Bibliography:
70. The Book of the Sword. 1884.
116. The Ananga Ranga. [403]
The title page of the second book, the Ananga Ranga, which was issued in
1885, was as follows:
ANANGA RANGA
(Stage of the Bodiless One)
or
THE HINDU ART OF LOVE
(Ars Amoris Indica)
Translated from the Sanskrit
and annotated
by
A. F. F. and B. F. R.
Cosmopoli MDCCCLXXXV, for the Kama Shastra Society of London and
Benares, and for private circulation only.
Dedicated to that small portion of the British Public which takes
enlightened interest in studying the manners and customs of the olden
East.
We are told that this book was written about 1450 by the arch-poet
Kalyana Mull, [404] that lithographed copies have been printed by
hundreds of thousands, that the book is in the hands of almost every
one "throughout the nearer East," and also that it is "an ethnological
treasure, which tells us as much of Hindu human nature as The Thousand
Nights and a Night of Arab manners and customs in the cinquecento."
In India the book is known as the Kama Shastra or Lila Shastra, the
Scripture of Play or Amorous Sport. The author says quaintly, "It is
true that no joy in the world of mortals can compare with that derived
from the knowledge of the Creator. Second, however, and subordinate only
to his are the satisfaction and pleasure arising from the possession of
a beautiful woman."
"From the days of Sotades and Ovid," says the writer of the Preface, who
is certainly Burton, "to our own time, Western authors have treated
the subject either jocularly or with a tendency to hymn the joys of
immorality, and the gospel of debauchery. The Indian author has taken
the opposite view, and it is impossible not to admire the delicacy
with which he has handled an exceedingly difficult theme. ....Feeling
convinced that monogamy is a happier state than polygamy, he would
save the married couple from the monotony and satiety which follow
possession, by varying their pleasures in every conceivable way and by
supplying them with the means of being psychically pure and physically
pleasant to each other."
There is a reference to this work in Burton's Vikram and the Vampire,
where we read: [405] "As regards the neutral state, that poet was not
happy in his ideas who sang,
'Whene'er indifference appears, or scorn,
Then, man, despair! then, hapless lover, mourn!'
for a man versed in the Lila Shastra can soon turn a woman's
indifference into hate, which I have shown is as easily permuted to
love."
This curious book concludes: "May this treatise, Ananga Ranga, be
beloved of man and woman, as long as the Holy River Ganges, springeth
from Shiva with his wife Gauri on his left side; as long as Lakshmi
loveth Vishnu; as long as Brahma is engaged in the study of the Vedas,
and as long as the earth, the moon and the sun endure."
The Kama Shastra Society also issued a translation of the first twenty
chapters of The Scented Garden. [406] In reality it was a translation
of the French version of Liseux, but it was imperfect and had only a few
notes. It has been repeatedly denied that Burton had anything to do with
it. All we can say is that in a letter to Mr. A. G. Ellis of 8th May
1887, he distinctly calls it "my old version," [407] and he must mean
that well-known edition of 1886, because all the other impressions are
like it, except in respect to the title page.
117. The Beharistan, 1887.
The Society now determined to issue unexpurgated editions of the three
following great Persian classics:
The Gulistan or Rose Garden, by Sadi (A.D. 1258). The Nigaristan or
Picture Gallery, by Jawini (A.D. 1334). The Beharistan or Abode of
Spring, by Jami (A.D. 1487).
The first to appear was The Beharistan in 1887. Jami, the author, is
best known in England on account of his melodious poems Salaman and
Absal, so exquisitely rendered by Edward FitzGerald, and Ysuf and
Zuleika (Joseph and Potiphar's Wife), familiar to Englishmen mainly
through Miss Costello's fragrant adaptation. [408] To quote from the
Introduction of the translation of The Beharistan, which is written
in Arbuthnot's bald and hesitating style, "there is in this work very
little indeed to be objected to. A few remarks or stories scattered here
and there would have to be omitted in an edition printed for public use
or for public sale. But on the whole the author breathes the noblest and
purest sentiments, and illustrates his meanings by the most pleasing,
respectable, and apposite tales, along with numerous extracts from the
Koran." The work consists of stories and verses--two or three of which
will be found in our Appendix--pleasantly intermingled; but as Rehatsek,
the translator, made no attempt to give the verses rhythmical form, only
an inadequate idea is conveyed of the beauty of the original. It would
require an Edward FitzGerald or a John Payne to do justice to Jami's
jewelled verses.
118. The Gulistan, 1888.
The Gulistan of Sadi, [409] which was the next book issued, is best
known in England from the translations by James Ross (1823) and Edward
B. Eastwick (1852). Sadi's aim was to make "a garden of roses whose
leaves the rude hand of the blast of Autumn could not affect."
[410] "The very brambles and rubbish of this book," says an ancient
enthusiastic admirer, "are of the nature of ambergris." Men treasured
the scraps of Sadi's writing "as if they were gold leaf," and The
Gulistan has attained a popularity in the East "which has never been
reached in this Western world." The school-boy lisps his first lessons
in it, the pundit quotes it, and hosts of its sayings have become
proverbial. From end to end the "unity, the unapproachable majesty, the
omnipotence, the long-suffering and the goodness of God" are nobly set
forth--the burden of every chapter being:
"The world, my brother! will abide with none,
By the world's Maker let thy heart be won."
119. The Nigaristan.
The third of the great trio, Jawini's Nigaristan, did not reach the
press owing to Arbuthnot's death. The manuscript, however, in Rehatsek's
hand-writing, is still in the possession of the Royal Asiatic Society,
22, Albermarle Street, and we trust to see it some day suitably edited
and published. Arbuthnot, who contributes the preface, points out that
it contains 534 stories in prose and verse, and that it abounds "in pure
and noble sentiments, such as are to be found scattered throughout the
Sacred Books of the East, the Old and New Testaments and the Koran." A
few citations from it will be found in our Appendix.
120. Letters to Payne, 19th January 1884.
On January 19th, Burton, after asking for the remaining volumes of Mr.
Payne's Nights, says "A friend here is reading them solemnly and with
huge delight: he would be much disappointed to break off perforce half
way. When do you think the 9 vols. will be finished? Marvellous weather
here. I am suffering from only one thing, a want to be in Upper
Egypt. And, of course, they won't employ me. I have the reputation of
'independent,' a manner of 'Oh! no, we never mention it, sir,' in the
official catalogue, and the one unpardonable Chinese Gordon has been
sacked for being 'eccentric,' which Society abominates. England is now
ruled by irresponsible clerks, mostly snobs. My misfortunes in life
began with not being a Frenchman. I hope to be in London next Spring,
and to have a talk with you about my translation of the 1001."
All the early months of 1884, Burton was seriously ill, but in April he
began to mend. He writes to Payne on the 17th: "I am just beginning to
write a little and to hobble about (with a stick). A hard time since
January 30th! Let me congratulate you on being at Vol. ix. Your
translation is excellent and I am glad to see in Academy that you are
working at Persian tales. [411] Which are they? In my youth I read many
of them. Now that your 1001 are so nearly finished I am working at my
translation." He then asks what arrangements Mr. Payne made with the
publishers and the cost of the printing. "All I want," he says, on April
27th, "is a guide in dealing with that dragon the publisher;" and in
later letters he thanks Mr. Payne for answering his questions. On June
20th (1884) writing from Marienbad he says, "I should much like to know
what you are doing with the three supplemental volumes, and I hope that
each will refer readers to the source whence you borrow it. This will
be a great aid to the students. The more I examine your translation the
better I like it. Mine will never be so popular because I stick so much
to the text. [412] No arrangements yet make about it, and MS. will not
be all ready till end of January. We (my wife and I) have enjoyed our
ten days at Marienbad muchly, but the weather has as yet prevented
bathing; a raw wester with wind and rain. Bad for poor people who can
afford only the 21 days de rigueur. Cuthbert Bede (Rev. Edward Bradley)
is here and my friend J. J. Aubertin is coming."
121. At Sauerbrunn, 12th August 1884.
The next letter to Payne, written from Sauerbrunn, in Austria, is dated
12th August 1884. After enquiring concerning "the supererogatory three
vols." he says, "We left Marienbad last of last month, and came to this
place (a very pretty little spa utterly clear of Britishers), where we
shall stay till the end of the month and then again for Trieste to make
plans for the winter. Will you kindly let me have the remaining volumes,
and when you have a spare quarter of an hour I want a little assistance
from you. When you sent me your Breslau you pencilled in each volume the
places from which you had taken matter for translation (How wretchedly
that Breslau is edited!) I want these notes scribbled out by way of
saving time. Of course I shall have to read over the whole series; but
meanwhile will content myself with your references. Have you the Arabian
Nights published in Turkish by Mr. Clermont Ganneau? You will want it
for the supererogatory. If you can't get it I have it somewhere, and
will look for it on return to Trieste. Have you a copy of Trebutien?
Cotton, of Academy has just sent me Clouston's Book of Sindibad [413]
for review. I thought it was our old friend the sailor, but find out
my mistake. You will have no objection to my naming (in my review) your
style in the 1001 as that he should have taken for a model."
He writes again on September 9th (1884): "On return here I found Vol.
ix., with the dedication which delighted me hugely. I did not notice
your fine work in reviewing the Clouston treatise. I had not your
express permission. Living so far from the world I am obliged to be very
careful in these matters: one never knows what harm one may be doing
unawares. Of course I shall speak of your translation in my preface, as
it deserves to be spoken of. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than
to look over your proofs; in fact, I should be sorry not to do so. I
have not yet found Ganneau's Nights, but I hope to do so. My Turkish
Edition was burnt many years ago in a fire at Grindlay's; but you will
easily find a copy. I suppose you read Turkish; [414] and if you do not
you will in three months; the literary style is a mass of Persian and
Arabic. You must find out which is the best Turkish Edition. My copy
had evidently been translated from a MS. very unlike the Calcutta and
Bulak.... I have told Quartich to send you a cop of Camoens (Lyrics),
which will be out in a few days."
122. Burton's Circulars, September 1884.
By September 1884 the first volumes of Burton's Arabian Nights were
almost ready for print, and Burton asked himself how many copies would
suffice the public. He was aware that 1,500 persons were disappointed
of being able to obtain copies of Mr. Payne's Edition, but it did not
necessarily follow that all these 1,500 would subscribe to his. Finally
he decided upon 1,000, and he had three circulars printed respecting the
work.
The first began "Captain Burton, having neither agent nor publisher
for his forthcoming Arabian Nights, requests that all subscribers will
kindly send their names to him personally (Captain Burton, Trieste,
Austria), when they will be entered in a book kept for the purpose." It
was then mentioned that there would be ten volumes at a guinea apiece,
[415] each to be paid for on delivery, that 1,000 copies would be
printed, and that no cheaper edition would be issued. The second
dealt with the advantages of the work to students of Arabic. The third
consisted of an article welcoming the work from The Daily Tribune, New
York, written by G. W. S(malley). Burton posted about 20,000 of these
circulars at an expense of some L80, but received only 300 favourable
replies. Lady Burton, in dismay, then wrote to Mr. Payne begging for
advice. Several letters passed between them, and Mr. Payne sent her
the names of the subscribers to his own book and lists of other likely
persons. A second shower of circulars effected the desired purpose.
Indeed it did far more, for the number of favourable replies ultimately
rose to 2,000. But as we have seen, Burton had restricted himself to the
issue of 1,000. So he found that he had made precisely the same mistake
as Mr. Payne. However, it could not be remedied.
123. The Book of the Sword.
This year was published Burton's The Book of the Sword, which he
dedicated, appropriately, to the memory of his old friend Alfred Bates
Richards, who had died in 1876. It is a history of the sword in all
times and countries down to the Middle Ages, [416] with numerous
illustrations, the interest being mainly archaeological. Of "The Queen
of Weapons" he ever spoke glowingly. "The best of calisthenics," he
says, "this energetic educator teaches the man to carry himself like a
soldier. A compendium of gymnastics, it increases strength and activity,
dexterity, and rapidity of movement. The foil is still the best training
tool for the consensus of eye and hand, for the judgment of distance
and opportunity, and, in fact, for the practice of combat. And thus
swordsmanship engenders moral confidence and self-reliance, while it
stimulates a habit of resource."
124. The Lyrics of Camoens, 1884.
This same year, too, he published his translation of the Lyrics of
Camoens, in which, as will have been judged from the letters already
quoted, he had been assisted by Mr. John Payne, who was also a
Portuguese scholar and a lover of Camoens. "The learning and research
of your work," wrote Mr. A. C. Swinburne, in reference to Burton's six
Camoens volumes, "are in many points beyond all praise of mine, but not
more notable than the strength and skill that wield them. I am hungrily
anticipating the Arabian Nights."
125. More Letters to Payne, 1st October 1884.
On October 1st 1884, Burton wrote to thank Mr. Payne for a splendid and
complete set (specially bound) of his edition of the Nights. He says,
"I am delighted with it, especially with the dedication. [417]... To my
horror Quaritch sent me a loose vol. of his last catalogue with a
notice beginning, 'The only absolutely true translation of the [Arabian
Nights], &c.' My wife telegraphed to him and followed with a letter
ordering it not to be printed. All in vain. I notice this only to
let you know that the impertinence is wholly against my will. Life
in Trieste is not propitious to work as in the Baths; yet I get on
tolerably. Egypt is becoming a comedy." Then follows the amazing remark:
"I expect to see Gordon (who is doubtless hand in hand with the Mahdi)
sent down to offer to guide Wolseley up to Khartum."
126. Death of Gordon, January 1885.
Burton little dreamt that the days of the heroic Englishman were
numbered. Sent by the English Government to the Soudan, Gordon had
been at Khartum hardly a month before it was invested by the Mahdi. The
relief expedition arrived just two days too late. Gordon was slain! This
was in January 1885. The shock to Burton was comparable only to that
which he received by the death of Speke. In one of the illustrated
papers there was a picture of Gordon lying in the desert with vultures
hovering around. "Take it away!" said Burton. "I can't bear to look at
it. I have had to feel like that myself."
127. W. F. Kirby, [418] 25th March 1885.
Shortly after the announcement of his edition of the Nights, Burton
received a letter from Mr. W. F. Kirby, [418] better known as an
entomologist, who had devoted much study to European editions of that
work, a subject of which Burton knew but little. Mr. Kirby offered
to supply a bibliographical essay which could be used as an appendix.
Burton replied cordially, and this was the beginning of a very pleasant
friendship. Mr. Kirby frequently corresponded with Burton, and they
often met at Mr. Kirby's house, the Natural History Museum, South
Kensington, or the British Museum. Says Mr. Kirby: "At the British
Museum, Burton seemed more inclined to talk than to work. I thought him
weak in German [419] and when I once asked him to help me with a Russian
book, he was unable to do so." Thus even a Burton has his limitations.
"He told me," continues Mr. Kirby, "that he once sat between Sir Henry
Rawlinson and a man who had been Ambassador at St. Petersburg, and he
spoke to one in Persian, and the other in Russian, but neither of them
could understand him. I have never, however, been able to make up my
mind whether the point of the story told against him or against them.
[420] Although Burton was a student of occult science, I could never
lead him to talk about crystals or kindred subjects; and this gave me
the idea that he was perhaps pledged to secrecy. Still, he related his
experiences freely in print." Oddly, enough, Burton used to call Mr.
Kirby "Mr. Rigby," and he never could break himself of the habit.
"Apparently," says Mr. Kirby, "he associated my name with that of his
old opponent, Colonel, afterwards Major-General Rigby, [421] Consul at
Zanzibar." In a letter of 25th March 1885, Burton asks Mr. Kirby to
draw up "a full account of the known MSS. and most important European
editions, both those which are copies of Galland and (especially)
those which are not. It will be printed in my terminal essay with due
acknowledgment of authorship." [422] On April 8th (1885) he says, "I
don't think my readers will want an exhaustive bibliography, but they
will expect me to supply information which Mr. Payne did not deem
necessary to do in his excellent Terminal Essay. By the by, I shall
totally disagree with him about Harun al Rashid and the Barmecides,
[423] who were pestilent heretics and gave rise to the terrible
religious trouble of the subsequent reigns. A tabular arrangement of the
principal tales will be exceedingly useful."