Chapter 12 HINDOO, ARABIAN, AND PERSIAN FABLES.-PILPAY, LOCMAN.-THE 'GESTA ROMANORUM.'

'When to my study I retire,

And from books of ancient sages

Glean fresh sparks of buried fire

Lurking in their ample pages-

While the task my mind engages

Let old words new truths inspire.'

James Clerk Maxwell.

The 'Panca Tantra' is a collection of Hindoo fables, the supposed author of which was Vishnu Sarman, and this is belie