Ethiopic Didascalia

Platt 1834 historical front matter, source page 19

PREFACE. Xi rally rendered "repent" and "repentance." In many cases, however, the word "penance" would probably have expressed more accurately the meaning of the Ethiopic, and in some cases I have so translated the word Tfl'h : as in p. 96, lin. antepenult. The penance described in this work is not set forth as a com- pensation for sin, in which view it has doubtless given rise to great abuses in later times, but as a part of wholesome and necessary discipline. In editing this work, I have closely followed the Ethiopic MS. Having no other copy to compare it with, I have not ventured, except in very few instances, to amend or alter the text. Wherever I have done any thing of this sort, it will be found mentioned in the Notes which I have added. I have there also stated and discussed any difficulties that have occurred to me, whether relating to Grammatical Construction or of any other kind, and have examined the meaning of such passages as appeared doubtful. One emendation I have ventured to adopt throughout the whole work, which is not noticed in the Notes : I have written ?tR.fl4^Afl : " Bishop," and in the plural, ^^.yl.fl*^'1'^ :, instead of ^^.R.fl : ^f-fl : and ltv.KS\ ■ *i^'1'^ = which is the orthography of the MS. Ludolf says, in his Lexicon, ?».R.fl : ^i^tl ■ Grcecwn 'E-Kta-KOTros, duobus punctis male interstinctum. I have ventured to expunge the two points. It will have been observed, that the controversy between Grabe and Whiston, referred to in the former part of this Preface, turned in a great measure upon the contents of the Arabic Didascalia. There are now two copies of this work in the British Museum ; one in the Arabic language and character ; the other in what is called Carshuni, that is, in the Arabic language and Syriac character. They are among the MSS. collected by the late Mr. Rich, while Resident at Bagdad. As I believe they are not yet inserted in any printed Catalogue, it may be as well to mention, that the Arabic copy will be found in a MS. marked " Bibl. Rich. 7211,"/o/. 45 verso ; and the Carshiini in " Bibl. Rich. 7207," /o/. 62. The beginning of the Arabic MS. has been transcribed for me by Mr. Mitchell, the Assistant Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, (whose kind assistance I am glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging,) and it is here subjoined. I have added also the Introduction and the First Chapter of the Greek Constitu- tions. An opportunity is thus given of comparing the Original and the two Translations ; and of comparing also the opening of the Greek Constitutions with the Preface to the Ethiopic Version, referred to by Whiston.