The scene is impressive: the bright ball-toilettes contrasted in a
"dim religious light," the sudden change of place and mood, from gay
to grave, from ball-room to sanctuary, strikes a stranger's eye with
thrilling effect. At the conclusion of the service the dancers return
to the ball-room, to change from grave to gay, and dance _ad libitum_
till daylight.
J.T.
ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATIONS.
The first complete translation of the Bible into our language was
made about the year 1380 by John de Wycliffe, or Wickliffe. There are
several manuscript copies of it in the Bodleian and other European
libraries. This great work unlocked the Scriptures to the multitude,
or, as one of his antagonists, bewailing such an enterprise, worded
it, "the gospel pearl was cast abroad and trodden under foot." Long
before the appearance of this translation various versions of portions
of the Bible had appeared, specimens of which, of every century from
the reign of Alfred to Chaucer's time, are preserved in the British
Museum and elsewhere. Sir Thomas More says: "The Holy Byble was longe
before Wycliffis daies by virtuose and well-learned men translated
into the English tongue, and by good and godly people with devotion
and soberness well and reverently read." This statement is further
corroborated by Foxe, the martyrologist, who remarks: "If histories
be well examined, we shall find both before and after the Conquest, as
well before John Wickliffe was borne as since, the whole body of the
Scriptures by sundry men translated into this our country tongue.
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