第4章

IntheEnglishlanguagetherewasasyetnoclassicalmeaning；itwasexactlythatmeaningthatthesewritersweregivingthewordswhentheybroughtthemintotheirversion。[1]Thereislargeadvantageinthefactthattheagewasnotascientificone，thatthelanguagehadnotbecomecomplicated。SoitbecomesinterestingtoobservewithProfessorMarchthatninety-threepercent。ofthesewords，countingalsorepetitions，arenativeEnglishwords。Thelanguagewasnew，wasstillplastic。Ithadnotbeenstiffenedbyuse。ItreceiveditssetmoredefinitelyfromtheEnglishBiblethanfromanyotheronework——morethanfromShakespeare，whoseinfluencewassecond。 [1]Trevelyan，EnglandundertheStuarts，p。54，ThefourthfactwhichhelpedtodetermineitsEnglishstyleistheloyaltyofthetranslatorstotheoriginal，notablytheHebrew。ItisacommonremarkofthestudentsoftheoriginaltonguesthattheHebrewandGreeklanguagesarepeculiarlytranslatable。ThatisnotableintheHebrew。Itisnotalanguageofabstractterms。Thetendencyoflanguageisalwaystobecomevague，sincewearelazyintheuseofit。 Weuseonewordinvariousways，andapetoneformanyideas。Languageisalwaysmoreconcreteinitsearlierforms。InthisperiodoftheconcreteEnglishlanguage，then，thetranslationwasmadefromtheHebrew，whichwasalsoaconcrete，figurativelanguageitself。ThestructureoftheHebrewsentenceisverysimple。 Therearenoextendedparagraphsinit。ItissomewhatdifferentintheNewTestament，wheretheseparagraphsarefound，certainlyinthePaulineGreek；buteventheretheextendedsentencesarebrokenintoclauseswhichcanbetakenaswholes。TheEnglishversionshowsconstantlythemarksoftheHebrewinfluenceinthesimplicityofitsphrasing。RenansaysthattheHebrew\"knowshowtomakepropositions，butnothowtolinkthemintoparagraphs。\"SotheearlierBiblestoriesarelikeachild\'swayoftalking。Theyletonesentencefollowanother，andtheirunityisfoundintheoverflowinguseoftheword\"and\"——onefacthungtoanothertomakeastory，butnottomakeanargument。 InthefirsttenchaptersofISamuel，forexample，therearetwohundredandthirty-eightverses； onehundredandsixtyofthembeginwithAND。 Thereareonlytwenty-sixofthewholewhichhavenoconnectivewordthatthruststhembackupontheprecedingverse。 IntheHebrewlanguage，also，mostoftheemotionsareconnectedeitherinthewordusedorinthewordsaccompanyingitwiththephysicalconditionthatexpressesit。Overandoverwearetoldthat\"heopenedhismouthandsaid，\"or，\"hewasangryandhiscountenancefell。\"Angerisexpressedinwordswhichtellofhardbreathing，ofheat，ofboilingtumult，oftrembling。Wewouldnottroubletosaythat。 Theopeningofthemouthtospeakorthefallingofthecountenanceinanger，wewouldtakeforgranted。TheHebrewdoesnot。EveninthedescriptionofGodyourememberthetermsarethoseofcommonlife；Heisashepherdwhenshepherdsarewriting；Heisahusbandmanthreshingoutthenations，treadingthewine- pressuntilHeisreddenedwiththewine——andsoon。ThatisthenaturalmethodoftheHebrewlanguage——concrete，vivid，neverabstract，simpleinitsphrasing。TheKingJamestranslatorsareexceedinglyloyaltothatoriginal。 ProfessorCook，ofYale，suggeststhatfourtraitsmaketheBibleeasytotranslateintoanylanguage:universalityofinterest，sothatthereareapttobewordsinanylanguagetoexpresswhatitmeans，sinceitexpressesnothingbutwhatmenalltalkabout；then，theconcretenessandpicturesquenessofitslanguage，avoidingabstractphraseswhichmightbedifficulttoreproduceinanothertongue；then，thesimplicityofitsstructure，sothatitcanbetakeninsmallbits，andlongcomplicatedsentencesarenotneeded；and，finally，itsrhythm，sothatparteasilyfollowspartandthewordscatchakindofswingwhichisnotdifficulttoimitate。 Thatisaverytrueanalysis。TheBibleisthemosteasilytranslatedbookthereis，andhasbecometheclassicformorelanguagesthananyotheronebook。ItisbroughtaboutinpartinourEnglishversionbythefaithfulnessofthetranslatorstotheoriginal。 Passingfromthesegeneralconsiderations，letuslookdirectlyattheEnglishBibleitselfanditsliteraryqualities。Thefirstthingthatattractsattentionisitsuseofwords，andsincewordslieattherootofallliteratureitisworthwhiletostopforthemforamoment。Twothingsaretobesaidaboutthewords:first，thattheyarefew；and，secondly，thattheyareshort。ThevocabularyoftheEnglishBibleisnotanextensiveone。Shakespeareusesfromfifteentotwentythousandwords。InMilton\'sverseheusesaboutthirteenthousand。IntheOldTestament，intheHebrewandChaldaictongue，therearefifty-sixhundredandforty- twowords。IntheNewTestament，intheGreek，thereareforty-eighthundred。ButinthewholeoftheKingJamesversionthereareonlyaboutsixthousanddifferentwords。Thevocabularyisplainlyanarrowoneforabookofitssize。 While，aswassaidbefore，thetranslatorsavoidedusingthesamewordalwaysfortranslationofthesameoriginal，theyyetmanagedtorecurtothesamewordsoftenenoughsothatthiscomparativelysmalllistofsixthousandwords，aboutone-thirdShakespeare\'svocabulary，sufficedforthestatingofthetruth。 Then，Secondly，thewordsareshort，andingeneralshortwordsarethestrongones。TheaveragewordinthewholeBible，includingthelongpropernames，isbarelyoverfourletters，andifallthepropernamesareexcludedtheaveragewordisjustalittleunderfourletters。Ofcourse，anotherwayofsayingthatisthatthewordsaregenerallyAnglo-Saxon，and，whileintheoriginalspellingtheyweremuchlonger，yetintheirsoundtheywereasbriefastheyareinourpresentspelling。ThereisnomeritinAnglo- Saxonwordsexceptinthefactthattheyareconcrete，definite，non-abstractwords。Theyarewordsthatmeanthesametoeverybody； theyarepartofcommonexperience。WeshallseethepowerofsuchwordsbycomparingasimplestatementinSaxonwordsfromtheEnglishBiblewithacommentofalearnedtheologianofourowntimeonthem。ThephraseisasimpleoneintheCommunionservice: \"Thisismybodywhichisgivenforyou。\" ThatisallSaxon。Whenourtheologiancomestocommentonithesayswearetounderstandthat\"thevalidityoftheservicedoesnotlieinthequalityofexternalsignsandsacramentalrepresentation，butinitsessentialpropertyandsubstantialreality。\"Nowthereareninewordsabstractintheirmeaning，Latinintheirform。 ItisinthatkindofwordsthattheBiblecouldhavebeentranslated，andinourowndaymightevenbetranslated。Addisonspeaksofthat: \"Ifanyonewouldjudgeofthebeautiesofpoetrythataretobemetwithinthedivinewritings，andexaminehowkindlytheHebrewmannersofspeechmixandincorporatewiththeEnglishlanguage，afterhavingperusedtheBookofPsalms，lethimreadaliteraltranslationofHoraceorPindar。Hewillfindinthesetwolastsuchanabsurdityandconfusionofstylewithsuchacomparativepovertyofimagination，aswillmakehimverysensibleofwhatIhavebeenhereadvancing。\"[1] [1]TheSpectator，No。405。 Thefactthatthewordsareshortcanbequicklyillustratedbytakingsomefamiliarsections。IntheTenCommandmentstherearethreehundredandnineteenwordsinall；twohundredandfifty-nineofthemarewordsofonesyllable，andonlysixtyareoftwosyllablesandover。Therearefiftywordsoftwosyllables，sixofthreesyllables，ofwhichfouraresuchcompositewordsthattheyreallyamounttotwowordsofoneandtwosyllableseach，withfourwordsoffoursyllables，andnoneoverthat。 Makeacomparisonjusthere。ThereisaparagraphinProfessorMarch\'slecturesontheEnglishlanguagewhereheisurgingthatitsstrongestwordsarepurelyEnglish，notderivedfromGreekorLatin。HeusestheKingJamesversionasillustration。If，now，wetakethreehundredandnineteenwordsatthebeginningofthatparagraphtocomparewiththethreehundredandnineteenintheTenCommandments，theresultwillbeinteresting。WheretheTenCommandmentshavetwohundredandfifty-ninewordsofonesyllable，ProfessorMarchhasonlyonehundredandninety-four；overagainstthefiftytwo-syllablewordsintheTenCommandments，ProfessorMarchhassixty-five； overagainsttheirsixwordsofthreesyllables，hehasthirty-five；overagainsttheirfourwordsoffoursyllables，heuseseighteen；andwhiletheTenCommandmentshavenowordlongerthanfoursyllables，ProfessorMarchneedsfivewordsoffivesyllablesandtwowordsofsixsyllablestoexpresshisideas。[1] [1]Thistablewillshowthecomparisonataglance: Syllables123456 TheCommandments259506400319 ProfessorMarch19465351852319 Thesamethingappearsinthefamiliar23dPsalm，wherethereareonehundredandnineteenwordsinall，ofwhichninety-fivearewordsofonesyllable，andonlythreeofthreesyllables，withnonelonger。IntheSermonontheMounteightytwopercent。ofthewordsinourEnglishversionarewordsofonesyllable。 Theonlypointurgednowisthatthiskindofthingmakesforstrengthinliterature。Shortwordsarestrongwords。Theyhaveasnapandagriptothemthatlongwordshavenot。Veryfewmenwouldgrowangryoverhavingastatementcalleda\"prevarication\"or\"adisingenuousentanglementofideas，\"butthereissomethingabouttheword\"lie\"thatsnapsinaman\'sface。\"Unjustifiablehypothecation\"maybethesameasstealing，butitwouldneverexciteonetobecalled\"anunjustifiablehypothecator\" asitdoestobecalledathief。AttheveryfoundationofthestrengthoftheliteratureoftheEnglishBiblethereliesthistendencytoshort，clear-cutwords。 Risingnowfromthisbasalelementintheliteratureoftheversion，wecometotheplacewhereitsstyleanditsideasblendinwhatwemaycallitsearnestness。Thatisitselfaliterarycharacteristic。Thereisnotalineoftriflinginthebook。Nomanwouldeverlearntriflingfromit。Ittakesitselfwithtremendousseriousness。Hereareearnestmenatwork； tothemlifeisjoyous，butitisnojoke。Thatiswhytheelementofhumorinitissuchasmallone。Itisthere，tobesure。Manyofitssimilesareintendedtobehumorous。Afewofitsincidentsarehumorous；butithaslittleofthatelementinit，asindeedlittleofourliteraturehasthatelementmarkedlyinit。Wehaveafewexceptions。ButwhatGeorgeEliotsaysinAdamBedeistrue，thatwitisofatemporarynature，anddoesnotdealwiththedeepandmorelastingelementsinlife。TheBibleisnotasadbook。Therearechildrenatplayinit； therearefeastsandbuoyantgatheringsfullyrecounted。Butitnevertriflesnorjests。 Soithasgivenusalanguageofgreatdignity。 LetAddisonspeakagain:\"Howcoldanddeaddoesaprayerappearthatiscomposedinthemostelegantandpoliteformsofspeech，whicharenaturaltoourtongue，whenitisnotheightenedbythatsolemnityofphrasewhichmaybedrawnfromthesacredwritings。Ithasbeensaidbysomeoftheancientsthatifthegodsweretotalkwithmen，theywouldcertainlyspeakinPlato\'sstyle；butIthinkwemaysay，withjustice，thatwhenmortalsconversewiththeirCreatortheycannotdoitinsoproperastyleasinthatoftheHolyScriptures。\" Asthatearnestnessoftheliteratureoftheoriginalprecludedanygreatamountofhumorinthewiderangeofitsliteraryforms，sointheKingJamesversionitprecludedanytriflingexpressions，anyplaysonwords，eventheduplicationofsuchplaysascanbefoundintheHebrewortheGreek。YouseldomfindanyturnofawordintheKingJamesversion，thoughyoudooccasionallyfinditintheHebrew。OnesuchpunningexpressionoccursinthestoryofSamson(Judgesxv:16)，whereourversionreads: \"Withthejawboneofanass，heapsuponheaps，withthejawboneofanasshaveIslainathousandmen。\"IntheHebrewthewordstranslated\"ass\"and\"heaps\"arevariantsofthesameword。ItcomesneartheHebrewtosay: \"Withthejawboneofanass，massesuponmasses，\"andsoon。Thesetranslatorswouldnotriskreproducingsuchpunsforfearofloweringthedignityoftheirresults。Thereisadeadlyseriousnessabouttheirworkandsotheyneverlosestrengthastheygoon。 Thatearnestnessgrowsoutofasecondfactwhichmaybeemphasized——namely，thegreatnessofthethemesofBibleliterature。Hereishistory，butitisnotcastintofictionform。 Historyalwaysbecomesmoreinterestingforafirstreadingwhenitisintheformoffiction；butitalwayslosesgreatnessinthatform。TestitbyturningfromahistoryoftheAmericanrevolutionaryorcivilwartoanhistoricalnovelthatdealswiththesameperiod；orfromahistoryofScotlandtotheWaverlynovels。Insomedegreetheearnestnessofthetimeislost；thesamefactsarethere；buttheydonotloomsolarge，nordotheyseemsogreat。Sothereispowerinthefactthatthehistoricalelementsoftheversionareinstatelyformandareneversacrificedtothefictionalform。 Thesegreatthemessavetheworkfrombeinglocal。Itissuesfromlife，butfromlifeconsideredinthelarge。Thethemesofgreatliteraturearegreatenoughtomaketheirimmediatesurroundingsforgotten。\"TheEnglishBibledealswiththegreatfactsandthegreatproblems。Itisfromthepointofviewofthosegreatfactsthatithandlesevencommonplacethings，andyouforgetthecommonplacenessofthethingsinthegreatnessofthedealing。TakeitsattitudetowardGod。Oneneedsthesenseofthatgreatthemetoreaditfairly。Itquietlyoverlookssecondarycauses，goesbackofthemtoGod。Partlythatwasbecausetheoriginalwriterswereignorantofsomeofthosesecondarycauses；partlythattheyknewthem，butwantedtogofartherback。Takethemostoutstandinginstance，thatoftheBookofJonah。Allitsfacts，withoutexception，canbetoldwithoutmentionofGod，ifonecaredtodoit。Buttherecouldnotbeanythinglikesogreatastoryifitistoldthatway。OneofhisbiographerssaysofLincolnthatthereisnothinginhiswholecareerwhichcallsforexplanationinotherthanapurelynaturalandhumanway。Thatistrue，ifonedoesnotcaretogoanyfartherbackthanthat。ButthegreateststorycannotbemadeoutofLincoln\'slifeonthoseterms。Thereisnotmaterialenough；thelifemustbedelocalized。 Itcanbetoldwithoutthatlargerview，sothatitwillbeofinteresttoAmericaandAmericanchildren，butnotsothatitwillbeofvaluetogenerationsofmeninallcountriesandunderallcircumstancesifitistoldonthoseterms。PartofthegreatnessofScripture，fromaliterarypointofview，isthatithassuchatremendousrangeoftheme，andissavedfromamerenarrationoflocaleventsbyseeingthoseeventsinthelightoflargerconsiderations。 Letthatstandforoneofthegreatfacts。 Nowtakeoneofthegreatproblems。ThethingthatmakesJobsogreataclassicisthefactthat，whileitisdealingwithacharacter，heisstandingfortheproblemofundeservedsuffering。A manwhohasthatbeforehim，ifhehasatallthegiftofimagination，issuretowriteinafarlargerwaythanwhenheisdealingwithamanwithboilsasthoughhewerefinallyimportant。 OnecoulddealwithJobasacharacter，anddoasmallpieceofwork。ButwhenyoudealwithJobasatype，amuchlargeropportunityoffers。 Itisthesegreatideas，astoeitherfactsorproblems，thatgivetheseriousness，theearnestnesstotheliteratureoftheBible。Menwhoexpressgreatideasinliteraryformarenotdilettanteaboutthem。OneoftheEnglishwritersjustnowprominentasanessayistisoftencountedwhimsical，trifling。Oneofhisnearfriendskeenlyresentsthatopinion，insistsinsteadthatheisdeadinearnest，serioustothelastdegree，purposefulinallhiswork。Whatmakesthatsodifficulttobelieveisthatthereisalwaysatoneofchaffinginhisessays。Heseemsalwaystobemakingfunofhimselforofotherpeople；andifheisdeadinearnesthehasthewrongstyletomakegreatliteratureorliteraturethatwilllivelong。 ItisthatearnestnessandgreatnessofthemewhichputsthetangintotheEnglishoftheBible。Coleridgesaysthat\"afterreadingIsaiahortheEpistletotheHebrews，HomerandVirgilaredisgustinglytame，Miltonhimselfbarelytolerable。\"Itneednotbeputquitesostronglyasthat；butthereislargewarrantoffactinthatexpression。 GoalittlefartherinthoughtoftheliterarycharacteristicsoftheBible。Noticethevarietyoftheformsinvolved。RecallProfessorMoulton\'sfourcardinalpointsinliterature，allofittakingoneoftheseforms:eitherdescription，whenasceneisgiveninthewordsoftheauthor，aswhenMiltonandHomerdescribesceneswithoutpretendingtogivethewordsoftheactorsthroughout；or，secondly，presentation，whenasceneisgiveninthewordsofthosewhotookpartinit，andtheauthordoesnotappear，as，ofcourse，intheplaysofShakespeare，whenheneverappears，butwhereallhissentimentsareputinthewordsofothers。Asbetweenthosetwo，theBibleispredominantlyabookofdescription，theauthorsforthemostpartdoingthespeaking，thoughthereis，ofcourse，anelementofpresentation。ProfessorMoultongoesonwiththetwootherphasesofliteraryform:prose，movingintheregionlimitedbyfacts，ashistoryandphilosophydealonlywithwhatactuallyhasexistence；andpoetry，whichbyitsGreekoriginmeanscreativeliterature。 Heremindsusthat，howeverliteraturestarts，thesearethepointstowardwhichitmoves，thepathsittakes。AllfourofthemappearintheliteratureoftheEnglishBible。Youhavemoreofproseandlessofpoetry；butthepoetryisthere，notinthesenseofrhyme，butinthesenseofrealcreativeliterature。 AmorenaturalwayofconsideringtheliteraturehasbeenfollowedbyProfessorGardiner。 HefindsfourelementsintheliteratureoftheBible:itsnarrative，itspoetry，itsphilosophizing，anditsprophecy。Itisnotnecessaryforourpurposetogointodetailsaboutthat。 Weshallhaveallweneedwhenwerealizethat，smallasthevolumeofthebookis，ityetdoescoverallthesetypesofliterature。Itsdifferencefromotherbooksisthatitdealswithallofitssubjectssocompactly。 ItwillaccentthisfactofitsvarietyifwenotethemusicalelementintheliteratureoftheBible。 ItcomesinpartfromtheformwhichmarkstheoriginalHebrewpoetry。Ithasbecomefamiliartosaythatitisnotoftherhymingkind。 Ratheritismarkedbythebalancingofphrasesorofideas，sothatitrunsincoupletsorintripletsthroughout。InthePsalmsthereisalwaysabalanceofclauses。Theyaresometimesadversative；sometimestheyaresimplycumulative。Takeseveralinstancesfromthe119thPsalm，eachacompletestanzaofHebrewpoetry；(verse15)\"Iwillmeditateinthyprecepts，andhaverespectuntothyways\"；orthis(verse23)，\"Princesalsodidsitandspeakagainstme:butthyservantdidmeditateinthystatutes\"；orthis(verse45)，\"AndIwillwalkatliberty:forIseekthyprecepts\"； (verse51，)\"Theproudhavehadmegreatlyinderision:yethaveInotinclinedfromthylaw。\" Eachpresentsaparalleloracontrastofideas。 ThatisthecharacteristicmarkofHebrewpoetry。 ItresultsinakindofrhythmoftheEnglishwhichmakesitveryeasytosettomusic。 Someofitcanbesung，thoughforsomeofitonlythethunderistherightaccompaniment。 Butitisnotsimplyinthebalanceofphrasesthatthemusicalelementappears。Sometimesitisinanaturalbutrhythmicconsecutionofideas。The35thchapterofIsaiah，forexample，isnotpoeticintheHebrew，yetitisremarkablymusicalintheEnglish。Readitaloudfromourfamiliarversion: \"Thewildernessandthesolitaryplaceshallbegladforthem；andthedesertshallrejoice，andblossomastherose。Itshallblossomabundantly，andrejoiceevenwithjoyandsinging；thegloryofLebanonshallbegivenuntoit，theexcellencyofCarmelandSharon；theyshallseethegloryoftheLord，andtheexcellencyofourGod。Strengthenyetheweakhands，andconfirmthefeebleknees。Saytothemthatareofafearfulheart，Bestrong，fearnot:behold，yourGodwillcomewithvengeance，evenGodwitharecompense；Hewillcomeandsaveyou。Thentheeyesoftheblindshallbeopened，andtheearsofthedeafshallbeunstopped。Thenshallthelamemanleapasahart，andthetongueofthedumbsing:forinthewildernessshallwatersbreakout，andstreamsinthedesert。Andtheparchedgroundshallbecomeapool，andthethirstylandspringsofwater:inthehabitationofdragons，whereeachlay，shallbegrasswithreedsandrushes。Andahighwayshallbethere，andaway，anditshallbecalledThewayofholiness；theuncleanshallnotpassoverit；butitshallbeforthose:thewayfaringmen，thoughfools，shallnoterrtherein。Nolionshallbethere，noranyravenousbeastshallgoupthereon，itshallnotbefoundthere；buttheredeemedshallwalkthere:andtheransomedoftheLordshallreturn，andcometoZionwithsongsandeverlastingjoyupontheirheads；theyshallobtainjoyandgladness，andsorrowandsighingshallfleeaway。\" Thatcanbesettomusicasitstands。Youcatchthesameforminthefamiliar13thchapterofICorinthians，thechapteronCharity。 Itcouldbealmostsungthroughout。ThismusicalelementisinsharpcontrastwithmuchelseintheScripture，wherenecessitydoesnotpermitthatliteraryform。Forexample，intheEpistletotheHebrews，whichisargumentativethroughout，thereisnopartexceptitsquotationswhichhaseverbeensettomusicforusesinChristianworship。Itisruggedandprotractedinitsform，andhasnomusicalelementaboutit。ThecontrastwithintheScriptureofthemusicalandtheunmusicalisaverymarkedone。 AddtothethoughtoftheearnestnessandvarietyoftheScriptureawordaboutthesimplicityofitsliteraryexpression。Thereisnothingmeretriciousinitsstyle。Thereisnoefforttosayathingfinely。Thetranslatorshaveavoidedalltemptationtogrowdramaticinreproducingtheoriginal。ContrasttheactualEnglishBiblewiththenarrativesorotherliteraryworksthathavebeenbuiltupoutofit。 ReadallthattheBibletellsaboutthelossofParadise，andthenreadMilton\'s\"ParadiseLost。\"NearlyalloftheconceptionsofMilton\'sgreatestpoemarebuiltupfrombriefScripturereferences。ButMiltonbecomessubtleinhisanalysisofmotives；heenlargesgreatlyonevents。Scriptureneverdoesthat。Itgivesusveryfewanalysesofmotivefromfirsttolast。 ThatisnotthemethodnorthepurposeofScripture。Ittellsthestoryintermsthatmoveonthemiddlelevelofspeechandthemiddlelevelofunderstanding，whileMiltonlaborswithit，complicatesit，entanglingitwithcountlessdetailswhicharetotheScriptureunimportant。 Itgoesstraighttothesimpleandfundamentalelementsintheaccount。Takeamoremodernillustration。ProbablythefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning\'s\"Saul。\"ItisbuiltoutofoneincidentandasingleexpressionintheBiblestoryofSaulandDavid。TheincidentisDavid\'sbeingcalledfromhissheeptoplayhisharpandtosingbeforeSaulinthefitsofgloomwhichovercomehim；theexpressionisthesinglesayingthatDavidlovedSaul。Takingthatincidentandthatexpression，Browningwritesabeautifulpoemwithmanydecorativedetails，withkeenanalysisofmotive，withlongaccountsofthewayDavidfeltwhenherenderedhisservice，andhowhisheartleapedorsang。ImaginefindingBrowning\'sfamiliarphrasesinScripture: \"Thelilieswetwineroundtheharp-chords，lesttheysnapneaththestressofthenoontide—— thosesunbeamslikeswords\"；\"Oh，thewildjoyofliving!\"\"Spring\'sarrowysummons，\"going\"straighttotheaim。\"ThatisverywellforBrowning，butitisnottheScriptureway；itistoocomplicated。AllthattheBiblesayscanbesaidanywhere；Browning\'s\"Saul\"couldnotpossiblybereproducedinotherlanguages。Itwouldneedaglossaryoracommentarytomakeitintelligible。ItisbeautifulEnglish，andgreatbecauseithastakenagreatideaandclotheditinworthyexpression。ButthesimplicityoftheBiblenarrativeappearsinsharpcontrastwithit。Inmychildhoodmyfatherusedtotellofamanwhopreachedonthecreation，andwithgreatdetailandmuchelaborationanddecorationtoldthestoryofcreationasitissuggestedinthefirstchapterofGenesis。Whenitwasoverheaskedanoldlistenerwhathethoughtofhiseffort，andtheonlycommentwas，\"Youcan\'tbeatMoses!\"Well，itwouldbedifficulttosurpasstheseBiblewritersinsimplicity，ingoingstraighttothepoint，andmakingthatplainandleavingit。WheretheBibletakesahundredwordstotellthewholestoryBrowningtakesseveralhundredlinestotellit。 ThesimplicityoftheBibleislargelybecausethereissolittleabstractreasoninginit。Havingfewornoabstractideas，itdoesnotneedabstractwords。Rather，itgroupsitswholemovementaroundcharacters。Threeeminentliterarymenwereonceaskedtoselectthebestreviewsofanovelwhichhadjustappeared。Oneofthethreestatementswhichtheyratedhighestsaidofthebookthatit\"achievesthetruepurposeofanovel，whichistomakecomprehensiblethephilosophyoflifeofawholecommunityorraceofmenbyshowingushowthatphilosophyaccordswiththeimpulsesandyearningsoftypicalindividuals。\"FewphrasescouldbemoreforeigntoBiblephrasesthanthose。Butthereisvaluablesuggestioninitformorethantheliteratureofthenovel。ThatisexactlywhattheScripturedoes。Itsreasoningiskeptconcretebythefactthatitisdealingwithcharactersmorethanmovements，andsoitcanspeakinconcretewords。Thatalwaysmakesforsimplicity。 Therearetwoelementscommontothehistoryofliteratureaboutwhichaspecialwordisdeserved。Imeanthedramaticandtheoratoricalelements。Thedifferencebetweenthedramaticandtheoratoricalischieflythatindramaticwritingthereisasceneinwhichmanytakepart，andintheoratoricalwritingonemanpresentsthewholescene，howeverdramaticthesurroundings。ThereisnotagreatdealofeitherintheScripture。Thereisnoformaldrama，nothingthatcouldbeactedasitstands。Itistrue，tobesure，thatJobcanbecastintodramaticformbyasufficientmanipulation，butitisquiteunlikely，inspiteofsomescholars，thatitwasevermeanttobeaformaldramaforaction。Itdoesmoveincyclesintheappearanceofitscharacters，anditdoescloseinawaytotakeonebacktothebeginning。Ithasmanymarksofthedrama，andyetitseemsveryunlikelythatitwaseverpreparedwiththatdefinitelyinmind。Ontheotherhand，amostlikelyexplanationoftheSongofSolomonisthatitisashortdramawhichappearsinourBiblewithoutanycharacternames，asthoughyoushouldtake\"Hamlet\"andprintitcontinuously，indicatinginnowaythechangeofspeakersnoranymovement。Theefforthasbeenmeasurablysuccessfultodiscoverandinsertthenamesoftheprobablespeakers。ThatseemstobetheoneexceptiontothegeneralstatementthatthereisnoformaldramaintheScripture。Buttherearesomeverystrikingdramaticepisodes，andtheyaremadedramaticforusverylargelybythewaytheyaretold。 OneoftheearlierisinIKingsxviii:21-39。Itisalmostimpossibletoreaditaloudwithoutdramaticexpression: \"AndElijahcameuntoallthepeople，andsaid，Howlonghaltyebetweentwoopinions?iftheLordbeGod，followhim:butifBaal，thenfollowhim。 Andthepeopleansweredhimnotaword。ThensaidElijahuntothepeople，I，evenIonly，remainaprophetoftheLord；butBaal\'sprophetsarefourhundredandfiftymen。Letthemthereforegiveustwobullocks；andletthemchooseonebullockforthemselves，andcutitinpieces，andlayitonwood，andputnofireunder；andIwilldresstheotherbullock，andlayitonwood，andputnofireunder: andcallyeonthenameofyourgods，andIwillcallonthenameoftheLord:andtheGodthatanswerethbyfire，lethimbeGod。Andallthepeopleansweredandsaid，Itiswellspoken。AndElijahsaiduntotheprophetsofBaal，Chooseyouonebullockforyourselves，anddressitfirst；foryearemany；andcallonthenameofyourgods，butputnofireunder。Andtheytookthebullockwhichwasgiventhem，andtheydressedit，andcalledonthenameofBaalfrommorninguntilnoon，saying，OBaal，hearus。Buttherewasnovoice，noranythatanswered。Andtheyleapeduponthealtarwhichwasmade。Anditcametopassatnoon，thatElijahmockedthem，andsaid，Cryaloud；forheisagod； eitherheistalking，orheispursuing，or，heisinajourney，orperadventurehesleepeth，andmustbeawakened。Andtheycriedaloud，andcutthemselvesaftertheirmannerwithknivesandlancets，tillthebloodgushedoutuponthem。Anditcametopass，whenmiddaywaspast，andtheyprophesieduntilthetimeoftheofferingoftheeveningsacrifice，thattherewasneithervoice，noranytoanswer，noranythatregarded。AndElijahsaiduntoallthepeople，Comenearuntome。Andallthepeoplecamenearuntohim。AndherepairedthealtaroftheLordthatwasbrokendown。AndElijahtooktwelvestones，accordingtothenumberofthetribesofthesonsofJacob，untowhomthewordoftheLordcame，saying，Israelshallbethyname。AndwiththestoneshebuiltanaltarinthenameoftheLord；andhemadeatrenchaboutthealtar，asgreataswouldcontaintwomeasuresofseed。Andheputthewoodinorder，andcutthebullockinpieces，andlaidhimonthewood，andsaid，Fillfourbarrelswithwater，andpouritontheburntsacrifice，andonthewood。Andhesaid，Doitthesecondtime。Andtheydiditthesecondtime。Andhesaid，Doitthethirdtime。Andtheydiditthethirdtime。 Andthewaterranroundaboutthealtar；andhefilledthetrenchalsowithwater。Anditcametopassatthetimeoftheofferingoftheeveningsacrifice，thatElijahtheprophetcamenear，andsaid，LordGodofAbraham，Isaac，andofIsrael，letitbeknownthisdaythatthouartGodinIsrael，andthatIamthyservant，andthatIhavedoneallthesethingsatthyword。Hearme，OLord，hearme，thatthispeoplemayknowthatthouarttheLordGod，andthatthouhastturnedtheirheartbackagain。 ThenthefireoftheLordfell，andconsumedtheburntsacrifice，andthewood，andthestones，andthedust，andlickedupthewaterthatwasinthetrench。Andwhenallthepeoplesawit，theyfellontheirfaces:andtheysaid，TheLord，heistheGod；theLord，heistheGod。\" Thatisnotsimplyadramaticevent；thatisastrikingtellingofit。Itismorethananarrative。 Innarrativeliteraturethesceneisacceptedasalreadyconstructed。Indramaticliteraturesuchappealismadetotheimaginationthatthereaderreconstructsthesceneforhimself。 WearenottoldinthishowElijahfelt，orhowheacted，norhowthepeopleasawholelooked，northesettingofthescene；butifonereadsitwithcareitmakesitsownsetting。Thesceneconstructsitself。 ThedramaticstyledoesnotprevailatmostimportantpointsoftheScripture，becauseitisafictitiousstyleforthepresentingoftruth。Itinevitablysuggestssuperficiality。Thingsactuallydonothappeninlifeastheydoindrama。 Oneofourlatestbiographerssaysthatascientifichistorianisalwayssuspiciousofdramaticevents。[1]Theymaybetrue，buttheyaremoreliabletobeafterthoughts，likethebrightanswerswecouldhavemadetoouropponentsifwehadonlythoughtofthematthetime。Youneverlosethesenseofunrealityintheveryconstructionofadrama。Lifecannotbecrowdedintotwoorthreehours，andjusticedoesnotcomeoutasthedramamakesitdo。 SothatatmostimportantpointsoftheScripturedramaticwritingdoesnotappear。TheaccountofthecarryingawayintocaptivityofthechildrenofIsraelisatnopointdramatic，thoughyoucanseeinstantlywhatagreatopportunitytherewasforit。Itissimplynarrative。 Itisnoticeablethatnoneoftheaccountsofthecrucifixionisatalldramatic。Theyareallsimplynarrative。Theimaginationdoesnotimmediatelyconjureupthescene。Theremaybetworeasonsforthat。Oneisthatthereareinvolvedseveralhoursinwhichthereisnoactionrecorded。Theotheristhatbythetimetheaccountswerewrittentheactualeventsweresubmergedinimportancebytheirunwordedmeaning。TheaccountoftheconversionofPaul，ontheotherhand，briefasitis，hasatleastminordramaticelementsinit。Onthewhole，theOldTestamentisfarmoredramaticthantheNew。 [1]McGiffert，LifeofMartinLuther。 ThereisevenlessoftheoratoricalelementintheScripture。Thereis，tobesure，aconsiderableamountofquotation，andmendospeakatsomelength，butseldomoratorically。Thepropheticalwritingsaregenerallytoofragmentarytosuggestoratory，andthequotationsintheNewTestament，especiallyfromthepreachingofourLord，areevidentlyforthemostpartexcerptsfromlongeraddressesthanaregiven。 TherearefewofthestatementsofPaul，asinthe26thchapterofActs，whichcouldbedeliveredoratorically；buthereagaintheOldTestamentismoremarkedthantheNew。Theearliestspecimenoforatoryisalsooneofthefinestspecimens。Itisinthe44thchapterofGenesis，andistheaccountofJudah\'sreplytohisunrecognizedbrotherJoseph: \"ThenJudahcamenearuntohim，andsaid，Omylord，letthyservant，Ipraythee，speakawordinmylord\'sears，andletnotthineangerburnagainstthyservant:forthouartevenasPharoah。Mylordaskedhisservants，saying，Haveyeafather，orabrother?Andwesaiduntomylord，Wehaveafather，anoldman，andachildofhisoldage，alittleone；andhisbrotherisdead，andhealoneisleftofhismother，andhisfatherlovethhim。Andthousaidstuntothyservants，Bringhimdownuntome，thatImaysetmineeyesuponhim。Andwesaiduntomylord，Theladcannotleavehisfather: forifheshouldleavehisfather，hisfatherwoulddie。Andthousaidstuntothyservant，Exceptyouryoungestbrothercomedownwithyou，yeshallseemyfacenomore。Anditcametopasswhenwecameupuntothyservantmyfather，wetoldhimthewordsofmylord。Andourfathersaid，Goagainandbuyusalittlefood。Andwesaid，Wecannotgodown；ifouryoungestbrotherbewithus，thenwewillgodown:forwemaynotseetheman\'sface，exceptouryoungestbrotherbewithus。Andthyservantmyfathersaiduntous，Yeknowthatmywifebaremetwosons:andtheonewentoutfromme，andIsaid，Surelyheistorninpieces；andI sawhimnotsince:andifyetakethisalsofromme，andmischiefbefallhim，yeshallbringdownmygrayhairswithsorrowtothegrave。NowthereforewhenIcometothyservantmyfather，andtheladbenotwithus；seeingthathislifeisboundupinthelad\'slife；itshallcometopass，whenheseeththattheladisnotwithus，thathewilldie:andthyservantsshallbringdownthegrayhairsofthyservantourfatherwithsorrowtothegrave。Forthyservantbecamesuretyfortheladuntomyfather，saying，IfIbringhimnotuntothee，thenIshallbeartheblametomyfatherforever。Nowtherefore，Ipraythee，letthyservantabideinsteadoftheladabondmantomylord；andlettheladgoupwithhisbrethren。ForhowshallIgouptomyfather，andtheladbenotwithme?lestperadventureI seetheevilthatshallcomeonmyfather。\" Thatispureoratory，anditisgreatlyhelpedbytheEnglishexpressionofit。HereourKingJamesversionisfinerthaneitheroftheotherlaterversions，asindeeditisinalmostallthesesectionswherethephraseologyisimportantfortheear。 Weneednotgofarther。Partoftheseoutstandingcharacteristicscometoourversionfromtheoriginal，andmightappearinanyversionoftheBible。YetnowheredoeventheseoriginalcharacteristicscometosuchprominenceasintheKingJamestranslation；anditaddstothemthosethatarepeculiartoitself。 LECTUREIV THEINFLUENCEOFTHEKINGJAMESVERSION ONENGLISHLITERATURE THEBibleisabook-makingbook。Itisliteraturewhichprovokesliterature。 ItwouldbeapleasuretosurveythewholefieldofliteratureinthebroadestsenseandtonotethecreativepoweroftheKingJamesversion； butthatismanifestlyimpossiblehere。 Certainlimitationsmustbefranklymade。 Leaveononeside，therefore；theimmensebodyofpurelyreligiousliterature，sermons，expositions，commentaries，which，ofcourse，arethedirectproductoftheBible。Nobookevercausedsomuchdiscussionaboutitselfanditsteaching。Thatisbecauseitdealswiththefundamentalhumaninterest，religion。ItstillremainstruethatthelargestsingledepartmentofsubstantialbooksfromourEnglishpressesisintherealmofreligion，andafterthepurelyrecreativeliteraturetheyareprobablymostwidelyread。Yet，theyarenotwhatwemeanatthistimebytheliteraryresultoftheEnglishBible。 Leaveononesidealsotheverylargebodyofpoliticalandhistoricalwriting。MuchofitshowsBibleinfluence。Inthenatureofthecase，anyhistorianofthepastthreehundredyearsmustoftenrefertoandquotefromtheEnglishBible，andmustnoteitsinfluence。AnentirestudycouldbedevotedtotheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonGreenorBancroftorFreemanorPrescott——itsinfluenceontheirmatterandtheirmanner。Anothercouldbegiventoitsinfluenceonpoliticalwritingandspeaking。Nogreatoratorofthedaywouldfailusofmaterial，andthegreatpoliticalpapersandorationsofthepastwouldonlywidenthefield。Yetwhilesomeofthispoliticalandhistoricalwritingisrecognizedasliterature，mostofitcanbeleftoutofourthoughtjustnow。 ItmayaidinthelimitingofthefieldtoacceptwhatDeanStanleysaidinanotherconnection: \"Byliterature，Imeanthosegreatworksthatriseaboveprofessionalorcommonplaceusesandtakepossessionofthemindofawholenationorawholeage。\"[1]Thisisoneofthematterswhichweallunderstanduntilwebegintodefineit；weknowwhatwemeanuntilsomeoneasksus。 [1]ThoughtsthatBreathe。 Theliteratureofwhichwearethinkinginthisnarrowersenseisinthesphereofartratherthaninthesphereofdistinctachievement。DeQuincey\'sdivisionisfamiliar:theliteratureofknowledge，andtheliteratureofpower。Thefunctionofthefirstistoteach；thefunctionofthesecondistomove。ProfessorDowdenpointsoutthatbetweenthetwoliesathirdfield，theliteratureofcriticism。Itseeksbothtoteachandtomove。OurconcernischieflywithDeQuincey\'ssecondfield——theliteratureofpower。Inthefirstfield，theliteratureofknowledge，mustlieallhistory，withHumeandGibbon；allscience，withDarwinandFiske； allphilosophy，withSpencerandWilliamJames；