THE
TRANSLATOR'S
PREFACE.
THE Author of the following Work had a share in the education of that amiable Prince, Christian VII. King of Denmark, who lately honoured this nation with a visit. During his residence in the North, our Author Mons. Mallet (who has all the talents of a fine writer) was engaged by the late King Frederick V. to write a History of Denmark in the French Language. By way of Introduction to that History, he drew up these two prefatory Volumes, the merit of which has long been acknowledged in most parts of Europe.
Though intended only as a Preliminary Piece, it has all the merit of a complete independent work; and, except to the natives of Denmark, is much more interesting and entertaining than the History itself, which it was intended to precede. It very early engaged the attention of the present Translator: whose reading having run somewhat in the same track with that of the Author, made him fond of the subject, and tempted him to give in an English dress a work in which it was displayed with so much advantage. As he happened also to have many of the original books from which the French Author had taken his materials, he flattered himself they would supply some Illustrations, which might give an additional value to the Version.
For this reason, as also to afford himself an agreeable amusement, the Translator some time ago undertook this work; but a feries of unexpected avocations intervened, and it was thrown afide for feveral years. At length he was prevailed upon to refume it; and as many of his friends were fo obliging as to fhare among them different parts of the Tranflation, he had little more to do but to compare their performances with the original, and to superadd such Remarks as occurred to him. Thefe are generally distinguished from thofe of the Author by the letter T[1].
He was the rather invited to undertake this task, as he perceived the Author had been drawn in to adopt an opinion that has been a great source of mistake and confusion to many learned writers of the ancient history of Europe; viz. that of fuppofing the ancient Gauls and Germans, the Britons and Saxons, to have been all originally one and the fame people; thus confounding the antiquities of the Gothic and Celtic nations. This crude opinion, which perhaps was firft taken up by Cluverius[2], and maintained by him with uncommon erudition, has been since incautiously adopted by Keysler[3] and Pelloutier[4], the latter of whom has, with great diligence and skill, endeavoured to confirm it. In short, so much learning and ingenuity have scarcely ever been more perversely and erroneously applied, or brought to adorn and support a more groundless hypothesis. This mistake the Translator thought might be easily corrected in the present work; and by weeding out this one error, he hoped he should obtain the Author's pardon, and acquire some merit with the English Reader[5].
And that it is an error he thinks will appear from the attentive consideration of a few particulars, which can here be only mentioned in brief: For to give the subject a thorough discussion, and to handle it in its full extent, would far exceed the limits of this short Preface.
The ancient and original inhabitants of Europe,
according to Cluverius and Pelloutier, consisted only
of two distinct races of men, viz. the Celts and
Sarmatians; and that from one or other of these, but
chiefly from the former, all the ancient nations of
Europe are descended. The Sarmatians or Sauromatæ,
were the ancestors of all the Sclavonian Tribes, viz.
the Poles, Russians, Bohemians, Walachians, &c.
who continue to this day a distinct and separate people,
extremely different in their character, manners, laws
and language from the other race, which was that of
the Celts; from whom (they will have it) were
Specimens of the Gothic Languages.
I. Modern Languages derived from the Old Saxon.
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I. Our Father, which art in Heaven. 1. Hallowed be thy Name. 2. Thy Kingdom come. 3. Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. 4. Give us this day, our daily Bread. 5. And forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors. 6. And lead us not into Temptation. 7. But deliver us from Evil. Amen. [From the Eng. Testament.]
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II. Ure Fadir, whilk art in Hevin. 1. Hallouit be thy Naim. 2. Thy Kingdum cum. 3. Thy Wull be dun in Airth, as it is in Hevin. 4. Gie uss this day ure daily Breid. 5. And forgie uss ure Debts, ass we forgien ure Debtouris. 6. And leid uss na’ into Temptation. 7. Bot deliver uss frae Evil. Amen. [From a Scotch Gentleman.] |
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III. Onse Vader, die daer zijt in de Hemelen. 1. Uwen Naem worde gheheylight. 2. U Rijcke kome. 3. Uwen Wille gheschiede op der Aerden, gelijck in den Hemel. 4. Onse dagelijckt Broodt gheeft ons heden. 5. Ende vergheeft ons onse Schulden, ghelijck wy oock onse Schuldenaren vergeven. 6. Ende en leyt ons niet in Versoeckinge. 7. Maer verlost ons vanden Boofsn. Amen. [From the New Test. in Dutch, Amst. 1630. 12mo.]
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IV. Ws Haita duu derstu biste yne Hymil. 1. Dyn Name wird heiligt. 2. Dyn Rick tokomme. 3. Dyn Wille moet schoen, opt Yrtryck as yne Hymile. 4. Ws deilix Bræ jov ws jwed. 5. In verjou ws, ws Schylden, as wy vejac ws Schyldnirs. 6. In lied ws nact in Versieking. 7. Din fry ws vin it Quæd. Amen. [From Chamberlayn, p. 68.]
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Specimens of the Gothic Languages.
III. Modern Languages derived from the Ancient Scandinavian, or Icelandic, called (by some Writers) Cimbric, or Cimbro-Gothic.
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I. Fader vor thu som ert a Himnum. 1. Helgest thitt Nafn. 2. Tilkome thitt Riike. 3. Verde thinn Vilie, so a Jordu, sem a Himne. 4. Gieff thu oss i dag vort daglegt Braud. 5. Og fiergieff oss vorar Skulder, so sem vier fierergiefum vorum Skuldinautum. 6. Og inleid oss ecke i Freistne. 7. Heldr frelsa thu oss fra Illu. Amen. [From Chamberlayn, p. 70.]
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II. Wor Fader du som est y Himmelen. 1. Gehailiget worde dit Nafn. Tilkomma os Riga dit. 3. Din Wilia geskia paa Iorden, som handt er udi Himmelen. 4. Giff os y Tag wort dagliga Brouta. 5. Och forlaet os wort Skioldt, som wy forlata wora Skioldon. 6. Och lad os icke homma voi Fristelse. 7. Man frals os fra Onet. Amen. [From Chamberlayn, p. 71.] |
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III. Vor Fader i Himmelen. 1. Helligt vorde dit Navn. 2. Tilkomme dit Rige. 3. Vorde din Villie, paa Iorden som i Himmelen. 4. Giff oss i Dag vort daglige Bred. 5. Oc forlad oss vor Skyld, som wi forlade vore Skyldener. 6. Oc leede oss icke i Fristelse. 7. Men frels os fra Ont. Amen. [From Chamberlayn, p. 70.]
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IV. Fader war som ast i Himmelen. 1. Helgat warde titt Nampn. 2. Till komme titt Ricke. 3. Skei tin Wilie saa paa Iordenne, som i Himmelen. 4. Wart dagliga Brod giff oss i Dagh. 5. Och forlat oss wara Skulder sa som ock wi forlaten them oss Skildege aro, 6. Och inleed oss icke i Frestelse. 7. Ut an frals oss i fra Ondo. Amen. [From Chamberlayn, p. 70.]
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Specimens of the Finn and Lapland Tongues.
I.
The Finn Language.
Ifa meidan joca olet tai- waffa. 1. Pyhitetty olcon finum Nimes. 2. Lahes tulcon finum Waldacundas. 3. Olcon finun tahtos niin maafa cuin taiwafa. 4. Anna meile tanapaiwana meidan joca paiwainen lei- pam. 5. Sa anna meille meidan fyndim andexi nun- cuin mekin andex annam meidan welwottiftem. 6. Ja ala johdata meita kiu- fauxen. 7. Mutta paafta meita pahafta. Amen.
[From Chamberlayn, p. 82.]
II.
The Lapland Tongue.
Atki mijam juco lee al- menfifne. 1. Ailis ziaddai tu Nam. 2. Zweigubatta tu Ryki. 3. Ziaddus tu Willio naukuchte almefne nau ei edna mannal. 4- Wadde mijai udni mijan fært pafwen laibebm. 5. fah andag afloite mi jemijan juddoid, naukuchte mije an- dagafloitebt kudi mije welgogas lien. 6. Jah sissalaidi mijabni. 7. Æle tocko kackzællebma pabaft. Amen.
[From Chamberlayn, p. 83.]
A Specimen of the Cantabrian or Biscayan Language, still preserved in Spain.
The Basque.
Gure Aita keruétan carréña. 1. Erabilbedi sainduqui çure Icena. 2. Ethorbedi çure Erressuma. 3. Eguinbedi çure Borondatea ceru'an becala turre' an are. 4. Emandieçagucu egun gure egunorozco oguia. 5. Eta barkhadietcatgutçu gure gorrac gucere gure cardunei barkhatcendiotçaguten becala. 6. Eta ezgaitçatcu utc tentacionétan erortcerat. 7. Aitcitic beguiragaitcatçu gaite gucietaric. Halabiz.
[From Chamberlayn, p. 44.]
REMARKS
ON THE
FOREGOING VERSIONS:
AND FIRST
Of the Gothic Specimens.
THE great and uniform similitude, discoverable at first sight between all the Specimens of the Gothic or Teutonic Languages, must be very striking, even to foreigners unacquainted with these Tongues: But to those that know them intimately the affinity must appear much nearer and stronger, because many words that were originally the same, are disguised by the variations of Pronunciation and Orthography, as well as by the difference of Idiom: Thus, the German Geheiliget, and the English Hallowed, are both equally derived from the Teutonic Helig, Holy.
It may further be observed, that Time has introduced a change, not only in the Form, but in the Meaning of many Words, so that though they are equally preferved in the different Dialects, they no longer retain the fame uniform appearance, nor can be ufed with propriety to exprefs the fame exact mean- ing. Thus, the Latin Word Panis is tranflated in the Gothic and Anglo-Saxon Hlaf, or Hlaif, which word is still current among us in its derivative Loaf, but with a variation of sense that made it less proper to be used in the Pater-nofter than the other Teutonic word Bread, which is preserved in all the other Dialects, but in a great variety of Forms. Thus from the old Francic Brot, or Cimbric Brodh, come the Swiss, Brot; The Swedish, Brod; The High Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/54 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/55 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/56 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/57 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/58 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/59 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/60 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/61 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/62 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/63 Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/64 British names: But when he boldly proceeds to our names of Villages and Towns, which are most of them purely Saxon and English, he falls into such diverting blunders as these, viz.
- ACTON (which is from the Saxon Ac, an Oak, and Ton, a Town) he derives from Ac, a River, and Ton, Habitation.
- ASTON (which is merely Eaft-town, as in fome parts of England Eafter is ftill called After) he will have from As, River, and Ton, Habitation.
- AUKLAND (which is probably old English for OAK-LAND) he fetches from Oc, a little Hill, Lan, River, and D from Dy, Two.
- COLBROKE, he fays, comes from the Saxon Broke, a Bridge; i. e. a Bridge over the Colne.
- DICH-MARSH, he derives from Dich, which he fays is from Dichlud, Borne, and Mar, Water. Dich-mar, Land borne up by Water.
- HANWELL, he says, is from Han, a Bending, and Val, in composition Vel, a River.
- HIGHAM (a borough in Northamptonfhire, which ftands on a hill, at fome diftance from any river, and which was doubtlefs named from its elevated fituation, High-ham; i. e. the Home or Habitation on High Ground: See Verftigan :) this writer derives from 7, a River, and Cam, in compofition Gam, a Bending.
- NORTHAMPTON, (either so named in contradistinction to SOUTH HAMPTON, or, according to Camden, originally North-avonton;) this egregious Etymologift derives from Nor, (Embouchure) the Mouth of a river, Tan, a River, and Ton, Habitation.
- NORTHILL, (which I suppose is merely North-Hill) he derives from Nor, River, and Tyle, Habitation.
- OUNDALE (contracted for Avon-dale) he derives from Avon, a River, and Dal, Inclosed, surrounded.
- RINGWOOD (i. e. I suppose, a “Wood ring-fenced,” a common forest term) he derives from Ren (Partage) a Division, Cw, River, and Hed, a Forest.
- Stanford (i. e. Stone, or Stony Ford) he derives from Stan (Embouchure) a Mouth of a River,Vor, pronounced For, Near.
- Stratton (i. e. Street-Town, the name of a Town on the Watling-street) from Strat, Land near a River, and Ton, Habitation: Or, from Ster, Rivers, At, Junction or Joining, and Ton, Habitation.
- Uxbridge, (supposed by some to be corrupted from Ouse-bridge) he derives from Uc, River, and Brig (Partage) Division.
Such are the derivations of a writer who fets out to explain the meaning of English names of places, without understanding the signification of our common English words Land, Brook, Marsh, Well, High, North, Hill, Dale, Wood, Ford, Street or Bridge!
So much for Celtic Etymologies!
POSTSCRIPT.
TO the modern Tongues derived from the Old Cimbro-Gothic above mentioned in p. xxxii. may be added a Specimen of the Language spoken by the common people in the Isles of Orkney. This is preserved by Dr. Wallace, in his Account of those Islands, “Lond. 1700. 8vo.” Who tells us it is called by the natives Norns. It seems to be a corruption of the Norse, Icelandic, &c. and is as follows:
“Favor i ir i Chimrie. 1. Helleur ir i Nam thite. 2. Gilla cosdum thite cumma. 3. Veya thine mota var gort o Yurn sinna gort i Chimrie. 4. Gav vus da on da dalight Brow vora. 5. Firgive vus Sinna vora sin vee firgive Sindara mutha vus. 6. Lyv vus ye i Tumtation. 7. Min delivera vus fro Olt ilt. Amen.”
☛ I suspect the above Copy to be incorrectly printed by Wallace: that “Helleur” should be “Helleut,” &c. &c.
- ↑ When the present Translation was undertaken, only the first edition of the original had appeared; and from that several of the first chapters were translated: In that edition the first volume was not, as here, divided into XIII. Chapters, but into V. Books. Afterwards the Author revised his work, and publifhed a new edition, in which he not only made the new divifion above-mentioned, but many confiderable alterations both in the Text and Notes. It was necessary to accommodate the Version to this new Revifal, but the Translator could not help retaining in the margin many of the rejected Passages, which he thought too valuable. to be wholly discarded.
- ↑ Philippi Cluveri Germaniæ Antiquæ Libri Tres, &c. Lugduni Batav. Apud Elzev, 1616. folio.
- ↑ Antiquitates Selectæ Septentrionales et Celticæ, &c. Autore Joh. Georgio Keysler, &c. Hannoveræ 1720. 8vo.
- ↑ Histoire des Celtes, et particulierement des Gaulois et des Germains, &c. par Mr. Simon Pelloutier. Haye 1750. 2 Tom. 12me. This learned Writer, who is a protestant minister, counsellor of the Consistory, and librarian to the academy at Berlin, is descended from a family originally of Languedoc, and was born at Leipsic, 27 October, 1694. O. S. (v. France literaire, Tom. I.)
- ↑ Though the words Gothic or Teutonic are often substituted in the Translation, instead of the Author's favourite word Celtique; yet care has been taken to represent the Author’s own expression in the margin. Sometimes where it was not needful to be very precise, the word Gothic has only been added to the Author's word Celtic; but the insertion is carefully distinguished by inverted commas.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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