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 ''his greatest works. I fear, nothing has yet been done or so done as to give to those who are not familiar with the Bengali literature, an accurate idea of the literary genius of India's Sir Walter Scott, and I shall consider my labour amply rewarded if my translation will meet this want. I must, however, say that even those who have grown grey in the field of literature and have impressed the reading public with their command of the English language, will find it no easy task to translate into English Bankim Chandra's novels, which are written in an inimitable, gorgeous yet exquisitely sweet, classic style, and I do not know how far I have been able to retain in my translation the beauty and the sweetness of the original.''

In the literary world, it is, now-a-days, quite fashionable, and certainly diplomatic, for a young author to associate with his literary production a distinguished name, as the writer of the preface; but, as I am loath to thrust my present leisure-time-work upon any body's consideration, with a view to move him to write out a preface for me, I have myself written out this brief prologue, chiefly, not to suffer this work to go out to the world without the customary and, I may add, stereotyped appendage.