The Grammar School, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
How to attaine most speedily vntounto the knowledge of the Greeke tongue.
Spoud.
NOw that we hauehave gone thorough all the principall points of learning, which belong to the knowledge of the Latine tongue▪ so much as can be required in schooles, as far forth as I can conceiue or remember for the present; let me (I intreat you) require your like helpe for the Greek: for I desire now, to be directed in eueryevery matter, which may concerne our calling and facultie. I doe perceiue by our former speeches, that you likewise hauehave trauelled and found much experience and assurance herein.
Phil.
Although I am onelyonly a learner in the Greeke,The Greeke may be gotten with farre lesse labour the… the Latine. as in the Latine, and my hope is chiefly for the time to come: yet this I hauehave found by experience, that the Latine once obtained, the Greeke may bee gotten with farre lesse labour, and euerything as certainly, And this also in a little time, so much as it shall bee requisite for the Grammar schooles.
Spoud.
Surely sir,One benefit worth al our labour in the Greek. if but that one thing that I saw in the note, may be attained, concerning the tongues, the Greek and Hebrew, I doe not see what can be more required for the Grammarschooles: That is; That schollars may be able as they proceed, to reade the Greeke of the New Testament and the Hebrew of the olde, first into Latine, or English exactly, out of the bare text; and after, out of a translation to reade them into the text, that is, into their owne wordes againe: and also to giuegive the reason of eueryevery word, why it must be so, and to be able to proceed thus of themselues in the Vniuersitie.
The continual practice hereof, must needs make them worthy Linguists, as was there sayd, and notable text men. I pra… you therfore let me heare of you, how this may bee effected, and I shall thinke my selfe sufficiently satisfied for all my trauell, though it were but in this one thing alone besides all the former.
Phil.
Nay rather,To go through the whol course of the Greek. let vsus goe thorough the whole course still, so farre as wee can, how the exact knowledge of this famous tongue may bee gotten most speedily. For when I do remember the worthy testimony, which our learnedest Schoolemaster doth giuegive,M. Askams testimony concerning the Greeke tongue▪ Schoolemaster p. 17. 2. concerning this Greek tongue, I cannot thinke any paines ouer-much, for the finding out the readie waie to the perfect knowledge of it. Hee in one place hauing mentioned sundrie of the renowned Greeke Authors, as Plato, Aristotle, Zenophon, Demosthenes, Isocrates and others, whom he names there (the matchlesse masters in all manner of learning) addes these words in praise of the Greeke tongue, and the learning in it.
Now let Italian, sayth hee, and Latine it selfe, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English bring forth their learning, and recite their Authors, Cicero onelyonly excepted, and one or two more in Latine; they be all patched clouts and ragges in comparison of faire wouen broad cloathes. And truely, saith he, if there bee any good in them, it is either learned, borrowed, or stolne from som one of those worthy wits of Athens. Thus far M. Askam.
Spoud.
This is a high commendation indeed, to bee giuen by a man of such reading and estimation for learning, as M. Askam was; and which must needs incite all students to the reading of the principall Greeke Authors, to desire to heare these peerlesse Masters to speake in their ovvne tongue.
Wherefore, I pray you let vsus heare from you, how you thinke that the way may bee made so ready vntounto it.
Phil.
The way may be most short and easie to him,The way to the Greek the same with the Latine. who is acquainted with the maner of getting the Latine tongue, so as hath been mentioned; because it is the very same with it in effect.
1. If your schollars who are to enter into it,Getting first the chiefe rules. be such as hauehave time enough before them; let them get the Grammar very perfectly,☜ especially all the chiefe rules, by continuall saying and poasing, as in the Latine. Most exceptions or Anomalies may bee learned after, or turned vntounto presently, as they learne their Authors. Because Rectum is Index sui, & obliqui. And knowing the rule perfectly, they will soone know the reason of the change.
More specially,To be very perfect in Nownes and Verbs. make them very perfect in declining Nouns & Verbs, and giuing all the Terminations of them: I meane the seuerall Terminations of each declension,☞ and eueryevery case in them;Terminating Nownes. and so likewise the Terminanations of eueryevery Coniugation, and each Tense therein.
In the Coniugations,Coniugating & terminating Verbs. to giuegive the first person of eueryevery Mood and Tense, in each voice together (wherby they are the soonest learned,To giuegive the first person in eueryevery Moode & Tense in each voice together. one directing another) and also to bee able to runne the Terminations as in the Latine.
For example, in the first Declension. The terminations of the Declension are foreign and foreign. Terminations of the cases are foreign, &c.
So declining the example.
foreign.
So in the rest: The Terminations gotten first perfectly, the words are declined presently, as I sayd.
In the Verbs also, besides the Terminations, to vse to giuegive the first Persons together in eueryevery voice. OnelyOnly let them be perfect in the Actiue voice, giuing all the first persons in order; then the Passiue and middle voice by comparing them to the Actiue: As Indicat…vus presens, foreign verbero, foreign. Imperfectum, foreign verberabam, foreign. Futurum pr…us, foreign verber…bo foreign.
So the Terminations of them, if you will: As foreign, &c.
To this end, make them very perfect in the tables of the cognata tempora. And also, cause them to run the Terminations in each voice thus; foreign.
You shall finde they will be learned not onelyonly very soon and surely this way, but also most profitably for vse.
After these to bee perfect in Pronowns,To bee very perfect in Pronowns, Aduerbes, Coniunctions, Prepositions. Aduerbs, Coniunctions, and Prepositions; giuing (if you will) Latine to Greeke, and Greeke to Latine, as I shewed before in the Latine. Because then all the labour is with the Nowns and Verbes onelyonly.
If your schollars who begin Greeke,How schollars of vnderstanding & iudgement, may take yet a shorter course. be of good yeeres and iudgement; it may suffice to hauehave them perfect in the examples of the Nownes and Verbes, and some fewe principall rules, in such sort as I hauehave shewed: and to be well acquainted with the order of the Grammar, by shewing how and where eueryevery part of it stands; that so they may learne the Rules or the meaning of them, by turning to them; as they shall hauehave occasion in eueryevery lect…re.
Spoud.
But what Grammar woulde you hauehave them to vse?
Phil.
Master Camdens Grammar,☜ notwithstanding the faults in the print (as indeede there are very many; which thing would bee carefully amended in all our schoole Authors) and what other exceptions can be taken: because, as it is one of the shortest as yet, so it is most answerable to our Latine Grammar, for the order of it. Wherby schollars well acquainted with our common Grammar, wil be much helped both for speedy vnderstanding and learning it. Also the words of art set downe in it in Greeke, as well as Latine, will bee a great helpe for reading Commentaries in Greeke: as vponupon Hesiode, and Homer.
To the end to make that Grammar most plaine,To make it plai…e: Grammatica Graecapro Schola Argentinensi per Theophilum Golium. and to supply and helpe whatsoeuer is defectiue; I take it, that the Strasburge Greeke Grammar, set sorth lately by Golius (which seemes to me to hauehave been made in an imitation of Camden) may be as a good Commentarie, though the order be not euer directly kept: The first part of it seruing for a briefe sum of the Etymologie, the second for an exposition at large.
Spoud.
But with what Author would you begin, to enter them into Construction?
Phil.
I hold the Greeke Testament to bee most fit;☞ and that for these reasons:To begin Construction with the Greek Testament. Reasons.
1. Because,1. For the familiarnesse of it. that thorough the familiarnesse of the matter, (in that children are so well acquainted with it, by daily hearing or reading of it) the Greek thereof which is easie of itselfe, will be made yet far more easie to the learner; for that the matter will bring the words, as I hauehave oft sayd.
2. Because all schollars who can hauehave meanes to come to any knowledge of the Greeke,2. Because that booke with the Hebrew of the old Testament are the Books of books. Being only written by the Lord. Hauing life in the…. should indeauour aboue all other Authors, to be well acquainted with this. First, for that this booke together with the Hebrew of the Old Testament were written by the Lord himselfe; not onelyonly the matter, but also euen the very words of them.
Secondly, for that eternall life is onelyonly in these bookes, being truely vnderstood and beleeued. So that wee may rightly tearme these the Bible, or Book of books; because all other bookes are but as seruants vntounto these, and all other are nothing without these, for any true good, but only to condemnation by leauing men more without excuse. Yea,All who may, are to labor to see with their owne eyes, and why. eueryevery one who can hauehave opportunitie, should labour to see with his owne eyes, for the fulnesse of his assurance, rather then to rest on others. And much more because there are so many and such malicious sl…unders against all our translations; as that those shamelesse calumniations hauehave beene a principall meanes to turne many thousand soules, after Sathan and Antichrist, by causing them to reiect the sacred Scriptures vtterly, to their endless perdition, and hauehave beene enough to shake the faith of Gods Elect. VnderUnder this very pretence of false translations,☜ and obscuritie of the Scriptures, hath Antichrist principally holden vp his kingdome; keeping all in palpable ignorance to be drawen to dumb Idols, to murther Princes, to lying and all abhominations which himselfe listeth.
And therefore in these respects it were to bee wished, that all schollars who hauehave any leasure, and may come to these studies of Greeke and Hebrew (especially they who purpose in time to become teachers of others) would doe☜ their indeauours to be as perfect in these two bookes,To striue to hauehave these books as familiarly as the Iewes had the Hebrew. and to hauehave them as familiarly as euer the auncient Iewes had the Hebrew. This cunning in the Text should make them to speake as the words of God indeed, with facility, authority, and power.
Those also,☜ who hauehave but a little time to bestow in the Greeke,If any purpose to hauehave but a smattering in the Greek, to hauehave it here, and why. would bestow it here, for the former reasons; and because they may hauehave good occasion & helpe to increase in this continually, by the daily vse which they hauehave of the scriptures: wheras they, hauing but a smattring insom other Greek Authors, and contenting themselues therewith, doe come in a short time vtterly to forget all; and so all that labour which was taken therin, is altogether lost.
If any doe preferre some other Greek Author,☜ for the sweetnesse and purity of the Greek,The Testament compared to other Greek w… ters. and so will spend their little time …o that; Luke is inferior to none therein, by the iudgement of the learned. If they look to the excellencie of all wisdom, what light is there to the light of the Sunne? Also, for them who hauehave a desire to trauel further,This is a not… ble entrance to read all other Greek Authors amongst all the famous Greeke writers, for the surpassing humane wisedome to bee found therein; this booke once perfectly knowen, will make the passage thorough all of them both very direct and plain, and also full of all delight and contentment, & to read al other Authors without any danger.
In the Greeke Testament,☞ to begin at the Gospell of Iohn as being most easie;In the Testament to begin at the Gospell of Iohn. and next vntounto that to go through the Gospell of Luke, if you please. In which two Euangelists most of the history of the Gospell is contained: that by them the Euangelists may be soone run thorough; And also the Acts: Then all the Epistles may be read with speed.
Spoud.
I cannot but allowe and like of all these things; and principally of reading the Greeke Testament in the first place, making it the entrance, and another foundation to all the Greek studies. But if that could be brought to passe,How schollars may be made most perfect in the Greeke Testament. that schollars, as they proceeded herein, might growe as perfect in the Greeke Testament, as it is sayde of the learned Iewes, that they were in the bookes of the Olde Testament; what a blessing might it bee to the Church of God, and what a happinesse to all posterity?
Phil.
Surely, I am fully perswaded of it, that very much may be done in it; and after also, in the Hebrew of the Old, to come neere vntounto them: except that, that was their natiue language. This perswasion I ground, partly from that little experience which I hauehave had in mine owne triall; yet sufficient to confirme me by proportion. More specially, by that which is well knowen in a worthy schoole in London, (to which I acknowledge my selfe much beholden for that which I hauehave seene in this behalfe, and some other) where som of the schollars hauehave bin able in very good sort to c… strue and resolue the Greek Testam. out of the Latine into Greek, wheresoeuer you would set them, and to go verie neer to tell you, where they had read any speciall word or phrase in it, to turn to them. And lastly, for the euident reasons therof, and the agreement of it with som former courses in the Latine, wherof I hauehave a full assurance.
Spoud.
I pray you shew me the meanes how.
Phil.
The means are these,☞ most easie & plain, for eueryevery one to teach who hath any Greek,Meanes parti…ularly. and for others to learne:
1. That they hauehave so much knowledge in the Grammar, as I shewed chiefly in Nowns and Verbes.
2 Besides the Greeke Testament, I would hauehave eueryevery one to hauehave his English Testament, or Latine, or both; and euer in their entrance before they learne a lesson, to hauehave read it ouer in the translation, and to bee able eyther to say it without booke, or make a report of it in English or Latine: but better to say it without booke, euen in the English; which with a little reading ouer, especially before bedde time, those who are of good memories will get quickely. This same done with vnderstanding, will exceedingly bring the Greeke with it: besides, that thus they shall hauehave much opportunity and furtherance, to get the English text almost by heart, as we tearme it.
3. In reading a Lecture to them, euer tell them what example each Noune and Verbe is like vntounto, and for Pronounes, Aduerbes, and the like: if they bee not perfect in Grammar, tell them in a word, or point them where they are in the Grammar; iust after the manner as in the Latine.
4 Shew them carefully al the hard words, & those which they hauehave not learned; and for those which you thinke they cannot remember otherwise, or wherin there is need of speciall labour, cause eueryevery one to write them in a little paper book, made for that purpose, with sundry columnes in each page, to write at least the Greek word & Latin or English in, in each Chap. & the Verse against them: to the end to take most paines in those, & to run oft ouer them: and so euer to see after where they hauehave had those wordes before. And thereby also to account how many new wordes they hauehave in eueryevery Lecture: for all the rest learned before in any place or which are very easie, are not to be accounted for any new wordes.
Thus shall you prouoke and encourage them to more paines▪ when they hauehave not ouer fiue or sixe new words in a douzen or twenty Verses, and in time happely not two in a Chapter. So that they will hauehave the most of the hard words in a short time, and be able easily to proceed of themselues, without any reading, throgh these & other helps following. 5 When they learne to construe, let them doe it by the helpe of the translation; obseruing wherein the translation seemes to differ from the wordes of the Greeke, and marking the reason thereof; and after to trie of themselues how they can construe, looking onelyonly vponupon the translation, beating the Greeke out of it, as formerly they did the Latin. Those who are of any aptnesse, will doe it presently.
And thus by practice, eueryevery day going a piece, and oft reading ouer and ouer, they will grow very much, to your great joy.
Spoud.
But giuegive me leaue to aske of you two or three doubts.
1 Why you would hauehave them to write down their hard wordes in a booke:1 Why to hauehave the hard words written downe. will not making some markes at the wordes serue as in their Latine Authours, according to the generall obseruation?
Phil.
This was obserued before, as I remember to mark their hard wordes eyther in their bookes, or setting them downe in a paper. But here I thinke it to be better, thus to write downe the principall; First, because schollars now will be carefull to keepe their Greeke Testaments faire from blotting or scrauling, although a booke were well bestowed to make them perfect in it, though it were neuer so marked. Secondly, be…use when they are fit to reade Greeke, they hauehave commonly good discretion to keepe their notes, and to make vse of them; going oft ouer them.
Spoud.
But might there not be some other meanes for the getting of the hard wordes aforehand? for this must needes be some labour, and aske care and diligence thus to write them down.
Phil.
Yes verily, if it be looked to in time; all these may be so prepared aforehand, that most of this labour now may be spared, and onelyonly speciall difficulties to be obserued.
The maner of it is thus: That wheras there is nothing in getting any tongue, but to get wordes,☞ and Grammar for framing and setting those wordes together, and afterwards practice; I hold it to be farre the speediest course,The speediest way, to get the Greeke Ra…ices first. to hauehave the schollars to hauehave learned the Greeke Radices or Primitiue words, before that they goe to construction; or at least to be well acquainted with them.
This course some famous Grecians hauehave taken:How it may be done easily, without losse of time. wee may doe it most easily, and without any losse of time, or very little, if any; as I hauehave made triall: First, hauing gathered the Greeke Radices out of Scapula, after the manner of that abbridgement, called voces primogeniae, I hauehave heretofore caused such as I hauehave thought fit, to write it out, and to bring me a side (or so much as I thought good) eueryevery morning at my entrance into the Schoole, or presently after; and so hauehave vsed to examine those wordes amongst them all, once or twice ouer, and where they hauehave learned the principall Latine wordes. (Of late I hauehave seene the Greeke Nomenclaton vsed, not without fruit; though it be vnperfectly gathered.)
The manner of getting the wordes may bee most easie, thus:Manner of learning them.
Hauing these in this manner with the English adioyned: if you would make triall herein; when you hauehave examined a side, reade them ouer as much more against the next day; reading first the English word, then the Latine, and Greeke last: shewing them some helpe how to remember, by comparing the Greeke with the Latine, or English; and so the English will bring the Latine to remembrance, and both of them the Greeke.
And in examining them,Manner of examining them for speed and memory. to aske them the English word; and to cause them to giuegive both Latine and Greeke together, both backeward and forward againe.
As, posing thus: How say you, I louelove? He answereth, Amo, foreign, amo, I louelove: so they will be perfect each way. Thus within the space of a twelue monethmonth they may goe through the whole; spending not much aboue a quarter of an houre in a day or half an houre at most of schoole time. Those who are diligent may get them in good sort, onelyonly (as I hauehave oft admonished) making some little pricks or markes at the hardest to runne oft ouer them: and when they hauehave once gone ouer them, you may cause them to bring you a leafe at a time, or more; as those who are apt will doe readily.
By this meanes, besides that they shall learne very many Latine wordes,Benefit hereof. chiefly most of the Primitiues to further them greatly in the Latine, and to counteruaile all the time and labour bestowed in them: they may also, when they come to construction, eyther hauehave eueryevery Radix in their head, or turne to it with a wette finger, and make it perfect in an instant; and thereby hauehave such a light to all other wordes comming of these, as presently by them, to conceiue of and remember any word.
And thus by them and their readinesse in the Grammar, to goe on in reading by the helpes mentioned, faster then you would imagine.
For hauing these Radices perfect,Hauing Scapula in the school to run to, they shall presently hauehave any thing. they will conceiue presently by a little obseruing, of what roote eueryevery word commeth, and ghesse neere at the significations of them.
Spoud.
But how shall I teach my fourmes which hauehave not learned the Greeke Grammar, to reade these Radices?
Phil.
Nothing more easily:☞ for I finde by experience that they will learne that presently,How children may soone learne to reade the Greeke before they learn the Greeke Grammar. by knowing but the value and power of the Greeke letters; I meane what eueryevery letter signifieth, or soundeth in the Latine: and so calling them by their names, as A. b. g. d. or giuing them their sounds. Although if you will, the names of the Greeke characters are soone learned: but that former course, with continuall reading ouer to them before hand, so much as you would hauehave them to learne at once, will sufficiently effect it, vntill they learne the Grammar.
In learning these Radices, In learning the Radices to obserue right pronuntiation for accents and spirits.call vponupon them oft to marke carefully the accents of each word, with the spirits: for that will further them exceedingly to accent right, when they come to write in Greeke, by knowing but the accent of the Primitiue word, and a few other rules. Right pronouncing of them, will make both their accents and spirits remembred.
By some experience of the fruite of this booke,This booke laboured in for the common good. for the speedy getting of the Greeke▪ I hauehave endeauoured to make it more perfect, by placing so neere as I can,
First, the most proper significations in the first place; and onelyonly one worde in each signification, lest the volume should proue ouer-great: though (if the volume would beare it) variety vnderunder eueryevery one, being rightly placed, were the better, to vse as neede required; and therby also to help to furnish with copie of Synonimaes.
Secondly, by setting downe also the English in one proper word, or iust as the Latine; onelyonly to expresse it, and without variety: except in some speciall things which hauehave diuers names in our owne tongue, not commonly knowne.
Thirdly, setting downe also the Articles in the Nounes, at least in all which are hard to distinguish. The Future and Preterperfect tenses of the Verbes may be known by their figuratiue letters: Anomalyes are set down in the Grammar for most part.
I also intend (God willing) to set in the Margent of it all the Hebrew Radices, against eueryevery Radix in Greeke; at least so many as can be found: which I presume vponupon good ground will be found a speedy introduction to the Hebrew.
Thus young schollars, and all others who are desirous to get the tongues, may make a most easie entrance into them, and goe forward with much pleasure in all together: for hauing these, they shall lack nothing in effect, but some precepts of Grammar, with practice in reading.
Spoud.
But I would thinke, these Radices should be very hard to remember.
Phil.
Not so: for there is such an agreement and harmony, betweene all the foure tongues,Helpe for committing wordes to memory. or some of them in many wordes, as will make the learners to take a delight in them, and much quicken and confirme the memory of the weakest; if it be but by the very sounding of one word like another.
Those wordes which they cannot remember thus, direct them to remember them by some other name or thing which we know well; being of a like sound: which so soone as they but conceiue, the Greeke or Hebrew wordes may come to their minde, or the significations of them.
Here must be remembred that Maxime in the Arte of Memory,…aueat in remembring. that the more we doe animate or giuegive life vntounto the obiect, or thing wherby we would remember, the more presently will the word which we would remember come to our minde. But yet withall, we must alwayes looke to that diuine Caueat, that we neuer helpe the minde by any filthy obiect, or whatsoeuer may any way corrupt it, or offend the Lord: because we must neuer doe the least euill, that we may obtaine the greatest good. If we get any thing so, the more the worse; for it cannot prosper, but to bring a curse with it.
But for this point of the agreement of the tongues, it may be I shall hauehave more occasion yet after, and how to remember the wordes.
And thus much shortly for remembring the Radices.
Yet besides these,The Greeke Radices contriued into continued speeches. there might yet bee a shorter way for committing all the Radices to memory, or exceedingly helping thereunto;
If all the principal of them were contriued into continued speeches, & diuided into certaine Classes or chiefe heads; and they translated verbatim into Latine or English, or both: and the translation to be made in a booke separate, or in seuerall pages; as in the one page the Greeke, in the other ouer against it the Latine or English, line for line, and so many words in a line: like as is the translation of Theogius, and the other small Poets adioyned, with Sylburgius annotations; that so looking onelyonly on the Greeke, they might learne first to construe into Latin, and after looking onelyonly on the translation they might beate out the Greeke (as I shewed before in the vse of the translations) and onelyonly vse the helpe of the Greeke text where they could not finde it out otherwise.
By this meanes, when they were able to reade these both wayes, both the Greeke into the translation, and the translation into the Greeke readily (as they might soone doe, by oft reading ouer, and by vnderstanding the matter of them well) it must needes make all other Greeke very easie, being but the same wordes in effect.
This work also is done in part: it perfected and adioyned as a praxis in the end of the Radices, being so framed (as was shewed) the one might soone be learned by the helpe of the other.
And finally for this matter of thus getting all the Radices, Strange Latine wordes.or principall wordes in the tongues, if all the hard Latine wordes, and specially whereof they may hauehave vse in good Authours, and which they hauehave not learned in their former Authours (as namely in Virgil, or the rest vnderunder him, or which were not to bee found in his Nomenclator) were set downe after all these Radices, in a few leaues in the end, the schollars should be with all furnished for ordinary Latine words.
As for such wordes as are peculiar to some speciall artes, as to Physicke or the like, they are to bee studied and lear…ed onelyonly of them who apply themselues to those artes.
Spoud.
Well Sir, to returne vntounto the point again for making your schollars so perfect in the Testament, by helpe of reading it out of the translation;Learning the Greeke out of our translations I would thinke that it must needes bee hard to learne to construe or reade it out of our translation, to doe it with iudgement on sure grounds; because ours so oft doe expresse the sense and force of the wordes, for the better vnderstanding of the matter, according to the phrase in our owne tongue; and not the wordes particularly.
Phil.
Indeede it is oft-times the more hard and vncertaine: and therefore the Schollar must take the more paines to remember it.
But to this purpose, for the exact getting of the Greeke Testament,☞ if there were a perfect verball Translation,The readiest and surest way by a perfect verball translation, or the verball…et in the Margent▪ where it differeth from that we vse. according to the manner of the interlineall (that so out of that the schollar might daily practice to reade the Greeke) this must needes make him exceeding readie, without danger of any missing, eyther of the phrase, or misplacing the wordes: or in steede of such a perfect verball Translation, if you take the ordinary interlineall Translation; and where it doth not sufficiently expresse the force of the Greeke wordes, there setting downe the different wordes in the Margent, as they are in the best Translations, you shall finde it very profitable. Or if you will, you may take Bezaes Translation, and set the verball in the Margent, where Beza differeth from it. The difficult Radices would be also be set in the Margent.
Spoud.
It is very like that this would make them very perfect in the wordes of the text: but yet this verball translation would not serue for the manner of construction, or the parsing of it; like as the Grammaticall translations did in the Latine.
Phil.
By this time,How to east the Greeke into the Grammaticall order. when they know the wordes, and the meaning, they will be able to cast them into the Grammaticall order of themselues; and so all that labour is supplyed for construing and parsing: for euen as they cast and dispose the Latine into the naturall order; so they may the Greeke.
Spoud.
Then that must needes follow▪ which you affirme;☞ that by daily practice of reading the Greeke out of such a translation,How any who hauehave but a smatering may proceed of themselues in the Greeke Testament. they may be exceeding perfect in the Testament; and that after that they are a little entred they may goe on of themselues in it: and so likewise all others by the same reason, who hauehave any smattering in the Greeke, as all such Ministers who are desirous hereof, may grow to great readinesse and perfection in it by themselues, thorough such a Translation.
Phil.
It is most certaine: for there is the very same reason in it that is in the Latine; and this I finde that a child of 9. or 10. yeere old, being well entred, shall be able only by the help of the translation, to read of himselfe an easie Author, as Corderius, or Tullies sentences, as fast out of Latine into the English, or the English into the Latine, as the Latine is ordinarily read alone, after he hath read it ouer once or twice: to bee able to reade you thus, in the space of an howre, a side of a leafe or more, of that which he neuer saw before: And by oft reading it ouer, to hauehave it almost without booke, if he vnderstand the matter of it.
Spoud.
But if they should vse the very Interlineall of Arias Montanus,This cannot be so well done, by the Interlineall or hauing the Greeke and Latine together as by hauing them separate. Experience. as it is: I meane the Greeke and Latine together; might they not as well learne by that; as hauing them so seuerally, the Greeke in one book the Latine in another?
Phil.
No in no wise. This will appeare most euidently to any who shall make triall, how much sooner and more surely they will learne, and keep that which they learne, by this meanes of hauing the bookes separate.
The reason also is euident; because when the bookes are so seuered, the mind it beates out the words, and makes them its owne: yea, and also imprints them; and doth vse the Translation but onelyonly as a Schoolemaster, or a Dictionary,The Interlineal is continually a prompt… to the schol…ar, and a deceiuer of the mind insteed of a Master, vnlesse it be vsed with great wisdome. where it is not able to finde out the words of it selfe; and also to try after, that it hauehave gone surely. But when both are ioined together, as in the Interlineall, the eye is as soone vponupon the one as the other: I meane, as soone vponupon the Latine as vponupon the Greeke; and so likewise vponupon the Greek as vponupon the Latine, because they are so close ioined one vntounto the other. So that the booke insteed of being a Master to helpe only where it should, where the mind cannot study it out▪ it becommeth a continuall prompter and maketh the mind a truant, that it will not take the pains, which it should.
How this euill can be preuented amongst schollars,This euill cannot be preuented amongst schollars. hauing both together, I doe not possibly see. For, whether they be to get it themselues, or to be examined; yet still will their eye be vponupon the helpe, where it should not be.
Indeed this I grant,☞ that the Interlineall translation may bee a worthy helpe for a man of iudgement or vnderstanding;How men of vnderstanding may vse the Interlineall. who can so moderate his eye as to keep it fixed vponupon either Greeke or Latine alone, when hee would beat the other out of it; as vponupon the Greeke onelyonly when hee would construe, or reade it into Latine, or on the Latine onelyonly when he would reade it into Greeke, and so can vse them as was sayd, without hindring the mind to studie and beat out, or to remember. Though the wisest shall find it very hard to vse it in this sort, but the eye will be where it should not; vnlesse hee vse this course, to lay a knife, or a ruler, or the like, on the line which he would not see, & so remoue it as neede is. Thus hee may vse it both for the Greeke and Hebrew.
Spoud.
It stands with great reason. Well then, the way beeing so ready and plaine, they are vtterly vnworthie so great a benefit, who wil not take paines in so easie a course.
But if I woulde hauehave my schollars to proceede in other Greeke Authors,How the schollars may proceed in other Authors. what courses should I then take: Though I cannot doubt, but being only thus entred in the Testament, that they will be well accepted in the Vniuersitie, and goe forward speedily.
Phil.
If you traine them vp thus f…st in the Testament, they vvill goe forwards in others with the smaller helpes. But if you would hauehave them to begin in other Greeke Authors; I take the very same help of translations, either verball or Grammaticall, to be the most speedy furtherances, so that there bee a diligent care of propriety in translating, and of variety set in the margents; to vse them in all things as in the Greeke Testament, and in the Latine Authors mentioned.
Spoud.
But how shal we do for such translations of those Greeke Authors?
Phil.
Insteed of reading lectures to them, you may thus translate them their lectures daily, either in Latine or English; and cause them then eyther to seeke them out of themselues by their translations, Grammars and Lexicons: Or reading them first vntounto them, cause them to make them perfect hereby.
By this labour of translating, you shall finde your selfe to profit very much in this knowledge of the Greeke, and be greatly eased in your paines.
Spoud.
But be it so, that I am not able to translate thus; as he had neede to be a good Grecian who should translate in such manner: what then should I do?
Phil.
If you bee able to reade the Author truely vntounto them,The benefit of such translations of some of the purest Authors performed by skilfull Grecians. and profitably; then may you also translate it thus: you may hauehave helpe by such translations as are extant, to giuegive you much light. But it were much to bee wished, that to this purpose, some skilfull Grecians would translate som of the purest Authors in this manner. As namely, Isocrates, Xenophon, Plato, or Demosthenes, or some parts of them, which might seem most fit for schollars; onelyonly to be for this purpose of getting the Greeke. To begin with the easiest of them first. All painfu…l students would be found to profit exceedingly, and to become rare Grecians in a little time.
Thus they might goe on vntill they were able to reade any Greeke Author of themselues, with such helpes as are extant.
In the meane time,As the fables translated in the Strasburge Grammar. you may vse such Authors as are so translated, or which come the neerest vntounto them; of which sort are those fables of Aesop translated in the Argentine Grammar, and others which I shall shew you in the manner of parsing.
Spoud.
For the parsing then, what way may I vse?
Phil.
I hauehave shewed you this in part:Parsing in Greek▪ as the noting and causing your schollars to write eueryevery hard word, shewing what examples they are like, the speciall rule, & so the other helpes as they are in the Latine, by casting words into the Grammaticall order.
More speciall helpes for them, who are not acquainted with Camdens Grammar.
1. They may vse the Praxis Praeceptorum Grammatices of Antesignanus,☞ set downe in the end of Cleonards Greeke Grammar;Helps …or construing and pa… fing. wherein is both an Interlineall verball translation,Praxis praeceptorum Grammatices Antesignani. such as I spake of; and also a parsing of eueryevery word familiarly and plainely, much according to the manner of parsing of Latine, which I shewed you; which may be a good direction for parsing.
2. Berkets Commentary vponupon Stephens Catechisme,Berket on Stephens Catech, printed by Wechelus an. 1604 parsing eueryevery word according to Cleonard in folio, is found to be a speedy helpe.
3. M Stockwood his Progymna…ma scholasticum: ☞wherin is also a Grammatical practice of sundry Greeke Epigrams gathered by H. Stephens,M▪ Stockw. Progimnasma scholasticum ex Anthologia Hē …ici Stephani. hauing a double translation in Latine (the one ad verbum, the other in verse) and also a varying of each Epigr… Latineverse by diuerse Authors. And lastly, an explanation or parsing of eueryevery hard word set in the margent, or vnderunder each Epigram in manner of a Commentarie. In it also the Greeke text is set downe both in Greek Characters, and also in Latine letters interlineally, directly ouer the head of the Greek words; of purpose for the easie entering and better directing of the ignorant.
The Commentary in it for parsing, may be also a good direction, for parsing in the shortest manner by pen or reading.
Besides these,☞ for Poetry, wee may take these Authors, which are easie and plaine by their helpes mentioned:The best & fittest Authors …or Poetry, & most easie:
1. Theognis his sentences with the other Poets ioined with him: as namely, Phocilides with the Latine translation and notes,Theognis. Phocili…es. Hesiode with C…po…ine and M…lanchthon. set forth by Sylburgius; which is verie notable to enter young Schollars into Poetry, for making a verse.
2. Hesiode his Opera and Dies with Ceporine and Melancthons Commentaries set forth by Iohannes Frisius Tigurinus, and the new translation of it, adverbum, by Erasmus Schemidt, Greeke professour at Wittenberge, printed 1601.
3. Homer with Eustathius Greeke Commentarie may easily bee read after these (especially after the Commentary on Hesiode; Homer with Eustathius.which may bee as an introduction to it) by the help of the verbal Latine translation of Homer: and the words of Art, belonging to Grammar set down in Greek in M. Camdens Grammer.
Moreouer, these directions following wil be most speedie helps for all the Poets:
To hauehave in readinesse some briefe rules of the chiefe figures,To hauehave in readinesse a short briefe of all the dialects and figures, a speedy help for the knowledge of the Poets. and dialects: as those who are in Master Camdens Grammar; so to be able to referre all Anomalies in Greeke vntounto them. Those with the verba anomala, and the particular dialects, according to each part of speech, set downe in the end of Camden, may resolue most doubtes: for Anomalies and speciall difficulties which you cannot find otherwise,A principal help for all Anomalies and difficulties in Greeke. you may find many of them set Alphabetically together in the end of Scapula his Lexicon, where they are expressed fully, and particularly: which you shall proue to be a maruellous readinesse to you.
Spoud.
Here are indeed very many and singular helpes: most of which, I may truely say as before, that I hauehave not so much as heard of. But if I would hauehave my schollar to write in Greek, what meanes should I vse then?
Phil.
If you mean for the tongue,How to write purely in Greek to be able to write true and pure Greeke, the sure meanes are euen the same, as for writing Latine.
1. The continuall practice of construing,☜ parsing, and reading forth of the translation into the Authors, is making the Greeke continually.
2. To come to the stile and composition, and so for Orthography, to doe as for the Latine. As I directed you to giuegive them sentences in English, translated Grammatically out of Tullies sentences, to turne into Tullies Latine, wherby both your selfe and they may hauehave a certaine guide for them to go surely; so here to giuegive them sentences or peeces out of the Testament, or out of Isocrates, as ad Demomcum, or out of Xenophon to translate into Greeke, and so to see how neere they can come vntounto the Author. Or else, to aske them onelyonly the Latine or English of the Greeke, and to trie how they can turne it into Greek first Grammatically, after in composition: or sometimes one way, somtimes the other. And to this purpose also, the translations of som excellent parts of the purest Greek Authors were most necessary.
By these meanes they might come in time, to be as accurate in writing Greeke for the stile and composition, as in the Latine. For all other exercises in Greeke, I referre you to that which hath been said concerning the Latine, the reason and meanes being the like.
Or if you meant for writing the Greek hand faire,How to write faire. most exquisite copies constantly followed, as in the Latine and English, and practice, shal bring them vntounto it. But for this, I likewise refer you to that which was sayd concerning the way of writing faire.
Spoud.
But what say you for versifying in Greeke?Versifying in Greek. for that you know to commend the chiefe Schooles greatly.
Phil.
As I answered you before, so I take the meanes to be in all things the same, as for versifying in Latine; except that this is more easie, because of the long and short vowels so certainely knowne.☞ To be very perfect in the rules of versifying;Theognis may be easily learned without booke by the helpe of the translation▪ inscanning averse. To learne Theognis, that pleasant and easie Poet without booke, to hauehave store of Poeticall phrase and authorities: which is the speediest and surest way. And so to enter by turning or imitating his verses, as in Latine. But herein as in all the rest, I do stil desire the help of the learned, who can better shew by experience the shortest, surest, and most plaine waies.
Notwithstanding,☞ let me heere admonish you of this (which for our curiositie wee had neede to bee often put in minde of) that,A Caueat for the time bestowed in such exercises of writing in Greek…. seeing wee hauehave so little practice of any exercises to bee written in Greeke, wee doe not bestowe too much time in that, whereof wee happely shall hauehave no vse; and which therefore wee shall also forget againe: but that wee still imploy our pretious time to the best aduantage in the most profitable studies, which may after do most good to Gods Church or our countrey.
Spoud.
Your counsell is good: yet repeate mee againe a briefe of the principall of these helpes for my memorie sake.
Phil.
This was it;
1. To make your Schollars very perfect in the Grammar,Summe of all. chiefly Nownes and Verbes; that they may bee able to proue and parallel eueryevery thing by a like example, or at least to turne to them readily.
2. To hauehave the Greeke Radices by the meanes mentioned.
3. Continuall vse of most accurate verball or Grammaticall translations; and in the meane time to make them perfect in the Testament daily vse of our ordinarie translations so as was shewed, by reading the Greek out of them ouer and ouer.
4. Helpe of the best Commentaries and Grammaticall practices in the books mentioned.
5. To be ready in the dialects and the common figures for the Poetry.
6. Noting all the difficulties, and running oft ouer them as in the Latine; and so all other helpes of vnderstanding the matter first, and the rest mentioned generally.