Robert Pinkertoni & Dhiata e Re në gjuhën shqipe, 1819

Extract of Robert Pinkerton’s Letter, Concerning the Albanian New Testament, Written on 25 October 1819 from Constantinople

“One important business has followed so closely upon another, during the short time of my visit to this City, that I have had to labour almost night and day, in order to follow up, with calm and dispassionate investigation, the different subjects which have presented themselves for my consideration. Among these the two following are none of the least momentous: indeed, the first—a translation of the New Testament into the Albanian language, has entwined itself about my heart for these several years past, in such a way that I literally could not get rid of it. And although at Corfu the prospect began to open, and all the hopes of realization to cheer, yet nothing decisive was there effected. No—I must first visit Athens, learn the vast extend of the Albanian population, suffer the most unkind, and even cruel treatment from the Albanians of Paros, in order rightly to understand the importance of this work, and the great need there was for losing no time in getting it undertaken, for the sake of the numerous tribes of Albanians, who have spread themselves far and wide in the ancient countries of Illyria, Epirus, Macedonia, and Greece. I have now found a man who, I hope, is destined to bestow the great blessing upon his brethren, of giving them the New Testament in their native tongue. His name is Evangelos Mexicos. He has been very highly recommended to me by some of the first dignitaries of the Greek Communion here, as a person eminently qualified for the work. He has already written a grammar in his native tongue, which he shewed me. He is well known to the Greek Patriarch of Constantinople, who has also highly approved of the undertaking, and has promised to send for one or two ecclesiastics well skilled in the Albanian language, with a view to aid Dr. Mexicos in his labours, and render the versions as perfect as possible before it is put to the press. We propose to print it with the text of Hilarion’s translation, in parallel columns. This will render it more useful in the first instance, as there are such a number of Albanians who are but imperfectly acquainted with the modern Greek, and of Greeks who understand but imperfectly the Albanian. These will more easily learn to read and understand the precise truths of the Gospel, when presented to them in the two languages, than in either of them separately. He has already translated the 5^th chapter of Matthew, and the 1^st chapter of St. John’s Gospel, and presented me with a copy of them, as the first fruits of this important undertaking.”

From the Annual Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 16th report, pp. 22-23. Albanian translation above by Prof. Dr. Xhevat Lloshi, from his book Përkthimi i V. Meksit dhe redaktimi i G.Gjirokastritit: 1819-1827 (Tirana: Onufri, 2012), pp. 161-162. Used with permission.