Yusuf and Zulaykha (recto); Text Page, Persian Verses (verso)

The Khamsa, a suite of five poems (khamsa is Arabic for five) written in the twelfth century, was, like the earlier Shahnama, concerned with the history and legends of pre-Islamic Iran. But Nizami's interest was with love rather than war. In this, the second of the poems, he tells the story of famous star-crossed lovers.