Pistis Sophia

Pistis Sophia — G. R. S. Mead — Section 31

the opinion that it would be unfair to his memory to publish a MS. that was in so incomplete a condition. In 1890 I had already translated Schwartze's Latin version into English and published pages 1 to 252, with a commentary, notes, etc., in magazine form from April, 1890, to April, 1891. But I hesitated to put it forward in book form, and should not have done so, but for the appearance of Amelineau's French version in 1895. I then retranslated the whole book again and checked it by Amelineau's version. I was further induced to venture on this undertaking, because the narrative, though dealing with mystical and therefore obscure subjects, is in itself exceedingly simple, and therefore mistakes cannot so readily creep in as into a difhcult philosophical work. I, therefore, present my trans- lation with all hesitation, but at the same time think that the English public, which is steadily increasing its interest in mysticism and allied subjects, will be better satisfied with half a loaf than with no bread. In conclusion it only remains for me to append a brief fjij^g siimmary of the work that has already been done work on the subject. This may best be seen by treating been pre- ^^ f I'om a chronological point of view. In addition viously to a few scattered articles in magazines which are not of the first importance, the chief contributions to the subject are : a. 1770. Article in Britti#clie Theol.Magaziii; see Kostlin infra. b. 1773. Woide (C. A.). Article in Journal de Savants. c. 1778. Woide. Article in J. A. Cramer's BeyLrage zur Befo- clerung theologischer and andrer wichtigen Kennt- nisse (Kiel u. Hamburg), pp. 82 sq. d. 1799. Woide. Appendix ad Editionem Novi Testamenti Gneci e Cudice MS. Alexandrine a Carolo God- fredo Wuide Descripti,in qua continentur Fragmenta Novi Testament] juxta interpretationera Dialecti Superioris ^Egypti quae Thebaidica vel Sahidica appellatur e Codicibus Oxoniensibus maxima ex parte Desumpta, cum Dissertatione de Versione INTRODUCTION. XXXVll Bibliorum ^Ef^yptiaca quibus subjictur Codicis Vaticani Collatio (Oxonii) — p. 137.