Page:Dasarupa (Haas 1912).djvu/11

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PREFACE

The publication of the present volume, originally planned for 1909, has been delayed until now by various contingencies both unforeseen and unavoidable. While in some respects unfortunate, this delay has been of advantage in giving me opportunities for further investigation and enabling me to add considerably to my collection of comparative material.

For information regarding the plan and scope of the book I would refer the reader to pages xli–xlv of the Introduction. I take this opportunity, however, to emphasize the fact that the transliterated text of Dhanaṃjaya’s treatise has been included solely for the convenience of those using the book; with the exception of a few minor corrections and emendations it is the same as that originally published by Hall in 1865. It should be noted, furthermore, that I have not undertaken to present the comments of Dhanika except in a few special cases, the paragraphs headed ‘Com.’ being devoted chiefly to recording the source of his numerous illustrative quotations. The limitations I have imposed on myself in the notes will be evident to the reader on inspection.

In deference to the wishes of the publishers I have refrained from using in the present volume the simpler English spellings recommended by the Simplified Spelling Board. I should have preferred to adopt them here, as I have done in my personal correspondence, because I believe that the use of the simpler forms in the publication of books and papers is one of the most effective means of furthering a change at once so necessary and so reasonable.

I am indebted to the librarians of the India Office and of the Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft for their kindness in sending to Professor Jackson, for my use, a number of volumes that were not accessible in this country. It is a pleasure to acknowledge also the uniform courtesy of the publishers, whose

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