Preciseness in translation is worthy to be commended, but superstition is worthy no praise. And if the Latin phrase serve the Greek, & answer unto it better sometime then th'English doth: that argueth no more the goodness of the translation, then it proveth th'English to be better then the Latin translation, because the English phrase frameth often better with the Greek, then doth the Latin. Of this preciseness they bring two examples, wherein commending the old translation they condemn ours. The first is for that we translate Tit. 3.1 14. to maintain to good works. Your Greek stomachs be very queasy, that cannot brook this translation. Tell us (I pray you) how vvill you translate it 2in Demosthenes, [Greek or Hebrew], but to maintain your right. Howsoever you translate it we care not, ⟨p. 115⟩seeing Budaeus a man of singular skill in3 that tongue, doth so translate it, as we have done. In th'other places Heb. 10. 20. we are charged for turning he prepared. Wherein, whether th'old translator have swerved further from the Greek, it vvill not be so easy to discern. For the Greek word doth properly signify, to make new; which the Latin word, that th'old translator useth, doeth not express. for initio doth not signify, to make new, (for that doth innovo) but to enter into. And this defect of th'old translator in this word, the Jesuits them selves do bewray, which forsaking a proper English word, more expressing the old translators initiabit, have followed M. Bezas translation, who translateth dedicabit, which they turn dedicated, without acknowledgement of him by whom they have (in that place) bettered their translator. The other cavil of Traditions, Justifications & Idol, is plentifully answered, and further shall be, as they fall out in the discourse of this book. But from this precise ⟨p. 116⟩and exact following of the Greek, how far th'old translator is, by differing from it, by being contrary to it, by putting to that which is not in the Greek, and taking away that which is in it: shall soon after appear. Although if it were so precise, yet that is nothing to yours; which goeth so far from it, both in words and sense.
Praecisenes in translation is vvorthy to be commended, but superstition is vvorthy no praise. And if the Latine phrase serue the Greeke, & ansvvere vnto it better sometime then th'English doth: that argueth no more the goodnes of the translation, then it proueth th'English to be better then the Latine translation, because the English phrase frameth often better vvith the Greeke, then doth the Latine. Of this praecisenes they bring two examples, vvherein commending the old translation they condemne ours. The first is for that vve translate Tit. 3.1 14. to maintaine to good workes. Your Greek stomackes be very quasie, that cannot brook this translation. Tell vs (I pray you) how vvill you translate yt 2in Demosthenes, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, but to maintain your right. Housoeuer you translate it vve care not, ⟨p. 115⟩seing Budaeus a man of singular skill in3 that tongue, doth so translate it, as we haue done. In th'other places Heb. 10. 20. we are charged for turning he prepared. Wherein, whether th'old translator haue svvarued further from the Greek, it vvill not be so easie to discern. For the Greek vvord doth properly signifie, to make newe; vvhich the Latine vvorde, that th'olde translator vseth, doeth not expresse. for initio doth not signify, to make new, (for that doth innouo) but to enter into. And this defect of th'olde translator in this vvorde, the Iesuites them selues do bevvraye, vvhich forsaking a proper English vvord, more expressing the old translators initiabit, haue followed M. Bezas translation, who translateth dedicabit, which they turne dedicated, without acknowledgment of him by vvhome they haue (in that place) bettered their translator. The other cauill of Traditions, Iustifications & Idoll, is plentifully ansvvered, and further shal be, as they fall out in the discourse of this booke. But from this praecise ⟨p. 116⟩and exact following of the Greeke, how far th'olde translator is, by differing from it, by being contrary to it, by putting to that which is not in the Greek, and taking avvay that which is in it: shall soone after appeare. Although if it vvere so precise, yet that is nothing to yours; which goeth so far from it, both in vvordes and sense.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 2Demosthenes contra Timoc. Bu••us in commenta.
- 3rijs, tueri & defensitare [Greek or Hebrew]rijs, tueri & defensitare 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
