A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s8.238

v3.c35.s8.238

It is true that Jayadeva belongs to the greatest poetical genii of India. It is, however, astonishing that he was able to combine so much passion and sentiment of love, so much alliteration in language, that often resounds as pure music in our ears, with such an ornate and yet artificial a form. It is no wonder that in India the poem enjoys unusual popularity and has always found admirers even outside India. It is so difficult to bring into translations the brilliance of languge that they can reproduce its charms just partially. Even extracts from a defective English translation of the poet by W. Jones engendered feeling of wonder in Goethe. He deplores the fact that although “the incomparable Jones” had remained within the limits of decorum, the German translator Herr v. Dalberg has gone for away in his German translation and the great poet expresses his intention even to translate the poem².