Y. 9 (University Library, Cambridge University)

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E. G. Browne Collection

Contents

Summary of Contents: A volume of miscellanea in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. The last two items are lithographed. 1. (ff. 1-9.) A translation of twelve of La Fontaine's Fables into Persian verse by Mírzá Ḥusayn Dánish Khán (Ḥusayn Dánish Bey, formerly Chef du service de la traduction à l'agence de la banque ottomane à Stamboul), who gave the autograph to Professor Browne in Constantinople in April, 1908. The Preface, dated 4 Rabí' II, 1311/15 October, 1893, begins: بر ارباب زبان و اصحاب بیان روشن و عیان است 2. (ff. 11-16.) A takhmís by Mírzá Ḥusayn Dánish Khán on the celebrated qasida of Kháqání (Elegia de urbe Madain, of which the text is given in Spiegel's Chrestomathia Persica, pp. 105-111). The author presented this to Professor Browne in April, 1908. It was subsequently published at Constantinople. 3. (ff. 17-73.) A Persian commentary on some verses of Ḥáfiẓ by a certain Mushfiq. Given to Professor Browne in Persia (? Kirmán) in 1888. Begins: سپاس بیلیاس عالمی را روا و ستایش بی آلایش ناظمی را سزاست 4. (ff. 75-115) A work entitled Miftáḥu'l-'Irfán fí Tartíb-i Suwar-il-Qur'án, or "The Key of Knowledge concerning the order of the Súras of the Qur'án," probably by Mírzá Báqir of Bawánát, whom Professor Browne knew in London in 1882-5 (see A Year amongst the Persians, reprint, pp. 13-16). It consists of two parts, the first dealing with the Meccan Súras, and the second with those revealed at Medina. Part I begins (f. 75b): از آنجا که این کتاب مستطاب من حيث السور مقدم و مؤخّر بود Part II begins on f. 99. 5. (ff. 116-129) An unfinished collection of Arabic sentences, dialogues, proverbs, etc., designed for the use of students beginning to read that language. Begins: الحمد لله رب العالمين ... فهذه كلمات من اللغة العربيّة هادية لمن يقصدها 6. (ff. 133-138.) A Turkish tract, comprising a preface and three chapters, entitled Nikáyatu'l-Itisám li-Umm Harám bint Milḥás and compiled by Shaykh Ibráhím from a risála and other materials which were left by his father, Shaykh Muṣṭafà Efendi, who died in 1210/1795-6. The work is dedicated to Sayyid Ḥasan Ághá, the Director of Customs (muḥaṣṣil) in Cyprus. Umm Ḥarám, whose name is said to have been Rumaysá or Sahla, was the wife of 'Ubáda ibnu 'ṣ-Ṣámit (d. 34/654), a well-known Companion of the Prophet. She took part in the expedition against Cyprus in 28/649, and her tomb near Larnaca "is still revered as the greatest Muslim sanctuary in the island" (Encycl. of Islam, vol. 1, p. 883). This MS., which gives an account of her life and miracles, was presented by the Shaykh of the Tekye to C. D. Cobham in 1878 or 1879. Begins: حمد نامحدود و ثنای نامحدود اول واجب الوجود ومفيض الخير والجود حضرتلرينه 7. (ff. 140-144.) A Persian translation of the Sermon on the Mount and Psalms cxvii-cxix, 81, by Ḥusayn ibn 'Ísà ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥusayní al-Baḥrání. 8. (ff. 146-147) Two chapters (Súratu'n-Niráya and Súratu'l-Wiláyat) of the Arabic Bayán, or Bábí Scripture, with Persian interlinear translation. Dated 1285/1868-9. 9. (ff. 150-165.) Arabic translations of parts of the Old and New Testaments, viz. the Parable of the Prodigal Son (St Luke xv, 11-32), and Genesis, chs. xxxvii and xxxix-xlv. 10. (ff. 168-175) An Arabic translation of St Paul's Epistle to the Romans, chs. v-ix, 7. 11. (ff. 176-191.) A Persian lithograph containing the story of Salím-i Jawáhirí and Ḥajjáj, with many illustrations. Begins: 12. (ff. 192-211.) A Persian treatise on tarassulát and siyáq, lithographed at Tihrán in 1263/1846-7. Begins: اما راویان اخبار و ناقلان آثار و طوطیان شکرشکن شیرین گفتار چنین روایت کرده اند شکر و سپاس فزون از فهم و قیاس خالقی را Ff. 211 of various sizes and colours. The MSS. are written by different hands.
ff. 1-9
Author: Mírzá Ḥusayn Dánish Khán حسین دانش Hüseyn Daniş
Title: Translation of twelve of La Fontaine's Fables into Persian verse

Preface dated 4 Rabí' II, 1311 (15 October 1893). Given by the translator to Browne in Constantinople in April 1908.

Incipit: بر ارباب زبان و اصحاب بیان روشن و عیان است
Language(s): Persian
ff. 11-16
Author: Mírzá Ḥusayn Dánish Khán حسین دانش Hüseyn Daniş
Title: تخمیص قصیده خاقانی
Title: Takhmís on the qasida of Kháqání
Title: Elegia de urbe Madain

Presented by the author to Browne in April 1908; subsequently published at Constantinople.

Language(s): Persian
ff. 17-73
Author: Mushfiq مشفق
Title: Persian commentary on some verses of Ḥáfiẓ

Given to Browne in Persia (? Kirmán) in 1888.

Incipit: سپاس بیلیاس عالمی را روا و ستایش بی آلایش ناظمی را سزاست
Language(s): Persian
ff. 75-115
Author: Mírzá Báqir of Bawánát
Title: Miftáḥ al-'Irfán fí Tartíb-i Suwar lil-Qur'án
Title: مفتاح القران فی ترطیب سوره قران
Title: The Key of Knowledge concerning the order of the Súras of the Qur'án

In two parts: Part I (f. 75b) on the Meccan súras, Part II (f. 99) on those revealed at Medina.

Incipit: از آنجا که این کتاب مستطاب من حيث السور مقدم و مؤخّر بود
Language(s): Persian
ff. 116-129
Title: Unfinished collection of Arabic sentences, dialogues and proverbs for language students
Incipit: الحمد لله رب العالمين ... فهذه كلمات من اللغة العربيّة هادية لمن يقصدها
Language(s): Arabic
ff. 133-138
Author: Shaykh Ibráhím
Title: Niháyatu'l-Itisám li-Umm Harám bint Milḥán
Title: Niháyat al-i'tisám li-Umm Harám bint Milḥán
Title: Biography and account of the miracles of Haram bin Milhan

Compiled from a risála and other materials left by the compiler's father, Shaykh Muṣṭafà Efendi (d. 1210/1795-6); dedicated to Sayyid Ḥasan Ághá, Director of Customs in Cyprus. Concerns Umm Ḥarám bint Milḥán, wife of 'Ubáda ibnu 'ṣ-Ṣámit (d. 34/654), a Companion of the Prophet (Encycl. of Islam, vol. 1, p. 883). This copy was presented by the Shaykh of the Tekye to C. D. Cobham in 1878 or 1879.

Incipit: حمد نامحدود و ثنای نامحدود اول واجب الوجود ومفيض الخير والجود حضرتلرينه
Language(s): Ottoman Turkish
ff. 140-144
Author: Ḥusayn ibn 'Ísà ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥusayní al-Baḥrání, fl. 16th century
Title: Persian translation of the Sermon on the Mount and Psalms cxvii-cxix
Language(s): Persian
ff. 146-147
Title: Bayan| Arabi
Title: Two chapters (Súratu'n-Niráya and Súratu'l-Wiláyat) of the Arabic Bayán, with Persian interlinear translationDated 1285/1868-9.
Language(s): Arabic, with Persian interlinear translation
ff. 150-165
Title: Arabic translations of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and Genesis 37 and 39-45
Language(s): Arabic
ff. 168-175
Title: Arabic translation of St Paul's Epistle to the Romans, chs. 5-9:7
Language(s): Arabic
ff. 176-191
Title: The story of Salím-i Jawáhirí and Ḥajjáj
Language(s): Persian

Persian lithograph, illustrated

ff. 192-211
Title: Persian treatise on tarassulát (epistolary composition) and siyáq (accountancy notation)

Lithographed at Tihrán in 1263/1846-7.

Incipit: اما راویان اخبار و ناقلان آثار و طوطیان شکرشکن شیرین گفتار چنین روایت کرده اند
Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper
Extent: Ff. 211, of various sizes and colours

Layout

Items of various format.

Hand(s)

Written by different hands (items 11-12 are lithographed).

History

Origin: by 1908 CE ; Constantinople

Provenance and Acquisition

A composite volume assembled from items received by Browne at different times and places; item 6 was presented by the Shaykh of the Tekye to C. D. Cobham in 1878 or 1879 before reaching this collection.

Passed to Cambridge University Library in 1936 (the "Browne Bequest").

Record Sources

Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.

Availability

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Cambridge University

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