Epic · 10th–11th century

Sohrab’s Last Words

Ferdowsiفردوسی

نشان داد مادر مرا از پدر

My mother gave me tokens of my father;

ز مهر اندر آمد روانم بسر

for love of him my life has come to its end.

هرآنگه که تشنه شدستی به خون

Whenever you thirsted for blood,

بیالودی آن خنجر آبگون

you stained that water-bright dagger:

زمانه به خون تو تشنه شود

now Time will thirst for your blood,

براندام تو موی دشنه شود

and every hair on your body will stand like a dagger.

کنون گر تو در آب ماهی شوی

Now, even if you become a fish in the sea,

و گر چون شب اندر سیاهی شوی

or hide like night in darkness,

وگر چون ستاره شوی بر سپهر

or become a star in the sky

ببری ز روی زمین پاک مهر

and cut yourself off from the face of the earth,

بخواهد هم از تو پدر کین من

my father will still take vengeance on you for me

چو بیند که خاکست بالین من

when he sees that dust is my pillow.

From: The Shahnameh
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

From the climax of the tragedy of Rostam and Sohrab. Mortally wounded by Rostam's blade, the young Sohrab warns his killer that his father Rostam will avenge him wherever he hides, not knowing that he is speaking to Rostam himself. In the lines that follow, Rostam learns the truth, and finds on his son's arm the token he had left with Sohrab's mother.