f. 9 from a Mughal Album of portraits
recto:

Rubai by Abdullah Ansari written on plain paper diagonally across the page, the calligraphy enclosed in clouds which are surrounded by gold wash:

هو الغفور

رفتم بتماشای گل آن شمع طراز / چون دید میان گلشنم گفت بناز

من اصلم و گلهای چمن فرع منند / [از] اصل چرا بفرع می مانی باز

چیزی که نه روی در بقا باشی ازو / آخر هدف تیر بلا باشی ازو

از هر چه بمردگی جدا خواهی شد / آن به که بزندگی جدا باشی ازو

 
verso:

Portrait of Muhammad Hakim Mirza, c.1600-05.

Muhammad Hakim Mirza (1554-1595) was the second son of Emperor Humayun and half-brother of Akbar, during whose reign he ruled Kabul. He is depicted kneeling on a namda rug wearing an orange jama. He holds a blue and white porcelain cup decorated with a bird and a wine flagon stands on the carpet in front of him. In the upper left corner, the artist has drawn a distant townscape surrounded by trees.


For further information on this album see RCIN 1005038.