Pagina 11 van 1116

Yet, however behindhand I may be, there is still ample room and

verge for an English version of the "Arabian Nights'

Entertainments."

Our century of translations, popular and vernacular, from

(Professor Antoine) Galland's delightful abbreviation and

adaptation (A.D. 1704), in no wise represent the eastern

original. The best and latest, the Rev. Mr. Foster's, which is

diffuse and verbose, and Mr. G. Moir Bussey's, which is a

re-correction, abound in gallicisms of style and idiom; and one

and all degrade a chef d'oeuvre of the highest anthropological

and ethnographical interest and importance to a mere fairy book,

a nice present for little boys.