just in proportion as they are weak ; and they are weak just
CHAP. XIII.] soLECis^rs and barbakisms. 47 not because these are sufficient, but because we may use tliem to correct the freedom or the error of others, who in their translations have chosen to follow the sense quite as much as the words. For not only single words, but often whole phrases are translated, which could not be translated at all into the
Latin idiom by any one who wished to hold by the usage of the ancients who spoke Latin. And though these sometimes do not interfere with the understanding of the passage, yet they are offensive to those who feel greater delight in things when even the signs of those things are kept in their own purity. For what is called a solecism is nothing else than the putting of words together according to a different rule from that which those of our predecessors who spoke with any authority followed. For whether we say inter Jwmines (among men) or inter liominihus, is of no consequence to a man who only wishes to know the facts. And in the same way, what is a larharism but the pronouncing of a word in a different way from that in which those who spoke Latin before us pronounced it ? For whether the word ignoscere (to pardon) should be pronounced with the third syllable long or short, is not a matter of much concern to the man who is beseeching
God, in any way at all that he can get the words out, to pardon his sins. What then is purity of speech, except the preserving of the custom of language established by the authority of former speakers ?
20. And men are easily offended in a matter of this kind, just in proportion as they are weak ; and they are weak just in proportion as they wish to seem learned, not in the knowledge of things which tend to edification, but in that of signs, by which it is hard not to be puffed up,^ seeing that the knowledge of things even would often set up our neck, if it were not held down by the yoke of our Master. For how does it prevent our understanding it to have the following passage thus expressed : " Quce est terra in qua isti insidunt supper earn, si hona est an nequam ; et quce sunt civitates, in quihus ipsi inhabitant in ijms?"^ And I am more disposed to think that
* Comp. 1 Cor. viii. 1.
2 '* And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad ; and what cities they be that they dwell in."—Num. xiii. 19 (A. V.).