Of Ferdoosee. 17 
cellence of a work, that the author has done 
well what it was his intention todo. The 
plan of Ferdoosee was chalked ont for him ; 
and every one, who has read any considerable 
portion of the Shah-nameb, must be de- 
lighted at the adwirable manner, in which he 
has executed the difficult task imposed upon 
him. 
In taking a view of the genius of Fer- 
dovsee asa poet, the object which first strikes 
us is his amazing power of invention. The 
materials, from which he composed the histori- 
cal part of his work, have unfortunately pe- 
rished, so that we cannot exactly determine 
how much it owes to this power; but that 
he possessed itin an extraordinary degree, 
no one, who is conversant with his writings, 
can for a moment doubt. The records with 
which he was furnished consisted, most pro- 
bably, only of dry facts or fabulous legends. 
He might draw many of his stories, and the 
names of some of his principal heroes, from 
the popular traditions of his country, but the 
form and character which he has given to the 
whole must be consicvered to be the fruit of 
his own creative genius. On a very narrow 
basis, he has founded a structure, irregular 
indeed in its design, and unequal in its exe- 
c 
