The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 28

The Chinoys, who live at the bounds of the Earth, who have admitted little communication, and suffered successive incursions from one Nation, may possibly give account of a very ancient Language; but consisting of many Nations and Tongues; confusion, admixtion and corruption in length of time might probably so have crept in as without the virtue of a common Character, and lasting Letter of things, they could never probably make out those strange memorials which they pretend, while they still make use of the Works of their great _Confutius_ many hundred years before Christ, and in a series ascend as high as _Poncuus_, who is conceived our _Noah_.

The present Welch, and remnant of the old Britanes, hold so much of that ancient Language, that they make a shift to understand the Poems of _Merlin_, _Enerin_, _Telesin_, a thousand years ago, whereas the Herulian _Pater Noster_, set down by _Wolfgangus Lazius_, is not without much criticism made out, and but in some words; and the present Parisians can hardly hack out those few lines of the League between _Charles_ and _Lewis_, the Sons of _Ludovicus Pius_, yet remaining in old French.

The Spaniards, in their corruptive traduction and Romance, have so happily retained the terminations from the Latin, that notwithstanding the Gothick and Moorish intrusion of words, they are able to make a Discourse completely consisting of Grammatical Latin and Spanish, wherein the Italians and French will be very much to seek.

The learned _Casaubon_ conceiveth that a Dialogue might be composed in Saxon onely of such words as are derivable from the Greek, which surely might be effected, and so as the learned might not uneasily find it out.

_Verstegan_ made no doubt that he could contrive a Letter which might be understood by the English, Dutch and East Frislander, which, as the present confusion standeth, might have proved no very clear Piece, and hardly to be hammer'd out: yet so much of the Saxon still remaineth in our English, as may admit an orderly discourse and series of good sense, such as not onely the present English, but _aelfric_, _Bede_ and _Alured_ might understand after so many hundred years.

Nations that live promiscuously, under the Power and Laws of Conquest, do seldom escape the loss of their Language with their Liberties, wherein the Romans were so strict that the Grecians were fain to conform in their judicial Processes; which made the Jews loose more in seventy years dispersion in the Provinces of _Babylon_, than in many hundred in their distinct habitation in _aegypt_; and the English which dwelt dispersedly to loose their Language in _Ireland_, whereas more tolerable reliques there are thereof in _Fingall_, where they were closely and almost solely planted; and the Moors which were most huddled together and united about _Granada_, have yet left their _Arvirage_ among the Granadian Spaniards.

But shut up in Angles and inaccessible corners, divided by Laws and Manners, they often continue long with little mixture, which hath afforded that lasting life unto the Cantabrian and British Tongue, wherein the Britanes are remarkable, who, having lived four hundred years together with the Romans, retained so much of the British as it may be esteemed a Language; which either they resolutely maintained in their cohabitation with them in Britane, or retiring after in the time of the Saxons into Countries and parts less civiliz'd and conversant with the Romans, they found the People distinct, the Language more intire, and so fell into it again.

But surely no Languages have been so straitly lock'd up as not to admit of commixture. The Irish, although they retain a kind of a Saxon Character, yet have admitted many words of Latin and English. In the Welch are found many words from Latin, some from Greek and Saxon. In what parity and incommixture the Language of that People stood which were casually discovered in the heart of _Spain_, between the Mountains of _Castile_, no longer ago than in the time of Duke _D' Alva_, we have not met with a good account any farther than that their words were Basquish or Cantabrian: but the present Basquensa one of the minor Mother Tongues of _Europe_, is not without commixture of Latin and Castilian, while we meet with _Santifica_, _tentationeten_, _Glaria_, _puissanea_, and four more in the short Form of the Lord's Prayer, set down by _Paulus Merula_: but although in this brief Form we may find such commixture, yet the bulk of their Language seems more distinct, consisting of words of no affinity unto others, of numerals totally different, of differing Grammatical Rule, as may be observed in the Dictionary and short _Basquensa_ Grammar, composed by _Raphael Nicoleta_, a Priest of _Bilboa_.

And if they use the auxiliary Verbs of _Equin_ and _Ysan_, answerable unto _Hazer_ and _Ser_, to Have, and Be, in the Spanish, which Forms came in with the Northern Nations into the Italian, Spanish and French, and if that Form were used by them before, and crept not in from imitation of their neighbours, it may shew some ancienter traduction from Northern Nations, or else must seem very strange; since the Southern Nations had it not of old, and I know not whether any such mode be found in the Languages of any part of _America_.

The Romans, who made the great commixture and alteration of Languages in the World, effected the same, not onely by their proper Language, but those also of their military Forces, employed in several Provinces, as holding a standing _Militia_ in all Countries, and commonly of strange Nations; so while the cohorts and Forces of the Britanes were quartered in _aegypt_, _Armenia_, _Spain_, _Illyria_, etc. the Stablaesians and Dalmatians here, the Gauls, Spaniards and Germans in other Countries, and other Nations in theirs, they could not but leave many words behind them, and carry away many with them, which might make that in many words of very distinct Nations some may still remain of very unknown and doubtfull Genealogy.

And if, as the learned _Buxhornius_ contendeth, the Scythian Language as the Mother Tongue runs through the Nations of _Europe_, and even as far as _Persia_, the community in many words between so many Nations, hath a more reasonable original traduction, and were rather derivable from the common Tongue diffused through them all, than from any particular Nation, which hath also borrowed and holdeth but at second hand.

The Saxons settling over all _England_, maintained an uniform Language, onely diversified in Dialect, Idioms, and minor differences, according to their different Nations which came in to the common Conquest, which may yet be a cause of the variation in the speech and words of several parts of _England_, where different Nations most abode or settled, and having expelled the Britanes, their Wars were chiefly among themselves, with little action with foreign Nations untill the union of the Heptarchy under _Egbert_; after which time although the Danes infested this Land and scarce left any part free, yet their incursions made more havock in Buildings, Churches and Cities, than the Language of the Country, because their Language was in effect the same, and such as whereby they might easily understand one another.

And if the Normans, which came into _Neustria_ or _Normandy_ with _Rollo_ the Dane, had preserved their Language in their new acquists, the succeeding Conquest of _England_, by Duke _William_ of his race, had not begot among us such notable alterations; but having lost their Language in their abode in _Normandy_ before they adventured upon _England_, they confounded the English with their French, and made the grand mutation, which was successively encreased by our possessions in _Normandy_, _Guien_ and _Aquitain_, by our long Wars in France, by frequent resort of the French, who to the number of some thousands came over with _Isabel_ Queen to _Edward_ the Second, and the several Matches of _England_ with the Daughters of _France_ before and since that time.

But this commixture, though sufficient to confuse, proved not of ability to abolish the Saxon words; for from the French we have borrowed many Substantives, Adjectives and some Verbs, but the great Body of Numerals, auxiliary Verbs, Articles, p.r.o.nouns, Adverbs, Conjunctions and Prepositions, which are the distinguishing and lasting part of a Language, remain with us from the Saxon, which, having suffered no great alteration for many hundred years, may probably still remain, though the English swell with the inmates of Italian, French and Latin. An Example whereof may be observ'd in this following.

_English_ I.

The first and formost step to all good Works is the dread and fear of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, which thorough the Holy Ghost enlightneth the blindness of our sinfull hearts to tread the ways of wisedom, and leads our feet into the Land of Blessing.

_Saxon_ I.

The erst and fyrmost staep to eal G.o.de Weorka is the draed and feurt of the Lauord of Heofan and Eorth, whilc thurh the Heilig Gast onlihtneth the blindnesse of ure sinfull heorte to traed the waeg of wisdome, and thone laed ure fet into the Land of Blessung.

_English_ II.

For to forget his Law is the Door, the Gate and Key to let in all unrighteousness, making our Eyes, Ears and Mouths to answer the l.u.s.t of Sin, our Brains dull to good Thoughts, our Lips dumb to his Praise, our Ears deaf to his Gospel, and our Eyes dim to behold his Wonders, which witness against us that we have not well learned the word of G.o.d, that we are the Children of wrath, unworthy of the love and manifold gifts of G.o.d, greedily following after the ways of the Devil and witchcraft of the World, doing nothing to free and keep our selves from the burning fire of h.e.l.l, till we be buried in Sin and swallowed in Death, not to arise again in any hope of Christ's Kingdom.

_Saxon_ II.

For to fuorgytan his Laga is the Dure, the Gat and Caeg to let in eal unrightwisnysse, makend ure Eyge, Eore and Muth to answare the l.u.s.t of Sin, ure Braegan dole to G.o.de Theoht, ure Lippan dumb to his Preys, ure Earen deaf to his Gospel, and ure Eyge dim to behealden his Wundra, whilc ge witnysse ongen us that wee f noht wel gelaered the weord of G.o.d, that wee are the Cilda of ured, unwyrthe of the lufe and maenigfeald gift of G.o.d, grediglice felygend aefter the waegen of the Deoful and wiccraft of the Weorld, doend nothing to fry and caep ure saula from the byrnend fyr of h.e.l.l, till we be geburied in Synne and swolgen in Death not to arise agen in aenig hope of Christes Kynedome.

_English_ III.

Which draw from above the bitter doom of the Almighty of Hunger, Sword, Sickness, and brings more sad plagues than those of Hail, Storms, Thunder, Bloud, Frogs, swarms of Gnats and Grashoppers, which ate the Corn, Gra.s.s and Leaves of the Trees in _aegypt_.

_Saxon_ III.

Whilc drag from buf the bitter dome of the Almagan of Hunger, Sweorde, Seoknesse, and bring mere sad plag, thone they of Hagal, Storme, Thunner, Blode, Frog, swearme of Gnaet and Gaersupper, whilc eaten the Corn, Gaers and Leaf of the Treowen in _aegypt_.

_English_ IV.

If we reade his Book and holy Writ, these among many others, we shall find to be the tokens of his hate, which gathered together might mind us of his will, and teach us when his wrath beginneth, which sometimes comes in open strength and full sail, oft steals like a Thief in the night, like Shafts shot from a Bow at midnight, before we think upon them.

_Saxon_ IV.

Gyf we raed his Boc and heilig Gewrit, these gemong maenig othern, we sceall findan the tacna of his hatung whilc gegatherod together miht gemind us of his willan, and teac us whone his ured onginneth, whilc sometima come in open strength and fill seyle, oft stael gelyc a Theof in the niht, gelyc Sceaft scoten fram a Boge at midneoht, beforan we thinck uppen them.

_English_ V.

And though they were a deal less, and rather short than beyond our sins, yet do we not a whit withstand or forbear them, we are wedded to, not weary of our misdeeds, we seldom look upward, and are not ashamed under sin, we cleanse not our selves from the blackness and deep hue of our guilt; we want tears and sorrow, we weep not, fast not, we crave not forgiveness from the mildness, sweetness and goodness of G.o.d, and with all livelihood and stedfastness to our uttermost will hunt after the evil of guile, pride, cursing, swearing, drunkenness, overeating, uncleanness, all idle l.u.s.t of the flesh, yes many uncouth and nameless sins, hid in our inmost Breast and Bosomes, which stand betwixt our forgiveness, and keep G.o.d and Man asunder.

_Saxon_ V.

And theow they waere a dael lesse, and reither scort thone begond oure sinnan, get do we naht a whit withstand and forbeare them, we eare bewudded to, noht werig of ure agen misdeed, we seldon loc upweard, and ear not ofschaemod under sinne, we cleans noht ure selvan from the blacnesse and daep hue of ure guilt; we wan teare and sara, we weope noht, faest noht, we craf noht foregyfnesse fram the mildnesse, sweetnesse and goodnesse of G.o.d, and mit eal lifelyhood and stedfastnesse to ure uttermost witt hunt aefter the ufel of guile, pride, cursung, swearung, druncennesse, overeat, uncleannesse and eal idle l.u.s.t of the flaesc, vis maenig uncuth and nameleas sinnan, hid in ure inmaest Brist and Bosome, whilc stand betwixt ure foregyfnesse, and caep G.o.d and Man asynder.

_English_ VI.

Thus are we far beneath and also worse than the rest of G.o.d's Works; for the Sun and Moon, the King and Queen of Stars, Snow, Ice, Rain, Frost, Dew, Mist, Wind, fourfooted and creeping things, Fishes and feathered Birds, and Fowls either of Sea or Land do all hold the Laws of his will.

_Saxon_ VI.

Thus eare we far beneoth and ealso wyrse thone the rest of G.o.ds Weorka; for the Sune and Mone, the Cyng and Cquen of Stearran, Snaw, Ise, Ren, Frost, Deaw, Miste, Wind, feower fet and crypend dinga, Fix yefetherod Brid, and Faelan auther in Sae or Land do eal heold the Lag of his willan.

Thus have you seen in few words how near the Saxon and English meet.

Now of this account the French will be able to make nothing; the modern Danes and Germans, though from several words they may conjecture at the meaning, yet will they be much to seek in the orderly sense and continued construction thereof, whether the Danes can continue such a series of sense out of their present Language and the old Runick, as to be intelligible unto present and ancient times, some doubt may well be made; and if the present French would attempt a Discourse in words common unto their present Tongue and the old _Romana Rustica_ spoken in Elder times, or in the old Language of the Francks, which came to be in use some successions after _Pharamond_, it might prove a Work of some trouble to effect.

It were not impossible to make an Original reduction of many words of no general reception in _England_ but of common use in _Norfolk_, or peculiar to the East Angle Countries; as, _Bawnd_, _Bunny_, _Thurck_, _Enemmis_, _Sammodithee_, _Mawther_, _Kedge_, _Seele_, _Straft_, _Clever_, _Matchly_, _Dere_, _Nicked_, _Stingy_, _Noneare_, _Feft_, _Thepes_, _Gosgood_, _Kamp_, _Sibrit_, _Fangast_, _Sap_, _Cothish_, _Thokish_, _Bide owe_, _Paxwax_: of these and some others of no easie originals, when time will permit, the resolution may be attempted; which to effect, the Danish Language new and more ancient may prove of good advantage: which Nation remained here fifty years upon agreement, and have left many Families in it, and the Language of these parts had surely been more commixed and perplex, if the Fleet of _Hugo de Bones_ had not been cast away, wherein threescore thousand Souldiers out of _Britany_ and _Flanders_ were to be wafted over, and were by King _John's_ appointment to have a settled habitation in the Counties of _Norfolk_ and _Suffolk_.

But beside your laudable endeavours in the Saxon, you are not like to repent you of your studies in the other European and Western Languages, for therein are delivered many excellent Historical, Moral and Philosophical Discourses, wherein men merely versed in the learned Languages are often at a loss: but although you are so well accomplished in the French, you will not surely conceive that you are master of all the Languages in _France_, for to omit the Briton, Britonant or old British, yet retained in some part of _Britany_, I shall onely propose this unto your construction.

_Chavalisco d' aquestes Boemes chems an freitado lou cap cun taules Jargonades, ero necy chi voluiget bouta sin tens embe aquelles. Anin a lous occells, che dizen tat prou ben en ein voz L' ome nosap comochodochi yen ay jes de plazer, d' ausir la mitat de paraulles en el mon._

This is a part of that Language which _Scaliger_ nameth _Idiotismus Tectosagicus_, or _Langue d' oc_, counterdistinguishing it unto the _Idiotismus Francicus_, or _Langue d'ouy_, not understood in a petty corner or between a few Mountains, but in parts of early civility, in _Languedoc_, _Provence_ and _Catalonia_, which put together will make little less than _England_.

Without some knowledge herein you cannot exactly understand the Works of _Rablais_: by this the French themselves are fain to make out that preserved relique of old French, containing the League between _Charles_ and _Lewis_ the Sons of _Ludovicus Pius_. Hereby may tolerably be understood the several Tracts written in the Catalonian Tongue; and in this is published the Tract of Falconry written by _Theodosius_ and _Symmachus_: in this is yet conserved the Poem _Vilhuardine_ concerning the French expedition in the Holy War, and the taking of _Constantinople_, among the Works of _Marius aequicola_ an Italian Poet.

You may find, in this Language, a pleasant Dialogue of Love: this, about an hundred years ago, was in high esteem, when many Italian Wits flocked into _Provence_; and the famous _Petrarcha_ wrote many of his Poems in _Vaucluse_ in that Country.

For the word [_Dread_] in the Royal t.i.tle [_Dread Sovereign_] of which you desire to know the meaning, I return answer unto your question briefly thus.