On Parent Knees a Naked New-born Child - Classic Text | Alexandria
"On Parent Knees a Naked New-born Child" is a celebrated hymn translation by Sir William Jones (1746-1794), renowned Oriental scholar and jurist, which represents one of the earliest and most influential Western translations of Persian poetry. Originally composed as a translation of a Persian hymn attributed to Saadi of Shiraz, this work exemplifies Jones's groundbreaking contributions to cross-cultural literary exchange during the late 18th century.
First published in Jones's "Poems, Consisting Chiefly of Translations from the Asiatick Languages" (1772), the hymn emerged during a period of growing British interest in Oriental studies and colonial expansion in India. The translation demonstrates Jones's exceptional linguistic abilities and his dedication to bridging Eastern and Western literary traditions. As the founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and a Supreme Court judge in Calcutta, Jones's work represented a unique intersection of scholarly pursuit and colonial administration.
The hymn's opening lines, "On parent knees, a naked new-born child / Weeping thou sat'st while all around thee smiled," present a universal image of human vulnerability and life's cyclical nature. This philosophical observation, drawn from Persian wisdom literature, resonated deeply with Enlightenment-era European audiences and continues to influence contemporary discussions of human nature and mortality. Jones's translation technique, which balanced fidelity to the original Persian with English poetic conventions, established new standards for literary translation and cultural interpretation.
The work's legacy extends beyond its immediate literary impact, serving as a cornerstone in the development of comparative literature and Oriental studies in the West. Modern scholars continue to analyze its role in shaping Western perceptions of Persian literature and its influence on Romantic poets like Coleridge and Shelley. The hymn's enduring appeal lies in its universal message and its status as a bridge between Eastern and Western literary traditions, exemplifying how translation can transcend cultural boundaries while preserving the essence of its source material.
Jones's translation remains a testament to the power of cross-cultural literary exchange and the enduring relevance of Persian philosophical poetry to modern readers, raising questions about the nature of human experience and the role of translation in cultural understanding.