Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 22.djvu/890

 854 SYRIAC LITERATURE [13TII CENT.- ment of this large work is the TegSrath TegZratJid or '_' Mercatura Mercaturarum," which goes over the same ground in briefer terms. 1 To this class too belongs a poem "On the Soul, according to the also translated into Syr blhdt, z under the title of KSthdbJia dhe-Remze iva-Meiranwdtkd,* and another work of the same class, entitled Zubdat al-Asrdr or "the Cream of Secrets," by his elder contemporary, Atlur ad-din Mufadclal ibn 'Omar al-Abhari (died in 1262). 6 Nor did he neglect the study of mathematics and astronomy. In 1 268 we find him lecturing on Euclid in the new convent at Maraghah, and again in 1272, at the same place, on the Megiste ('H peydXri ffvvrafa) of Ptolemy. 6 He drew up a zij, i.e., a set of astronomical tables or astronomical almanac, for the use of tiros 7 ; but his principal work in this branch of science is the Sulldkd Haundndyd or "Ascent of the Mind," a complete treatise on astronomy and cosmography, which he composed in 1279. 8 His medical writings are more numerous, for Bar-Hebneus was famous as a physician a and had been in attendance as such on the Tatar "king of kings " in 1263. 10 He made, for example, a translation and an abridgement of Dios- corides's treatise Ilepi VTJS larpiK^ (De Medicamentis Simplicibus), under the title of Kethdbhd dh$-Dhioskorldhls, 11 and wrote a com- mentary on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates in Arabic, 12 and on the Qusestiones Medicse of Honain ibn Isliak in Syriac. 13 He also pub- lished the fyi&stiones in an abridged Syriac translation. 14 Further, he is said to have written commentaries in Arabic on Galen's treatises DC Elementis (Hepi TU>V KO.O' 'IwTroKpdr-rjv o-rcuxeiw) and DC Tempera- mentis (ITepJ Kpafftuv). 15 He made an abridged version in Arabic of al-Glmliki's 16 "Book of Simples" (al-adwiyah al-mvfradah), 11 and left an unfinished Syriac translation of the Canon (al-Kdnun fi 't-Tibb) of Ibii Slna. 18 A large medical treatise of his own composi- tion in Syriac is mentioned, but no .special title is given. 19 As a grammarian Bar-Hebraeus deserved well of his country, and his writings on this subject are now well known and appreciated by Orientalists. By making use of the work of previous grammarians, especially Jacob of Edessa, he lias succeeded in giving a very full sketch of the language according to the Oriental system, with many valuable observations as to dialectic differences, &c. The larger grammar bears the title ot Kethdbhd dh$-SemM, "the Book of Lights " or "Rays." 20 It has been published, according to the Paris MS. Ancien fonds 166, by the Abbe Martin. 21 The smaller metrical grammar, Kethdbhd dhe-Ghrammatiki, 2 ' 2 was edited so long ago as 1843 by Professor Bertheau of Gottingcn, according to the MS. Orient. 18 in the library of that university, but without the fifth section De Vocibus sEquivocis. Martin has republished it in his (Euvres Grammaticales d' Abou 'I Faradj, vol. ii., including the fifth section, according to the Paris MS. Ancien fonds 167. 23 A third, still smaller grammar, Kethdbhd dha-Bh$leyiiylthd or "the Book of the Spark," was left unfinished by the author.- 4 As a theologian, Bar-Hebnieus's most useful work undeniably is the Ausar Haze or "Storehouse of Secrets," the HorrcumMystcriorum as it is commonly called. 25 This is a critical and doctrinal commentary on the text of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, based on the Peshitta, but taking note of the various readings of the Hebrew text, the LXX. and other Greek versions, the later Syriac translations, and even the Armenian and Coptic, besides noting differences of reading be- tween the Nestorians and Jacobites. The doctrinal portion is drawn from the Greek fathers and previous Syrian theologians, of course of the Monophysite school. 20 The Mendrath Kudhslie, or " Lamp of 1 Palat. Medic, cc.; Berlin, Sachau 211 ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. 2 B.O., ii. 2(38, in the note, col. 2, No. 28. 3 Theoremata et Exercitationes, a course of logic, physics, and metaphysics ; see Wiistenfeld, Geschichte d. arab. Aerzte, p. 73, No. 61 ; 13.0., ii. 270, note 2. fonds 163. 5 gee Hist. Dynast., p. 485 (trausl., p. 318). 6 B.O., ii. 253 ; Chron. Eccles., ii. 443. 7 B.O., ii. 307 ; but the calendar there indicated is of later date. 8 Bodl. Hunt. 540 ; Paris, Anc. fonds 162. On the date see Payne Smith, Catal., p. 584. 9 Wiistenfeld, Gesch. d. arab. Aerzte, No. 240. 10 Chron. Eccles., i. 747. U B.O., ii. 268, in the note, col. 1, No. 13, and p. 270. i- Ibid., ii. 208, col. 1, No. 15, and p. 270. 13 Apparently unfinished, for Bar-saumais careful to add "as far as Thlriaki," B.O., ii. 272, No. 28 ; see also p. 268, in the note, col. 2, No. 25. " B.O., ii. 270, No. 16. 15 Wenrich, De Aiictorum Griec. Verss. et Commentt. Syriacis, &c., 1842, pp. 242- 243, 270 ; Wiistenfeld, Gesch. d. arab. Aerzte, No. 240. 18 Wiistenfeld, op. cit., No. 176 ; Ibn Abi Usaibi'ah, ed. Miiller, ii. 52. 17 B.O., ii. 270, No. 14 ; 268, note, col. 1, No.' 14. 18 Ibid., ii. 272, No. 24 ; 268, note, col. 2, No. 22. 19 Ibid., ii. 272, No. 26. 20 ma., ii. 307. 21 (Euvres Grammaticales d'Abou 'I Faradj, dit Bar llebreus, vol. i., 1872. The chapter on the signs of interpunction, &c., was edited by Dr Phillips in 1869, in A Letter by Mar Jacob, Bishop of Edessa, on Syriac Orthography. MS8. of this work are Cod. Vat. ccccxvi., ccccxxii.; Bodl. Hunt. 1, Pocook 298; Paris, Anc. fonds 166 ; Brit. Mus. Add. 7201 ; Palat. Medic, cxxii. ; Gottingen, Or. 18b ; Berlin, Alt. Best. 43, Sachau 307, 308 ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. 22 J?.0.,ii. 308. 23 Of this work there are many MSS. in Europe, differing from one another in the quantity of the scholia and the retention or omission of section 5. 24 B.O., ii. 272, No. 27. '-'"> Ibid., ii. 277. 26 Portions of this work have been edited at various times, but a complete edition is still unachieved. Larsow made a very small beginning in 1858. See the list in Nestle's Brevis Lingux Syr. Gramma tica, 1881, pp. 31-32. MSS. of the Sanctuary," is a treatise on the "bases" or first principles on which the church is established. 27 It deals in twelve "bases " with the following subjects: (1) of knowledge in general, (2) of the nature of the universe, (3) of theology, (4) of the incarnation, (5) of the knowledge of celestial substances, -i.e., the angels, (6) of the earthly priesthood, (7) of the evil spirits, (8) of the rational soul, (9) of free will and liberty, fate and destiny, (10) of the resurrec- tion, (11) of the end of the world and the last judgement, (12) of paradise. The KZthabhd dhg-Zalge, or "Book of Rays," is a com- pendium of theology, going over nearly the same ground as the previous work, in ten sections. 28 The Kethdbhd dh'ltldkon, or Liber TUV -fidiKuiv, was composed at Maraghah in 1279. It has been fully analysed by Assemani in the B.O., ii. 303 sq. Part i. treats of the exercises of the body and mind, such as prayer, manual work, study, vigils, fasting, &c. ; part ii., of the regimen of the body ; part iii., of the purifying of the soul from evil passions; part iv., of the adorning of the soul with virtues. 29 The Kethdbhd dhe-Yaund, or " Book of the Dove," is a similar work specially intended for the use of ascetics living in solitude as hermits. It is also divided into four parts, viz., (1) of the training of the body, e.g., in alienation from the world, repentance, poverty, humility, patience, fraternal love, &c. ; (2) of the training of the soul, e.g., in quiet, religious exercises, prayer, watching, fasting, &c. ; (3) of the spiritual rest of the per- fect ; and (4) an autobiographical sketch of his own spiritual life. 30 Bar-Hebrseus also spent part of his time in excerpting, arrang- ing, and commenting upon the Book of Hicrotheus concerning the hidden Mysteries of the House of God. 31 In the commentary he chiefly follows that of Theodosius, patriarch of Antioch (see above, p. 846). 32 He compiled an anaphora, 33 published a confession of faith or creed, 34 and approved the order of baptism of Severus, as translated by Jacob of Edessa. 33 More valuable than these is his Kethdbhd dhZ-Hudddyc, "the Book of Directions " or "Nomocanon," which is -for the Jacobite Church what the Kunndshd dJi-Kdnone of 'Abhd-isho' is for the Nestorian, both in ecclesiastical and secular matters. 36 To us Europeans the historical writings of Bar-Hebnx-us surpass in interest and value everything else that he has written. He planned and executed a Universal History in three parts. 37 Pait i. contains the political History of the World from the creation down to his own times. 38 Part ii. is the history of the church from Aaron downwards, the treatment being exceedingly brief till we reach the post-apostolic period, when it becomes a history of the patriarchs of the church of Antioch, and finally, after the age of Severus, ot' the patriarchs of the Monophysite branch of that church down to the year 1285. The meagre continuation by a later hand reaches to 1495. Part iii. offers us the history of the Eastern division of the Syrian Church from St Thomas the apostle onwards. From the time of Miiriitha (629) it becomes the history of the Mono- physito maphrifins of Taghrith, though a record is always carefully kept of the catholic patriarchs of the Nestorians. It closes with the year 1286, but there is a continuation by Bar-Hebrseus's brother Bar-sauma to 1288, and thence by another writer to 1496. 39 In the last years of his life, at the request of some Muslim friends in Mara- this work Cod. Vat. clxx., cclxxxii.; Palat. Medic, xxvi.; Bodl. Hunt. 1 ; Brit. Mus. Add. 71S6, 21580, 23596; Berlin, Alt. Best. 11, Sachau 134; Gottingen, Orient. ISa ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. 27 B.O., ii. 284. MSS. Cod. Vat. clxviii.; Paris, Anc. fonds 121 ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. This work has been translated into Arabic Paris, Anc. fonds 128 ; Brit. Mus. 18-296 ; Bodl. Hunt. 48 ; Berlin, Sachau 81 ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. Mr R. J. H. Gottheil has recently lithographed, "for private circulation only," a small portion of this work, viz., basis ii., ch. iii. sect. 3, paragr. 6, on plants (26 pp. of text, 8 pp. of preface) ; the title is A lint of Plants and their Properties from the M t n&ratKvdJi$l(tfGregoriV6 bar'Ebhrdijil edited by Richard J. H. Gottheil, B.A. 28 B.O., ii. 297. MSS. Cod. Vat. clxix.; Bodl. Or. 467, Hunt. 521 ; Paris, Anc. fonds 129, Suppl. 59 ; Brit. Mus. Or. 1017 ; Berlin, Sachau 85; Cambridge, coll. of the S. P. O.K. 29 MSS. Cod. Vat. clxxi.; Bodl. Marsh. 681, Hunt. 490; Brit. Mus. Add. 7194, 7195 ; Paris, Anc. fonds 122, Suppl. 75. There are two Arabic translations of this work ; see Zotenberg, Catal., p. 201, No. 217. 30 Bodl. Hunt. 1 ; Cambridge, coll. of the S.P.C.K. There is an Arabic translation, Paris, Anc. fonds 126, 145 (ff. 292-299). 31 Probably a production of Stephen bar Sudh-aile ; see Brit. Mus. Add. 7189, where we have the commentary of Theodosius, patriarch of Antioch, and com- pare Frothingham, Stephen bar Sitdaili, p. 87 sq. See also above, p. 432. 32 Brit. Mus. Or. 1017. Other MSS. Paris, Anc. fends 138 ; Berlin, Sachau 206. The work seems to have been translated into Arabic (see Zotenberg, Catal., p. 176). 33 ];.<)., ii. 275. 34 ibid., ii. 276 ; Cod. Vat. clxxiii. 35 See Cod. Vat. Iii. ; Paris, Anc. fonds 97 ; Medic. Palat. xliv. 36 B.O., ii. 299. Rendered into Latin by J. A. Assemani in Mai,Scnj>tt. Vett. Nova Coll., x. MSS. Cod. Vat. cxxxii., ccclvi.-vii., ccclviii.-ix. ; Bodl. Hunt. 1 ; Paris, Anc. fonds 140 ; Berlin, Alt. Best. 40 ; Palat. Medic. Ixi. It has been translated into Arabic. 37 B.O., ii. 311. 38 This has been edited tinder the title of Bar-Hebresi Chronicon Syriacum by Brans and Kirsch, with a Latin translation, in two volumes, 1789. Both text and translation are equally bad, and the work deserves a new edition. 39 Parts ii. and iii., which supplied Asscmnni with the greatest part of the materials for the second volume of his KM. Orientalis, have been edited by Abbeloos and Lamy in three volumes, viz., part ii. in two volumes, 1872-74, and part iii. in one volume, 1877, accompanied by a Latin translation and notes. It might be advantageously reprinted, if revised by a competent hand. MSS. of the entire history are Cod. Vat. clxvi., ccclxxxiii.-viii.; Bodl. Hunt. 1 ; Palat. Medic, cxviii. Part i. is contained in Cod. Vat. clxvii. and Bodl. Hunt, 52 ; parts ii. and iii. in Brit. Mus. Add. 71H.S and Cambridge Dd. 3, 8, 1, as also in the coll. of the S.P.C.K. Whether the Berlin MS., Sachau 210, contains the entire work or only a part of it we do not know ; it is simply described as "Chronik des Bar Hebrieus." There are excerpts in Cod. Vat. clxxiii.
 * Cod. Vat. cxci. ; Palat. Medic, clxxxv. (Arab, and Syr.) ; Paris, Anc.