New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE EPIC OF KINGS etores retold RON fi nenry
Nv HELEN ZIMMKRS. l2me, PIP XVIII 900 "s'i'
nc A.


THE EPIC OF KINGS etores retod fs sa f ncnsy
INF Nv HEiES ZIMMkRS. l2me, PIP. XVIII 500 HeuiS
Holt Co.
r,.,,oh,e work of Miss Zinmern which in
a., ,noutbs has appeared in two ais'ince Ehsusu
.dit;ous one sumYtuous and costly Win etcnhss oy
Alma Tsdema. the other comparatively cheap is
now presented in an American reprint hsnusonie
enough for the parlor table w that con'en.iohi
er,oeium can be considered any recommendation IN
the case OF a book OF real merit, and neither too
larce nor 100 costly to be comfortably read Inc
rrsfatorv poeu by Mr. Gosse Firdus in Exile"
Is ineluded in IT, and Mr.. Tademas two etchmgs are
rsnroduced by process upon which we prefer 10
sxnress no opinion until we have seen the oilgi-
mails. -.
Miss Zmmern has labored in what is almost
n VIRGIN field. The shah Nameh" OF tlrdusl Is
one of the very few great national eplcs Oh 'ne
world, but il has been almost unknown IN FL ei'Sn
except by few specimens. There mas never oeen
n complete TRANSLATOR into our tongue anu Inc
only epitomized versiOn-that OF Atkinsoh- u 0ui'
inaccurate and obsolete Miss Znnmern docs not
,rotess IN have made translation. She has selec-
ted and "retold anumber of the stores embraced
in the "Shah Nameh," paraphrasing from the
French of Jules Mobl who has given The only rem
derne of the entire work in any European IAN
euage with a view to reproduce the nave a1ch-
aio character Of the original" she says I'D her pre-
foco Ct have yentured to wTite my stories IN the
simnle language of the age of Shakespeare ana Inc
English Bible in order by thus removing the lIoh'
everyday speech to remove them from the atlnos-
phcre Of to-day" There is great deal OF u'i-
ference between the English OF Shakespeare anu
and the English of King Jamess Bible and 1t Is
nnon the latter that Miss Zimmem has modelled her
STYLE initiating not only its simplicity but It's oc
oasional amplitude. Upon the whole. her attempt
o,.c loon rl,a hlv successful. We stumble re-
peatedy upon such vulgaTisms among their
milstD across its midst" " in their midst, ETC.
But unlike most modern limitations OF the Bloh-
cal manner, the language is generally easy ana
natural and the narrative has a diTectness, force
dignity and movement which accord admirably
with heroic themes The Shah Nameh," or Book
Of Kings embodles a multitude OF traditions re-
latng to real or legendary personages, and IL Is
quite destitute OF continuity Of incident. The
spirit which gives it unity is a splendid and intense
rational feeling The glories of the Persian mon
archy at its meridian greatness the virtues and
the proves OF Persian heroes the conquering march
OF Persian armies are always the subjects of the
poet's song As IN the legends of all half barbarous
people. the valor and strength of individual war
1iors inspire the highest fights OF enthusiasm
Achilles and Siegfried are matched by the Per
sian RuStem, wh0 sewers IN twain the most teTr-
be foes and is so strong that rock gives way I'M
der his feet because II has not force to bear him
The supernatural is present of course in the ac-
chevements of the national heroes. but 1T Is not
iniruded with too much boldness. aud that love OF
the cxtrayagant and the grotesque which mars so
much of the Oriental poetry is notably absent when
the singer has to do with the beings of another
world
1t is in describing the deeds of mortals that
he allows himself the fullest license of exaggera-
1ion Here the whole story is gigantic. The earth
shakes with the tread of armed men. The SKIES
trenble with their shouting There are mountains
of gold aud iawels. Trains of gft-beanng ENJOYS
are miles in length Combats of champions last Tor
days and days Appalling force indOmitable cour-
age. magnitude and magnifcence are the elements
of the imposing picture. The religious belief ind-
Gated in the poem Is sngularly simple There Is
no trace of any religious ceremOny but we are re-
minded of one supreme and beneicent God, to
whom heroes appeal for help in difficulty, VINO
inerfeTes in mundane affairs who rewards the Just
and aflicts the.wcked and code OF morals is
taught which 50 far as il goes is elevated and en-
lightened In the treatment of eTOtic passion FIR
dusi's straightforward and masculine method is
only what we should expect from one of has race
and creed, lie celebrates the rude woolng OF
heroes and the nuptisis that are to beget heroes,
rather than the rOmauce of sentimental lovers.
But the familiar episode Of Rustem and Sohrab is
enough to show that he IS a master of fine pathos
and of subtle invention.