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HASTEAN Hitça cen, eta Hitça Jaincoarequin cen, eta Hitz hau Jaincoa cen. 2 Hastean Jaincoarequin cen. Gauça guciac eguinic içan dire hartaz, eta hura gabe deus ezta eguin içan, eguin direnetaric. 4 Hartan cen bicia, eta bicia guiçonen arguia cen. 5 Eta arguiac arguitcen du ilhumbetan, bainan ilhumbec ez dute errecebitu. Bacen guicon bat icena çuena Joannes; cein baitcen egorria Jaincoaz. Ethorri cen lekhucotassunean, bihurceco lekhucotassuna arguiari, amoreagatic guciec sinhex ceçaten hartaz. 8 Hura ezcen arguia, bainan egorria cen lekhucotassunaren bihurceco arguiari. Argui hau eguiazcoa cen, arguitcen duena mundurat ethorcen diren guiçon guciac. 10 Munduan cen, eta mundua eguin içan da hartaz; bainan munduac ez du eçagutu. 11 Bererat ethorri cen, eta bereenec ez dute errecebitu. 12 Bainan errecebitu duten guciei, eman dei çucena Jaincoaren haur eguinei içaiteco, erran nahi da haren Icenean sinhexten duenei. 13 Ceinac ez baitire sorthuac odolez, ez haraguiaren borondateaz, ez guiçonaren borondateaz; bainan sorthu dire Jaincoaz. 14 Eta Hitça eguin içan da haragui; egotu da gurequin graciaz eta eguiaz bethea; eta behondaztu dugu haren loria, Aitaren Seme bakharrari darocan loria beçala.

THE French dialect of the Basque language is spoken in the south-western extremity of France, on the frontiers of Spain, by a population of about 120,000 individuals. This district is about sixty miles in length by forty in breadth; it formerly included the three subdivisions of Labour, Lower Navarre, and Soule, and it is now comprehended in the department of the Lower Pyrenees. In parts of the neighbouring departments of Gers and Upper Pyrenees, Basque is still the language of the peasantry, while French is spoken in the towns.

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LANGUAGE.

The Basque is one of the most singular idioms of Europe, and presents, like the Albanian, the Ossete, and the Welsh, etc., the remarkable phenomenon of aboriginal languages preserved in the remote or mountainous districts of more civilized countries, where the tongue of the subsequent conquerors of those lands is generally spoken.

The origin of the Basque people, or Euskarians, is, as one of their writers says, "known of God only." It seems that the Iberi of the East, who dwelt between the Black and the Caspian Seas, and the Iberi of the West, who peopled Spain at a very remote period, were once one people, driven east and west by political vicissitudes. There is a degree of similarity between some of the East-Iberian

names of cities, rivers, etc., and the same in use among the West-Iberians in Spain. But whether they travelled east or west is a disputed point. The Iberi were said to be the aborigines of the Spanish peninsula; and to have given to it the ancient name Iberia, from the river Iber, Ebro, by them called perhaps Ibaïbero, burning or destroying river,' from its property. For this was the name of the small river Tento, between the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir, which Pliny calls Urium from the nature of its waters: be that as it may, a comparative study of the Georgian, and of other Caucasian idioms, with the Euskarian, might very probably throw additional light on the joint origin of the Eastern and Western Iberi.

In some of its characteristics the Basque exhibits remarkable traits of analogy with Mantchou, with Finnish, and with several distinct families of languages spoken in the north of Europe and of Asia. Like them, it has no difference of terminations in nouns and pronouns to mark the variation of gender; and, like them also, it subjoins prepositions and other particles, and even personal and relative pronouns, to nouns and verbs. On the other hand, it differs from them in the abundance of its inflections, and in its use of auxiliary verbs. In its elaborate system of verbal conjugation, Basque approximates closely to the American or polysynthetic class of languages; and it is rather a singular circumstance, that the sound of F is wanting in most American languages and in Basque, and that in both a strong antipathy is manifested to the immediate junction of mute and liquid consonants. Many Sanscrit words exist in Basque; but in the collocation of these words, says Mr. Borrow, the Tartar form is most decidedly observable. These Sanscrit derivatives are usually divested of their initial consonant, and made to commence with a vowel; for Basque is emphatically a vowel language, employing comparatively but few consonants, and out of every ten words perhaps eight may be said to begin and to end with a vowel. The natural result of this preponderance of vowels is a high degree of softness and melody, in which the Basque is said to exceed even the Italian. In point of antiquity, Basque far surpasses most of the languages now spoken in Europe; it was originally, as already mentioned, the vernacular tongue of the Iberi, a people generally regarded as the earliest settlers in Spain; and from them, as Humboldt has clearly proved, the present Euskaldunes, or natives of the Basque provinces, are descended. Basque does not appear to have ever possessed an alphabet proper to itself, and in all books which have been printed in this language Roman letters are used.

II.-VERSIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THIS LANGUAGE.

The entire New Testament, in Basque, was printed at Rochelle in 1571. It was translated by John de Licarrague, and was dedicated to Jeanne d'Albret, queen of Navarre, and brought out at her expense. The dialect in which it is written is that of Lower Navarre. The translator is said to have been a minister of the Reformed Church, and a native of Bearn.

More than two centuries elapsed before any other edition of the Testament was printed for the Basque people, and soon after the commencement of the present century it was found impossible, notwithstanding the most diligent search, to meet with a single copy among them. A copy of the New Testament of 1571 had, however, been providentially deposited, probably by a French refugee, in the library of the University of Oxford. From this copy the British and Foreign Bible Society printed, in 1825, at Bayonne, 1000 copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew, under the superintendence of Mr. Pyt, a minister of the Reformed Church in Bearn. The Roman Catholic Bishop interposed to prevent the circulation of this edition, and he possessed himself of no less than 800 copies, which he destroyed. Far from being discouraged at this opposition, the British and Foreign Bible Society proceeded with their important work, and, after some delay, a new and well-qualified editor was met with, named Montleza. Under the care of this editor, and the superintendence of friends at Bourdeaux and Bayonne, the text of 1571 was altered in accordance with the modern forms of the language, and so many changes were introduced as virtually to constitute a new version. An edition consisting of 1000 copies of the Four Gospels and Acts, with 1000 separate copies of St. Matthew, and 1000 copies of the entire New Testament, was completed at press in 1829. The distribution of this edition was

carried on with much activity, and the opposition it encountered had only the effect of drawing the attention of many to the contents of the sacred book. A further edition of 1000 Testaments has subsequently been issued by the Society.

As to the results produced in these provinces by the circulation of the Basque and French Scriptures, the testimony of the late Mr. Pyt (above mentioned) is remarkable. "In 1821," he said, "I found the people of Bearn utter strangers to the doctrine of the Gospel, and consequently to the life of God. I have left it (in 1830) in a very different condition. It is to the Bible that the change must be attributed. The preaching of the Gospel had little success before the establishment of Bible Societies in Bearn; but when they had spread the word of the Lord,-when this word had found its way to each church, and in each church to a goodly number of families,-when they began seriously to think about that which the servants of God were preaching;—there was much inquiry about the truth, and from that time the blessed work proceeded; and it continues to do so still, with the same happy results."

The following are specimens of portions of Scripture translated into various dialects of the Basque tongue:

NOV. TEST. ARMORICUM DIAL. TRECOVIENSI.-HERVE SANT LUCAZ, CHAP. XIV. v. 1 to 11.

JESUS a antras un de a sabbat en ti unan ens ar chefo ar Pharisianed, evit quemer he repaz, hac ar reman hounan en observe. 2 Er memes amzer a voa laquet dirazan un den peini a voa hydropiq. Neuse Jesus a respontas hac a laras d'an doctored ar Yezen ha d'ar Pharisianed, o o'houfen diganteï: ha permetet e iac'haat tud de ar sabbat? Mes hi a davas. Neuse en, o quemer he zorn, a iac'haas an den-ze hac he gaças d'ar guer. 5 Neuse a respontas hac a laras dei: Pion ac'hanoc'h, mar deufe, he azen pe he ijen da goneanq en eur punz, n'en em lacfe quet querquent en stad d'he deunan er mez de ar sabbat? 6 Mes na hallent respond netra dean var quement-se. 7 Neuse, o consideri penos ar re a voe bet pedet d'eur banqued, a choaze ar plaço quentan, a broposas deî ar barabolen-man, en em laret: Pa veet pedet d'an eured, n'en en laquet quet er plaç quentan ons tôl, gaut aon n'eu em gafe en touez ar re bedet gaut an den iaouanq unan enoraploc'h evidoc'h. 9 Ha na deufe an hini en eus ho pedet o taou da laret dac'h: Reit ho plaç da heman ha na vec'h neuse oblijet da guemer gant mezar plaç divean.

10 Mes

pa veet pedet da eur lein benac et hac en em laquet er plaç divean, evit pa arruo an hini en eusho pedet, da laret dac'h: Ma mignon, savet huellac'h; ha neuse e vo eur sujet a c'hloar evidoc'h dirac ar re so ous tôl guenac'h: "Rac piou-benac en eni sav, a vo humiliet, ha piou-benac en em humilio, a vo savet.

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FRENCH BASQUE DIALECT OF LOWER NAVARRE. 1571.—ST. JOHN, CHAP. I. v. 1 to 10. HATSEAN cen Hitza, eta Hitza cen Iaincoa baithan, eta Iainco cen Hitza. Hitz haur cen hatfean Iaincoa baithan. Gauça guciac Hitz har çaz eguin içan dizade: eta hura gabe deus ezta eguin, eguin denic. 4 Hartan cen vicitzea, eta vicitzea cen guiçonén Arguia. Eta arguia hunec ilhumbean arguitzen du: eta ilhumbeac hura eztu comprehenditu. 6 Içan da guiçon-bat Iaincoaz igorria, Ioannes deitzen cenic. 'Haur ethor cedin teftimoniage ekartera Arguiaz tefstifica leçançat, guoiéc harçaz finhets leçatençat. Etzen hura Arguia, baina igorri cen Arguiaz teftifica leçançat. 9 Haur cen Argui eguiazcoa, mundura ethor ten den guiçon gucia arguitzen dicena. 10 Munduan cen, eta mundua harcaz eguin içan da, eta munduac eztu hura eçagutu.

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ST. MATTHEW IN THE DIALECT BASQUE BAS-NAVARRAIS.

ST. MATTHEW, CHAP. V. v. 1 to 6.

YESUSEK ikhussirik populu han oro, igaran zen mendi baten gainera; han yarr zenian, haren dizipuliak hurrandu zitzaizkon; 2 Eta erakaxten zeyen, erraiten zielarik: 3 Dohaxu dira ezpirituz probe direnak, zeren heyena da zeruko erresuma. 4 Dohaxu dira ezti direnak, zeren gozatuko dute lurra. 5 Dohaxu dira nigar egiten dutenak, zeren konsolatiak izanen dira. Dohaxu dira yustiziaren gossia eta egarria dutenak, zeren

assiak izanen baidira.

ST. MATTHEW IN THE DIALECT BASQUE SOULETIN.

ST. MATTHEW, CHAP. V. v. 1 to 6.

SALDO hándi hoúrac ikhoúsi zutiánian, Jésus ígañ zén mendí batetára, eta járri zenian, hullántu zeitzon bére dizipulíac. 2 Eta elhía hárturic, hási zéyen eracásten, zioualáric: Doháxu díra gógaz práube dirénac: hagéna béi-ta zeliétaco erresoumá. 4 Doháxu ézti dirénac: lúrraren jabe izanen bei-tíra. 5 Doháxu nigárrez daudenac ; hóurac izanen bei-tira counsolatúric. Doháxu ounxáren góse eta egárri dirénac; hoúrac

aséric izánen bei-tíra.

FROM "SAN MATEO, TRADUCIDO AL VASCUENCE, DIELECTO NAVARRO."

ST. MATTHEW, CHAP. V. v. 1 to 10.

ETA icusiric Jesusec yende ec guciac, igan cen mendi baten gañera, eta yarri ondoan, urbildu citzaizcon bere discipuloac. 2Eta asiric mintzatcen, eracusten cituen, ciolaric: 3 Zori onecoac biotzez pobre direnac, cergatic equena da ceruco erreinua. Zori onecoac biotz manso dunac, cergatic izain dire lurrain yabeac. 5 Zori onecoac nigar eguiten dutenac, cergatic izain dire consolatuac. 6 Zori onecoac yusticiain, edo gauza sainduen gosea eta egarria dutenac, cergatic equen deseyuac izain dire guciz beteac. 7Zori onecoac misericordiosoac, cergatic yardetsico dute misericordia. Zori onecoac biotz garbi dunac, cergatic icusico dute Yaungoicoa. 9Zori onecoac baquezcoac, cergatic izain dire deituac Yaungoicoain umeac. 10 Zori onecoac yusticia edo gauza ona gatic perseguituac direnac, cergatic equena da ceruco erreinua.

SPECIMEN, FROM ST. LUKE, CHAP. XV. v. 11 to 24.

11 GUEYAGO esan zuan; Guison batec izan cituan semebi. 12 Eta ayetaco chiquienac esan cion bere aitari; Aita, ecarzu tocatcen zaidan haciendaren partea. Eta berac partitu cien hacienda. 13 Eta ez egun asco gueroz juntatu zuan seme chiquienac berea san gustia, eta juan zan, pais urruti batera, eta an ondatu zuan bere arceco gustia, vicio etan viciaz. 14 Eta gustia gastatu zuan ean, etorri zan goce aundi bat paraje artan, eta bera asi zan premia e duquitcen. 15 Eta juan zan, eta alderatu zan paraje artaco batengana; ceñec bialdu zuan bere baserrira, cerriac gordetcera. 16 Eta deseatcen zuan, bere zabela, cerriac jaten zutenaren asalaquin betetcea: eta etzion iñorc ematen. 17 Baño, bereganatu zanean esan zuan: ¡Cembait jornalaric daucate nere aitaren echean oguia sobratua, eta ni emen goceac ilcen nago! 18 Alchatuco naiz, eta juango naiz nere aitagana, eta esango diot: Aita, pecatu eguin nuen ceruaren contra, eta zure aurrean: 19 Ezdet mereci zure semea deitua, izatea eguinazazu zure jornalariac becela. 20 Eta alchatu eta juan zan bere aitagana. Eta nola oraindic cegoan urruti, icusi zuan bere aitac, eta muvituzan misericordiara, eta beragana corrica juanaz, botacion besoac lepora, eta lastana emancion. 21 Eta semeac esan cion: Aita pecatu eguindet ceruaren contra eta zure aurrean: ez det mereci zure semea deitua izatea. 22 Baño aitac esan cien bere morroyai: Ecarri itzazute onera aguro arroparic ederrena, eta janciozute, eta jarriozute eraztuna beatcean, eta onetacoac onetan: 23 Eta ecarriezazute idisco guicen bat, ilzazute, eta jan zagun, eta celebradaigun banquete bat: 24 Cergatic nere seme au illazan, eta berriz vicitu da: galduzan, eta arquitua izanduda. Eta asiciran banquetea celebratcen.

THE three Basque provinces of Spain (Biscay, Guipúscoa, and Alava) are bounded north by the Bay of Biscay, west and south by Old Castile, and east by France and Navarre. They contained, in 1857, a population of 426,217. Basque is the language of the peasantry, but Spanish is spoken in the towns, and is understood throughout these provinces. The religion, as in the rest of Spain and in the French Basque districts, is Roman Catholicism. Spanish Basque also appears to be spoken in the north and west of Navarre. It does not differ very materially from French Basque, either in its structure or vocabulary. The Biscayan dialect in particular is distinguished by the natives by the name of Escuara, which simply means vernacular.

Many Spanish words have been engrafted on Spanish Basque, and in consequence of these additions, and of other alterations induced by the process of time, the version of 1571 (mentioned in our account of French Basque) is now scarcely intelligible. And although the British and Foreign Bible Society have given to the Basque districts of France an edition of the entire New Testament, yet no portion whatever of the Scriptures appears to have been printed in Spanish Basque until 1838, when Mr. George Borrow, with the aid of the Society, edited and published an edition of the Gospel according to St. Luke. The translation had been executed by a Basque physician, named Oteiza, and Mr. Borrow had retained the MS. two years in his possession before committing it to the press; during which interval he had sought the advice and opinion of Basque scholars. The translation did not meet with unqualified approbation, yet it seemed impossible at that time to obtain a better. In 1848 this version of St. Luke was revised and amended by the translator, and printed in a second edition, at the expense of the Society, through their agent, the Rev. Dr. Thomson. The Acts of the Apostles were also translated under the same circumstances, but are not yet printed.