[369] This letter throws light on the first disagreements or
differences between Calvin and Sebastian Castalio, or Castellio,
occupied on the translation into French of the sacred Scriptures.
Castalio evinced very little anxiety about elegance and purity
of language in the work on which he was engaged. Thus he could
not fail to encounter the severe criticism of the Reformer, who
doubtless was charged in the name of the Seigneury with the revisal
of the translation of the New Testament, and refused to give his
approbation. It was not until some years afterwards, at Basle, that
Sebastian Castalio published his work, under this title,--"The
Bible, with Annotations on the Difficult Passages. 2 vols. in
folio, Basle, 1555." This work has become so rare, that it is at
present impossible to procure it, and to ascertain the justice of
the criticism which it has occasioned. The celebrated Henry Etienne
accused the author of speaking the language of the Gueux. Bayle has
been less severe.--See _Dict. Hist._, Art. Castalion; and MM. Haag,
_La France Protestante_, 6me part, p. 365.
Origin of the disputes between Calvin and Castalio.
GENEVA, _11th September 1542_.
The letters of Farel and his brother were brought to me four days
ago; and I thought that you also had seen them, seeing that Peter
Cossonay had brought them back with him. Now listen to the freaks
of our friend Sebastian, which may both raise your bile and your
laughter at the same time. The day before yesterday he came to me,
asked whether I could agree that his edition of the New Testament
should be published. I replied, that there would be need of many
corrections. He inquired the reason why. I pointed them out to
him from those few chapters which he had already given me as a
specimen. Thereupon he answered, that he had been more careful in
what remained. Then he asked me over again, what I thought as to
the publication. I answered, that it was not my wish to hinder the
publication; but that I was ready, nevertheless, to perform the
promise which I had made to John Girard,[370] that I would look it
over and would correct, should there appear to be anything that
required to be corrected. This arrangement he refused. He offered,
however, to come and read it to me if I would fix a time. This I
refused to do, even were he to offer me a hundred crowns, to bind
myself to certain hours; moreover, that I would be obliged sometimes
to dispute for a couple of hours, perhaps, over some little
insignificant word. And so he left me, dissatisfied as appeared.
That you may understand how faithful an interpreter he is; while
in many ways he wishes to change and innovate, in most things he
corrupts the meaning. One passage I may mention as an instance:
where there occurs, _The Spirit of God which dwells in us_, he has
changed to _haunts in us_, when to _haunt_, in French, does not
mean to _dwell_, but is used to signify to _frequent_.[371] One
such boyish mistake may stamp a bad character upon the book. Such
unseasonable trifling as this I swallow, nevertheless, in silence.
[370] Printer of Geneva.
[371] This word is taken in a bad sense: to _haunt_ the wine-cellars
and the _cabaret_, or beer-shop.--See the _Dictionnaire de
l'Académie_.
Adieu, dear brother. May the Lord preserve and always guide you.
Salute all the brethren; but unto all, you will please not impart
the whole of what I write.--Yours,