study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第21节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
almost sung throughout。 This musical element is in sharp contrast with
much else in the Scripture； where necessity does not permit that literary
form。 For example； in the Epistle to the Hebrews； which is argumentative
throughout； there is no part except its quotations which has ever been set
65
… Page 66…
Study of the King James Bible
to music for uses in Christian worship。 It is rugged and protracted in its
form； and has no musical element about it。 The contrast within the
Scripture of the musical and the unmusical is a very marked one。
Add to the thought of the earnestness and variety of the Scripture a
word about the simplicity of its literary expression。 There is nothing
meretricious in its style。 There is no effort to say a thing finely。 The
translators have avoided all temptation to grow dramatic in reproducing
the original。 Contrast the actual English Bible with the narratives or other
literary works that have been built up out of it。 Read all that the Bible tells
about the loss of Paradise； and then read Milton's 〃Paradise Lost。〃 Nearly
all of the conceptions of Milton's greatest poem are built up from brief
Scripture references。 But Milton becomes subtle in his analysis of motives；
he enlarges greatly on events。 Scripture never does that。 It gives us very
few analyses of motive from first to last。 That is not the method nor the
purpose of Scripture。 It tells the story in terms that move on the middle
level of speech and the middle level of understanding； while Milton labors
with it； complicates it； entangling it with countless
details which are to the Scripture unimportant。 It goes straight to the
simple and fundamental elements in the account。 Take a more modern
illustration。 Probably the finest poem of its length in the English language
is Browning's 〃Saul。〃 It is built out of one incident and a single expression
in the Bible story of Saul and David。 The incident is David's being called
from his sheep to play his harp and to sing before Saul in the fits of gloom
which overcome him； the expression is the single saying that David loved
Saul。 Taking that incident and that expression； Browning writes a beautiful
poem with many decorative details； with keen analysis of motive； with
long accounts of the way David felt when he rendered his service； and
how his heart leaped or sang。 Imagine finding Browning's familiar phrases
in Scripture： 〃The lilies we twine round the harp…chords； lest they snap
neath the stress of the noontide those sunbeams like swords〃； 〃Oh； the
wild joy of living！〃 〃Spring's arrowy summons；〃 going 〃straight to the
aim。〃 That is very well for Browning； but it is not the Scripture way； it is
too complicated。 All that the Bible says can be said anywhere； Browning's
〃Saul〃 could not possibly be reproduced in other languages。 It would need
66
… Page 67…
Study of the King James Bible
a glossary or a commentary to make it intelligible。 It is beautiful English；
and great because it has taken a great idea and clothed it in worthy
expression。 But the simplicity of the Bible narrative appears in sharp
contrast with it。 In my childhood my father used to tell of a man who
preached on the creation； and with great detail and much elaboration and
decoration told the story of creation as it is suggested in the first chapter of
Genesis。 When it was over he asked an old listener what he thought of his
effort； and the only comment was； 〃You can't beat Moses！〃 Well； it would
be difficult to surpass these Bible writers in simplicity； in going straight to
the point； and making that plain and leaving it。 Where the Bible takes a
hundred words to tell the whole story Browning takes several hundred
lines to tell it。
The simplicity of the Bible is largely because there is so little abstract
reasoning in it。 Having few or no abstract ideas； it does not need abstract
words。 Rather； it groups its whole movement around characters。 Three
eminent literary men were once asked to select the best reviews of a novel
which had just appeared。 One of the three statements which they rated
highest said of the book that it 〃achieves the true purpose of a novel；
which is to make comprehensible the philosophy of life of a whole
community or race of men by showing us how that philosophy accords
with the impulses and yearnings of typical individuals。〃 Few phrases could
be more foreign to Bible phrases than those。 But there is valuable
suggestion in it for more than the literature of the novel。 That is exactly
what the Scripture does。 Its reasoning is kept concrete by the fact that it is
dealing with characters more than movements； and so it can speak in
concrete words。 That always makes for simplicity。
There are two elements common to the history of literature about
which a special word is deserved。 I mean the dramatic and the oratorical
elements。 The difference between the dramatic and the oratorical is chiefly
that in dramatic writing there is a scene in which many take part； and in
the oratorical writing one man presents the whole scene； however dramatic
the surroundings。 There is not a great deal of either in the Scripture。 There
is no formal drama； nothing that could be acted as it stands。 It is true； to be
sure； that Job can be cast into dramatic form by a sufficient manipulation；
67
… Page 68…
Study of the King James Bible
but it is quite unlikely； in spite of some scholars； that it was ever meant to
be a formal drama for action。 It does move in cycles in the appearance of
its characters； and it does close in a way to take one back to the beginning。
It has many marks of the drama； and yet it seems very unlikely that it was
ever prepared with that definitely in mind。 On the other hand； a most
likely explanation of the Song of Solomon is that it is a short drama which
appears in our Bible without any character names； as though you should
take 〃Hamlet〃 and print it continuously； indicating in no way the change of
speakers nor any movement。 The effort has been measurably successful to
discover and insert the names of the probable speakers。 That seems to be
the one exception to the general statement that there is no formal drama in
the Scripture。 But there are some very striking dramatic episodes； and they
are made dramatic for us very largely by the way they are told。 One of the
earlier is in I Kings xviii：21…39。 It is almost impossible to read it aloud
without dramatic expression：
〃And Elijah came unto all the people； and said； How long halt ye
between two opinions？ if the Lord be God； follow him： but if Baal； then
follow him。 And the people answered him not a word。 Then said Elijah
unto the people； I； even I only； remain a prophet of the Lord； but Baal's
prophets are four hundred and fifty men。 Let them therefore give us two
bullocks； and let them choose one bullock for themselves； and cut it in
pieces； and lay it on wood； and put no fire under； and I will dress the other
bullock； and lay it on wood； and put no fire under： and call ye on the name
of your gods； and I will call on the name of the Lord： and the God that
answereth by fire； let him be God。 And all the people answered and said； It
is well spoken。 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal； Choose you one
bullock for yourselves； and dress it first； for ye are many； and call on the
name of your gods； but put no fire under。 And they took the bullock which
was given them； and they dressed it； and called on the name of Baal from
morning until noon； saying； O Baal； hear us。 But there was no voice； nor
any that answered。 And they leaped upon the altar which was made。 And it
came to pass at noon； that Elijah mocked them； and said； Cry aloud； for he
is a god； either he is talking； or he is pursuing； or； he is in a journey； or
peradventure he sleepeth； and must be awakened。 And they cried aloud；
68
… Page 69…
