260 Restoration of the Inscription, No. 2, [June, 



In these conjectural supplements, as well as for ascertaining the true 

 transcript of letters in doubtful cases, the discovery of a lyric measure 

 like that of the Gya Inscription, in which the succession of long and 

 short syllables is determined by invariable rule, would have been a 

 most valuable assistance. But not merely is such measure as this un- 

 discoverable in the greater part of the inscription — but every rhythm 

 whatever (including the freer measures of the Arya genus, or the loose 

 Anustup of Valmiki) is equally absent from it — as an examination of 

 all the complete lines from the 14th downward will evidently show*. 

 Some of the incomplete lines have indeed a deceitful resemblance to 

 metre — the 4th line to the Sdrdula-vikridita, (the measure of the Gya In- 

 scription,) and the 12th to a yet longer lyric measure of twenty-one sylla- 

 bles, called Srag-dhard : but in each of these cases the perfect application 

 of the prosodiacal rule is forbiddenfby some one or more syllables in the 

 line, whose reading cannot be mistaken. The only genuine appearance 

 of metre that the closest examination could detect is in the 8th and 9th 

 lines, which are proved by the undeviating regularity of all the syllables, 

 as far as they can be traced on the pillar, to form together a stanza of 

 the measure called Manddkrdntd, (the same in which Calidasa's beauti- 

 ful poem, the Cloud Messenger, is composed,) one of very frequent oc- 

 currence in the lyric poetry of the Hindus. In this measure, each of 

 the four pddas or versicles which compose the stanza consists of two 

 Spondees, a Proceleusmatic, and three Bacchii, having the casura after 

 the tenth syllable ; thus : 



<_. W \J \j KJ 



Accordingly, in the additions necessary for these two lines, I have taken 

 care not only to preserve the measure, but to expand them so as to com- 

 plete the hemistich in each case. But this slight and solitary advance 

 beyond the usual necessary addition of letters is made more to indicate 

 the prosody of the preceding syllables, and to mark precisely the certain 

 length of the line in these places, than with any pretence of supplying 

 the very words that are effaced. The real termination of these lines, as 

 of the fourth and others, if found, would clear up the obscurity that now 

 necessarily attaches to all the early part of the inscription, and on 

 which it would be now vain to offer any conjecture. 



* The apparent rhyme observed by Lieut. Burt, is merely the genitive termina- 

 tion asya at the end of each huge compound epithet, agreeing with u the Sun- 

 born King" above-mentioned. 



f The name k&vyam. applied by the author himself in line 28 to his inscription, 

 •will apply to unmetrical poetry, as well as to that which has the advantage of pro- 

 sody. 



