Translations.

Ir a person, wholly ignorant of College words and customs, should happen to read the notices posted on the Lyceum and Athenaeum, he might certainly be pardoned for expressing some surprise. From the number of "ponies," "horses," "steeds," "colts," "nags," "mustangs," "barbs" and "chargers" advertised on the walls of those buildings, it would be a natural inference, that either a tribe of Bedouin Arabs had pitched their tents in this neighborhood, or that the science of equestrianism was studied in this "ancient and renowned seat of learning," with a zeal as commendable, as it was universal. And thus it is studied, but not in the sense in which the words are used by the "outside barbarians." There is scarcely a man in the institution, who is not able, in College dialect, to ride, from him who spends his time in borrowing "steeds" and never returning them, to him who through the four years of his course, constantly keeps a livery stable always full, and always drives a four horse chariot, with a "tiger" attached.

But whether Bohn's editions have been injurious to the cause of education or not, it is certain that "ponies" have too much of a tendency to bring our translations to a dead uniformity, and to prevent recitations from being beguiled by peculiar renderings of the ancient authors, so common in former times. More especially is this to be mourned over, when the temptation to use these "helps to knowledge," overcomes the virtue of some one of the younger members of the Faculty. It seems then to be a neck and neck race between him and his pupils, which shall approach the nearer to the authorized printed version; but inasmuch as he has thrice the amount of time to study, he is usually the more successful. We all however, remember the different conduct of one tutor, who always expressed a great anxiety, that his pupils should make use of the "idiomatic expressions" of our language, and was accustomed to illustrate his meaning by translating the Greek word, "to use the spear," by "javelinize," and the angry remark of the Homeric chief, that "Achilles had no compassion, not even a little," by the more elegant phraseology, "Achilles had no bowels of compassion, no, not a bowel."

"po

But our object in writing this article was not to talk about " nies," but to introduce to the notice of the Yalensian public, a

translation of the New Testament, which in these days of Bible Society Revisions, ought to attract more attention than it has done. It is entitled "The New Covenant," and was translated by a clergyman who was half insane. It furnishes, perhaps, one of the most curious instances of an absurd mouomania on record.

The author states in the preface, that his object "in this hitherto untried effort, has been to benefit the rising generation, by presenting to them the Holy Scriptures, the foundation of their belief, and the rule of their practice, in an idiom with which they are familiar.” After giving somewhat more in detail his motives for undertaking this task, he concludes by saying, that "it is hoped and believed, that this effort will not be viewed as an infringement on the sanctity of the sacred volume, or as having an influence to render holy things common; but as a commentary and illustration of the Bible, accessible to all: and, that the Savior of sinners will not be offended at having the doctrines and precepts of his benign religion clothed in a more fashionable dress."

Now as a specimen of this "fashionable dress," observe the elegant manner in which a portion of the sermon on the mount is rendered into English.

Why do you notice the speck which is in your brother's eye, yet do not perceive the splinter which is in your own eye? How can you, with propriety, say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, and at the same time there is a splinter in your own eye? Hypocrite, first pull the splinter out of your own eye, and then you can see distinctly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

The food of John the Baptist is spoken of as being "small animals and vegetable honey"; "righteousness" is always translated by "correctness," "faith" by "confidence," and "Christ” by “the Anointed." But for the edification of our readers, we will string together a collection of these pearls taken at random from the book. It is almost wonderful to notice how some of the sublimest passages of our version become almost travestied in this translation, which without doubt was undertaken with the purest motives on the part of the author.

The eye is the light of the body. If, therefore, your eye be transparent, your whole body will be enlightened.

Which of you by anxiety, can add one inch to his height?

It is not every one who addresses me in that courteous language, Sovereign,

Sovereign, who shall enter the dominion of God, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in the heavens.

Into whatever city or town, you shall enter, inquire for a suitable family, and there remain until you go thence.

Do not imbibe the idea that I have come at this time, to bring peace to the earth.

But he replied: Inimical and adulatory people wish for a token; but there shall be no token exhibited to them, except the token of the prophet Jonah.

The Savior then asked them, whether they had understood all his instructions; And they said, Yes, Sir.

When the Savior had concluded his similitudes, he retired from that place. But he turned and said to Peter, desist, opposer, you are a hindrance to me. And his lord was angry and committed him to the police, until he should pay all that was due to him.

On these two commands, are suspended all the laws and the prophecies.

The Savior said to them, Do you see these elegancies? I assure you, that, at a future day, there will not be left one stone upon another, which will not be thrown down.

The moon will not give light, and the stars will fall from the heavens, and the planetary system will be shaken.

The Savior said to him, I assure you, that this very night, before the cock shall announce the approach of day, you will three times deny your relation to

me.

Immediately he came to the Savior, and said, your most obedient, Preceptor, and kissed him.

The following command in the twenty-third verse of the fifth chapter of 1st Timothy, does appear anything but orthodox, as translated here in this manner : "drink no more water; but use a little wine for the benefit of your stomach and numerous infirmities." The following verse contains quite a novel idea.

And a man from Ethiopia, a bachelor of great authority under Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia, was returning.

After reading a whole book, translated in such a manner as the foregoing passages, it would certainly be a hard matter, to think there was not something in the choice of words. Every man, who can appreciate the dignity and simple majesty of our version of the Bible, has good reason to be thankful that the work of rendering it into English, was not committed to a body of men, who were anxious to put it in a "fashionable dress."

XX.

Memorabilia Valensia.

THE most note-worthy circumstance, that has taken place thus far in the term, was the appearance, on the 11th of May, of the fifth number of the LIT., regularly coming out in March, but this year dated April.

The Yale Navy, which was never in a more flourishing condition, certainly as regards the number and quality of boats, has this term received two very important accessions. We append a description of the boats and uniforms, and a list of their men:

LORELEI CLUB. CLASS OF 1861.

Boat-black, with a gold stripe, pulls six oars, forty-five feet, seven inches in length; was built by Ingersoll, of New York, in 1858. Flags-bow, blue trimmed with white; stern, American Ensign. Uniform-white shirts, with blue collars and cuffs, trimmed with white stars; cords, terminating in pink stars, on the breast; below the cords a foul anchor, pink. Belts-black, with "Lorelei, Yale, '61," in gold letters. White pants, straw hats.

Boat-maroon, with gilt band, pulls six oars, forty-five feet in length, was built by James, of Brooklyn, in 1858. Flags-bow, white jack, with "C" inscribed; stern, American Ensign. Uniform-shirts white, collars and cuffs crimson, belts black, with "Cymothoe, '61" in raised silver letters, pants white. A. P. Root,

Captain,

The class of '61 deserves great credit for the spirited manner in which it has taken hold of naval matters. They have at present four clubs, three of which possess boats of the first quality. If all succeeding classes follow their example, Yale will soon own a collection of boats, the equals of which will not be found in the United States.

CLASS ORATORS AND POETS.

We have been at some pains to ascertain the names of the Class Orators and Poets of Presentation Day, so far back as they can be obtained. The custom commenced not long after 1820, but it has been found impossible to obtain anything like a full list, further back than 1833. So far back as it goes we print it, however, for the benefit of students and Statement-of-Facts orators, expressing at the same time our thanks to the Librarians of the College for the valuable assistance they have rendered us. At some future time we hope to make the list complete.