Masnavi · 12th–13th century

The Painters of Rum and China

Nezami Ganjaviنظامی گنجوی

چو فرزانه دید آن دو بتخانه را

When the wise king saw those two painted halls,

بدیع آمد آن نقش فرزانه را

their work seemed a wonder to him.

درستی طلب کرد و چندان شتافت

He sought the truth of it, and searched so hard

کزان نقش سر رشته‌ای باز یافت

that he found the end of a thread in those pictures.

بفرمود تا درمیان تاختند

He gave orders, and they hurried in

حجابی دگر در میان ساختند

and set another curtain between them.

چو آمد حجابی میان دو کاخ

When the curtain stood between the two halls,

یکی تنگدل شد یکی رو فراخ

one grew dull and one stayed bright.

رقمهای رومی نشد زاب و رنگ

The designs of Rum lost none of their lustre and colour;

برآیینه چینی افتاد زنگ

rust fell on the mirror of China.

چو شد صفه چینیان بی نگار

When the Chinese alcove stood bare of images,

شگفتی فرو ماند از آن شهریار

the king was left in wonder.

دگر ره حجاب از میان برکشید

Once more he drew the curtain away,

همان پیکر اول آمد پدید

and the same picture as before appeared.

بدانست کان طاق افروخته

He understood that the shining arch

به صیقل رقم دارد اندوخته

held its design stored up by polishing.

From: The Book of Alexander
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

From the Sharaf-nameh, the first part of the Book of Alexander. At a feast where the Khaqan of China is Alexander’s guest, painters of Rum (the Greek or Byzantine world) and of China compete on the two halves of an arch, with a curtain between them; when it is lifted the two pictures are identical. Alexander finds the secret: the Chinese had only polished their wall into a mirror. Rumi tells the same contest in the Masnavi with the roles reversed.