PREFACE. vii our version: but the translator did not give all, for the same reasons that prompted Père Premare to give none-"they are full of allusions to things unfamiliar to us, and figures of speech very difficult for us to observe.”—They are frequently, moreover, mere repetitions or amplifications of the prose parts; and being intended more for the ear than for the eye, are rather adapted to the stage than to the closet.* 66 His judgment may perhaps be swayed by partiality towards the subject of his own labours; but the translator cannot help thinking the plot and incidents of the "Sorrows of Han" superior to those of the Orphan of Chaou"--though the genius of Voltaire contrived to make the last the groundwork of an excellent French tragedy. Far is he, however, from entertaining the presumptuous expectation that a destiny of equal splendour awaits the present drama: and he will be quite satisfied if the reader has patience to read it to the end, and then pronounces it to be a somewhat curious sample of a very foreign literature. The original text of the Proëm, or introductory act, is added to the translation. The following list of Chinese Play-Books may perhaps be useful to students of the language: Chang seng teen (258.8812.10141 +) 4 volumes. Chue peh kew (1469.8526.8295) Chun tang me (1638.9896.7558) Foong kew hwong (2781.6287.4380) 24 volumes. 4 volumes. 16 volumes. * For some observations on this subject, see Treatise on Chinese Poetry, Part II. + The numbers refer to the characters in Dr. Morrison's Chinese and English Dictionary, arranged alphabetically. Han heang ting (3192.3511.10222) Hoo kow yu seng (4078.6514. 12405.8812) 4 volumes. 4 volumes. Hoong low moong chuen ke (4168.7343.7840.1498.5240) 6 volumes. Hwang ho low (4398.4039.7343) Hwuy chin ke (4562.943.5189) Keaou twan yuen (5565. 11470 . 12536) Kew too (6263.10345) Kew chung keo (6263 .1709 .6210) Moong le yuen (7840. 12559) Pe muh yu (8263.7803.12413). Peih yu sze (8517. 12560.9666). Se keang chuh kea (8840.5500.1613.5394) Se seang (8840.8859) Shan hoo keue (9096. 4100.6126) She shen ke (9164.9210.5189) . Yih tseen yuen (12175.10726.12559) Yo foo hoong shan (12378.2378.4168.9096) Yu shwuy yuen (12413.9430.12559) Yuen haou mei (12504.8259 .7636) Yu saou tow (12560.8829.10366) Yuen jin pih chung keo (12504.4693.8526.1709.6210) 40 volumes. |