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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1876.
modified, and the last Sarga omitted, in order to unwarranted and not in the best taste. The author comply with the canons of Western propriety." I has indicated the variety of measure in the original
The Gita Govinda sings the loves of Krishna by the varying metres of his paraphrase, "withand Radha, and is very popular in India, "but out meanwhile attempting to imitate the many more so, doubtless," to use Mr. Arnold's own very fanciful alliterations, assonances, and recurwords, " because of its melodious versification and ring choruses." His versification is generally its ardent love-pictures, than the profound and smooth and well sustained. earnest meanings" which Western scholars have sup- The smaller poems are four :--The Rajput posed to lie under its glowing sensuous pictures, Wife,'King Saladin' (founded on a story of Bocind "for the sake of which this attempt has been caccio), "The Raja's Ride,' and 'The Caliph's hazarded." With Jones, Lassen regards Krishna Draught,'--all well-written and stirring little as "the divinely-given soul manifested in hu- pieces. manity. . . The recollection of this celestial origin abides deep in the mind, and even when it seems HINDU TALES, or the Adventures of Ten Princes, freeto slumber-drugged as it were by the fair shows ly translated from the Sanskpit of the Dasakumara. of the world, the pleasures of visible things, and charitam. By P. W. Jacob. London: Strahan & Co. the intoxication of the senses-it now and again of the Sanskrit text and character of Danawakes,... full of yearning to recover the sweet din's Dasakumdracharita* a somewhat full ori. serenity of its pristine condition. Then the soul tical notice has already been given (ante, vol. IV. begins to discriminate and perceive that the love, pp. 157-160), so that we need scarcely again revert which was its inmost principle, has been lavished to it. Mr. Jacob says of his translation that as a on empty and futile objects; it grows a-wearied close translation of such parts of the work as are of things sensual, false, and unenduring; it longs written in a turgid style" would be quite unsuit. to fix its affections on that which shall be stable, and able to the English reader, such passages have the source of true and eternal delight. Krishna therefore been much condensed; others, which are to use the imagery of this poem-thrones Radha hardly decent-or, as in the speech of the parasite in his heart, as the sole and only one who can in the last story, tedious and uninteresting, have really satisfy his aspirations." But for this re- been omitted; but in general the original has been condite significance, even Lassen allows that "the pretty closely adhered to, and nothing has been imagery is but too luxuriant. Tho Indian poet added to it." In an appendix the author has given seems, indeed, to have spent rather more labour in a very close literal translation of a longer and depicting the phases of earthly passion, than two short extracts, occupying in all about 13 of that intellectual yearning by which the mind is pages, to enable the reader " to form some idea of lifted to the contemplation of divine things." And the nature and style of the original, and to see how it is just these glowing pictures of earthly passion far it has been departed from" in his free version. that has made it such a favourite among Hindus. The tales in their English dress are well told, and, That the European reader, then, may understand as the able translator remarks, "give a lively pic. it as the Hindu dces, and realize the grounds of ture of Hindu manners and morals. Unscrupulous his appreciation of it, he must know what it is ir deception, ready invention, extreme credulity and its entirety, unmodified to suit tastes purified by superstition, and disregard of human life are Christian influences; and as perforce from such strongly illustrated." This character, we believe, a poem much must be modified or altogether omit-| will prevent such a book, however well written, ted, such an effort as Mr. Arnold's must not be from becoming popular in England or repaying taken as a full representation of the original,-it the publication, but it suggests a regret that one is only an imitation or a partial paraphrase in easy | so well qualified as Mr. P. W. Jacob should not flowing verse of the better portions of the poem, devote a portion of bis leisure in retirement to by a man of refined tastes, made not so much translating, at least in outline, some of the many directly from the Sanskřit as from the scholarly interesting works in Sansksit that are as yet inacLatin version of the late Professor Lassen, but cessible except to Sanskrit scholars. Recent omitting what in its native soil are favourite pas- search has brought to light Charitas, Mahatmyas, sages, and otherwise, "not without occasional diffi- Sutras, Puranas, &c., in scores, and outlines of culty," following the esoteric interpretation of them on the plan of Weber's Çatrunjaya MahatLassen. To indicate this interpretation too, he calls myam are greatly desiderated, and can only be it the Indian " Song of Songs," a title that Hindus supplied by scholars with some leisure at their will scarcely understand, and that is otherwise command.
# The Sanskrit text of the Dasakumaracharita was published by the late Prof. II. II. Wilsou in 1816, and
French version by H. Fauche in bis Tetrade, tom. II. Paris, 1861-63.
