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an ode of Horace, an elegy of Propertius or a
Ghazal of Hafiz into English verse. When reading
his translations our first impression is not that
they are translations but original compositions.
Not very long ago he read out to me some
lines paraphrased by him from Firdausi's Shah-
nama, describing a battle scene in which a Persian
prince named Zarir is treacherously killed. This
was one of his incidental recreations to oblige
an English friend who wanted to know the story
of Zarir; and he told me how he had composed
the lines standing near his desk with the
Persian text in front of him. I was so struck
with the easy fluent style of the rendering that
I obtained a copy of some of the lines.
" And there Zarir afield a proud charger bestrode,
And aye in the van of the battle he rode.
Through the ranks of the foemen as scatheful he
came
As in dry meadow grass is a wind-blown flame.
And when Arjasp beheld how under his blade
Full low were the boldest and doughtiest laid
In alarm to his leaders he gave the command
That they parley for peace and a truce demand."
In later life his feelings and convictions
often find "expression in impromptu verse. And
his comments on contemporary events sometimes
take the form of indignant or sarcastic lines,
such as the following scribbled on a bit of brown
paper torn off a parcel. (17-6-1936).
" Mourn, hapless Abyssinia! mourn
Those Christless Christians' faith forsworn.