No. 5.-1850.] 



THE ELU LANGUAGE. 



263 



On Criticism. 

 " One Science only will one genius fit." 



I need not remind the reader, however, that to render the 

 English literally into the Sinhalese is difficult, if not impos- 

 sible. And the absence of the same pithy expressions in 

 both the languages, and the difference of idiom between 

 the two, must necessarily render a literal translation little 

 less than ridiculous. But if the well-conceived and under- 

 stood idea of an English sentence be conveyed in the 

 Sinhalese suited to the peculiarities to which I have already 

 alluded, the translation thus made will serve the purposes 

 of a literal one. Of this the following from Goldsmith 



" If one were deformed, and yet longed for a beautiful woman, 

 when did any good result to him, but inordinate ill ! " 



To the above the poet's answer was not only pert, but what was 

 more (to use the words of Mrs. Barbauld), " it was wonderfully pathetic 

 — sweet as music, and polished like a gem." He knew that this was a 

 biting sarcasm upon himself, and therefore was sarcastic in return 

 without being offensive. He appealed to the sequel of the very u Kusa- 

 jatake" to prove the illiberality of a sentiment expressed in the heat of 

 anger ; and referring to PaMweti, who afterwards ex necessitate and 

 voluntarily adored her previously-loathsome husband, and also to the 

 alleged circumstance that their reunion resulted in the loss of the 

 king's deformity by the power of a miracle, the poet answered : — 



q)ss ©eDodi © os 



cog §£9<5i©£? 13 ce 



" That dictum was incorrect ; for the lover consummated his wish 

 and attained prosperity, and Dambadiwa did on that day present the 

 appearance of a festive house." 



