JOURNAL. 
OP THE 
ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL 
Part I.—HISTORY, LITERATURE, &e. 
NO. 1.—1904. 
The Quatrains of Baba Tahir % edited and translated by 
Syed Ali Bilgrami. 
Mr. Edward Heron-Alien lias published an English translation of 
the Quatrains of Baba Tahir, under the title of “ The Lament of Baba 
Tahir.” The translation is a very creditable performance, without 
doubt. But, I am afraid, his version of the text is not always correct, 
nor are all the sixty-two Quatrains he has put together Baba Tahir’s. 
Those numbering 15, 34, and 56 in Mr. Allen’s book tear unmistakable 
evidence of having been written by someone else. The style, metre, and 
language employed in no way resemble Baba Tahir’s. As for the 
inaccuracies of the text, I have thought it fit to correct them aud 
give a prose translation, adhering as far as possible to Mr. Allen’s 
words. Indeed at one time I had an idea of issuing a new edition of 
the Quatrains myself. But the advice of my learned friend, the 
Hon’ble Nawab Imad-ud-Mulk, Bahadur, whom I consulted on the 
matter, has prevailed with me so far, that I have decided to restrict 
myself to the less pretentious task of revising Mr. Allen’s translation 
in the way I have indicated. And I trust that my work will be found 
useful by the students of Persian Literature. 
Before proceeding, however, to point out, and correct the inaccur¬ 
acies in the text of the Quatrains, as given by Mr. Allen, I should like 
to say a few words about the date of Baba Tahir’s birth. 
J. I. I 
