PUBLICATIONS OF 



ARABIC. 



POEMS OF BEHA ED DIN ZOHEIR OF EGYPT. 



With a Metrical Translation, Notes and Introduction, by E. H. 

 Palmer, M.A., Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, Lord 

 Almoner'^s Professor of Arabic and Fellow of St John's College 

 in the University of Cambridge. 3 vols. Crown Quarto. 



Vol. I. The Arabic Text. \os. 6d.\ Cloth extra, 15^. 



.Vol.11. English Translation, \os.6d.; Cloth extra, 15^-. 



" Professor Palmer's activity in advancing 

 Arabic scholarship has formerly shown itself 

 in the production of his excellent Arabic 

 Grammar, and his Descriptive Catalogue of 

 Arabic MSB. in the Library of Trinity Col- 

 lege, Cambridge. He has now produced an 

 admirable text, which illustrates in a remark- 

 able manner the flexibility and graces of the 

 language he loves so well, and of which he 



seems to be- perfect master The Syndicate 



of Cambridge University must not pass with- 

 out the recognition of their liberality in 

 bringing out, in a worthy form, so important 

 an Arabic text. It is not the first time that 

 Oriental scholarship has thus been wisely 

 subsidised by Cambridge." — Indian Mail. 



" It is impossible to quote this edition with- 

 out an expression of admiration for the per- 

 fection to which Arabic typography has been 

 brought in England in this magnificent Ori- 

 ental work, the production of which redounds 

 to the imperishaVjle credit of the University 

 of Cambridge. It may be pronounced one of 

 the most beautiful Oriental books that have 

 ever been printed' in Europe : and the learning 

 of the Editor worthily rivals the technical 

 get-up of the creations of the soul of one of 

 the most tasteful poets of Islilm, the study 

 of which will contribute not a little to save the 

 honour of the poetry of the Arabs. Here 

 first we make the acquaintance of a poet who 

 gives us something better than monotonous 

 descriptions of camels and deserts, and may 

 even be regarded as superior in charm to al 

 Mutanabbi." — Mvthologv among the \i.v.- 

 BREWfi {E>/g'/. Tt-triisi.\ p. 194. • 



" Professor Palmer has produced the com- 

 plete works of Beha-ed-dfn Zoheir in Arabic, 

 and has added a second volume, containing 

 an English verse translation of the whole. 

 He thinks, and we believe rightly, that this 

 is the first time a translation of the entire 

 works of an Arabic poet has ever been pro- 

 duced in England ; and he has done his work 

 well. It is a difficult problem how to trans- 

 late an Eastern poet. A prose version is 

 generally unreadable ; and if verse be cho.sen, 

 it IS still hard to give any notion of the 

 movement of the original. Professor Palmer 

 has. we think, grappled successfully with the 



problem It is time the English public 



altered their views about Oriental poetry. A 

 f.air translation has enlightened them about 

 * )mar Khayyam and Persian poetry ; and 



now Professor Palmer's very able rendering 

 of KehA-ed-din should show them that they 

 have been under an illusion about Arab 

 poetry. It is very different from Persian; in 

 some respects not so fine ; but it is certainly 

 worthy of careful study. And Beha-ed-din 

 is a good' specimen of the later style of Arab 

 poetry. It is only fair to add that the book, 

 by the taste of its arabesque binding, as well 

 as by the beauty of the typography, which 

 reflects great credit on the Cambridge Uni- 

 versity Press, is entitled to a place in the 

 drawing-room." — Times. 



" For ease and facility, for variety of 

 metre, for imitation, either designed or un- 

 conscious, of the style of several of our own 



poets, tliiese versions deserve high praise 



We have no hesitation in saying that in both 

 Prof Palmer has made an addition to Ori- 

 ental literature for which scholars should be 

 grateful ; and that, while his knowledge of 

 Arabic is a sufficient guarantee for his mas- 

 tery of the original, his English compositions 

 are distinguished by versatility, command of 

 language, rhythmical cadence, and, as we 

 have remarked, by not unskilful imitations of 

 the styles of several of our own favourite 

 poets, living and dead." — Saiu7-day Review. 

 " Zoheir is exhibited by Mr Palmer as a bold, 

 lively, and versatile writer, who casts an un- 

 expected lighton the varied moods of thought 

 and feeling that could gain popularity among 

 intelligent men at Cairo in the thirteenth 

 century of our aera. " — The Guardian. 



" This sumptuous edition of the poems of 

 Beha-ed-din Zoheir is a very welcome addi- 

 tion to the small series of Eastern poets 

 accessible to readers who are not Oriental- 

 ists In all there is that exquisite finish of 



which Arabic poetry is susceptible in so rare 

 a. degree. The form is almost alwaj's beau- 

 tiful, be the thought what it may. But this, 

 of course, can only be tuUy appreciated by 

 Orientalists. And this brings us to the tran- 

 slation. It is excellently well done. Mr 

 Palmer has tried to imitate the fall of the 

 origin3l in his selection, of the English metre 

 for the various pieces, and thus contrives to 

 convey a faint idea of the graceful flow of 



the Arabic Altogether the inside of the 



book is worthy of the beautiful arabesque 

 binding that rejoices the eye of the lover of 

 Arab art." — Academy. 



Lviidon : Cambridge Warehouse, 1 7 Fatcrnostcr Roiu. 



