An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

In the 49. of Genes. v. 22.¹ Jacob compareth Joseph his son to a fruitful bough by the well side: which words in your latin translation are otherwise set ⟨p. 290⟩down thus, and he is comely to behold. If you say that in the sense is no difference, yet you make no sufficient answer:² forasmuch as translating the text of scripture we must retain the very words as well as we may, and not take liberty of leaving the words, because we think we swerve not from the sense. For the words may have some other, or farther meaning, then we suppose, even in such places as seem to be most easy. And if you impute this as a fault to us in translating, why may not we likewise blame your translator for the same, who hath so much offended therein? But let us go on. In the 24. verse of this Chap. Jacob saith of Joseph that his arms were strengthened: & in your translation it is as contrary, as may be, that they were weakened or loosed. Again in the end of this Chapter a whole verse together is omitted by your translators. The purchase of the field, and the cave that is therein of the children of Heth: of which words not one is found in your translation, and so where the Chapter contained 33. verses, your translation hath 32. Tell us by what reason it was lawful for the author of your translation to put so much our of the ⟨p. 291⟩text, or for you to allow him in so doing.

In the 49. of Genes. v. 22.¹ Iacob compareth Ioseph his sonne to a fruitfull bough by the well side: which wordes in your latine translation are otherwise set ⟨p. 290⟩downe thus, and he is comelie to beholde. If you saie that in the sense is no difference, yet you make no sufficient answere: