_Kh_—_kh_ sounded like _ch_ in _ch_ur_ch_. Kh—kh pronounced as in in_kh_orn. Ć—ć ” ” as _ch_ in _ch_ur_ch_. Ćh—ćh ” ” churc_hh_ill. Ṭ—ṭ ” ” _t_rue Ṭh—ṭh ” ” an_th_ill. Ḍ—ḍ ” ” _d_rum. Ḍh—ḍh ” ” red _h_aired. Ś—ś ” ” _s_ure. [Illustration: FAC SIMILE OF A PORTION OF A PAGE OF THE OLDEST ZEND MANUSCRIPT. (See Page 117. ] PERSIAN LITERATURE. DIVISION I. THE EARLY TABLETS AND MYTHOLOGY. CHAPTER I. HISTORIC OUTLINE. ORIGIN OF PERSIAN LITERATURE—ACCAD AND SUMER—LITERATURE OF NINEVEH— BABYLON—ĪRĀN OR PERSIA—PHYSICAL FEATURES—PERSIAN ART—MANUSCRIPTS— EARLY LITERATURE—THE ARABIAN CONQUEST—LITERATURE OF MODERN PERSIA— PERSIAN ROMANCE. Every nation has a literature peculiarly her own, even though it may find its sources in foreign fields. As Persia was founded upon the ruins of more ancient monarchies, as she gathered into the halls of her kings the spoils of conquered nations, so also her literature was enriched by the philosophy and science, the poetry and mythology of her predecessors. The resistless horde, which poured down from the mountains and swept all of Western Asia into its current, formed the kindred tribes into a single monarchy, and this monarchy gathered unto herself, not only the wealth and military glory, but also the culture and learning of the nations she had conquered. The whole civilized world was taxed to maintain the splendors of her court; the imperial purple was found in the city of Tyre, and her fleets also came from Phœnicia, for the experience of this maritime people was indispensable to their Persian masters. Indian groves furnished the costly woods of aloe and of sandal that burned upon her altars, while Syria and the islands of the sea filled her flagons with wine. The richest fruits were brought from the sunny shores of Malay, and even the desert sent tributes of incense and gold. Herds of camels came from Yemen, and horses of the finest Arabian blood were found in the royal stables. What wonder, then, that the nation which rifled continents to supply her magnificence should appropriate also the wealth of the world of letters that came under her sway? In the background of Persian power there lies an historic past which is replete with the literary treasures of the Orient. ACCAD AND SUMER.