FREEMASONRY

二俣川 Yの字となる Yナンバー

 In these Parts, upon the Tygris and Euphrates, afterwards flourish'd many learned Priests and Mathematicians, known by the Names of CHALDEES and MAGI, who preserv'd the good Science, Geometry, as the KINGS and great Men encourag'd the Royal Art. But it is not expedient to speak more plain of the Premises, except in a formed Lodge.
その後に、チグリス川とユーフラテス川の周辺の地方で、王や支配者が王家の学問として勧めた素晴らしい科学や幾何学について多く学んだカルデアやマギとして名を知られる多くの勉強した司祭や数学者の数が増えた。しかしながら科学や幾何学の事についてより明白に話すにはきちんとした建物の中で語る以外には好ましくはなかった。
 From hence, therefore, the Science and Art were both transmitted to latter Ages and distant Climes, notwithstanding the Confusion of Languages or Dialects, which tho' it might help to give Rise to the Masons Faculty and ancient universal Practice of conversing without speaking, and of knowing each other at a Distance, yet hinder'd not the Improvement of Masonry in each Colony and their Communication in their distinct National Dialect.
そうして、それゆえに科学と芸術は共に、言葉や方言の混乱にもかかわらず後の時代や遠くの地域まで伝えられ、言葉や方言の混乱はしかしながら石工専門分野と古代の普遍的な言葉によらない会話や遠方にいるお互いを知り合う方法を発展させることを助け、国の中での異なる方言の異なる集団同士の相互の交流の中でも石工術の発展を阻むものではなかった。
 And, no doubt, the Royal Art was brought down to Egypt by MITZRAIM, the second Son of Ham, about six Years after the Confusion at Babel, and after the Flood 160 Years, when he led thither his Colony ;
そして疑いなく王家の学問はエジプトにハムの二番目の息子のミツライムによってエジプトに伝え下られ、それはバベルの塔の混乱の後の6年後頃であり、大洪水から160年後であり、彼がそこへ彼の一家を導いた時であった。
(for Egypt is Mitzraim in Hebrew) because we find the River Nile's overflowing its Banks, soon caus'd an Improvement in Geometry, which consequently brought Masonry much in request : For the ancient noble Cities, with the other magnificent Edifices of that Country, and particularly the famous PYRAMIDS, demonstrate the early Taste and Genius of that ancient Kingdom. Nay, one of those Egyptian PYRAMIDS* is reckon'd the First of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Account of which, by Historians and Travellers, is almost incredible.
（ミツライムとはヘブライ語でエジプトへという意味）我々はナイル川の洪水に対する堤防を認めることができるが、それらが幾何学の発展により速やかにもたらされたものであり、多くの必要に応じて石工術が結果としてもたらされるものであるとわかる。その古代の立派な都市の、その国のその他の巨大な建築物たち、特に有名なピラミッド群は、古い時代のその古代王朝の作風や精神を際立たせている。それのみならずエジプトのピラミッドの一つは世界の七不思議の最初の一つに数えられているが、歴史家や旅行者によるその評価はほとんど信用ならない。
*The Marble Stones, Brought a vast way from the Quarries of Arabia, were most of 'em 30 Foot long ; and its Foundation cover'd the Ground 700 Foot on each Side, or 2800 Foot in Compass, and 481 in perpendicular Height. And in perfecting it were employed every Day, for 20 whole Years, 360,000 Men, by some ancient Egyptian King long before the Israelites were a People, for the Honour of his Empire, and at last to become his Tomb.
アラビアの採石場から遠大な経路を通ってもたらされたその大理石は最も大きいもので9メートルもあり、その基礎は一辺が210メートル、周囲840メートルあり、高さ144メートルある。完成するのに毎日36000人の男たちが20年間古代の数人のエジプト王に雇われ、それはイスラエル人のはるか以前であり、エジプト王国の栄誉のために作られ、のちに王の墓となった。
 The Sacred Records inform us well that the eleven great Sons of CANAAN (the youngest Son of Ham) soon fortified themselves in strong Holds, and stately walled Cities, and erected most beautiful Temples and Mansions ; for when the Israelites, under the great Joshua, invaded their Country, they found it so regularly fenc'd, that without the immediate Intervention of God in behalf of his peculiar People, the Canaanites were impregnable and invincible. Nor can we suppose less of the other Sons of Ham, viz. Cush, his eldest, in South Arabia, and Phut, or Phuts, (now called Fez) in West Africa.

 And surely the fair and gallant Posterity of JAPHET, (the eldest Son of Noah) even such as travell'd into the Isles of the Gentiles, must have been equally skill'd in Geometry and Masonry : tho' we know little of their Transactions and mighty Works, until their original Knowledge was almost lost by the Havock of War, and by not maintaining a due Correspondence with the polite and learned Nations ; for when that Correspondence was open'd in After-Ages, we find they began to be most curious Architects.

 The Posterity of SHEM had also equal Opportunities of cultivating the useful Art, even those of 'em that planted their Colonies in the South and East of Asia ; much more those of 'em, that in the great Assyrian Empire, liv'd in a separate State, or were blended with other Families : Nay, that holy Branch of SHEM (of whom, as concerning the Flesh, CHRIST came) could not be unskillful in the learned Arts of Assyria ; for ABRAM, after the Confusion at Babel about 268 Years,was called out of Ur of the Chaldees, where he learned Geometry, and the Arts that are perform'd by it, which he would carefully transmit to Ishmael, to Isaac, and to his Sons by Keturah : and by Isaac, to Esau, and Jacob, and the twelve Patriarchs : Nay, the Jews believe that ABRAM also instructed the Egyptians in the Assyrian Learning.