PREFACE.THE results of comparative philology are now so generally incorporatedinto our modern classical grammars, lexicons, and text-books, that even aslight knowledge of Sanskrit, if it be accurate so far as it goes, is of greatservice to the classical teacher in making his illstruction interestillg andeffective. As independent disciplines, moreover, Sanskrit and comparativephilology, and the literatures and religions of India, are constantly gaillingin importance, so that, for example, Sanskrit is now taught at all but one ofthe twenty uuiversities of the German Empire.The design of this work, then, is twofold. In the first place, it is toserve as an introduction to these subjects for the students of our collegesand unh-ersities_ The excellent Chrestomathy of BOEHTLIXGK has novocabulary; and few persons can be expected to buy the costly dictionaryof 'YILLLDIS or that of BOEHTLINGK AXD ROTH, at the outset, when theyare uncertain whether Sanskrit will be ofTable of Contents CONTENTS; Introductory suggestions ; Brief list of books for students of Sanskrit; PAItT 1; A From the Maha-bharata; SELECTION; I The story of N ala and Damayanti; B From the Hitopadega; II Preface and introduction ; III The old tiger and the traveller ; IV The deer and the crow, and the jackal; V The blind vulture, the bird lings, and the cat; VI The ass, the dog, and the thief; VII The lion, the mouse, and the cat; VIII The crows and the serpent; IX The lion, the old hare, and the well ; X The birds and the apes; XI The ass in the tiger-skin ; XII The elephant, the hares, and the moon; XIII The blue jackal; XIV The two geese and the tortoise; XV The three fishes; XVI The herons, the serpent, and the ichneumons; XVII The hermit, and the mouse that was changed to a tiger; XVIII The heron, the fishes,