AMERICAN QUARTERLY REVIEW.
ART. I.-Gulistani Cheïkh Moslih-eddin Sâdi Chirazi—Le Parterre de Fleurs du Cheikh Moslih-eddin Sadi de ChiEdition Autographique, publiée par Mr. N. SEMELET. Executée par les presses de M. Y. Cluis, Lithographe, Place de Chatelet. Paris: 1828. 4to. pp. 194.
WHEN we undertake to review such books as this, for the benefit of general readers, we feel ourselves not only authorized, but bound, to be somewhat desultory, superficial, and erratic, dealing more in entertaining generalities, than in dry though recondite particulars. The Orientalist need, therefore, look for no instruction in our lucubrations, as we fear we shall find it hard enough to keep the uninitiated in good humour with the subject. We say this, by way of protestation against any inferences to our disadvantage from the very slight tincture of erudition which we shall infuse into our strictures. The truth is, we cannot handle such a topic so as to give any thing like general satisfaction, without risking the displeasure of two formidable classes. The learned will indubitably brand us as mere sciolists; the unlearned, as mere pedants. We are clear, however, as a judge would say, that the case is within the rule laid down by Horace : Certis medium et tolerabile rebus
We have determined to take notice of this curious publication for several distinct reasons. In the first place, it is interesting in itself, as presenting a corrected text of a celebrated work, and also as a specimen of art. In the next place, it furnishes us with an opportunity of saying something, in the small way just alluded to, on a branch of learning, which, though long familiar to a chosen few in Europe, has with us not yet begun to be in vogue: we mean the language and literature of the modern Persians. Our third reason is a little more remote, but has had more