[140] Collect. de Reb. Hib. vol. iv.
[141] Antiq. Research. Pers. vol. i. p. 137.
[142] If I have taken a wrong view of the professor’s phraseology, I shall feel most happy to be set right; but I submit to the critic whether I am not justified in understanding him as I do.
[143] To be met with at a place called Tauk-e-Bostan. Silvestre de Sacy, a member of the Institute at Paris, had made the following translation of it, which is divided into two parts.
The first:—“This figure is that of a worshipper of Hormuzd, or God; the excellent Shahpoor; king of kings; of Iran and An-Iran; a celestial germ of a heavenly race; the son of the adorer of God; the excellent Hormuzd; a king of kings; of Iran and An-Iran; a celestial germ of a heavenly race; grandson of the excellent Narses; king of kings.”
The second:—“This figure is that of a worshipper of Hormuzd, or God; the excellent Varaham; king of kings; king of Iran and An-Iran; a celestial germ of a heavenly race; son of the adorer of God; the excellent Shapoor; king of kings; of Iran and An-Iran; a celestial germ of a heavenly race; grandson of the excellent Hormuzd; king of kings.”
[144] This An, the original name for country, was modified afterwards, according to clime and dialect, into tan, as in Aqui-tan-ia, Brit-tan-ia, Mauri-tan-ia, etc.; and into stan, as in Curdi-stan, Fardi-stan, Hindu-stan, etc.
[145] From this was formed the English word tower, the very idea remaining unchanged. As was also the English word bud, meaning the first shoot of a plant, a germ, from the Irish budh, i.e. the organ of male energy.
[146] The present bleak and sterile aspect of this region militates nothing against this view, when we consider the thousand alterations which it has undergone, under the thousand different tribes that have consecutively possessed it.
[147] From Ir or Eer, sacred, and an, a land.