Page:Madras journal of literature and science 3rd series 1, July 1864.djvu/109

 On two Manuscripts of 'Omar Khayyam's Quatrains. By, Esq., Barrister-at-law.

E have much pleasure in calling the attention of those to whom the poetry of the Lucretian Khayyám may be a subject of interest to two manuscripts now in the possession of our Honorary Secretary. One of these is peculiarly well worthy the attention of Persian scholars, inasmuch as it contains two books of the Poems of Nazírí a poet whose works are rarely to be met with and of whom consequently very little is at present known Had the manuscripts come earlier to our possession we should have been glad to have thrown on this almost unknown poet and his works what new light we could have gathered from the perusal of the two books of his poems in Mr. Stokes's manuscript. We are anxious however to lose no time in bringing to the notice of those who may have greater capabilities and more leisure the MSS. now under consideration. Such remarks as a necessarily hasty inspection suggest to us, we here place before our readers.

In the first of these MSS. we find the two books of Nazírí which, as well as the quatrains of 'Omar Khayyám, are on paper and bound together in one volume measuring 5½ inches by 10 and containing 217 leaves.

On the flyleaf is a note in Persian to the effect that the volume was bought at the Nawab's auction on 29th Rajib 1275 Hijra, and on the first page of the manuscript is the mohur of the unfortunate 'Alí Hussain Khán Thaj ul Umra, the son of Umdut ul Umra and grandson of Wallajah.