, 1876-06-04
TEE BIBLES OF THE EAST.
PROF. MAX MuLLER's TRANSLATION.

PROF. MAX MuLLER'S s TKANSLATiON.
A D. Conucy IN the CInctnndI Commercial
In magnificent coincidence with the first steps
for opening Oxford to India, we have Prof.
Max Mullcr's prospectus for q translation Of all
the Bibles Of the East into the languages Of
Europe. More than q year ago I wrote you
some particulars concerning this stupendous
undertaking which the Oxford ,Orientalist re-
solved upon SO soon as he had completed his
great work Of editing the text Of the Zig -Vedas
Prof Max Muller announces that ie has secured
for this work the cooperation Of some Of the
best Oriental scholars in England and India,
and proposes to publish three volumes every
year until the whole is completed. "Wlat
contemplate at present. lie says, "and ! am
afraid at my time OF life even this may seem
too sanguine, is no more than series OF twenty
four volumes, the publication of which will
probably extend over eight years. IN tllls
books, though do not pledge myself to adhere
strictly to this outline:
l. From among the Sacred Books Of the Brah.
mans hope to give translation OF the LYNN: Of
ton u selected hymns Of that Eeda, q traduetion
raisonnre which is intended for sanskrit scholars
only, on the same principles which l have fol,
and 81 sentence that seems to require clucldation,
and carefully examining the opinions or previous
commentators, both native and European, intend
This series, with few explanatory notes only,
such as absolutely necessary to enable readers
who unacquainted with sanskrit to understand
Of peFhars another sanhtta,. one Or two Of the
Brahman;.s, or portions of them. will have to be
included n our .eEss as VEL % ~ ths
appearanee app of translation Il the Bhagay9dgita'
OF the most important among the sacred lay @ 6ooks
have wished to include translation 0f come OF the
Jain books, of the Granth oi the Slkhs, and o.
Of religion in India, but there is hardly room for
g The Sacred Books Of the Buddhists will be trans
Southern in Pail, the Northern in Sanskrit. Here
the selection will, no doubt, be most a ditheut;
Among the first books to bs published WI !, oe III
the Lata- -Vistarn, or legendary life Of Buddha.
3, The Sacred Books OF the ZoroAatrians lle w1tn-
In smaller compass, but they will require fuller
notes and commentaries In order to make trans
lation ineligible and nscful.
4. The books which enjoy the highest authority
with the followers Of Kung futze are the King ana
The Shoe. OF the former the Shoo King or Book
Of History; the Odcs Of the Temple and the Altar.
and other pieces TIE ancient r Fftge9; fe sb
III; and the Hiao King or Classic Of Fial Piety,
viii al Be gwen il ~ noPed snt!s nS,,s " 1hs a5 Or
Doctrine Of the Mean; the Ia lilo, or Great Learn
ing; oil Confucius' uttcrances In the Lun " OF
Confucian Analects, which are Of religious ma
ture and refer to the principles OF his moFsl sys
TEN: and Mang-tze's Doctrine VI the GOODNESS OF
4. For the system OF Lco.tke we require only
translation Of the Tao ticking with come OF It's
commentaries, md, it may be, an authoritative
work to illustrate the actuat operation OF lis pfn
ciples. ..,,o.,,,-thv
TRANSLATION Of the Koran.
It viii be nv endeavor 10 divide the twenty -four
volumes which are contemplated in this series as
equally as possible between the six religions buI
much must depend on the assistance which re-
ceyc from Oriental scholars and also on the inter-
est and the wishes OF the public. Among the a5st
Volumes to be published will be translations BY
Prof. Powell, Dr. Leggc, Mr.: A: Busnell q ran
lore, Prof. Childers, Prof. kelihora OF fooha7
Prof. Eggcllng. and myself
From this it will be seen that Prot. Max
Muller has sutIiciency Of congenfa1 occupation
before him to last considerable time. un-
derstand that he has already obtained ample
necunjary guarantees for the publication Of tue
Oriental Scriptures i'll English,-whtch VIII De
nroIuced at d cost Of about SOS. per volume
and that be has also obtained leave Of absence
from Oxford for eighteen months He leaves
for Dresden on Monday.
7--rrT1T1c NTGTFT,TA N.Y.