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forty centuries of ink-第6章

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of the first discoverers of the cuneiform inscriptions。

It was thus introduced to the notice of Europe。 It is

claimed by the Samaritans of Nablus that their copy

was written by Abisha; the great…grandson of Aaron;

in the thirteenth year of the settlement of the land of

Canaan by the children of Israel。 The copies of it

brought to Europe are all written in black ink on vellum

or 〃cotton〃 paper; and vary from 12mo to

folio。 The scroll used by the Samaritans is written in

gold letters。 (See Smith's 〃Dictionary of the Bible;〃

vol。 III; pp。 1106…1118。) Its claims to great antiquity

are not admitted by scholars。



The enumeration of some of the modes of writing

may be interesting:



The Mexican writing is in vertical columns; beginning

at the bottom。



The Chinese and Japanese write in vertical columns;

beginning at the top and passing from left to right。



The Egyptian hieroglyphics are written invertical

columns or horizontal lines according to the shape and

position of the tablet。 It is said that with the horizontal

writing the direction is indifferent; but that the

figures of men and animals face the beginning of the

line。 With figures; the units stand on the left。



The Egyptians also wrote from right to left in the

hieratic and demotic and enchorial styles。 The Palasgians

did the same; and were followed by the Etruscans。

In the demotic character; Dr。 Brugsch remarks

that though the general direction of the writing was

usually from right to left; yet the individual letters were

formed from left to right; as is evident from the unfinished

ends of horizontal letters when the ink failed

in the pen。



In writing numbers in the hieratic and enchorial

the units were placed to the left。 The Arabs write

from right to left; but received their numerals from

India; whence they call them 〃Hindee;〃 and there the

arrangement of their numerals is like our own; units

to the right。



The following noteworthy passage is taken from

Humphreys' work 〃On the Origin and Progress of the

Art of Writing:〃



〃Nearly all the principal methods of ancient

writing may be divided into square capitals; rounded

capitals; and cursive letters; the square capitals

being termed simply capitals; the rounded capitals

uncials; and the small letters; or such as had

changed their form during the creation of a running

hand; minuscule。 Capitals are; strictly speaking;

such letters as retain the earliest settled form of

an alphabet; being generally of such angular

shapes as could conveniently be carved on wood or

stone; or engraved in metal; to be stamped on

coins。 The earliest Latin MSS。 known are written

entirely in capitals like inscriptions in metal or

marble。

     *    *    *    *    *



The uncial letters; as they are termed; appear

to have arisen as writing on papyrus or vellum became

common; when many of the straight lines of

the capitals; in that kind of writing; gradually acquired

a curved form; to facilitate their more rapid

execution。 However this may be; from the sixth

to the eighth; or even 10th century; these uncials

or partly rounded capitals prevail。



〃The modern minuscule; differing from the ancient

cursive character; appears to have arisen in

the following manner: During the 6th and 7th

centuries; a kind of transition style prevailed in

Italy and some other parts of Europe; the letters

composing which have been termed semi…uncials;

which; in a further transition; became more like

those of the old Roman cursive。 This manner;

when definitely formed; became what is now termed

the minuscule manner; it began to prevail over

uncials in a certain class of MSS。 about the 8th

century; and towards the 10th its general use was;

with few exceptions; established。 It is said to

have been occasionally used as early as the 5th

century; but I am unable to cite an authentic existing

monument。 The Psalter of Alfred the Great;

written in the 9th century; is in a small Roman

cursive hand; which has induced Casley to consider

it the work of some Italian ecclesiastic。〃



The learned who have made a life study of the history

of the most ancient manuscripts; mention them

specifically in great number and of different countries;

which would seem to indicate that the art of handwriting

had made great strides in the very olden

times; many nations had adopted it; and B。 C。 650 〃it

had spread itself over the (then known) greater part

of the civilized world。〃



We can well believe this to be true in reading about

the ancient libraries; notwithstanding that some rulers

had sought to prohibit its exercise。




Plato; who lived B。 C。 350; expresses his views of

the importance of writing in his imaginary colloquy

between Thamus; king of Egypt; and Thoth; the god

of the liberal arts of the Egyptians; he acquaints us:



〃That the discourse turned upon letters。 Thoth

maintained the value of Writing; as capable of making

the People wiser; increasing the powers of

Memory; to this the king dissented; and expressed

his opinion that by the exercise of this Art the multitude

would appear to be knowing of those things

of which they were really ignorant; possessing only

an idea of Wisdom; instead of Wisdom itself。〃



Pythagoras; B。 C。 532; we are informed by Astle:



〃Went into Egypt where he resided twenty…two

years; he was initiated into the sacerdotal order;

and; from his spirit of inquiry; he has been justly

said to have acquired a great deal of Egyptian

learning; which he afterwards introduced into Italy。

The Pythagorean schools which he established in

Italy when writing was taught; were destroyed

when the Platonic or new philosophy prevailed over

the former。 Polybius (lib。 ii。 p。 175) and Jamblichus

(in vita Pythag。) mention many circumstances;

relative to these facts; quoted from authors now

lost; as doth Porphyry; in his life of Pythagoras。〃



For the hundred years or more following; however;

the dissemination of learning and the transcription of

events was not to be denied。 We find ink…written

volumes (rolls) relating to diverse subjects being loaned

to one another; correspondence by letter to and from

distant lands of frequent occurrence; and the art of

handwriting regularly taught in the schools of learning。

Its progress was to be interrupted by the wars

of the Persians。 Mr。 Astle in calling attention to

events which have contributed to deprive us of the

literary treasures of antiquity thus refers to them:



〃A very fatal blow was given to literature; by

the destruction of the Phoenician temples; and of

the Egyptian colleges; when those kingdoms; and

the countries adjacent; were conquered by the Persians;

about three hundred and fifty years before

Christ。 Ochus; the Persian general; ravaged these

countries without mercy; and forty thousand Sidonians

burnt themselves with their families and riches

in their own houses。 The conqueror then drove

Nectanebus out of Egypt; and committed the like

ravages in that country; afterwards he marched

into Judea; where he took Jericho; and sent a great

number of Jews into captivity。 The Persians had

a great dislike to the religion of the Phoenicians and

the Egyptians; this was one reason for destroying

their books; of which Eusebius (De Preparat。

Evang。) says; they had a great number。〃



These losses; apparently; did not interfere with the

progress of the art in more western countries。 Professor

Rollin in his 〃Ancient History;〃 1823; remarks:



〃Ptolemy Soter; King of Egypt B。 C。 285; had

been careful to improve himself in public literature;

as was evident by his compiling the life of

Alexander; which was greatly esteemed by the ancients;

but is now entirely lost。 In order to encourage

the cultivation of the sciences; which he

much admired; he founded an academy at Alexandria;

called the Museum; where a society of learned

men devoted themselves to philosophic studies; and

the improvement of all other sciences; almost in the

same manner as those of London and Paris。 For

this purpose; he began by giving them a library;

which was prodigiously increased by his successors。



〃His son Philadelphus left a hundred thousand

volumes in it at the time of his death; and the succeeding

princes of that race enlarged it still more; till at

last it consisted of seven hundred thousand volumes。



〃This library was formed by the following

method: All the Greek and other books that were

brought into Egypt were seized; and sent to the

Museum; where they were transcribed by persons

employed for that purpose。 The copies were then

delivered to the proprietors; and the originals were

deposited in the library。



〃As the Museum was at first in that quarter of

the city which was called Bruchion; and near the

royal palace; the library was founded in the same

place; and it soon drew vast numbers thither; but

when it was so
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