who surpasses the beautiful Sirikata (Goddess of beauty has illumined the heads of all women like a garland of flowers."-Ib. To the last may be added one other species, which has a sort of catch-word at the end of the 1st and 3rd lines, and which are thereby rendered unequal in number to the 2nd and 4th. Having believed that thou wouldest come, I was brimful of joy: (now that thou hast disappointed me) the very core (field) of my heart continually burns with fire; and on thy account my life shall surely cease.”—Dunuwilla. Another species, also of modern introduction into the Singhalese, probably from the Tamil, is to be found in several works of the elegant poet from whom we have already quoted, Kiramba Terunanse. This has 11 syllabic instants in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th lines, and 12 in the 3rd; in which, as well as in the rest of the lines, the cæsural pause falling at the end of the 6th syllabic instant, renders the stanza very sweet and elegant. It is also remarkable that in this species the 3rd line does not rhyme with the rest. The following is from the beautiful poem called Kanchanadewikatawa, from the pen of Kiramba. සසලපනැහි : සඳලෙ සේ "The female without blemish, like a moon without the hare's shadow, having thus reached the place to hear Budha's doctrines:" 11 = 11 11 The following is also from the same writer: මෙත් අම පිරි: යස කමල් සත් සඟහස: සෙවිනි මල් යුත් සවනක් : කිරණතරඟ නමදිමිමුනි : පියුම් විල් "I do bow unto Budha, like unto a Lotus pond-full of the water of benevolence, and the renown of Lotuses-frequented (or attended) by Swans,* like unto the purely virtuous priests—and having waves of six-coloured rays"—Ib. = 11 : = 12 = 11 Blank verse, which is called Geè, although known to the Singhalese as indeed it was the species of musical composition with which in many nations in the early ages Poetry commenced-is not in use at present, nor are there any correct books to ascertain the rules of its construction. The Elu Prosody, the only work of its kind, is found so incor * We are indebted to the elegant translator of the Megha Dula for the following note, explanatory of the species of birds to which reference is made in the text. "Raja-hansa, is described as a white gander with red legs and bill, and together with the common goose is a favourite bird in Hindu Poetry: not to shock European prejudice, I have in all cases substituted for these birds, one to which we are rather more accustomed in verse, the swan; which however owes its dignity to the idle fable of its musical death: the motion of the goose is supposed by the Hindus to resemble the shuffling walk which they esteem graceful in a woman; thus in the Ritu' Sanhara, or 'the Seasons' of our poet, [Kalidasba] හංස "ජිතාසුලලිතාගනිරගනානාම් "Nor with the goose the smiling fair...In graceful motion can compare." Wilson. rect, owing probably to the errors of ignorant copyists, that with the assistance of four copies procured from different parts of the Island, and with the living aid of two Singhalese scholars, we have been unable to obtain the information we desire. But we may venture to state that there are nearly fifteen species of blank verse, each differing in quantity from the other. The number of syllabic instants do not, however, altogether exceed 44. The following are Examples: සරණඹර වර ලස කුස නිරිඳු නොස මෙලේ = = 10 11 = 10 = 10 = = 41 "King Kusa forgot the indignities which had been previously offered to him by the Princess, who [now] supplicated at his Lotus-like feet, veiling them with her sevel-like* flowing hair."-Sidat'sangarawa. "Having made my heart a residence for him who knew the end of all things; I shall compose the Sidat'sangarawa in order that the ignorant may be instructed."-Ib. Even the great beings who came from the Brahama world, have, enticed by the allurements of love, lost all the prosperity of kingdoms: how much more then (can we say of) other people like unto little tender plants?"-Elu Prosody. The Singhalese Poets have frequently compared the flowing hair of a female to the floating masses in the water called êé (vallisnaria octandra), the Singhalese for o Sanscrit. We have given the above in four lines, but each verse is properly written in two. Thus; බලතෙක් දෙස් විලස්තිද සිඳුව වනතනත් ඇය රුසිරු සරන තල තඹර නිසරැස්නෙන්|| 6 "(They said) Indra alone could (with his thousand eyes) behold, and Anantaya (with his thousand mouths) alone could expatiate upon, even a portion of Pabawatee's deportment. If we attempt to describe the same we should say thus: that the Lotuses of her lovely feet by means of their charms, the nails-constantly smile at the Lotus of her hair, whilst her lovely thin calves emulate the proud (light) of the two lamps lit for the Cupid who entered the habitation of her body."-Kawu'-Silumina. There is also a species of Poetical composition (similar to the English ballads of a former day) called Wiridu, and which is sung at festivals, &c., without preparation or previous reflection, and upon a subject selected, often suggested, at the spur of the moment. Of this the following from Munkotuweralla, one of the attendants of the late Kandian Minister, Pillimatallawe, and the author of a beautiful work called Sangarajaguna'lankara, may serve as an example; 1. නිලම කීපපලකටමම කීමි පිලී ල බා ග න්ට 2. ද ලම පිලිලැබුනිමෙමට ඉන පල්ලටනම් අඳින්ට 3. කොළ මගොතා අඳිතත්බැරිද ල පිලි මතු පිට අඳින්නට 4. පි ලම තලව්වේ නිලමගෙන් ලැබේය බල බලා ඉන්ට "To several chiefs have I sung with a view to obtain clothes; 2. If for my inward coat, I have received coarse cloth; 3. And although leaves may be worn by being woven together, coarse cloth can I not wear outermost; 4. Chief Pillimàtallawe will, however, give me (some fine clothes) as a token of remembrance."-Munkotuweralla. In some of the early poets we find a species of Poetry called Seheli, which contains a mixture of blank verse, and rhymes-the latter constructed on the syllabic metre. The following, which is selected from the Parawi Sandese, exhibits a specimen of this species. සැරදපරෙවිඳු සඳ පඬුවන්සරත්සරනින් || VERSIFIED "Hail! beauteous dove, the subject of my lay; ද බේ. ඛේ බේ Long may'st thou live through heaven's blue vault to stray! When on thy sacred mission thou had'st sped, - Like the star-spangled, clear, autumnal sky;— Full-blown and bright—a blossom dropt from heaven? A Lotus-bud from the Celestial river? — Milky Ocean is one famous in Hindu Mythology. The story of the churning of this Ocean is doubtless familiar to our readers. + Celestial River is a stream which waters Indra's Park, |