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ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



Air Takfe lakhdng. — " The Alligator drags his tail." 

 used in Rang lakhan. It is a favorite nursery air in the palace. 



nan pai thut me cha Mong 

 nan la mom me cha hwai, ^c- 

 Sleep softly my child — in your pendent cradle. Do not cry, my Prince, you will be placed at 

 your mother's breast soon — you have both endured much in leaving your country. — (From Narin- 



THOM.) 



Chut ching. 

 From the Sawannahong. 



khraan maa thung theo neo wari 

 phra pJionii pri prem pen nuk naa 

 plu-ung kru-ung samrap hra sattra 

 long song khongkha than dai 

 His Majesty was overcome with joy when he reached the bank of the Ganges — and quickly 

 disencumbering himself of his regalia he bathed in its stream. 



Peasants Song. — Air Lompkat chai khau. 



di'mphd dun-chau nok khan hun 

 dun pai khang nai ue 



Q. O Father, [ironically] why walk at such a rate with your head erect like a speckled dove 

 — where are you going. 



A. Whose voice is that I hear, like that of my beloved wife. 



Phlen — Propkai. Lyrical. 

 Indo-Chinese poets, like those to be found in most partially civilized 

 countries, are fond of extempore contests in verse. The Siamese poetic 

 champions do not wholly rely on their own powers, but invoke, after the 

 manner of both ancient and modern western poets, some guardian deity or 

 muse to inspire them with heavenly fire. These champions are attended 

 by a chorus, consisting of persons of both sexes. 

 The following is one of the invocations : 



Bright deities ! glorious spirits I Here I invoke your aid with hands uplifted to my head • 



Exalted beings ! — ^more durable than the lofty mountain, the axis of the world — high throned in the 

 sky, you behold with contempt all that is in the world or around it — and thou, O ! Phra Song (a 

 Holy Priest of old,) surpassing mortals in energy and knowledge, come all and inspire our feeble 

 minds with poetic vigor. 



