HAFIZ SHIRAZI (1310-1390 CE)

India, 15th century. MS 115

To read further about the works of Hafiz Shirazi and the Diwan, please see MS 045

Continuing our collection of Hafiz’s works, The University of Oregon owns two illuminated fragments from Hafiz’s Diwan from an earlier manuscript than MS 045. These two recent acquisitions are illuminated fragments in a 15th century style from India, where Hafiz’s ghazals were extremely popular. While one cannot be identified with certainty, (MS 115b) the other fragment (115a) features Ghazal 164 and its corresponding illumination (fig. 1). The ghazal is as follows:

Morning breeze, its fragrance will exhale

The old world will once again youthfully sail.

Tulip will bring a red cup to the meadows

Narcissus' eyes from poppy will grow pale.

When would nightingale put up with such abuse

In the chamber of the rose cry and wail.

I traded the temple for the tavern, fault me not

Prayer is long and stale, time is frail.

Leave not joy of the now till the morrow

Who can vouch that the morrow, the now shall trail?

Month of Sha'aban put not down the jug of wine

Till the end of Ramadan you'll miss this Holy Grail.

Hold dear all the flowers and commune

Came to be and will whither with a breeze or a gale.

This feast is for friends, O minstrel, play and sing

Sing again, it came thus and went thus, to what avail?

Hafiz, for your sake, entered this tale

Walk with him, say farewell, he'll tear the veil.

The text of this ghazal is written below and on the verso of the illumination. The illumination features two central figures in lavish garments and Akbar turbans in purple and gold, situated against the exterior or courtyard of an architectural structure. It is hypothesized that the figure opposite of the minstrel, who holds a popular Iranian instrument called a setar, is Hafiz.

The second fragment possibly illustrates Ghazal 46, but the Persian has yet to be translated to know with certainty (fig 2). The illumination features a garden scene with four figures: two upper class figures lavishly dressed, and two other figures: one who digs at the ground with a spade and the other kisses the feet of the right upper-class figure.

Bibliography

Hafiz Shirazi. Fragments from the Diwan. India, 15th century. University of Oregon Special Collections & University Archives, MS 115.