Hosrov and Shirin poem is a passionate song of praise to love. It glorifies beauteous Shirin's noble affection. Her image prevails throughout the poem. It contrasts with that of Hosrov, who was inconstant and voluptuous, a slave to his vicious temperament. Her intellect, determination and boundless affection upheld Shirin's belief in the recreation of Hosrov's moral nature. She strove to do it and achieved her goal.

Shirin' name is mentioned in a number of Byzantine, Syrian and Arabian records, which leaves no doubt of her having been a historic personage.

Hosrov was endowed with wit and a cheerful disposition by nature and was well educated. He fell in love with Shirin just by hearing bout her beauty from his friend-artist Shapur.

The latter assisting to Hosrov, went to the Princess Shirin's country and showed her a portrait of Hosrov. Shirin felt a reciprecal feeling for Hosrov. She immediately saddled her fast horse Shabdiz and left for Madain - Hosrov's residence.

As she felt exhausted, Shirin took her bath in a spring. By that time Hosrov being forced to leave his country by certain circumstances, happened to travel the same route.

He saw Shirin bathing, but the lovers couldn't identify each other.

Shirin stayed in her palace not so far from Madain town. The place was unfit to keep any cows, so Shirin being accustomed to drink milk asked stonemason Farhad to dig a channel, so milk could flow from the pastures right to her palace.

Having no chance to see Shirin's covered face Farhad was charmed just by hearing her voice!

Having no success in demanding Farhad to forget about Shirin, Hosrov just used perfidy informing him about Shirin's alleged death. At these sad tidings Farhad died of a broken heart....

Shirin displayed genuine nobleness: she built a tomb for Farhad and bemoaned him.

In order to restitute his father's throne, Hosrov had to marry the Emperor's daughter Marian. But his wife died soon...

One day Shirin asked the famous singers Barbadu and Naqis to convey her love to Hosrov in a poem set to music. When Hosrov heard the song, he believed in Shirin's love and faith. Shirin appeared and Hosrov, who was rapturous, ordered marriage ceremony to be hold which was followed by the wedding feast.

The marriage had an ennobling , curative effect upon Hosrov. He ceased leading a dissipated life, gathered scholars, men of wisdom and poets around him, organized public services and amenities. Under the beneficial influence of Shirin's love he gradually became a good man , a wise and just sovereign.

Later on his own son borned form Mariam, was charmed by Shirin's beauty and resolved to lure her from his father. Hosrov was dethroned and thrown into a dungeon, but Shirin didn't desert him in his grief and followed him to his prison-cell.

At the last moments of his life Hosrov became a new man, who was firmly convinced of his love for Shirin.

Shirin compels Hosrov's son to bury his father with pomp and stabs herself over Hosrov's body...