Historical Statements of the Koran [pp. 195-230]

Historical Statements of the Koran.
We have also had occasion, here and there, to point out instances of Sale's strange fondness for interpolations tending to
raise his author in the reader's estimation. We have often
been at a loss to reconcile his scrupulous precision as a mere
translator, with the disingenuousness of his latent glosses and
disguised interpolations. Some one has said that "Sale was
halfa Mussulman;" but this we think incredible. That he
was not a very zealous Christian, may be safely granted, but
we cannot think it fair to push the accusation further. Our
own explanation of the matter is, that he was biassed by the
feelings which all scholars feel in relation to their favourite
pursuits, and to the subjects of their diligent and long contined study. That Sale did study both the Koran and the commentators deeply and successfully, no one can doubt who has
carefully inspected his translation. As to the rest, we suppose that he was led to interpolate a little, by a natural unwillingness to look upon the object of his toils as wholly worthless. When we have spent time and labour on a thing, as
valuable, we are loth to see it treated with contempt. This
explanation we prefer, because we would have justice done to
a distinguished orientalist, even in stripping a deformed imposture of its borrowed garments.
We shall add a few words with respect to the study of
Arabic. It is highly desirable, on various accounts, that a
knowledge of this noble and important language should become more common. Biblical learning and the missionary
enterprise alike demand it. What we most need, is a taste
for the pursuit, and a conscientious willingness to undertake
the task. The great deficiency is not so much in grammars,
as in men to study them. We observe that Mr. Smith, the
American missionary, now at Malta, has declined to undertake an English version of Ibn Ferhat's grammar. His views
are such as might have been expected from a man of sense
and learning. It may, indeed, be stated as a general truth,
that translated grammars are as likely to be hinderances as
helps. A grammarian cannot possibly explain the phenomena
of a foreign language, except by appealing to the structure of
his own, or of that in which he writes. Now as every language has its peculiarities, both great and small, no two can
stand in the same relation to a third. Latin and French agree
where French and English differ. The same form of speech
in Latin, therefore, which must be explained to English
learners, may be as clear, without elucidation, to the
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