The Story of Khosrow and Shir...
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The Story of Khosrow and Shirin (Part III)
21-Jan-2008
Let me tell you one of the most beautiful love stories ever written in Persian literature. It will be summarized. If you can, please do seek it in Farsi and in its original form, because any efforts to summarize or translate it fall hugely short of doing service to this gem of a Persian tale. Remember this story. Tell it to your children. They will always remember that they heard about love from you first. Celebrate love Persian style.
******
Khosrow went to Roman territory. In Constantinopole, asking for the Roman Caesar's assitance to beat Bahram-e-Choobin, he married Caesar's daughter, Maryam, promising not to marry another. With the help of Caesar's army, he fought Bahram-e-Choobin, beat him and crowned himself King of Iran. Having entered a marriage of political convenience, he continued to miss and pine for Shirin.
Shirin's aunt, Mahin Banoo, who had fallen ill, left her territory to Shirin before she died. Shirin's rule over Arman brought release of prisoners, and a betterment of life for the Armenian people. Though she was a beloved ruler, she could not forget Khosrow; however, she couldn't forgive him for his decision to marry Maryam. She spent time thinking about the now King of Iran, Khosrow, the love of her life, until one day she decided she could not bear it anymore. Entrusting her kingdom to others, she got on Golgoon and left Arman for Madaen with a few companions. She settled in a dark and sad residence, far from Khosrow's palace. Khosrow was not able to see Shirin, as his wife Maryam was jealous of Shirin, keeping Khosrow away from her.
Khosrow and Shirin continued to keep in touch by sending messages to each other through Shapour. One day Khosrow asked Shapour to tell Shirin to come to a secret meeting place. Shirin was angry at this request, telling Shapour to tell Khosrow that she would not carry on in private with a married man.
اگر شه گوید او را دوست دارم...........بگو کاین عشوه ها ناید به کارم
وگر گوید به آن صبحم نیاز است..........بگو بیدار بنشین شب دراز است
وگر گوید کشم تنگش در آغوش...........بگو این آرزو بادت فراموش
که شیرین گوید ای بد مهر بد عهد.........کجا آن صحبت شیرین تر از شهد
مرا ظن بود کز من برنگردی............خریدار کس دیگر نگردی
هزار از بهر می خوردن بود یار........ یکی از بهر غم خوردن نگهدار
(To Be Continued….)
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Dear Nazy, Congratulations
by A nonymous (not verified) on Wed Jan 23, 2008 08:40 AM CSTDear Nazy, Congratulations for your efforts, you're doing a great job with presenting Khosrow & Shirin. Yes I have read that book (it's original by Nezami, in Persian), and it has more twists and turns as you mentioned. I think we place way too much emphasis on thinking matters about human relationships are a modern discovery and from modern times only, obviously you do have a valid point of course. Keep up with the great work.
Dear All
by Nazy Kaviani on Tue Jan 22, 2008 02:14 PM CSTDear Nadia and A nonymous: I thank you both for your interest in this story and my humble contribution. This is a very interesting story, and it will have a lot more twists and turns before it ends!
The most significant thing about the story is that it was written at the end of 12th century, talking about relationships, men, and particularly women and their feelings, in relatively modern ways. I always muse "How exactly did Nezami know all of that so long ago?!" Marriages of political and financial convenience happen to this day, and for a king to marry another king's daughter for territorial and political reasons has been prevalent throughout history.
Dear sz:
Indeed, (zendeh-yad) Saidi Sirjani's book reviews the characters of Shirin in Khosrow and Shirin and Leili in Leili and Majnoon in great depth and detail, helping us understand the story even better. Even standing on its own, Simaye Do Zan is a wonderful book to read. Thank you for that reminder.
I do understand what you
by Nadias on Tue Jan 22, 2008 02:08 PM CSTmean. I have seen plenty of caotic threads. Also, true in the real world in, which so many arranged royal weddings take place even in our times.
In a perfect world Shirin would have asked her aunt to help Khosrow take back his kingdom. The aunt would have agreed to help because she had already given her permission for an arranged marriage between Shirin and Khosrow.
However, life is more complicated in the real world. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
paz y amistad
Nadia
Valid points Nadia. However,
by A nonymous (not verified) on Tue Jan 22, 2008 01:30 PM CSTValid points Nadia. However, just to put things in perspective, if it were a perfect world, we humanbeings would not be in it (due our imperfections, and this is a big understatement). Just look at the consistent charade of the EXTREMELY political and/or religious in this webpage. And I'm not passing judgement, just citing it as an example (out of the millions of examples).
سیمای دو زن شاد روان سعیدی سیرجانی
sz (not verified)Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:28 PM CST
The author of this weblog is doing a fabulous job of retelling the story. Those who can read Persian and are looking for a condensed version with explanation could do no better than the late Saidi Sirjani’s Seemaayeh do Zan which has two of Nezami’s lyrical love stories.
It is terrible that.....
by Nadias on Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:53 AM CSTthe King of Iran had to marry for political reasons to regain his throne. However, because the King already had his queen, Shirin knew she could not be his Queen.
I don't think that Shirin would accept anything less than to have the place of the King of Iran's wife which was not possible while his wife was still alive.
I think that wisdom dictated that she focus on her own kingdom and find a suitable match for her.
solh va doosti
Nadia
Nadia, (My response below is
by A nonymous (not verified) on Tue Jan 22, 2008 09:19 AM CSTNadia, (My response below is in the New Zealandian language and not in English and nor in "Farsi"): Not trying to defend or justify anything, just a litle more information. His marriage with his wife Maryam was one of a political nature (which wasn't unusual among the ruling governments all over the world, though many marriages weren't politically-based also).
Wow! Very interesting........
by Nadias on Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:46 PM CSTShirin knew that Khosrow was married, she should have stayed in her kingdom.
It will be interesting to see what she does next.
Thank you again Nazy for providing the English version for us. I am in suspense.
solh va doosti
Nadia
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