A GRAMMAR OF THE PERSIAN LANGUAGE. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A SELECTION OF EASY EXTRACTS FOR READING; TOGETHER WITH A VOCABULARY, AND TRANSLATIONS. BY DUNCAN FORBES, A.M., MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, من 33 طريق سعي مي آرم بجا ليس للانسانِ إِلَّا ما سعي و دامنِ مقصود اگر آرم بکف از غم و اندوه مانم برطرف FOURTH EDITION. LONDON. Wм. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE. S.W. PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE. 1869. HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY JAN ZU 1.04 LONDON: LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, SWAN BUILDINGS, MOORGATE STREET. 55.59 3040 64 PREFACE. THE object of the following Work is to facilitate the acquisition of a language universally allowed to be the richest and most elegant of those spoken in Modern Asia. To the general scholar, the Persian recommends itself, from its vast stores of graceful and entertaining literature. To the traveller in the East, a knowledge of it is as essential as that of the French used to be in Europe. Lastly, to our British Youth, who annually resort to India, destined to become, in due time, the guardians of our Eastern Empire, an acquaintance with Persian is of the utmost importance. In the first place, it is the Court language of the Musalman Princes, and that of the higher classes generally; and, in the second place, a knowledge of it is requisite for the proper attainment of the Hindustani, or popular language, which is spoken and understood, more or less, in every part of the country. I have been long convinced, from experience, that a work like the present is a desideratum. A Grammar of any language, adapted for a beginner, ought to be brief and perspicuous, containing only the general and more useful principles of such language. It ought to be accompanied with Easy Extracts for practice, as well as a copious Vocabulary. At the same time, the shortest Grammar is too long for a beginner: therefore, those parts absolutely necessary for the first reading ought to be rendered more prominent, by the use of a larger type. Lastly, the work ought to be confined entirely to its legitimate purpose-the instructing of beginners; not deviating into ingenious metaphysical and |