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；