Part 25 (1/2)
117 The Beharistan, 1887
The Society now deterreat Persian classics:
The Gulistan or Rose Garden, by Sadi (AD 1258) The Nigaristan or Picture Gallery, by Jawini (AD 1334) The Beharistan or Abode of Spring, by Jami (AD 1487)
The first to appear was The Beharistan in 1887 Jaland on account of his melodious poems Salaman and Absal, so exquisitely rendered by Edward FitzGerald, and Ysuf and Zuleika (Joseph and Potiphar's Wife), farant adaptation [408] To quote from the Introduction of the translation of The Beharistan, which is written in Arbuthnot's bald and hesitating style, ”there is in this work very little indeed to be objected to A few remarks or stories scattered here and there would have to be omitted in an edition printed for public use or for public sale But on the whole the author breathes the noblest and purest senti, respectable, and apposite tales, along with numerous extracts from the Koran” The work consists of stories and verses--two or three of which will be found in our Appendix--pleasantly interive the verses rhythmical form, only an inadequate idea is conveyed of the beauty of the original It would require an Edward FitzGerald or a John Payne to do justice to Jami's jewelled verses
118 The Gulistan, 1888
The Gulistan of Sadi, [409] which was the next book issued, is best known in England from the translations by James Ross (1823) and Edward B Eastwick (1852) Sadi's aiarden of roses whose leaves the rude hand of the blast of Autumn could not affect”
[410] ”The very brambles and rubbish of this book,” says an ancient enthusiastic adris” Men treasured the scraps of Sadi's writing ”as if they were gold leaf,” and The Gulistan has attained a popularity in the East ”which has never been reached in this Western world” The school-boy lisps his first lessons in it, the pundit quotes it, and hosts of its sayings have become proverbial From end to end the ”unity, the unapproachable oodness of God” are nobly set forth--the burden of every chapter being:
”The world, my brother! will abide with none, By the world's Maker let thy heart be won”
119 The Nigaristan
The third of the great trio, Jawini's Nigaristan, did not reach the press owing to Arbuthnot's death The , is still in the possession of the Royal Asiatic Society, 22, Albermarle Street, and we trust to see it some day suitably edited and published Arbuthnot, who contributes the preface, points out that it contains 534 stories in prose and verse, and that it abounds ”in pure and noble sentihout the Sacred Books of the East, the Old and New Testaments and the Koran” A few citations from it will be found in our Appendix
120 Letters to Payne, 19th January 1884
On January 19th, Burton, after asking for the rehts, says ”A friend here is reading theht: he would be much disappointed to break off perforce half way When do you think the 9 vols will be finished? Marvellous weather here I aypt And, of course, they won't employ me I have the reputation of 'independent,' a manner of 'Oh! no, we never ue, and the one unpardonable Chinese Gordon has been sacked for being 'eccentric,' which Society aboland is now ruled by irresponsible clerks,a French, and to have a talk with you about my translation of the 1001”
All the early an toto write a little and to hobble about (with a stick) A hard ti at Vol ix Your translation is excellent and I a at Persian tales [411] Which are they? In my youth I read many of the at ements Mr Payne”All I want,” he says, on April 27th, ”is a guide in dealing with that dragon the publisher;” and in later letters he thanks Mr Payne for answering his questions On June 20th (1884) writing from Marienbad he says, ”I shouldwith the three supplemental volumes, and I hope that each will refer readers to the source whence you borrow it This will be a great aid to the students The more I examine your translation the better I like it Mine will never be so popular because I stick so ements yet make about it, and MS will not be all ready till end of January We (my wife and I) have enjoyed our ten days at Marienbad ; a raester ind and rain Bad for poor people who can afford only the 21 days de rigueur Cuthbert Bede (Rev Edward Bradley) is here and ”
121 At Sauerbrunn, 12th August 1884
The next letter to Payne, written froust 1884 After enquiring concerning ”the supererogatory three vols” he says, ”We left Marienbad last of last month, and came to this place (a very pretty little spa utterly clear of Britishers), where we shall stay till the end of the ain for Trieste to make plans for the winter Will you kindly letvolumes, and when you have a spare quarter of an hour I want a little assistance from you When you sent me your Breslau you pencilled in each volume the places from which you had taken matter for translation (Horetchedly that Breslau is edited!) I want these notes scribbled out by way of saving time Of course I shall have to read over the whole series; but meanwhile will content hts published in Turkish by Mr Cleratory If you can't get it I have it somewhere, and will look for it on return to Trieste Have you a copy of Trebutien?