Or 15637

This volume contains the collected poems of Pertev Mehmed Said Paşa (died 1253 AH/1837 CE), a statesman and poet who flourished during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II (1223-1255 AH/1808-1839 CE).

Born in 1200 AH/1785 CE, Pertev Paşa was educated in Istanbul. He entered the Imperial Council (Divan-ı Hümayun) in 1219 AH/1804 CE and soon rose through the ranks, catching the eye of Reisülküttab Galib Efendi. Enjoying Galib Efendi’s patronage, Pertev Paşa entered the Amedi Odası in 1236 AH/1820 CE. He became Beylikçi in 1240 AH/1824 CE and Reisülküttab in 1242 AH/1827 CE. However, he was removed from this role after two years and was sent instead to Egypt. Upon his return he was made kethüda to the Grand Vizier in 1246 AH/1830 CE and Mülkiye Naziri in 1251 AH/1836 CE. Though Mahmud II gave him the title of Paşa in 1251 AH/1836 CE, he later dismissed him and exiled him to Edirne in 1253 AH/1837 CE. On 5 Ramazan 1253 AH/3 December 1837 CE, he was strangled at the residence of the city’s governor Emin Paşa. Though this was done with the Sultan’s permission, it is said that the Sultan later regretted Pertev Paşa’s death.

As well as a statesman, Pertev Paşa was also a leading poet of the period. His Divan has been described as a model of contemporary artistic styles. He began composing poetry with the mahlas of ‘Meşreb,’ and his poetry exhibits the influence of the Mevlevi tarikat of which he was an adherent. He composed tahmisler of the gazeliyat of a number of renowned Sufi poets, including Ahmed Nedim Efendi (died 1143 AH/1730 CE), Mezaki Süleyman Efendi (died 1087 AH/1676 CE), Arif Süleyman (died 1183 AH/1769 CE), and Galip Dede (died 1213 AH/1799 CE). The contents of the work are as follows:

ff 1v-3r, Münacat and naat;

ff 3r-21v, Tahmisler;

ff 21v-23r, Terciibent;

ff 23r-24v, Tevarih;

ff 24v-26r, Şarkiyat;

ff 26r-27v, Lugazlar;

ff 27v-28r, Latifeler;

ff 28v-128v, Gazeliyat;

ff 128v-130r, Kıtaat, Rubailer;

ff 130r-139r, Beyitler.

A small number of verses are in Persian.

Begins:

Kim etti zulmet-i cehil içre rahi * nice arz eyleyim hal-i tebahi / İşim cürüm ü hatadır gah gah * mubah olmuş bana güya menahi

Ends:

Hame-i işkestemiz hasbi kitabet itmede * oldu reşk-endaz aklam-i kiramen katibin/ Bi terk-i ser çü aşk müyesser nemişeved * genç nişin meşveret ba külah kün

There is an illuminated unvan in gold, green, red, lilac, pink, and black, with floral tığlar and an inscription referring to the first poem in this copy: ‘Münacat bi-dergâh-i Kaziü’l-Hacat.’ The opening passage of İbtida-yi gazeliyat on the bottom half of f 28v is repeated at the bottom of f 29v, while f 29r is blank. Both f 28v and f 29v have identical decorative headings in red ink.

Although this volume is undated, it is probably from the early 13th century AH/19th century CE.