Sarv will ask you plainly to declare:

‘Which maid is eldest of the sisters fair?

Which is the middle, which is born the last?’

Take care to answer well, and judge it fast.

Reply: ‘The foremost is the youngest maid;

Her place shows how the sisters are arrayed.

The eldest has not gained her proper seat;

Her present place does not her birthright meet.

The middle sister rightly sits between;

Her proper rank is plainly to be seen.’”

نشاند بر آن تخت شاهنشهی

سه خورشیدرخ را چو سرو سهی

از آن هر سه کهتر بود پیشرو

مهین باز پس در میان ماه نو

میانین نشیند هم اندر میان

بدان! کت ز دانش نیاید زیان

Selected Khaleghi p 99 bracketed passage; compare Mohl pp 64–65

Textual evidence

Mohl pp 64–65 prints Fereydoon’s detailed warning about the three daughters’ arranged seats and Sarv’s questions. Khaleghi p 99 places the corresponding block within square brackets in the main-text area. It is absent from Ganjoor sh3. Selected Persian anchors identify the scene.

Moscow p 85 ↗ Moscow p 86 ↗ Moscow p 87 ↗ Moscow p 88 ↗ Mohl p 63 ↗ Mohl p 64 ↗ Mohl p 65 ↗ Khaleghi p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 97 ↗ Khaleghi p 98 ↗ Khaleghi p 99 ↗ Khaleghi p 100 ↗

Interpretation

The extra English has transmitted Persian support. The bracketed presentation is meaningful editorial evidence and should be preserved as such; it is not equivalent either to omission or to unqualified acceptance. The test asks the princes to see beyond misleading position.

Return to parallel text

45–48Departure after instruction

45–48

The three pure-born young princes heard his voice,

And held his counsel as their guiding choice.

They left their father filled with knowledge bright,

And afsun fit for counsel and foresight.

What else should sons of such a father show

But counsel joined with everything they know?

From such a father, wisdom was their guide;

With knowledge armed, to Yemen they would ride.

گرانمایه و پاک هرسه پسر

همه دل‌نهاده به گفت پدر

ز پیش فریدون برون آمدند

پر از دانش و پرفسون آمدند

بجز رای و دانش چه اندرخورد

پسر را که چونان پدر پرورد

Ganjoor · f3:33-35

Textual evidence

Ganjoor closes with alertness, proper speech and the princes taking their father’s counsel to heart. English closes more fully on their preparations.

G f3 33 ↗ G f3 34 ↗ G f3 35 ↗ Moscow p 85 ↗ Moscow p 86 ↗ Moscow p 87 ↗ Moscow p 88 ↗ Mohl p 63 ↗ Mohl p 64 ↗ Mohl p 65 ↗ Khaleghi p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 97 ↗ Khaleghi p 98 ↗ Khaleghi p 99 ↗ Khaleghi p 100 ↗

Interpretation

The moral emphasis is practical: restraint and discernment will be tested in another court. Nothing requires changing the English to match Ganjoor’s shorter ending.

Return to parallel text

Chapter source record

English original ↗ Ganjoor f3 ↗ Moscow p 85 ↗ Moscow p 86 ↗ Moscow p 87 ↗ Moscow p 88 ↗ Mohl p 63 ↗ Mohl p 64 ↗ Mohl p 65 ↗ Khaleghi p 96 ↗ Khaleghi p 97 ↗ Khaleghi p 98 ↗ Khaleghi p 99 ↗ Khaleghi p 100 ↗