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NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
than a Series of twenty-four volumes, the publication of which will probably extend over eight years. In this Series I hope to comprehend the following books, though I do not pledge myself to adhere strictly to this outline :
1. From among the Sacred Books of the Brahmans I hope to give a translation of the Hymns of the Rig Veda. While I shall continue my translation of selected hymns of that Veda, a traduction raisonnée which is intended for Sanskrit scholars only, on the same principles which I have followed in the first volume", explaining every word and sentence that seems to require elucidation, and carefully examining the opinions of previous commentators, both native and European, I intend to contribute a freer translation of the hymns to this Series, with a few explanatory notes only, such as are absolutely necessary to enable readers who are unacquainted with Sanskrit to understand the thoughts of the Vedic poets. The translation of perhaps another Samhitâ, one or two of the Brahmanas, or portions of them, will have to be included in our Series, as well as the principal Upanishads, theosophic treatises of great interest and beauty. There is every prospect of an early appearance of a translation of the Bhagavadgitâ, of the most important among the sacred Law-books, and of one at least of the Purânas.
2. The Sacred Books of the Buddhists will be translated chiefly from the two original collections, the Southern in Pâli, the Northern in Sanskrit. Here the selection will, no doubt, be most difficult. Among the first books to be
1 Rig-Veda-Sanhita, The Sacred Hymans of the Brahmans,'translated and explained by F. Max Müller, Vol. I. Hymns to the Maruts or the Storm-Gods: London, 1869.
