Italian Versions of the Scriptures

Italian Versions of the Scriptures The earliest translation of the Bible into the modem Italian is said to have been made by Giacomo da Viraggio (Jacobus de Voragine), archbishop of Genoa, in the beginning of the 13th century. This rests exclusively on the authority of Sixtus Senensis (Biblioth. Sanct. lib. 4), and there is weighty reason for doubting the statement. That at an early period, however, versions of parts, if not of the whole of Scripture into Italian were made, is evinced by the fact that there exist in various libraries MSS. containing them. In the Royal Library at Paris is an Italian Bible in two vols. folio, as well as several codices containing parts of the Bible in that language; in the library at Upsala is a Codex containing a history compiled from the first seven books of the O.T. in Italian; in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, is an Italian translation of the N.T., with portions of the Old, and in other libraries like relics are preserved (see Le Long, Bib. Sac. cap. 6:§ 1).

The earliest printed Italian Bible is that of Nicolo di Malermi (or Malherbi). a Venetian Benedictine monk of the order of Camaldoli: it appeared under the title of Biblia Volgare Historiota, etc. (Ven. 1471.) The translation is from the Vulgate, and is pronounced by R. Simon to be executed in a harsh style and carelessly (Hist. Crit. du N.T. p. 487). It was, however, repeatedly reprinted; the best editions are that superintended by Marini (Ven. 1477, 2 vols. fol.), and that issued at Venice in 1567 (1 vol. fol.). In 1530 Antonio Bruccioli issued his translation of the N.T., and in 1532 the first edition of his translation of the entire Bible, containing a revised and corrected translation of the N.T., under the title of La Biblia che contiene Sacri libri del vecchio Testamento tradotto nuovamente de la Hebraica verita in lingua Toscana, con divini libri del N.T. tradotti da Greco in lingua Tosc. con privilegio de oliclito Senato Venetao e letera a Francescol, Rege Christianissimo (fol.Venice, ap. Luc. Ant. Juntae). This translation is said by Simon to follow in the O.T. the Latin version of Pagnini rather than to be made from the original Hebrew, and to partake of the rudeness and barbarism of Pagnini's style. It was put in the index of the prohibited books among works of the first class. Many editions of it, however, appeared, of which the most important is that of Zanetti (Ven. 1540, 3 vols. fol). Bruccioli's version of the O.T. in a corrected form was printed at Geneva in 1562, along with a new version of the N.T. by Gallars and Beza; to this notes are added, and especially an exposition of the Apocalypse. The translation of Marmochini, though professedly original, is, in reality, only a revised edition of that of Bruccioli, the design of which was to bring it more fully into accordance with the Vulgate. Several translations of the Psalms (some from the Hebrew) and of other parts of Scripture appeared in Italy between the middle and end of the 16th century, and a new translation of the N.T., by a Florentine of the name of Zacharia, appeared in 8vo at Venice in 1542, and at Florence in 1566, copies of which are now extremely rare. The Jew David de Pomis issued a translation of Ecclesiastes with the original Hebrew (Ven. 1578).

In 1607 appeared at Geneva the first Protestant Italian version-that of Giovanni Diodati (La Biblia: Cioè I Libri del Vecchio e del Nuovo Testamento [sm. folio]). To this are appended brief marginal notes. This version was made directly from the original texts, and stands in high esteem for fidelity. It has been repeatedly reprinted. Being in the plain Lucchese dialect, it is especially adapted for circulation among the common people. It is that now adopted by the Bible Societies.

A version affecting greater elegance, but by no means so faithful, is that of Antonio Martini, archbishop of Florence. The N.T. appeared at Turin in 1769, and the O.T. in 1779, both accompanied with the text of the Vulgate, and with copious notes, chiefly from the fathers. This work received the approbation of pope Pius VI. It is made avowedly from the Vulgate, and is in the pure Tuscan dialect. Repeated editions have appeared; one, printed at Livorno (Leghorn), and those issued by the British and Foreign Bible Society (Lond. 1813, 1821), want the notes, and have consequently been placed in the index of prohibited books. To read and circulate this book, though bearing the papal sanction, was, till lately, a grave offense, as the well-known case of the Madiai in Florence proves. SEE VERSIONS.