A hundred arms were weak one block to move
Of thousands, molded by the hand of Love
Into fantastic shapes and forms of grace.
Which crowd each nook of that majestic place.
The piles give way, the rocky peaks divide.
The stream comes gushing on — a foaming tide!
A mighty work, for ages to remain.
The token of his passion and bis pain.
As flows the milky flood from Allah's throne
Hushes the torrent from the yielding stone;
And sculptured there, amazed, stern Khosru stands.
And sees, with frowns, obeyed bis harsh commands:
While she, the fair beloved, with being rife.
Awakes the glowing marble into life.
Ah! hapless youth; ah! toil repaid by woe —
A king thy rival and the world thy foe !
Will she wealth, splendor, pomp for thee resign —
And only genius, truth, and passion thine!
Around the pair, lo ! groups of courtiers wait.
And slaves and pages crowd in solemn state;
From columns imaged wreaths their garlands throw,
And fretted roofs with stars appear to glow!
Fresh leaves and blossoms seem around to spring.
And feathered throngs their loves are murmuring;
The hands of Peris might have wrought those stems.
Where dewdrops hang their fragile diadems;
And strings of pearl and sharp-cut diamonds shine.
New from the wave, or recent from the mine.
"Alas! Shireen!" at every stroke he cries;
At every stroke fresh miracles arise:
"For thee these glories and these wonders all.
For thee I triumph, or for thee I fall;
For thee my life one ceaseless toil has been.
Inspire my soul anew: Alas! Shireen!"
Nizami Ganjavi [Nizami Ganje'i, Nizami, Nezāmi; formally: Jamal ad-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyās ibn-Yūsuf ibn-Zakkī] (1141 - 1209) Azerbaijan
Translator not stated
Source: The sacred books and early literature of the East, VIII - Medieval Persia, Under the editorship of a staff of specialists directed by Prof. Charles F. Horne, Parke, Austtin, and Lipscomb, Inc., 1917
Ferhâd was a sculptor of transcendent genius, who, from his passionate love for Shireen, was a troublesome rival to Khosru, the king; so he was given impossible tasks to perform. Here he is creating a great horse: it was called Shebdiz.
Of thousands, molded by the hand of Love
Into fantastic shapes and forms of grace.
Which crowd each nook of that majestic place.
The piles give way, the rocky peaks divide.
The stream comes gushing on — a foaming tide!
A mighty work, for ages to remain.
The token of his passion and bis pain.
As flows the milky flood from Allah's throne
Hushes the torrent from the yielding stone;
And sculptured there, amazed, stern Khosru stands.
And sees, with frowns, obeyed bis harsh commands:
While she, the fair beloved, with being rife.
Awakes the glowing marble into life.
Ah! hapless youth; ah! toil repaid by woe —
A king thy rival and the world thy foe !
Will she wealth, splendor, pomp for thee resign —
And only genius, truth, and passion thine!
Around the pair, lo ! groups of courtiers wait.
And slaves and pages crowd in solemn state;
From columns imaged wreaths their garlands throw,
And fretted roofs with stars appear to glow!
Fresh leaves and blossoms seem around to spring.
And feathered throngs their loves are murmuring;
The hands of Peris might have wrought those stems.
Where dewdrops hang their fragile diadems;
And strings of pearl and sharp-cut diamonds shine.
New from the wave, or recent from the mine.
"Alas! Shireen!" at every stroke he cries;
At every stroke fresh miracles arise:
"For thee these glories and these wonders all.
For thee I triumph, or for thee I fall;
For thee my life one ceaseless toil has been.
Inspire my soul anew: Alas! Shireen!"
Nizami Ganjavi [Nizami Ganje'i, Nizami, Nezāmi; formally: Jamal ad-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyās ibn-Yūsuf ibn-Zakkī] (1141 - 1209) Azerbaijan
Translator not stated
Source: The sacred books and early literature of the East, VIII - Medieval Persia, Under the editorship of a staff of specialists directed by Prof. Charles F. Horne, Parke, Austtin, and Lipscomb, Inc., 1917
Ferhâd was a sculptor of transcendent genius, who, from his passionate love for Shireen, was a troublesome rival to Khosru, the king; so he was given impossible tasks to perform. Here he is creating a great horse: it was called Shebdiz.
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