study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第13章
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that she did that for no other purpose than just to break the skull of
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Abimelech。 As a matter of fact； that expression is a printer's bungling way
of giving a word which has become obsolete in the original form。 When
the King James translators wrote that； they used the word 〃alto；〃 which is
evidently the beginning of 〃altogether；〃 or wholly or utterly； and what they
meant was that she threw the stone and utterly broke his skull。 But that
abbreviated form of the word passed out of use； and when later printers
not much latercame to it they did not know what it meant and divided it
as it stands in our present text。 It is one of the few words that have become
obsolete。 But so few are there of them； that it was made a rule of the
Revised Version not to admit to the new version； where it could be
avoided； any word not already found in the Authorized Version； and also
not to omit from the Revised Version； except under pressure of necessity；
any word which occurred there。 It is largely this blending of dignity and
popularity that has made the King James version so influential in English
literature。 It talks the language not of the upper level nor of the lower level；
but of that middle level where all meet sometimes and where most men
are all the while。
These are great traits to mark a book； any book； but especially a
translationthat it is honest； that it is accurate； and that its language blends
dignity and popularity so that it lowers the speech of none。 They are all
conspicuous traits of our familiar version of the Bible； and in them in part
lies its power with the generations of these three centuries that have
followed its appearance。
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LECTURE III
THE KING JAMES VERSION AS ENGLISH LITERATURE
LET it be plainly said at the very first that when we speak of the
literary phases of the Bible we are not discussing the book in its historic
meaning。 It was never meant as literature in our usual sense of the word。
Nothing could have been further from the thought of the men who wrote it；
whoever they were and whenever they wrote； than that they were making
a world literature。 They had the characteristics of men who do make great
literature they had clear vision and a great passion for truth； they loved
their fellows mightily； and they were far more concerned to be understood
than to speak。 These are traits that go to make great writers。 But it was
never in their minds that they were making a world literature。 The Bible is
a book of religious significance from first to last。 If it utterly broke down
by the tests of literature； it might be as great a book as it needs to be。 It is a
subordinate fact that by the tests of literature it proves also to be great。
Prof。 Gardiner； of Harvard； whose book called The Bible as English
Literature makes other such works almost unnecessary； frankly bases his
judgment on the result of critical study of the Bible； but he serves fair
warning that he takes inspiration for granted； and thinks it 〃obvious that no
literary criticism of the Bible could hope for success which was not
reverent in tone。 A critic who should approach it superciliously or
arrogantly would miss all that has given the Book its power as literature
and its lasting and universal appeal。〃＇1＇ Farther over in his book he goes
on to say that when we search for the causes of the feelings which made
the marvelous style of the Bible a necessity； explanation can make but a
short step； for 〃we are in a realm where the only ultimate explanation is
the fact of inspiration； and that is only another way of saying that we are
in the presence of forces above and beyond our present human
understanding。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ Preface； p。 vii。
＇2＇ Page 124。
However； we may fairly make distinction between the Bible as an
original work and the Bible as a work of English literature。 For the Bible
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as an original work is not so much a book as a series of books； the work of
many men working separately over a period of at least fifteen hundred
years； and these men unconscious for the most part of any purpose of
agreement。 This series of books is made one book in the original by the
unity of its general purpose and the agreement of its parts。 The Bible in
English is； however； not a series of books； but properly one book； the work
of six small groups of men working in conscious unity through a short
period of years。 And while there is variation in style； while there are
inequalities in result； yet it stands as a single piece of English literature。 It
has a literary style of its own； even though it feels powerfully the Hebrew
influence throughout。 And while it would not be a condemnation of the
Bible if it were not great literature in English or elsewhere； it is still part of
its power that by literary standards alone it measures large。
It is so that men of letters have rated it since it came into existence。 〃It
holds a place of pre…eminence in the republic of letters。〃 When John
Richard Green comes to deal with it； he says： 〃As a mere literary
monument the English version of the Bible remains the noblest language
of the English tongue； while its perpetual use made of it from the instant
of its appearance the standard of our language。〃＇1＇ And in Macaulay's
essay on Dryden； while he is deploring the deterioration of English style；
he yet says that in the period when the English language was imperiled
there appeared 〃the English Bible； a book which if everything else in our
language should perish would alone suffice to show the extent of its
beauty and power。〃
＇1＇ Short History of the English People； Book vii； chap。 i。
The mere fact that the English Bible contains a religion does not
affect its standing as literature。 Homer and Virgil are Greek and Roman
classics； yet each of them contains a definite religion。 You can build up the
religious faith of the Greeks and Romans out of their great literature。 So
you can build up the religious faith of the Hebrews and the early
Christians from the Old and New Testaments。 〃For fifteen centuries a
Hebrew Book； the Bible； contained almost the whole literature and
learning of a whole nation；〃 while it was also the book of their religion。
As literature； however； apart from its religious connection； it is subject
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to any of the criteria of literature。 In so far it is the fair subject of criticism。
It must stand or fall when it enters the realm of literature by the standards
of other books。 Indeed； many questions regarding its dates； the authorship
of unassigned portions； the meaning of its disputed passages may be
answered most fairly by literary tests。 That is always liable to abuse； but
literary tests are always liable to that。 There have been enough blunders
made in the knowledge of us all to require us to go carefully in such a
matter。 The Waverley Novels were published anonymously； and； while
some suspected Scott at once； others were entirely clear that on the ground
of literary style his authorship was entirely impossible！ Let a magazine
publish an anonymous serial； and readers everywhere are quick to
recognize the writer from his literary style and his general ideas； but each
group 〃recognizes〃 a different writer。 Arguments based chiefly on style
overlook the large personal equation in all writing。 The same writer has
more than one natural style。 It is not until he becomes in a certain sense
affectedgrows proud of his peculiaritiesthat he settles down to one
form。 And it is quite impossible to assign a book to any narrow historical
period on the ground of its style alone。 But though large emphasis could
be laid upon the literary merits of the Bible to the obscuring of its other
more important merits； it is yet true that from the literary point of view the
Bible stands as an English classic； indeed； as the outstanding English
classic。 To acknowledge ignorance of it is to confess one's self ignorant of
our greatest literary possession。
A moment ago it was said that as a piece of literature the Bible must
accept the standards of other literary books。 For all present purposes we
can define great literature as worthy written expression of great ideas。 If
we may take the word 〃written〃 for granted； the rough definition becomes
this： that great literature is the worthy expression of great ideas。 Works
which claim to be great in literature may fail of greatness in either half of
that test。 Petty； local； unimportant ideas may be well clothed； or great ideas
may be unworthily expressed； in either case the literature is poor。 It is not
until great ideas are wedded to worthy expression that literature becomes
great。 Failure at one end or the other will explain the failure of most of the
work that seeks to be accounted literature。 The literary value of a book
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cannot be determined by its style alone。 It is possible to say nothing
gracefully； even with dignity； symmetry； rhythm； but it is not possible to
make literature without ideas。 Abiding literature demands large ideas
worthily expressed。 Now； of course； 〃large〃 and 〃small〃 are not words that
