Page:A History of Hindi Literature.djvu/106

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

92 A HISTORY OF HINDI LITERATURE Hari^chandra wrote also on various subjects includ- ing history, patriotism, religious devotion, and love. He was also the author of many humorous verses. His historical works include the Kashmir Kusuyn, or history of Kashmir, and the Charitavall, a series of lives of great men both Indian and European. Next to his plays his love poems are considered to be the best part of his work. Love and mirth are pro- minent characteristics of his poetry, which is full of power. He must be reckoned amongst the great writers of Hindi literature. He used chiefly the Braj Bhasha dialect. Hari^chandra also did much to cultivate interest in Hindi poetry. To accomplish this he started a magazine called Harischa7idrikd, in which he published a number of old texts with much other matter. He also produced anthologies of Hindi poetry such as the S2i7idarl Tilak, which contains poems in the savaiya metre from the works of sixty-nine poets, and the Kavi Bacha7i Sudhd, which is a collection of poems dealing with the rainy season. As an example of the poetry of Hari^chandra the following translation is given : — O warriors, having put on your arms, arise for the fight, and fly the flag of victory ; Draw your sword fronfi the scabbard, and join the battle. Having girded up your loins, put your arrow to your bow ; Put on your saffron-coloured garments and the bracelet of battle (as sign of a vow to conquer or die) ; If the Aryans be united, and think of their own dignity, They will give up quarrels amongst themselves, and support the honour of their race. Then the strength of the mean Amirkhan cannot be great. When a lion is roused, can a dog stand in battle against him ? Even an ant trampled underfoot bites, although it is only insig- nificant. These arc visible enemies, woe to those who ignore them. ""~~oe to those who, being Aryans, have a love to those who are barbarians. Woe to those who have any dealings with them. Warriors, arise, and having put on all your weapons, plunge into the battle. Write with a pen of steel the strength of the Aryans on the heart of both (conquerors and conquered) . ^Nv^