[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin) › [A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa) › 42.32 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.32 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 42.32 - **Language:** English ### [42.32.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32.1) The words Seir, I am acquainted with, from my childhood, being born at Constantinople, and it signified then, as it does to-day in Minenski's learned Dictionary, not precisely review, but review, or view in walking: Deambulatio, and Promenade, says that author. This signification being once established, we may ask now in what sense is the Promenade taken, passively or actively? If the latter, then modern times are taking a promenade. If the former, then a Promenade is taking throughout modern times. But when an author writes in 1782, mostly about events happened in 1675-80-90 and 1706, and but little about those of 1740 and downwards, can he be said to write of modern times, whilst the chain of historical writings by others reach to the very year 1708? And what, if the word Mutaqherin should signify modern ones, if you will, but by all means those that lag behind? In that case Seir-el-Mutaqherin would signify promenade or review made by those that lag behind, and of course, amusements of posterity; and this would be not a literal translate, but an adequate one. Suffer me, Sir, to add six words more to this very long letter. Before I take my leave of this subject, I cannot help remembering a remark which you have echoed from your friends about the sixteen lines in the author's preface, and which I had the candour to acknowledge for being S. W. J. his property. They have remarked on the extreme difference between those sixteen lines, and the rest of the preface. ### [42.32.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32.2) Pray, Sir, did they think that the whole of that history ought to have been written in that style? and that a plain narrative of facts (called unornamented by the author himself) was to run at the rate of that lofty short-piece, which beginning, like all the Eastern prefaces, by the praises of God, and those of His Messenger, is of course susceptible of the highest pitch of poetical sublimity? Do you think that Sir William Jones, himself, when resuming on the Bench the harangues of two sides and balancing the arguments of two parties, would make use of that turn of phrase, or of that pomp of words, which look so admirable in that enchanting piece of his, intituled the Muse Recalled! And even admitting that he would, could it be in his power? could his subject rise to that sublimity of thought and that felicity of expression, so conspicuous in that admirable ode of his, probably the best of those written in our century? No. And why? Because the subject itself does not admit that lofty style. I dare say, you agree with me in opinion on this subject; but what shows that every man has his own, is, that a person, who is by no means deficient in either sense or knowledge, had the singularity, on my pointing out to him the propriety of language in that short piece of sixteen lines, to say, that it was priggish, and that he did not like it so much, as the plainness of the rest. ### [42.32.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32.3) Now, Sir, if ever so sublime a style as that of Sir William Jones finds detractors, what chance can have mine? Admitting that my work should be so susceptible of a defense, I have neither capacity, nor indeed inclination for a polemic controversy; but as there is now in my house a friend willing enough to enter the lists on that subject, he requests only that those that are so much displeased with that wretched performance of mine, may be pleased to descend to particulars, to point out those obnoxious parts of the translation that have displeased them, and to join thereto a corresponding translation of their own, (for this is the only method to investigate the matter to the bottom) then, and then only, will he give his full attendance to every objection provided, says he, and this is the condition Sine Quâ non, that they pay the printers. This, Sir, is that man's request, and here is mine. It cannot be expected that, drained as I am, of all my cash, and reduced to extremities (to those, for instance, of selling trinkets, plates, and books), I should return the money of those that have purchased sets of me these two months at their own requests; but I shall contrive to return, and am firmly resolved to return, the money of all those, who having inadvertently subscribed several months ago, have thought themselves cheated out of their money; nor is it in any manner necessary, or indeed convenient, that they should return the books, which they have received. ### [42.32.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32.4) Those books amount to full eight hundred; they are already lumber upon my hands, and lumber that encroaches so much upon the dimensions of my habitation, and moreover requires so much care and solicitude, that by keeping those books out of my view, they shall really confer a favour upon me, and render me a service. This, Sir, is all that I can do, to give satisfaction to my Subscribers, and to make myself easy. I have forgot, Sir, to answer one of your questions : In how much time has the book been finished printing ? In no less than nineteen months. I inform you, that although to expedite the work, I have not carried so strict a hand over the printers, as I might and I ought, and I have moreover distributed of late, the several numbers to four several printers, who of course have been obliged to numerote the pages long after they had been printed ; yet for all that, I do not expect to see the last sheets of the work, but by the middle of July next. And this has so disgusted me with printers and books, that make sure of my own resolution, I have thrown into the fire about 600 pages, which were part of an History of Cashmir, which was very curious, and which I had undertaken. Printing in this country requires a young man, and a rich one, and I am neither. As to what you have heard of my assimilating so many Persian words to English ones, the list I gave, is neither whimsical, nor extravagant, as you have been told. Here it is. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.32) · Pramāṇa