Verses by Hafiz

Persian Quatrain, or ruba'i, by Hafiz (d. 791/1388-9) written Indian Nasta'liq script by Hafiz Ibrahim 19th Cent. Indian calligrapher. Although the calligraphic piece is not signed, a later note on the fragment's verso attributes the piece to a certain "Hafiz Ibrahim." If this attribution is accepted, Hafiz Ibrahim appears to have been a calligrapher in the nasta'liq script active in India during the 19th century. Dimensions of Written Surface: 19.5 (w) x 11 (h) cm Gar za dast-i zulf-i mushkinat khata'i raft raft / Var za hindu-yi shuma bar ma jafa'i raft raft / Dar tariqat ranjish-i khatir nabashad may biyar / Har kudurat-ra ka mibini safa'i raft raft If from the hand of your musky tress, a fault is passed, passed / And if against us from their dark mole, an act of tyranny is passed, passed / If there is no (mystical) sect for memory's indignation, bring wine / Every foulness that you see (as) purity is passed, passed The text is executed in black nasta'liq script typical of calligraphic works produced in India during the 19th century. Drawing on the creative potential of the script, the calligrapher has chosen to superimpose certain letters in each line, thereby creating three columns of overlayed letters repeated over the four lines of text. The visual effect is balanced and artistic. This calligraphic fragment includes an iambic pentameter quatrain, or ruba'i, composed by the famous Persian poet Hafiz (d. 791/1388-9). The verses use mystical ('irfani) terms to urge the exculpation of the beloved's faults: Script: Indian nasta'liq 1-04-713.19.16