Persian Manuscripts : Six Persian poems copied by Bahman, son of Bahman, son of Isfandiyar (d. 1788) for Sir William Jones (1746–1794).

Persian Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This manuscript contains six poetical works, primarily the <i>Kitāb-i Ḥaydar Bayg</i> (Book of Ḥaydar Bayg) completed by Safavid-era courtier ‘Abd al-Mahdī bin Muḥammad, pennamed "Balākash", in 1 Muḥarram 1077 AH (4 Jul. 1666 CE), concerning the exploits of a hero during the reign of Shāh 'Abbas II (b. 1632, r. 1642–1666). It also contains the satires <i>Qiṣṣah-'i Mūsh va Gurbah</i> (Story of the Mouse and Cat), and <i>Qiṣṣah-'i Sangtarāsh</i> (Story of the Stone Cutter) ascributed to ʻUbayd Zākānī (d. ca. 1370) and the <i>Kitāb-i Ismā‘īl Qurbān</i> (Book of Ismā‘īl Qurbān), regarding the account of the Prophet Ibrāhīm's attempt to sacrifice his son Ismā'īl by Kamāl al-Dīn Abū al-Ḥasan Fārisī, (fl. ca. 1300). The volume ends with a brief, anonymous ghazal lyric poem followed by <i>Ta‘ziyat</i> (Eulogies) by late Safavid-era poet Muḥammad Shaykhā Muqbil Iṣfahānī (d. ca. 1744). A Zoroastrian émigré from India named Bahman son of Bahman son of Isfandiyar (d. 1788) copied this volume for Sir William Jones (1746–1794), with whom he lived in Calcutta for three years.</p>