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of the original has (clearly of set purpose) been altered; and some of these changes are grotesque, to use no stronger term.

As instances of what is meant, I may cite the following:

(1) At page 216, in order to avoid a reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the author's words: "Conforta me, Deus mens, in omni pressura cordis mei propter meritum sacratissimae passionis tuae et vehementes dolores et uherrimas lacrimas beatissimae matris tuae Marine, quas ex compassione et aspectu vulnerum tuorum juxta crucem stando et amarissime flendo effudit "; are translated thus: " Comfort me, my God, in every trouble of my heart, by the merits of Thy most sacred Passion; and by the vehement grief and the plenteous tears, which Thou, out of compassion for me, didst pour forth on the Cross."[1]

(2) At page 339 (in order to get rid of a reference to the sign of the Cross), Thomas a Kempis is made to say — in a prayer addressed to God the Holy Ghost — "Against all terrors of the night, and temptations of the devil, grant me the gift of faith in Thy Cross and Passion "! [2]

Five-sixths of Chapter X,[3] Treatise II, Part I,

  1. For a translation of the Latin words see p. 207, lines 28 to 33.
  2. A translation of the passage will be found at page 323, lines 3 to 6.
  3. In Dr. Kettlewell's book, by the omission of Chapter VI, Chapter X has become Chapter IX.