in our version:  but the translator did not give all, for the same reasons that prompted Pere 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 the eye, are rather adapted to the stage than to the closet.

His judgment may perhaps be swayed by partiality towards the subject of his own labors; 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 ground-work of an excellent French tragedy.  Far is he, however, from entertaining the presumptuous expectation that a destiny of equal splendor 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.

JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

YUENTE, Emperor of China of the Dynasty Han. 
HANCHENYU, K’han of the Tartars. 
MAOUYENSHOW, a worthless Minister of the Emperor. 
SHANGSHOO (a title), President of the Imperial Council. 
CHANGSHEE (a title), Officer in waiting. 
FANSHE (a title), Envoy of the K’han. 
CHAOUKEUN, Lady, raised to be Princess of Han. 
   Tartar Soldiers, Female Attendants, Eunuchs.

The Scene is laid in the Tartar Camp on the Frontiers; and in the Palace of Han.

THE SORROWS OF HAN [1]

PROLOGUE

Enter Hanchenyu, K’han [2] of the Tartars, reciting four verses.

K’HAN.  The autumnal gale blows wildly through the grass,
      amidst our woolen tents. 
  And the moon of night, shining on the rude huts, hears the
      lament of the mournful pipe: 
  The countless hosts, with their bended horns, obey me as
      their leader.

Our tribes are ten distinguished friends of the family of Han.  I am Hanchenyu, the old inhabitant of the sandy waste; the sole ruler of the northern regions.  The wild chase is our trade; battle and conquest our chief occupation.  The Emperor Wunwong retired before our Eastern tribes; Weikeang trembled at us, and sued for our friendship.  The ancient title of our chiefs has in the course of time been changed to that which I now bear.  When the two races of Tsin and Han contended in battle, and filled the empire with tumult, our tribes were in full power:  numberless was the host of armed warriors with their bended horns.  For seven days my ancestor hemmed in with his forces the Emperor Kaoute; until, by the contrivance of the minister, a treaty was concluded, and the Princesses of China were yielded in marriage to our K’hans.  Since the time of Hoeyte and the Empress Leuhow, [3]