like a bald rendering of a chorus of /Eschylus, strongly
dashed, however, with Anacreon. The translator is very anxious to give us what Kfilidasa, the Sanscrit poet, wrote in its entirety. We must plead guilty to so much "English fastidiousness" as to wish for a little, or not a little, excision. If something had been left out, and the rest put into an intelligible shape, something might have been made of it ; at present, the translation (=not be of any use, except as a " crib " for examinations in
Sanscrit, ahould the Megha Dita be set. A much more interesting book is a translation from the Hindostani by Professor Dowson of the lichtodnu-s Said, or Brothers of Purity (Triibner). This is the account
of a great controversy carried on before the King of the Gins between men and, the beasts, men claiming a right to the service of the beasts, and these refusing to acknowledge the claims. Every tribe of animals sends its representative to the audience; and the discussion proceeds with great spirit, the great question being whether man can establish in any one respect such a superiority over the rest of creation as to entitle him to dominion. Every claim advanced on the human side is answered on the other with great ingenuity and force ; and the debate seems likely to be decided against man, when some advocate suggests that he alone has a soul and is immortal. To this no answer can be found, and the King of the Gins delivers his judgment that "all animals be obedient and submissive to man, and that none depart from his allegiance."
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