APPROVAL

The third Volume of S. EPHRAEM in Syriac and Latin, having been brought to completion by the Most Illustrious and Reverend Lord Stephen Evodius Assemani, Archbishop of Apamea—a man most versatile in every kind of good faculty, and especially highly skilled in Oriental languages—after the death of the most famous Father Peter Benedict of the Society of JESUS, the priest who had completed the middle part of it, with the final hand applied, at the request of the Most Reverend Father Nicolaus Aloysius Ridolphio, Master of the Sacred Apostolic Palace who entrusted this province to me, I have accurately read and diligently compared the Latin version with the Syriac copy; I found nothing in it that would conflict with either the Catholic Religion or good morals; indeed, I noticed that it is quite apt and suitable for confirming the dogmas of the Catholic Religion and nourishing good morals, as well as from the Prolegomena and Acts of S. EPHRAEM now for the first time brought forth from the Vatican Nitrian Codex V, which are prefixed to the same Volume. The most erudite Prelate has grasped the mind of the Syrian Doctor so well and expressed this Version with such elegance of Latin speech that neither a Latin man ignorant of the Syriac language nor a native Syrian ignorant of the Latin language has anything left to desire; and it is uncertain, by the benefit of such a Prelate, whether our EPHRAEM wrote in Syriac or in Latin. Therefore, I judge the work worthy, as it has been curated by the Eminent Lord Angelo Maria Quirinus, Cardinal Librarian of the S. R. E., under the auspices of the Most Holy Father our Lord BENEDICT XIV, Supreme Pontiff, to be made public property. In witness whereof, at Rome from the College of the Maronites, August 6, 1743.