harnessed their chariot, and that Day and Night, again the A_s_vins, spring from Vivasvat[19], the shining sun. As Sara_n_yû, Erinys, also is called the mother of the A_s_vins, she must likewise have been another form of the Dawn in her varying aspects. The stories about the A_s_vins when they have once become mythological characters, heroes, saviours, and physicians, are endless, but they need not detain us. The important point is to perceive their physical background, and that can always be discovered even behind the thick veil of legend. Nothing is more instructive for the student of mythology than to see how this natural conception of Day and Night, of Light and Darkness, as the A_s_vins, becomes the germ from which spring in time ever so many half-legendary and even half-historical fables, the so-called Itihâras. Most of the hymns addressed to the A_s_vins are very tedious, and repeat again and again the numerous miracles which they performed and the kindnesses which they showed to their friends and worshippers. I give here one short hymn only (V, 76), enough, however, to show what physical background there was for them, a background which in many cases had entirely vanished from the purview of the Vedic Rishis, but which is clear enough to the student of mythology. I have endeavoured in these translations to keep strictly to the metre of the original, which is not always easy. I must therefore crave the indulgence of my readers for certain infelicities of expression which I could not avoid without departing too much from the original. HYMN TO THE A_S_VINS, DAY AND NIGHT. 1. Agni shines forth, the shining face of Ushas[20], The priests’ god-loving voices have ascended, O A_s_vins, on your chariot hither tending, Come to our overflowing morn-libation. 2. The quick do not despise our ready offering; They have been praised, and are now near beside us; Early and late they hasten to our succour, The worshippers best friends against all evil. 3. Come hither then at milking-time, at breakfast, Come here at noon, and come at sunset also, By day, by night, come with your happy succour; Our draught has always brought the A_s_vins hither. 4. This place, forsooth, has always been your dwelling, The houses here, O A_s_vins, and this shelter; Come from high heaven then, and from the mountain[21], Come from the waters, bringing food and vigour. 5. May we attain the A_s_vins’ newest blessings, Their happy guidance, health and wealth bestowing; Immortals, bring us riches, bring us heroes, And all that here on earth can make us happy.