"This contrast is even more striking in the original, where it is aided by an exact correspondence of syllables and accents. On one side are—
'Ἡ πόρνη καὶ τὸ Θηρίον:'
On the other—
'Ἡ Νύμφη καὶ τὸ Ἀρνίον.'
See Rev. xxi. 2. 9., xxii. 17."—Is the Church of Rome Babylon? p. 58.: London, 1851.
A. A. D.
Ἀρνίον and ἀμνὸς both denote a lamb. In John i. 29. 36., the latter is applied to Jesus by John the
Baptist. In Acts viii. 32., and 1 Pet. i. 19., the term is manifestly derived from Isa. liii. 7., the Septuagint translation. But, in the Revelation, the word selected by the apostle is simply to be viewed as characteristic of his style. Taken in connexion with John i. 29. 36., the difference presents one of those points which so strikingly attest the authenticity of the Scripture. If the writer had drawn upon his imagination, in all likelihood he would have used the word ἀρνίον in the Gospel; but he employed another, because the Baptist actually made use of a different one, i. e. one different from that which he was in the habit of employing.
B. H. Cowper.
Who was the greatest General (Vol. vi., p. 509.).—In reply to the following Query, "Who was the greatest general, and why and wherefore did the Duke of Wellington give the palm to Hannibal?" I think the following note appended to the eloquent sermon of Dr. Croly, preached on the death of the Duke, Sept. 19th, not only shows the humility of the Duke in giving preference to Hannibal over himself, but it contains so just a comparison between the two generals, that it deserves recording in the valuable and useful pages of the "N. & Q." as well as being a perfect and true answer to C. T.:
"It has been usual," the note says, "to compare Wellington with Hannibal. But those who make the comparison seem to forget the facts:—
"Hannibal, descending from the Alps with a disciplined force of 26,000 men, met the brave Roman Militia, commanded by brave blockheads, and beat them accordingly. But, as soon as he was met by a man of common sense, Fabius, he could do nothing with him; when he met a manœuvring officer, the Consul Nero, he was outmanœuvred, and lost his brother Asdrubal's army, which was equivalent to his losing Italy; and when he met an active officer, Scipio, he was beaten on his own ground. Finally, forced to take refuge with a foreign power, he was there a prisoner, and there he died."
"His administrative qualities seem to have been of the humblest, or of the most indolent, order. For fourteen years he was in possession of, or in influence with, all the powers of southern Italy, then the richest portion of the peninsula. Yet this possession was wrested from him without an effort; and where he might have been a monarch, he was only a pensioner. His punic faith, his flight, his refuge, and his death in captivity, might find a more complete resemblance in the history of Napoleon."
The following, concluding sentence of Dr. Croly's note conveys a truer and far more just comparison with another great general:
"The life of the first Cæsar forms a much fairer comparison with that of Wellington. Both nobly born; both forcing their way up through the gradations of service, outstripping all their age; forming their characters by warfare in foreign countries; always commanding small armies, yet always invincible (Cæsar won the World at Pharsalia with only 25,000 men): both alike courageous and clement, unfailing in resources, and indefatigable in their objects; receiving the highest rewards, and arising to the highest rank of their times; never beaten: both of first-rate ability in council. The difference being in their objects; one to serve himself, the other to serve his country; one impelled by ambition, the other by duty; one destroying the constitution of his country, the other sustaining it. Wellington, too, has given the soldier and statesman his 'Commentaries,' one of the noblest transcripts of a great administrative mind."
J. M. G.