Poems from the Divan of Hafiz annotated

by Gertrude Bell

Book

Genres: Poetry, Iran, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Editor's Note by Amelia St. John (eStar Books 2014 edition) states that Gertrude Bell's translation is considered to be one of the most accurate of the verse translations while maintaining musical and poetic quality of the original. The Victorian age viewed Islam as a religion of great liberalism, even licentiousness, which contrasts greatly with that era's own views. Hafiz's verses used passionate allegories of Divine love. Bell, however, felt Hafiz was not only writing about mystical experiences, she was also able to interpret Sufi terms and offer a sympathetic translation transcending her British Victorianism.

The 1928 edition's Preface by E. Denison Ross explained the three different types of translation:
1. Literal prose translations.
2. Translations in which either the metre or the mono-rhyme or both together are imitated.
3. Free translations into English verse. Many English translators have tried their hand at the poems of Hafiz, and the three varieties of translation referred to have all been attempted.
"Colonel Wilberforce-Clarke in 1891 published a complete prose translation with copious notes and an exhaustive commentary. This translation is so slavishly literal as to be mostly unreadable except as a crib. . . . Mr. Walter Leaf published twenty-eight Versions from Hafiz, in which he attempted to reproduce both the metre and the mono-rhyme of the Persian, and probably came as near to success as is possible in the circumstances. . . . Herman Bicknell . . . while making each verse of his translation correspond with its original, adopted the rhyming couplets and did not attempt to preserve the mono-rhyme. Finally there is the free translation into English verse without regard to the form, metre or rhyme of the original. Numerous efforts have been made in this style, but those of Gertrude Bell are incomparably the best." (pp. 18-19)

All the editions include an Introduction written by Gertrude Bell which gives an excellent synopsis of the history of 14th century Persia highlighting the extremely turbulent times that impacted the life of Shemsuddin Mahommad, better known by his poetical surname of Hafiz, and those of his fellow countrymen. "Miss Bell . . . threads her way through the intricacies of the turbulent Persian history of the time, and identifies the various viziers and sultans who from time to time took Hafiz under their protection."* Hafiz was born in the town of Shiraz which at that time experienced famine and constant clashes between one conqueror or another. Lucky for Hafiz the rulers of the time wanted to be known for their support for men of learning and was able to practice his art with the support of these patrons. It also illuminates the origins of the division between Shi'ite and Sunni which still exists to this modern day and how Sufism influenced Hafiz's poetry. The differences between Eastern and Western philosophical beliefs and thinking is also discussed as expressed through the differences between the poets Dante (Italian) and Chaucer (English) [Western] and Hafez (Persian) [Eastern] who were somewhat contemporaries.

*Hafiz & Le Gallienne, R. (1905). Odes from the Divan of Hafiz: Freely Rendered from Literal Translations. London: Duckworth & Co. (xxiii)

I - 4 Stars
II - 4 Stars
III - 4 Stars
IV - 5 Stars
V - 5 Stars
VI -5 Stars
VII - 4.5 Stars
VIII - 3.5 Stars
IX - 3 Stars
X -3 Stars
XI - 4.5 Stars
XII - 4 Stars
XIII - 5 Stars
XIV - 4 Stars
XV - 4.5 Stars
XVI - 3.5 Stars
XVII - 3 Stars
XVIII - 3.5 Stars
XIX - 5 Stars
XX - 4 Stars
XXI - 4.5 Stars
XXII - 5 Stars
XXIII - 5 Stars
XXIV - 4 Stars
XXV - 4 Stars
XXVI -3 Stars
XXVII - 4 Stars
XXVIII - 4 Stars
XXIX - 3.5 Stars
XXX - 3.5 Stars
XXXI - 4.5 Stars
XXXII - 4.5 Stars
XXXIII - 4 Stars
XXXIV - 4 Stars
XXXV - 5 Stars
XXXVI - 4.5 Stars
XXXVII - 5 Stars
XXXVIII - 5 Stars
XXXIX - 4.5 Stars
XL -5 Stars
XLI - 5 Stars
XLII - 5 Stars
XLIII - 5 Stars

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Introduction written by Gertrude Bell gives an excellent synopsis of the history of 14th century Persia highlighting the extremely turbulent times that impacted the life of Shemsuddin Mahommad, better known by his poetical surname of Hafiz, and those of his fellow countrymen. "Miss Bell . . . threads her way through the intricacies of the turbulent Persian history of the time, and identifies the various viziers and sultans who from time to time took Hafiz under their protection."* Hafiz was born in the town of Shiraz which at that time experienced famine and constant clashes between one conqueror or another. Lucky for Hafiz the rulers of the time wanted to be known for their support for men of learning and was able to practice his art with the support of these patrons. It also illuminates the origins of the division between Shi'ite and Sunni which still exists to this modern day and how Sufism influenced Hafiz's poetry. The differences between Eastern and Western philosophical beliefs and thinking is also discussed as expressed through the differences between the poets Dante (Italian) [Western] and Hafez (Persian) [Eastern] who were somewhat contemporaries.

*Hafiz & Le Gallienne, R. (1905). Odes from the Divan of Hafiz: Freely Rendered from Literal Translations. London: Duckworth & Co. (xxiii)

I. Arise, oh Cup-bearer, rise! and bring - 4 Stars
II. The bird of gardens sang unto the rose - 4 Stars
III. Wind from the east, oh Lapwing of the day - 4 Stars
IV. Sleep on thine eyes, bright as narcissus flowers - 5 Stars
V. Oh Turkish maid of Shiraz! in thy hand - 5 Stars
VI. A flower-tinted cheek, the flowery close - 5 Stars
VII. From the garden of Heaven a western breeze - 4.5 Stars
VIII. The rose has flushed red, the bud has burst - 3.5 Stars
IX. Oh Cup-bearer, set my glass afire - 3 Stars
X. Singer, sweet Singer, fresh notes strew - 3 Stars
XI. Mirth, Spring, to linger in a garden fair - 4.5 Stars
XII. Where is my ruined life, and where the fame of noble deeds? - 4 Stars
XIII. Lady that hast my heart within thy hand - 5 Stars
XIV. The nightingale with drops of his heart's blood - 4 Stars
XV. Return! that to a heart wounded full sore - 4.5 Stars
XVI. What is wrought in the forge of the living and life - 3.5 Stars
XVII. Lay not reproach at the drunkard's door - 3 Stars
XVIII. Slaves of thy shining eyes are even those - 3.5 Stars
XIX. What drunkenness is this that brings me hope - 5 Stars
XX. From out the street of So-and-So - 4 Stars
XXI. Not all the sum of earthly happiness - 4.5 Stars
XXII. The rose is not fair without the beloved's face - 5 Stars
XXIII. My lady, that did change this house of mine - 5 Stars
XXIV. Not one is filled with madness like to mine - 4 Stars
XXV. The days of absence and the bitter nights - 4 Stars
XXVI. The secret draught of wine and love repressed - 3 Stars
XXVII. My friend has fled! alas, my friend has fled - 4 Stars
XXVIII. Hast thou forgotten when thy stolen glance - 4 Stars
XXIX. From Canaan Joseph shall return, whose face - 3.5 Stars
XXX. All hail, Shiraz, hail! oh site without peer! - 3.5 Stars
XXXI. The breath of Dawn's musk-strewing wind shall blow - 4.5 Stars
XXXII. Upon a branch of the straight cypress-tree - 4.5 Stars
XXXIII. The jewel of the secret treasury - 4 Stars
XXXIV. Last night I dreamed that angels stood without - 4 Stars
XXXV. Forget not when dear friend to friend returned - 5 Stars
XXXVI. Beloved, who has bid thee ask no more - 4.5 Stars
XXXVII. Arise! and fill a golden goblet up - 5 Stars
XXXVIII. I cease not from desire till my desire - 5 Stars
XXXIX. Cypress and Tulip and sweet Eglantine - 4.5 Stars
XL. The margin of a stream, the willow's shade - 5 Stars
XLI. The days of Spring are here! the eglantine - 5 Stars
XLII. True love has vanished from every heart - 5 Stars
XLIII. Where are the tidings of union? that I may arise - 5 Stars

[Evin Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading ancient Islamic literature, as a reminder that Islam can be as romantic, poetic and universal as any other religion. After all, humans are the ones following religions.

[ikleelmuhammed · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the poetical works of Rumi, there will remain a little thirst for romance in the reader. to quench it you should have to find some works of hafiz. selected poems from Hafiz's great lyrical works is worth an interesting read.

[Kathleen Woodcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gertrude Bell’s translation and explanation about Hadiz’s metaphorical poetry was needed for better understanding. Hadiz’s spiritual search has inspired others in the East and he’s been compared to Shakespeare in the West. A great book to learn more about Persian history and cultural stories.

[Ria Nair]

“Where shall I go, where from thy presence? thou
Art everywhere.”

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

XL “No heart is dark when the kind moon doth shine”