Regarding the character of the stories and the material contained iu them, we may dis tinguish three categories: (1) Beast fables; (2) Fairy tales: and (3) Anecdotes. Of these, the beast fahles represent probably the oldest structure, reverting, as they eventually do, to the primitive beliefs which attributed to animals human powers and evident superhuman faculties. The fairy tales show the Eastern imagination at its best, though it should be remembered that some of the tales are transformed myths that again belong to a more primitive age than one which was able to exercise the imaginative fancy for its own sake, independent of doctrines or of symbolical purposes. Burton assumes that the fairy tale proper in the Arabian Nights is "wholly and purely Persian" (Terminal Essay to his translation, page 127), and so far as the stimulus toward this branch of literature is in volved, he is unquestionably right, for the genuine Arab, while of a highly poetic tempera ment, is restrained in his fancy through the sober and austere character of hi religion. which discountenances the products of the pure imagi nation. Characteristically Arabic. on the other hand, are the stories introduced to prove a point or to point a moral, while the incidents and aneedotes, historical and otherwise, are likewise the genuine production of the Arabic mind.
In judging of the obscene allusions with which many of the tales are well stocked, and the frankly indelicate manner in which incidents are related that shock Occidental sensibilities, it must he borne in mind that many themes may be discussed in the Orient with perfect sim plicity, that would be regarded as improper among us, so that not everything which seems obscene was really intended to be such. But making due allowance for this difference between the Oriental and Occidental point of view, there remains a large residuum of erotic material that is undoubtedly introduced to add piquancy to the tales. Such material, however, has its value for the student of customs and manners, who is given an insight into conditions existing at one time in the Orient which is not to be had in any other way. Indeed, apart from the entertaining character of the tales (when freed from their objectionable features), they abound in refer ences to religious and social customs and man ners of thinking that make them a perfect store house of valuable material for the one who wishes to study the Orient, and modern scholars have done much toward 'utilizing this material in their researches regarding Mohammedanism and Arabic antiquities as well as Arabic his tory.
The best editions of the Arabic text are those of Maenaghton (Calcutta, 1839-1842; lithographed, Bombay, 1879) and the Bulak editions of 1835 (2 vols.) and 1885 (1 vols.). A shorter and at times expurgated text is given by 11. Habieht (12 vols., Breslau 1825-1843) and Salhani (5 vols., Beirut, 1888 - 1890). Galland's French translation (1704) was soon followed by an Eng lish rendering, which as early as 1713 had already reached a fourth edition. Of English translations based on the Arabic. there are now three—the first by E. W. Lane. whose edition is abridged (1839-41) ; a popular edition was published in 1847, The Thousand and One Nights. The notes constitute a valuable feature. Lane's edition has been repeatedly reissued, the last one being in six volumes, edited by Joseph Jambs (London, 1898). John Payne's translation. based upon the Macnaghton MSS. and prepared for the llon Society, was issued in nine volumes I London, 1882-84). It takes rank with Sir Richard Bur ton's translation in ten volumes (1885-86), with a "Terminal Essay" embodying the results of Bur ton's researches as to the origin, age, and charac ter of the tales. To this he subsequently added sirs supplemental volumes (1887-88), containing tales not included in Macon's edition and drawn from other printed texts and manuseripts. All abridged and expurgated edition of Burton's work was prepared by Lady Burton and issued in six volumes (London, I887-88). There are four noteworthy translations in German. The earliest was that of Habicht published at Breslau in fifteen volumes, 1824-25. This was followed by a translation by Zinserling, which was based upon the Freneb translation of Hammer-Purgstall (3 vols., Stuttgart, 1823). Gustav Weil's transla tion appeared in three volumes at Stuttgart in 1838-43. There has been added lately a spirited translation by Max Henning in the Reelam Uni versal Bibliothck, (Leipzig. 1896 et seq.). Of these the most reliable is that of Weil. In France Galland's translation has been superseded by that of Mardrus (Paris, 1899, et seq.) and editions have been issued by Calissin de Perceral (Paris, 1806, 9 vols.), Edward Gautier 1, 7 vols.). M. Destain (1823-25. G vols.), SU vcstre de Sacy (1838, 3 vols.), and others.
The success of Galland's venture gave rise to many imitations that appeared in France. Eng land. and Germany. all more or less expurgated and altered to adapt them for popular use. A complete bibliography of the Arabian. Nights is given in Chauvin. Bibliographic des ourrages arabes. V. (Paris. 1901).