OLIVETAN, ROBERT, related to the famous Cal-
vin, printed at Neuchâtel in 1535, in folio, a version
of the Bible into French, the first which had been trans-
lated from the original Hebrew and Greek. It is writ-
ten in an uncouth and barbarous style, and is far from
being faithful. The characters in which it is printed
are Gothic, and the language of it is no less so. It is
valued only because it is rare. Calvin is thought to
have had a very considerable share in this translation.
Olivet survived his publication but a short time; for
he was poisoned at Rome the year after, of which his
translation is alleged to have been the cause. Olivetan's
Bible, revised by John Calvin and N. Malingier, was
reprinted at Geneva, in 1540, in quarto. This edition
is still rarer than the former. It is called the Bible de
l'Eve, because the printer had a sword for his sign.