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SELECT SPECIMENS OF THE THEATRE OF THE HINDUS.
Translated from the Original Sanskrit,
By HORACE HAYMAN WILSON, M.A., F.R.S. Late Boden Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford, &c. &c.
Third corrected Edition. In Two Volumes, 8vo, pp. 392 and 420, handsomely bound in cloth, price 21s.
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
Preface.—Treatise on the Dramatic System of the Hindus:
1. The Authorities of the Hindu Dramatic System. 2. Different kinds of Dramatic Entertainments.
3. Dramatic Arrangement.
4. Conduct of the Plot.
5. Characters of the Drama.
6. Objects of Dramatic Representation.
7. Diction.
8. Scenic Apparatus.
List of Hindu Laws.
Dramas translated from the Original Sanskrit: The Mrichchhakatf; or, The Toy-Cart. Vikrama and Urvasí; or, The Hero and the Nymph. Uttara-Ráma-Charitra; or, Continuation of the History of Ráma.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
Dramas translated from the Original Sanskrit: Mátlatf and Mádhava; or, The Stolen Marriage. Mndrá-Rakshasa; or, The Signet of the Minister. Ratnávalí; or, The Necklace.
APPENDIX, containing short accounts of different Dramas.
1. Mahávíra-Charitra.
2. Vení Samhára.
3. Málavikágnimitra; or, Agnimitra and Málaviká.
4. Viddha-Sálabhanjiká; or, The Statue. 5. Prachanda-Pándava.
6. Hanúman-Nátáka. 7. Dharanjaya-Vijaya.
8. Anargha-Rághava ; or, Murári-Nátáka.
9. Sáradá-Tilaka.
10. Yayáti-Charitra.
11. Dútángada; or, The Mission of Angada.
12. Mrigánkalekhá.
13. Vidagdha-Mádhava. 14. Abhiráma-Mani.
15. Madhurániruddha.
16. Kamsa-Badha.
17. Pradyumna-Vijaya.
18. Sri-Dáma-Charitra.
19. Dhúrta-Nártáka.
20. Dhúrta-Samágama.
21. Hásyárnava.
22. Kantuka-Sarvasiva.
23. Chitra-Yajna.
"It was not till Sir William Jones published a translation into prose of Kalidasa's beautiful Sakuntala, that the Western world were aware that the Hindus hail a national Drama. We gave a full analysis of it, and many long specimens, about a dozen years ago. But here we have translations into verse of several dramas; expositions of many more; and notices of the whole Hindu Theatre. The Prabodha Chandrodaya, or, Rise of the Moon of Intellect, translated by the late Dr Taylor, of Bombay, throws more light on the metaphysics than the drama of the Hindus; and the account given of the Málati Mádhava in the Asiatic Researches by Mr Colebrooke, was subordinate to the object of his Essay on Sanskrit and Prákrit Prosody. Neither of the Dramas hitherto published can be considered to convey an accurate notion of the Hindu Theatre. The one belongs to the metaphysical, the other to the mythopastoral class of Sanskrit plays; but there is a wide range between, and we are conducted through it all under the learned guidance of Professor Horace Wilson. His Essay on 'The Dramatic System of the Hindus' is a masterpiece of philosophical criticism, many of his notes are in themselves poems; and his Prefaces to the Plays are full of the rarest and most interesting historical erudition, often throwing great light on the manners and customs of Ancient India. The whole work is delightful from its novelty; but its true praise is that it unfolds before us the whole of the finest part of a national literature, and thereby illustrates a highly interesting national character. . . . That there is a Hindu Drama, and a noble one, was hardly known till Professor Wilson published his select specimens; and how few people in England even now know anything more about it than what we showed by extracts and analysis of the beautiful Romance of Vikrama and Urvasi, or, The Hero and the Nymph? Many thousands must have been surprised to find so much of finest fancy and of purest feeling in a poetry which they had before supposed was all emptiness or inflation,—like air-bubbles, bright perhaps with variegated colours, but breaking at a touch; or like ill-assorted bunches of gaudy and flaring flowers, fit only for the few hours of a holiday-show, faded and scentless ere nightfall, as so many weeds. They wondered to see how genius, in spite of the many debasing superstitions which they thought had killed all genius, had there the happy and heaven-taught art to beautify nature; and that the Hindus have a Shakespeare in their Kalidasa—such a Shakespeare as was possible to humanity so existing, for as the people are so must be their poet,—his inspiration coming from communion between his heart and theirs, and though we call it heavenly,—and though in one sense it be even so,—yet of verity born of earth."—Christopher North.
MAHA-VIRA-CHARITA.
THE ADVENTURES OF THE GREAT HERO RAMA.
AN INDIAN DRAMA IN SEVEN ACTS.
Translated Into English Prose from the Sanskrit of Bhavabháti,
By JOHN PICKFORD, M.A. Late Scholar of Brasenose College, and Boden Scholar in the University of Oxford, Professor of Sanskrit, Madras.
Crown 8vo, cloth, pp. xvi. and 172, price 5s.