- An English Version of Bidpai's Fables, Based upon Ancient Arabid and Spanish Manuscripts

Description:
Professor Irving has done a real service to Hispanists, Arabists, comparaists and folklorists alike in his translation of these famous and influential Indian tales. Working with both Old Spanish and Arabic versions of the work, he has given as complete a picture of it as is currently possible, since the Old Spanish versions appear to derive from an Arabic text long since lost. The Old Spanish is thus an indispensable witness to an early stage of its Arabic development unknown through any other source.

Kalilah and Dimnah derives from the five books of the Indian Panchatantra, to which about a dozen other stories have been added. These folktales have migrated both East and West, appearing in such disparate places as la Fontaine’s Fables and the Br’er Rabbitt stories.

Kalilah and Dimnah is of monumental importance for Spanish Literature because it was the first extensive piece of prose literature in Spanish, dating from 1251.

English versions of Kalilah and Dimnah have been very hard to come by, the last one having been made about 200 years ago. We are pleased to offer this annotated English version.


TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction......IX

Table of abbreviations and spellings......XV

Chapter I. The Lion and the Bull or How to Lose Friends......1

Chapter II. Dimnah’s Trial or The Artful Dodger......48

Chapter III. The Ringdove or The True Friends......72

Chapter IV. The Owls and the Crows or War and Peace......90

Chapter V. The Monkey and the Tortoise or Butterfingers......114

Chapter VI. The Hermit and the Mongoose or The Fruit of Hasty Action......122

Chapter VII. Ayladh, Shadram, and Irakhat or Don’t Trust Priests......125

Chapter VIII. The Cat and the Mouse or How to Lose Your Enemies......149

Chapter IV. King Brahmun and Fanzuh the Bird or Don’t Get Stung Twice......155

Chapter X. The Lion and the Jackal or The Reconciliation of Friends......160

Chapter XI. The Pilgrim and the Goldsmith or Man the Ingrate......171

Chapter XII. The Four Companions or Luck, Looks, Wits and Toil......176

Chapter XIII. The Archer and the Lioness or Why People Reform......184

Chapter XIV. The Hermit and His Guest or Be Content with Your Lot......187

Chapter XV. The Pigeon, The Fox, and the Crane or Don’t Get Fooled by Your Own Trick......189

Notes......193

Bibliography......203