Oct. 1845.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



xcix 



been attempted in poetry, with the view of enabling" the reader to remember its application 

 to the occurrences of life. 



The Persian Lokman said, that he had learned good breeding from the vulgar, by 

 never imitating their actions. In like manner I owe an acknowledgment to the former 

 translator ; since the rock he struck upon has warned me to shape my course, as I hope, 

 more successfully. He has failed by too rigid an adherence to literal translation j the 

 respective idioms of Urdu and English so materially differ, that what is witty and energe- 

 tic in the one language, literally rendered in the other becomes dull and vapid. A par- 

 donable licence has accordingly been taken, whenever the genius of the original or the 

 turn of the dialogue appeared to require it. I have not, however, indulged in too many 

 liberties with my author ; bearing in mind that " between freedom and impertinence 

 there is but a step." 



Occasionally, a trifling addition has been made to the moral of the fable ; with an 

 attempt to avoid sameness, by exhibiting the sentiment, sometimes in lively, sometimes in 

 serious, verse. 



It is proposed to print at present, Part 1st of the Translation, comprising 50 Fables, 

 and during the next quarter of the year, " Part 2nd," provided the humble Translator bo 

 honored and encouraged by the extension of a remunerating patronage. 



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