Divan (Anthology) of Hafiz

Seal of an owner, named Shafi', stamped in carmine ink.

Illuminated title-page Preface to Hafiz by Gulandam.

Illuminated title-page and introduction to the 'Ghazals' or Odes; gold and green predominating colors.

Illuminated title-page and introduction to the 'Ghazals' or Odes; gold and green predominating colors.

Ascent of Muhammed to heaven in a vision.

"Look into the Cup of Jamshid and the Mirror of Alexander in order to have insight into the Kingdom of Darius", so says Hafiz to his friend.

"Why turn to Mecca when our venerable sage turns to the wine-house?"

God's providence saves after tribulations, as shown in the lives of the Patriarchs of old.

If Hafiz has his friend he cares not, though he be crucified like Mansur.

It is the hour of pleasure, the beloved friend joins in the wine-drinking, and the musicians are playing.

Hafiz meets his sweetheart, who is on horseback.

Sultan Mahmud and his favorite, Ayaz; also Laila and Majnun. (All four are mentioned in the Ode.)

Hafiz's sweetheart departs with her handmaidens.

Hafiz grieving for his absent sweetheart.

Hafiz's loss of his beloved is likened to the loss of Solomon's seal.

Hafiz, student of love, is no more to be blamed than the Shaikh of San'an who pawned his cloak in the wine-shop but still praised God.

Hafiz likens the shadow of his cypress-like sweetheart to the reflection of the Divine Spirit.

The happy night of union with the beloved.

Hafiz says: 'The time of Majnun the lover has passed; it is now our turn'.

"Shirin is the only subject of Farhad's talk, and Laila's curl is the abode of Majnun". (These four lovers are portrayed in the picture.)

The beloved of Hafiz kneels by his pillow at night.

"Do not rely on the wind; even though now it blows the way you wish--soaring like Solomon on his throne by the aid of the Divs (Demons)--it may later lead to destruction".

Hafiz apostrophizing the deserted throne of Jamshid.

Hafiz's advice: "Beware! the beloved, while attentive to thee, may smile behind the veil at another."

Hafiz's sweetheart forsakes him.

"Miss not your opportunity for joy; for no one will open the door for you if you lose your key."

Hafiz fears that his excessive love may make others jealous of him, as Joseph's beautiful coat aroused the envy of his brethren.

Love may be fatal, Farhad, the sculptor-lover of Shirin, was beguiled to leap to death from the crag when the old woman at the King's behest told him the false story of Shirin's death.

Hafiz and Fakhr ad-Din "Abd as Samad: 'Trust Fate, and fear not the deceits of the beloved."

Hafiz prefers wine to fasting as a means for cleansing the heart from sorrow.

Fortune may come, just as Joseph, in spite of his brethren, attained to the pinnacle of success.

Why be blamed, when Jamshid and Kai Khusrau drink wine?

Why be downcast? "The hoopoo, like the zephyr may bring good tidings." (The hoopoo bird was the messenger of love between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. To be noted in the picture are the divs, or demons, as Solomon's servants.)

My beloved is for me alone. "I would not touch King Solomon's seal if Abraham's hand had touched it". (Again to be noted in the miniature are the divs as servants of Solomon, who is crowned with a nimbus.)

Hafiz realizes his hope.

Love's mischances. "Lightning flashed from Laila's tent and struck Majnun's threshing floor."

Hafiz, like Alexander, employs a mirror to find his beloved.

"All that you hold in your hand is air."

Laila's burdened camel passing Majnun's way.

There may be risk in twos--two high domes, two Turks, two sailors, two mystics in a wine-house, two highwaymen, two lion-hunters, two seafarers, and two mischief-makers after Hafiz's heart.

"Tis said the burden of the song in Jamshid's company was this: 'Bring wine, for Jamshid will not live forever.'"

Hafiz complains of his beloved's inconstancy.

Praise of Shah Mansur Muzaffar (d. 1392) for his victory over thousands.

Hafiz likens his beloved to his contemporary the benificent Shaikh Abu Ishaq of Shiraz (d. 1357) under whose feet the earth became a garden" and to Mahmud, 'the flash of whose eye burned up his enemies."

"Few love stories stir us; they are those of Farhad and Shirin."

Hafiz proposes to drink to the memory of Solomon's vizir Asaf.

"O Lord, put into the heart of Khusrau and Shirin to be considerate of Farhad."

"Not every polished face can catch the heart; not every mirror-maker knew Alexander's art."

Hafiz gives to the east wind a message for kings about the charms of his beloved.

On the transitoriness of love; it is passing. "You may have the beautiful and brilliant turquoise seal of Abu Ishaq (d. 1357), but his sway was short."

"Set not your heart upon the world; ask the intoxicated about the virtue of the Cup and also about Jamshid, the pleasure seeker."

"Despair not; for Joseph, though lost, will return again to Canaan, and his prison-cell will become a garden of roses."

Sultan Mahmud loved his favorite Ayaz simply for his beauty.

"If you aspire to sit as co-assessor of Khidr (who enjoyed eternal life at the Fountain of Youth) you must retire into concealment (as he did) from Alexander's eye".

"Throw Bahram's lasso around Jamshid's cup, for in this Wilderness (of life) I see neither Bahram or his wild ass".

"The turbaned censor breaks the jar of wine."

Yahya ibn Muzaffar (1353-1430), ruler of Shiraz.

Hafiz in praise of Asaf, the vizir of Solomon.

Hafiz praises Kai Qubad and Jamshid.

Mansur ibn Muhammad of Shiraz.

Hafiz praises the patience of Joseph.

Hafiz mentions Mahmud and his favorite Ayaz.

Khwajah Turan Shah (d. 1385), subject of Hafiz's panegyric.

Pashang's son, Afrasiab, a Turanian hero in the Shah-namah.

Farhad's death mentioned by Hafiz.

Shah Shuja (d. 1384).

"Give me Jamshid's Cup, and not the treasure of Qarun". (Qarun of the Qur'an, answering to Qorah of the Old Testament, represented the classic idea of Croesus and his wealth.)

Joseph mentioned with praise.

Nusrat ad-Din Yahya, ruler of Shiraz.

Nusrat ad-Din Shah Yahya.

"To be king you must have the genius of Jamshid and of Faridun; to be a lover like Majnun you must follow the dangerous path of Laila."

"Many would be like Majnun of the Tribe of Amir, if Laila would come out of the Tribe of Hai."

The bountiful Hatim Tai.

"Whoever exchanged the treasure of the economy for the treasure of the world, sold Joseph out of Egypt cheap."

Muhammad ibn 'Ali.

Turan Shah.

"Through this palace have passed a hundred thousand like Ka'us, Caesar, Jamshid, and (other) kings."

"As Majnun followed the heart-ravishing Laila, so my heart should follow its sweetheart."

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