Keywords: Nasihat verso.jpg Dimensions of Written Surface Recto 13 8 w x 24 7 h cm Dimensions of Written Surface Verso 14 w x 25 h cm Script nasta'liq This fragment includes an excerpt from Sa'di's d 691/1292 Bustan The Fruit Orchard in which he offers advice nasihat to a ruler The author counsels a king not to worry about what he does not have because all things come to an end He also notes that good deeds matter as only a man's reputation and memory remain Sa'di's text continues on the fragment's verso 1-86-154 140 V as evidenced by the similar subject matter and the continuation of the catchwords makun takiyah in the lower left corner of the recto The calligraphic fragment is executed in black nasta'liq script in horizontal and diagonal lines on a beige folio decorated with polygonal motifs highlighted in gold Various text panels are framed by simple borders creating a complex web of verses in a quilt-like pattern The text panel is framed by several borders and pasted to blue paper decorated with flower and medallion motifs painted in gold The folio's layout and style are typical of works produced in Safavid Persia Iran during the 16th century The number 24 appears in the lower right corner of the text panel while the number 25 appears on the fragment's verso These numbers suggest that these two calligraphic fragments belonged to a larger work either a more complete copy of Sa'di's Bustan or an album of calligraphies The verso of this fragment also includes an excerpt from Sa'di's Bustan in which he offers advice to a ruler It continues the text on the fragment's recto as noted by the similar subject and the catchword in the recto's lower left corner 1-86-154 140 R The verses here read Makun takiyah bar mulk u jah u hasham / Ka pish az tu bud ast u ba'd az tu ham / Khudavand-i dawlat gham u din khurad / Ka dunya bi-har hal mibiguzarad / Nakhwahi ka mulkat barayad bi-ham / Gham-i mulk u din khurd bayad bi-ham Don't lean on rulership glory and your retinue / Which were there before you and will be there after you / The Lord of Government has to pay attention to religion / Because the world certainly will end / If you don't want your kingdom to disappear with it / Then be aware both of power and religion as they go together Here Sa'di warns a ruler that he must respect both earthly power mulk and spiritual affairs din as they complement each other Much like God khuda supervises religious well-being the king too as Lord of Government khudavand-i dawlat must administer wisely The verso of this calligraphic fragment is executed in a large crisp nasta'liq script in black ink on a beige folio framed by several borders and pasted to cream-colored paper decorated with flower and vine motifs painted in gold The layout and style of the pages are typical of works produced in Safavid Persia Iran during the 16th century ascs 152 century 16 author PD-old thumb left Recto Bostan Safavid art Nastaliq |