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JOUKNAL, K.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART IX. 



Id competent to form a correct opinion on this subject,* 

 Be this as it may, it cannot but be admitted that in the 

 mind's eye of one who can enter into the spirit of both the 

 languages, the Elu is not a language which should dis- 

 paragingly be spoken of. 



Apart from the mere beauties of composition (which can 

 only be appreciated by an intimate acquaintance with a 

 language), I have occasionally found in the Sinhalese books, 

 as in all Oriental literature, a vein of thought exactly 

 similar to that of the Western writers. Who, for ins- 

 tance, could read the following from Subhdsite of Alagiya- 

 wanna Mohottala and would not be struck with the 

 sameness of idea, if not the exactness of their symbols ? 



* The writer once explained Goldsmith's beautiful lines " On 

 the death of a mad dog " to several of the most intelligent Sinhalese 

 scholars of the present day, and instead of hearing from them what 

 Mrs. Barbauld thought of " this specimen of Goldsmith's poetical 

 powers," that it u was wonderfully pathetic, and that it was sweet as 

 music and polished like a gem," the writer was told by the Pundits 

 that they could not perceive the wit of being informed by a poet 

 "that his song could not hold them long, if they found it wondrous 

 short." 



In like manner, the English reader will indeed fail to perceive 

 the gay and smiling imagery, and the smooth and flowing numbers 

 of the two following stanzas, the last composed under the circum- 

 stances which I shall here briefly detail. A native poet, who was 

 rather deficient in personal beauty, conceived an attachment to a lady 

 of great attractions. A marriage was proposed, but was not concluded 

 for some time. About this time one of his friends, wishing to rouse 

 the dormant powers of the enamoured bard, sent him an extract of 

 the following lines from the " Kusajatake," wherein the beautiful princess 

 Pabbaweti, indignant at the deformity of her husband, King Kusa, 

 is said to have exclaimed at the eve of her separation from her royal 

 consort : — 



