The Shahntinta of Firdausf. Done into English by Arthur George
Warner, M.A., and Edmond Warner, B.A. Vol. III. (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 10s. 6d.)—This portion of the Shilmaina is occupied with the reign, which is reckoned at sixty years, of Kai Khusran, a semi-historical personage, "the last of the Shahs in whose names we can trace a connexion with Indian mythology." The story, as may be supposed, introduces many other personages, the best known to the ordinary reader being probably Rustam, with his famous steed, Raksh.' The present instalment consists of some ten thousand lines, and the public is indebted to the translators for the readable form in which it is presented, Here is a characteristic passage :— " The Khan on nearing bade the clarion sound:
Thou wouldst have said : • The very dust bath feet Both heaven and earth shook at the tymbal-din, And put all love away. He gave command To set a litter on an elephant, And earth's face seemed like indigo. He reached In state the army's centre, and the sky Was like a dark cloud with the flying dust.
There was a sound of gongs and Indian bells, And thou hadst said: 'Men's hearts are in their mouths !'
The many turquoise thrones upon the backs Of elephants and that bine sea of Bags Took all the lustre from the eyes of men, And none possessed his soul in quietude. Dust tilled the eyes and gullet of the sky :
Thou wouldst have said : 'Its face is smeared with pitch!' "
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