study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第9章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
xxiii：5； where we read； 〃My cup runneth over；〃 the Douai version reads；
〃My chalice which inebriateth me； how goodly it is。〃 There is a careful
retention of ecclesiastical terms； and an explanation of the passages on
which Protestants had come to differ rather sharply from their Roman
brethren； as in the matter of the taking of the cup by the people； and
24
… Page 25…
Study of the King James Bible
elsewhere。
Yet it is only fair to remember that this much answer was made to the
versions which were preparing the way for the greatest version of them all；
and when the time came for the making of that version； and the helps were
gathered together； the Douai was frankly placed among them。 It is a
peculiar irony of fate that while the purpose of Gregory Martin was to
check the translation of the Bible by the Protestants； the only effect of his
work was to advance and improve that translation。
At last； as we shall see in our next study； the way was cleared for a
free and open setting of the Bible into English。 The way had been beset
with struggle； marked with blood； lighted by martyr fires。 Wiclif and
Purvey； Tindale and Coverdale； the refugees at Geneva and the Bishops at
London； all had trod that way。 Kings had fought them or had favored them；
it was all one； they had gone on。 Loyal zest for their Book and loving zeal
for the common people had held them to the path。 Now it had become a
highway open to all men。 And right worthy were the feet which were soon
treading it。
25
… Page 26…
Study of the King James Bible
LECTURE II
THE MAKING OF THE KING JAMES VERSION； ITS
CHARACTERISTICS
EARLY in January； 1604； men were making their way along the poor
English highways； by coach and carrier； to the Hampton Court Palace of
the new English king。 They were coming from the cathedral towns； from
the universities； from the larger cities。 Many were Church dignitaries；
many were scholars； some were Puritans； all were loyal Englishmen； and
they were gathering in response to a call for a conference with the king；
James I。 They were divided in sentiment； these men； and those who hoped
most from the conference were doomed to complete disappointment。 Not
one among them； not the King； had the slightest purpose that the
conference should do what proved to be its only real service。 Some of the
men； grave and earnest； were coming to present their petitions to the King；
others were coming to oppose their petitions； the King meant to deny them
and to harry the petitioners。 And everything came out as it had been
planned。 Yet the largest service of the conference； the only real service；
was in no one's mind； for it was at Hampton Court； on the last day of the
conference between James and the churchmen； January 18； 1604； that the
first formal step was taken toward the making of the so…called Authorized
Version of the English Bible。 If there are such things as accidents； this
great enterprise began in an accident。 But the outcome of the accident； the
volume that resulted； is 〃allowed by all competent authorities to be the
first； ＇that is； the chief＇ English classic；〃 if our Professor Cook； of Yale；
may speak； 〃is universally accepted as a literary masterpiece； as the
noblest and most beautiful Book in the world； which has exercised an
incalculable influence upon religion； upon manners； upon literature； and
upon character；〃 if the Balliol College scholar Hoare can be trusted； and
has 〃made the English language；〃 if Professor March is right。 The purpose
of this study is to show how that accident occurred； and what immediately
came from it。
With the death of Elizabeth the Tudor line of sovereigns died out。 The
collateral Stuart line； descending directly from Henry VII。； naturally
26
… Page 27…
Study of the King James Bible
succeeded to the throne； and James VI。 of Scotland made his royal
progress to the English capital and became James I。 of England。 In him
appears the first of that Stuart line during whose reign great changes were
to occur。 Every one in the line held strongly to the dogma of the divine
right of kings； yet under that line the English people transferred
sovereignty from the king to Parliament。＇1＇ Fortunately for history； and for
the progress of popular government； the Stuart line had no forceful figures
in it。 Macaulay thinks it would have been fatal to English liberty if they
had been able kings。 It was easier to take so dangerous a weapon as the
divine right of kings from weak hands than from strong ones。 So it was
that though James came out of Scotland to assert his divine and arbitrary
right as sovereign； by the time Queen Anne died； closing the Stuart line
and giving way to the Hanoverian； the real sovereignty had passed into the
hands of Parliament。
＇1＇ Trevelyan； England Under the Stuarts。
But the royal traveler； coming from Edinburgh to London； is
interesting on his own accountinteresting at this distance。 He is thirty…
seven years old； and ought to be in the beginning of his prime。 He is a
little over middle height； loves a good horse； though he is an ungainly
rider； and has fallen off his horse three or four times during his royal
progress； is a heavy drinker of the liquors of the period； with horribly
coarse； even gross manners。 Macaulay is very severe with him。 He says
that 〃his cowardice； his childishness； his pedantry； his ungainly person and
manners； his provincial accent； made him an object of derision。 Even in
his virtues and accomplishments there was something eminently
unkingly。〃＇1＇ It seemed too bad that 〃royalty should be exhibited to the
world stammering； slobbering； shedding unmanly tears； trembling at the
drawn sword； and talking in the style alternately of a buffoon and of a
pedagogue。〃 That is truly not an attractive picture。 But there is something
on the other side。 John Richard Green puts both sides： 〃His big head； his
slobbering tongue； his quilted clothes； his rickety legs stood out in as
grotesque a contrast with all that men recalled of Henry and Elizabeth as
his gabble and rhodomontade； his want of personal dignity； his buffoonery；
his coarseness of speech； his pedantry； his contemptible cowardice。 Under
27
… Page 28…
Study of the King James Bible
this ridiculous exterior； however； lay a man of much natural ability； a ripe
scholar with a considerable fund of shrewdness； of mother wit and ready
repartee。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ History of England； chap。 i。
＇2＇ Short History of the English People； chap。 viii； sec。 ii。
Some good traits he must have had。 He did win some men to him。 As
some one has said； 〃You could love him； you could despise him； you
could not hate him。〃 H
