loss in applying all the criticisms of our author. On this account I will venture to assert, that if the genius of the translator approached in any degree the clearness, the elegance, the elevation of the author, these Lectures in our own language would exhibit the subject in a much fairer and more advantageous light, than in the original form. The English idiom, indeed, has so much great❤ er analogy to the Hebrew, that the advantages, which it possesses over the Latin, must be obvious to any reader who compares the literal translations in each of these languages. But the utility of these Lectures, as a system of criticism, is perhaps their smallest merit. They teach us not only raste but virtue; not only to admire and revere the Scriptures, but to profit by their precepts. The author of the present work is not to be considered merely as a master of the general principles of criticism; he has penetrated the very sanctuaries of Hebrew literature; he has investigated with a degree of precision, which few critics have attained, the very nature and character of their composition by accurately examining, and cautiously comparing every part of the sacred writings; by a force of genius, which could enter into the very design of the authors; and by a comprehensiveness of mind, which could embrace at a single view a vast series of corresponding passages, he has discovered the manner, the spirit, the idiom of the original, and has laid down such axioms as cannot fail greatly to facilitate our knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures. The work would amply repay the trouble of perusing it, by the excellent elucidations of particular passages of holy writ which it affords; but, when we reflect that these are connected with such rules and principles as may be applied with the greatest advantage to other difficult passages, with such rules, indeed, as will enable us better to comprehend the whole, surely it must appear incsumable in the eye of any man, who has at all at heart his own improvement in religious knowledge. Perhaps the sceptic may learn from the perusal of these Lectures, that the. difficulties of which he complains in the Scriptures, are difficulties which might in some measure be removed by a little more knowledge, and a little more diligence in the application of it. Perhaps, too, those profound and learned critics, who quote and censure authors, whom they have never read, and talk fluently about languages, the rudiments of which they have yet to learn, may find, to their great astonishment, that a degree of penetration superior to their own is able to discover at least a few rays of sublimity in the writings of the Hebrews. Whatever be the merits or the defects of this translation, on one account at least I will venture to promise myself the warmest commendations of my readers, namely, for having made them acquainted with the admirable criticisms of the learned Michaelis. I have much reason to regret, that the nature of this publication would not permit the insertion of all his observations, and at full length. But the truth is, however suitable they may have been to the work in its original form, some of his remarks are too refined to be generally useful; and some of them too learned to be intelligible to any, but those who are familiar with the whole circle of Oriental literature. I have therefore selected such of them as I thought applicable to my present purpose; and, as it was my wish to confine this work within as narrow limits as my duty to the public would permit, and to suffer in it nothing, but what I esteemed immediately useful, I have taken the liberty of abridging some, which I thought in a literal translation might appear tedious to the English reader. Some observations of my own I have also presumed to introduce among the notes. They were such as to me seemed calculated to render the work a more complete compendium of critical science. As I do not, however, think myself above censure, so I trust I shall not be found too obstinate for correction. Should my indiscretion, therefore, have obtruded any thing which a fair and liberal critic shall deem impertinent or improper, I shall with much cheerfulness, in a future edition, submit to its erasement. It was not till I had consulted some of the first literary characacters concerning the propriety of substituting in the place of our author's inimitable Latin poems any English versions, that I ventured to appear as a poetical translator. Even then I did not fail to inspect every modern author, who I imagined might furnish me with compositions worthy of appearing among the criticisms of Lowth. I have preferred Mr. Merrick's Psalms to any version which I should have been able to produce, (except, indeed, in a single instance, where it was necessary that the measure should be elegiac) not only on account of their intriusic merit, but in consequence of the commendation which our author has bestowed upon them. By the kindness of Mr. Mason also, this publication is enriched with one of the most beautiful lyric productions in our language, I mean his paraphrase of the xivth of Isaiah. When I could find no translation to answer my purpose, I was obliged to attempt the versification of the passages myself. The public will therefore recollect, that I was a poet through necessity, not choice; and will, I flatter myself, receive this as a sufficient apology for the indifferent performance of that part of my undertaking. Presuming that it would be more agreeable to give the literal translations of the Hebrew from works of established reputation, I have taken many of them from our author's excellent version of Isaiah, from Mr. Blaney's Jeremiah, from Bishop Newcombe's Minor Prophets, Mr. Heath's Job, and from Dr. Hodgson's translation of the Canticles: and this I trust will be accepted by those Gentlemen as a general acknowledgment. Where these did not furnish me with a translation, I have endeavoured myself to produce one as faithful to the original as my knowledge of the language would admit. Convinced on the whole of the utility of this publication, and yet aware of my own inability to do it justice, I dismiss it with that mixed emotion of confidence and humility, which such a sit uation naturally inspires. Imperfect as it appears before the world, if it be the means of imparting to but a few some of that information, which all who read the original must regret was not more generally diffused, I am sure I shall have deserved well of the community: at the same time, the reader will do me great injustice, if he supposes that I have satisfied myself in the execution of my task. Whatever be its reception, it will disappoint no expectations formed by me of profit or of fame; and if neither ensue from it, I shall have no just cause of complaint. It was impossible to read these Lectures with the attention which even this translation required, and not derive advantages from them far superior to the labour they have cost me; and whatever may be their effect with others, I am confident they have left me something wiser, and I trust something better, than they found me. In the prosecution of this work I have incurred a debt of gratitude, which if I cannot discharge, it is but fair to acknowledge. By the advice and encouragement of Dr. Kippis, I was in a great measure induced to undertake this translation; by a continuance of the same friendly disposition I was enabled cheerfully to proceed in it. The public will easily perceive a part of their obligation and mine to the ingenious Mr. Henley of Rendlesham, in the numerous and valuable notes which bear his signature; but I am also indebted to him for many corrections. These are not the only friends to whom I have been obliged on this occasion: I will venture to mention in particular Mr. Wakefield of Nottingham, a name sufficiently known in the classical world; and Mr. Foster of Woolton, near Liverpool, whose careful and laborious revision of my manuscript is the least of the many favours he has conferred upon me. To this companion of my youth, I can indeed with the strictest propriety apply the language of the Roman poet : "Tecum etenim longos memini consumere soles, "Non equidem hoc dubites, amborum fœdere certo "Nostra vel æquali suspendit tempora libra "Parca tenax veri: seu nata fidelibus hora "Dividit in geminos concordia fata duorum : "Saturnumque gravem nostro Jove frangimus una. "Nescio, quod certe est, quod me tibi temperat astrum.” James Street Terrace, Buckingham Gate, March 1, 1787. The Author's Notes are all particularly distinguished. Those mark. ed M. are by Professor Michaelis; those marked S. H. are by Mr. Henley ; and those marked T. by the Translator. AUTHOR'S PREFACE, PREFIXED TO THE SECOND EDITION. I SHALL endeavour in a few words to explain the additions and improvements, which have been made to this edition. I have revised the whole work; I have added some things, I have corrected many; and especially in the notes. I have however refrained from all corrections which did not appear absolutely necessary. If any reader should object, that many passages remain, which might be amended, as being scarcely established upon the grounds of certainty and conviction; I have only to urge in my own defence, that on very obscure and difficult subjects, it has always appeared to me sufficient to propose a probable explication: nor can I esteem that to be correction, which only substitutes one conjecture for another. In other respects this edition has received considerable improvements. In the first place I am greatly indebted to the friendly communications of the learned Dr. Kennicott, for the variations of the different copies in several passages of the Old Testament, which I have quoted. I have distinguished his notes by inverted commas, and by the letter K. subjoined. The manuscripts are numbered according to the catalogue annexed to that learned author's dissertation on the Hebrew text.1 I have, moreover, added some observations of the learned Dr. Hunt, professor of the Hebrew and Arabic languages, which he kindly communicated at my request. These also I have distinguished by inverted commas, and the letter H. subjoined. After this edition was committed to the press, I was favoured with a sight of the Gottingen edition, published under the inspec 1 In the third edition, the manuscript copies are not cited according to these numbers, which are necessarily changed in the Bible published by Dr. K. but it is only mentioned in how many manuscripts the different reading occurs. Some different readings also are cited at large. tion of the learned and ingenious professor of philosophy in that university, John David Michaelis, and greatly improved and illustrated by him. To this were added his notes and additions, in which he has with great candour supplied my defects, and corrected my errors. These, with the preface entire, and with a few additions to the notes, communicated to me by the author, (who would have added more, but that he was prevented by the increasing business of the university) I have printed in a separate volume, lest my readers should be deprived of these very learned and excellent illustrations: and I chose to do it in a separate state, that the purchasers of the first edition might partake equally of the benefit. Whatever some of these notes may contain repugnant to my own sentiments, I have thought it better to submit them in this form to the judgement of the reader, than, by retracing my former ground, to divert his attention into a controversy, unpleasant, and probably fruitless. |