Page:The Thousand And One Days - 1892 - Volume 1.djvu/15

 Persian name has a charm, and I eagerly collected the companions of the set. They were imperfect, unfortunately, only four out of a proper five, but I bought them, and read their stories, as far as they went. I soon learned that they were easily obtainable in modern French editions, and I got the modern French editions and completed my knowledge of 'The Thousand and One Days.' It is curious to find that while in France 'The Thousand and One Days' are only second in popularity to 'The Thousand and One Nights,' they are almost if not entirely unknown in England. They have been translated, it is true, into English twice, but both times were early in the last century. The first translation, by Dr. King, was published in 1714; the second, by Ambrose Philips, was published in 1738. So far as I know, these translations have not been reprinted; so far as I know, no other translation of 'The Thousand and One Days' has been made. And yet they well deserve translating. If they are not such splendid stories as 'The Thousand and One Nights,' what stories in the world are so splendid? We may love 'The Thousand and One Nights' with all our hearts, and yet be willing to welcome