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Over the wave, and the still moon-beam,
Or downward in the troubled deep,
Murmuring like giant in a dream,
Or distant thunder, when the gleam
Of fire plays o'er a world asleep!

O thou art bright with beauty and grace," &c.-P. 260.

The "Hymn to the Moon," too, has a great deal of the fanciful solemnity and quiet rapture of Mr. Wilson's pieces:

"Lo! all the loveliness of earth awakes
To bless and do thee homage. Softly glide
The clouds yet glowing with the crimson light
Of the departed sun, to gird their queen
With a fair circle of unfallen snow,

Yet brighten'd with the innocence of heaven!
Within that circle, deeper than the blue,
The tearless blue of an archangel's eye,
Glistens the eternal sanctitude of rest-
Out comes one single solitary star,

One moment shining-and then melts away
In thy o'erpowering radiance, while the heavens
All agitated into waves of light

Are like the ocean during breathless nights,

Astir, yet in the swell profoundly calm,

A type of endless, universal rest!"-Pp. 269, 270.

With the imitation of Mr. Wilson the book concludes. Of the author we pretend to know nothing-nor is his name wanting to add any thing to his merits. He has left us nothing to regret, but that he has not done more: and that, above all, he should not have given us an imitation of two writers, whose peculiarities of manner are very prominent-Mr. CRABBE and Mr. LEIGH HUNT. In looking back upon the hasty selections which we have made, we fee that we have not done justice to the author; but we have not leisure to amend the error, and must therefore earnestly recommend to all our readers to turn to the book itself.

ART. III." Die heiligen Schriften des Neuen Testaments, übersetzt von Carl van Ess, und von Leander van Ess." The Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, translated by C. VAN ESS and LEANDER VAN Ess. Sulzbach. 1812. 12mo. small 8vo. and large 8vo. pp. 484. Imported by Bohte.

GERMANY has, of late years, been fertile in translations of various parts of the Bible. At this, when we consider the

general taste for literature which pervades that country, we cannot be surprised: learning is there a staple, commercial commodity; and however degrading it may appear, we cannot conceal the fact, that it really is considered as such. Even the most eminent university professors contract with a bookseller for the annual productions of their labours of genius, just as a Manchester weaver does here with a linendraper for the produce of his looms. The book trade enjoys particular privileges; and it is well known that many lite rary projects are undertaken solely with a view to the sale of the books in foreign countries, especially in England,

In this state of things most people are, at first view, disposed to consider the literature of Germany as almost unworthy of attention; and to suppose their books, to use the words of a celebrated wit, "composed by a paste-pot and a pair of scissars." In this, however, they are mistaken. Generally speaking, of mere works of imagination, the most partial admirers of German literature must admit that they do not equal us. For genius, the Germans are not remarkable, if we except Wieland, Göthe, Schiller, Klopstock, Kotzebue, and Werner, and a very few more. Their forte consists chiefly in metaphysical inquiries, and mathematical reasoning. It is, however, by such works as that before us, and by their talent for classical editorship, that they are most distinguished. Philology and verbal criticism form the first and the last subjects of the researches of a great proportion of their literati. It cannot signify greatly, what is the object for which these are studied and treated of; whether it be for the sake of the knowledge to be imparted, or of the profit to be derived. If it be the former, the interest felt in the inquiry will lead the author to accuracy; if it be the latter, the value of his productions will be estimated by his rivals in trade with the same strictness, and published to the world with the same want of ceremony, that would be used with regard to the fabrics of a vulgar mechanic; and all this will urge him to vigorous exertion.

This translation of the New Testament is interesting to the theologian, as it affords some insight into the present state of professional learning among the German Roman Catholic clergy. It has been very generally supposed, that the principles of that communion are hostile to those of free inquiry; and in many cases this remark may be true. The peculiar political situation of Germany, however, we think has some tendency to counteract the intolerant principles of

the Romish church. Being divided into numerous small states, some of which are Catholic and some Protestant, there exist fewer means of coalition for the clergy: their communication is more bounded, and more intersected; and their political power being nearly annulled, their ascendancy over the minds of their flocks is dependant simply on the bonds of opinion, and of mutual regard. Of all countries Germany is, perhaps, the most remarkable for freedom of inquiry among its Protestant inhabitants: nor can it ever be forgotten, that it was the great scene of action at the momentous period of the Reformation. Hence arises much of the reluctance discoverable among them, "jurare in verba magistri; and one language being in use throughout the whole empire, with as little variation, and that only colloquial, as is discoverable between the English spoken in London, and that used in Somersetshire or Northumberland, the Protestant books published in one state easily find their way into the adjacent states, and even into the remoter Catholic districts. To this cause must we impute the conversion of Professor Wolfter, of Heidelberg, the learned author of "A History of the Reformation," who abjured catholicism, and died a Protestant*; and possibly to the similar operation of an opposite cause, the extraordinary change in the sentiments of the celebrated Leopold, Count Stolberg, who, after being for fifty years a zealous Protestant, has lately joined the Romish Church. It is farther remarkable, that after appearing as one of the most elegant writers of his day, and having translated the Greek tragic poets, he is now publishing "Geschichte der Religion Jesu Christi;” a work written in a style truly ascetic. It is published at Hamburg; and ten volumes have already appeared.

But whatever may be the cause, it is certain that the German Catholic clergy are daily becoming more learned, and more liberal; and we owe to them several interesting works on critical theology. To such of our readers as are acquainted with German literature, we need only mention the name of Professor Jahn, of Vienna, who has published an Hebrew Bible with various readings, several critical Introductions to the Bible, a Treatise on the Interpretation of Prophecy; and is celebrated as one of the best orientalists of the day †.

* Classical Journal, vol. vii. p. 20.

It may be agreeable to our readers to see a list of this author's write

How far the erudition of M. M. Van Ess may extend, or in what it principally consists, we have not the same means of judging; but from what we have observed in our examination of their work, it seems at least respectable. It is not accompanied by critical notes; and we can therefore only judge from their rendering of particular passages. We do not profess to have examined the whole of the volume, nor indeed was it possible: but we shall lay before our readers a specimen of their performance, selected from a few of the more prominent passages.

Matthew, i. 1. Bißλos yevéσews. This, as our readers are aware, is an Hebraism, frequently observable in the LXX. So Gen. v. 1. we read, on; and find in the LXX, αυτη ή βίβλος γενέσεως ἀνθρώπων. In most translations of the N. T., however, it has been too strictly retained: our own version has "the book of the generation;" Luther, "dis ist das buch von der geburt:" these translators give the literal meaning, without retaining the harsh Hebraism, "Geschlechtsregister"-a rendering quite unexceptionable.

Matt. v. 28, Tos apxaíois. These words are rejected by Griesbach from his text, on the testimony of BDKS. 1, 17, 22, 28, 71, 72, 89, 106, 108, 114, 116, 117, 123, 125, 127, 131, 142, 157, 224, 225, 230, 235, 236. Ev. 7, 17, al. 50. Barber. 6. Mt. V. a. d. k. l. al. 11. Ed. Syr. Ar. p. (Syr. p. hab. c. ast.) Copt. Aeth. Arm. Goth. Slav. 4, 5. (hab. Slav. 2, 3. 6. ed.) cant. veron. verc. brix. Orig. Cyr. Theophyl. Euthym. Hilar.-It might be thought, we should imagine, upon this evidence in which MSS., versions, and fathers of every class and edition agree, that the words rois àpxaíois are spurious; yet so attached is Mr. Nolan to the mumpsimus system, that he says (Inquiry into the Integrity of the Greek

ings; and we offer them the following, which we have endeavoured to ren der complete.

Jahn, J. Armänische Sprachlehre. Wien. 1795. 8vo.

Chaldäische Chrestomathie. Ibid. 1800. 8vo.

Chrestomathia et Lexicon Arab. Lat. 2 vols. 8vo. Ibid. 1802. Elementarbuch d. Hebräischen Sprache. 2 vols. 8vo. Ibid. 1802. Introductio in libros sacros Vet. Test. 8vo. Ibid. 1804. The same in German.

Biblia Hebraica cum var. lectionibus. 4 vols. 8vo. Ibid. 1806. Enchiridion Hermeneutica generalis tabularum Vet. et Nov. Fœderis. Ibid. 1812. 8vo.

Appendix Hermeneuticæ seu Exercitationes Exegeticæ. 2 vols. 8vo. Ibid. 1813. (Vaticinia de Messia.)

Archeologia Biblica in Epitomen redacta. 8vo. Ibid. 1814.

Vulgate, p. 361, note 102. Lond. 1815,) "it may possibly be genuine, on the authority of the revised Italic and Syriac:" it should be observed, that according to his own testimony, these words are supported only by the Syriac!!! They are rightly rejected by our new translators.

Matt. vi. 13. ότι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία, καὶ ἡ δύναμις, καὶ ἡ δόξα, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν. The concluding clause of the Lord's prayer, in St. Luke, appears to have been originally, μὴ εισενέγκης ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν ; as is mentioned by a scholiast in Griesbach's cod. 36; and he says St. Matthew added the other. Griesbach, on the testimony of many authorities, rejects the whole of the above passage; and he is followed by Van Ess, who, without the least ceremony, removes it to his margin: Mr. Nolan, of course, (Inquiry into the Greek Vulgate, p. 380,) thrusts the whole of it, ἀμὴν inclusively, into the text. It seems, upon the whole, to have arisen from some marginal scholion, which a transcriber, labouring under the cucoethes augendi, complimented with a place in the text; to which kind of civility, by the way, we owe a great many readings in the received text. Gregory Nyssen, as we learn from Griesbach, (not. ad loc.) concludes his exposition of the Lord's prayer in these words: χάριτι χριστοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὸν ἡ δύν. καὶ ἡ δόξα ἅμα τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν, " sed pro parte sacri textus neutiquam hæc habuisse videtur. Similiter Cæsarius doxologiam non ut Scripturæ sed ut liturgie partem, bis affert hanc: σου ἐστι τὸ κράτος καὶ ἡ βάσ. καὶ ἡ δύν. καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Etiam Massalianos accusat Euthymius quod contemnant epiphonema προστεθέν a patribus, hoc scilicet : ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασ. καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ και τ. ἁγ. πν.” Additional force, we conceive, is added to this conjecture, by the fact that the MSS. 157, 225, after δόξα, add the words ; καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύ

ματος.

σε

Matt. v. 18, ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. These words are omitted by the best authorities, and therefore are rejected by Greisbach and Van Ess: they were probably inserted by the transcribers to form an antithesis to the former part of the sentence: ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ.

Matt. xv. 8. Εγγίζει μοι ὁ λαὸς οὗτος τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν, καὶ τοῖς χείλεσί με τιμᾷ. Such is the common text: Griesbach and Van Ess retain only ὁ λαὸς οὗτος τοῖς χείλεσί με τιμά.

Matt. xix. 17. τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς, εἰ μὴ εἶς,

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