The select band of Sanskrit scholars will turn with curiosity to "A Digit of the Moon: A Hindoo Love Story," which has been translated from the original MS. by Mr. F. W. Bain Mr. Bain stimulates interest at the beginning by the romantic account he gives in his preface of how Unoriginal was given to him by an old Maratha Brahman, dying of the plague, in token of gratitude for a service the translator had done him. "A Digit of the Moon" is poetical Sanskrit for a peculiarly beautiful woman, and the story, which is full of ...
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The select band of Sanskrit scholars will turn with curiosity to "A Digit of the Moon: A Hindoo Love Story," which has been translated from the original MS. by Mr. F. W. Bain Mr. Bain stimulates interest at the beginning by the romantic account he gives in his preface of how Unoriginal was given to him by an old Maratha Brahman, dying of the plague, in token of gratitude for a service the translator had done him. "A Digit of the Moon" is poetical Sanskrit for a peculiarly beautiful woman, and the story, which is full of Oriental characteristics, circles round the story of how a misogynist king was brought to his senses at last, and the difficulties which beset the pursuit of his charmer. In his brief and useful notes Mr. Bain calls attention to occasional similarities to passages in the European classics and gives a half promise that, although this love story is complete as here translated, he may presently produce a version of other parts of his manuscript. He claims for the tale an unique position, and few readers could fail to be attracted by the simple fairy-tale-like charm so well rendered in Mr. Bain's excellent English version. -"Literature," Issue 116 [1900]
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