In Shah Abbas Hotel

Safavid era Miniature painting kept at Shah Abbas Hotel in Isfahan.

Saadi On Love And Youth

I shall not let go my hold of thy skirt

Even if thou strike me with a sharp sword,

After thee I have no refuge nor asylum.

To thee alone I shall flee if I flee.

Love

Are you fleeing from Love because of a single humiliation?
What do you know of Love except the name?
Love has a hundred forms of pride and disdain,
and is gained by a hundred means of persuasion.
Since Love is loyal, it purchases one who is loyal:
it has no interest in a disloyal companion.
The human being resembles a tree; its root is a covenant with God:
that root must be cherished with all one’s might.
A weak covenant is a rotten root, without grace or fruit.
Though the boughs and leaves of the date palm are green,
greenness brings no benefit if the root is corrupt.
If a branch is without green leaves, yet has a good root,
a hundred leaves will put forth their hands in the end.

~Rumi

Two Lovers

Reza Abbasi (1565 – 1635) was the most renowned Persian miniaturist, painter and calligrapher of the Isfahan School, which flourished during the Safavid period under the patronage of Shah Abbas I.

He is considered to be one of the foremost Persian drawers of all time. He received his training in the atelier of his father, Ali Asghar, and was received into the workshop of Shah Abbas I at a young age.

At the age of about 38 he received the honorific title of Abbasi from his patron, but soon left the Shah’s employ, apparently seeking greater freedom to associate with simple people. In 1610 he returned to the court and continued in the employ of the Shah until his death.

His specialty was the Persian miniature, with a preference for naturalistic subjects often portrayed in an effeminate and impressionistic manner, a style which came to be popular during the late Safavid court.

Many of his works depict handsome youths, often in the role of saqi, or “wine pourer,” who at times are the focus of the admiring gaze of an older man and according to Louis Crompton, a manifestation of the Persian tradition of “appreciating youthful male beauty”.

Today his works can be found in the museum that bears his name in Tehran, as well as in many of the major museums of the West, such as the Smithsonian, the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Hafez On Love

When you hear the lovers’ words, think them not a mistake
You don’t recognize these words, the error must be your take.
The here and hereafter cannot tame my spirit and soul
Praise God for all the intrigue in my mind that is at stake.
I know not who resides within my heart
Though I am silent, he must shake and quake.
My heart went through the veil, play a song
Hark, my fate, this music I must make.
I paid no heed, worldly affairs I forsake
It is for your beauty, beauty of the world I partake.
My heart is on fire, I am restless and awake
To the tavern to cure my hundred day headache.
My bleeding heart has left its mark in the temple
You have every right to wash my body in a wine lake.
In the abode of the Magi, I am welcome because
The fire that never dies, in my heart is awake.
What was the song the minstrel played?
My life is gone, but breathing, I still fake!
Within me last night, the voice of your love did break
Hafiz’s breast still quivers and shakes for your sake.

چو بشنوی سخن اهل دل مگو که خطاست
سخن شناس نه‌ای جان من خطا این جاست
سرم بـه دنیی و عـقـبی فرو نـمی‌آید
تـبارک الله از این فتنه‌ها که در سر ماست
در اندرون مـن خسته دل ندانـم کیسـت
که من خموشم و او در فغان و در غوغاست
دلـم ز پرده برون شد کـجایی ای مـطرب
بـنال هان که از این پرده کار ما به نواست
مرا بـه کار جـهان هرگز الـتـفات نـبود
رخ تو در نظر من چنین خوشـش آراسـت
نخـفـتـه‌ام ز خیالی کـه می‌پزد دل من
خـمار صدشـبـه دارم شرابخانه کجاست
چـنین کـه صومعـه آلوده شد ز خون دلم
گرم به باده بشویید حق به دست شماست
از آن بـه دیر مـغانـم عزیز می‌دارند
کـه آتشی که نمیرد همیشه در دل ماست
چـه ساز بود که در پرده می‌زد آن مـطرب
کـه رفـت عمر و هنوزم دماغ پر ز هواست
ندای عـشـق تو دیشـب در اندرون دادند
فـضای سینـه حافـظ هنوز پر ز صداست

Translation by Shahriar Shahriari

Source