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LECTURE XV.

OF SUBLIMITY OF EXPRESSION.

The character of the Poetic Dialect further illustrated by examples of different kinds from the Song of Moses, Deut. xxxii.-The frequent and sudden transition from one person to another; its cause and effectsThe use of the tenses in a manner quite different from common language: the reasons of this-The Hebrew language peculiar in this respect-The future is often spoken of in the perfect present, and the past in the future tense: the reason of the former easy to be explained; the latter is a matter of considerable difficulty, which neither the Commentators, the Translators, nor even the Grammarians have elucidated -Some examples of this, and the explanation of them-The frequent use of this form of construction may be considered as characteristical of the poetic dialect,

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LECTURE XVI.

OF SUBLIMITY OF SENTIMENT.

Sublimity of Sentiment arises either from elevation of mind, or from some vehement passion; in each, it is either natural, or the effect of divine inspiration-Elevation of mind is displayed in the greatness of the subject, the adjuncts, and the imagery-Examples from the descriptions of the Divine Majesty; of the works and attributes of the Deity; also from the display of the Divine Power in the form of interrogation and irony-The Hebrew Poets attribute the human passions to the Deity without departing from sublimity; and that frequently when the imagery appears least consistent with the Divine Majesty the reason of this,.

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LECTURE XVII.

OF THE SUBLIME OF PASSION.

Sublimity of Sentiment, as arising from the vehement affections of the mind-What is commonly called Enthusiasm is the natural effect of passion: the true enthusiasm arises from the impulse of the Divine Spirit, and is peculiar to the Sacred Poets-The principal force of poetry is displayed in the expression of passion: in exciting the passions poetry best achieves its purpose, whether it be utility or pleasure-How the passions are excited to the purpose of utility; how to that of pleasureThe difference and connexion between the pathetic and the sublimeThat sublimity which in the sacred poetry geteeds from the imitation of the passions of admiration, of joy, indignation, grief, and terror, illustrated by examples,

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THE THIRD PART.

OF THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF POETRY EXTANT IN THE

- WRITINGS OF THE HEBREWS.

OF PROPHETIC POETRY.

LECTURE XVIII.

THE WRITINGS OF THE PROPHETS ARE IN GENERAL POETICAL.

The Poetry of the Hebrews classed according to its different characters: this mode of arrangement results rather from the nature of the subject than from any authority of the Hebrews themselves-The PROPHETIC POETRY-The writings of the Prophets in general poetical and metrical -The opinion of the modern Jews and of Jerome on this point refutedIn the books of the Prophets the same evidences are found of a metrical arrangement as in the poetical books: in the dialect, the style, and poetical conformation of the sentences-Obvious in respect to the two former circumstances; the latter requires a more minute investigation, and also illustration by examples-The intimate relation between Poetry and Prophecy-The College of Prophets; a part of whose discipline it was to sing hymns to the different instruments; and this exercise was called Prophecy: the same word, therefore, denotes a prophet, a poet, and a musician-Elisha, when about to pronounce the Oracle of God, orders a minstrel to be brought to him-Poetry excellently adapted to the purpose of Prophecy-A review of the most ancient predictions extant in the historical books, which are proved to be truly poetical, Page 189

LECTURE XIX.

THE PROPHETIC POETRY IS SENTENTIOUS.

The Psalmody of the Hebrews-The manner of chanting the hymns by alternate choirs: whence the origin of the poetical construction of the sentences, and that peculiar form in which verses and distichs run parallel or correspondent to each other-Three species of Parallelism; the synonymous, the antithetic, and the synthetic: examples of each; first from the books generally allowed to be poetical, and afterwards from the writings of the Prophets-The sentiments of R. Azarias consideredThe great importance of an accurate attention to this poetical conformation of the sentences,

............... LECTURE XX.

THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPHETIC POETRY.

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The whole of the Book of Daniel, as well as of Jonah, are to be excepted as not poetical, though of the prophetic kind; also certain historical relations inserted in the books of the Prophets-Some poems occur in the prophetic writings, which properly belong to the other classes of poetry-The remainder constitutes what may be termed a system or code of prophetic poetry-The character of this species of poetry deduced from the nature and design of prophecy itself- An example of the true style of prophetic poetry produced from Isaiah, and explained; also another from the prophecies of Balaam, translated into English verse, 217

LECTURE XXI.

THE PECULIAR CHARACTER OF EACH OF THE PROPHETS.

The particular style and character of the different Prophets: what parts of each of them are poetical, and what otherwise-Nothing deserving of notice of this kind in the poetry of Greece-In the Latin poetry the fourth Eclogue of Virgil is remarkable: that poem much more obscure than it is generally accounted, and has not hitherto been properly explained,

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OF ELEGIAC POETRY.
LECTURE XXII.

OF THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF THE HEBREW ELEGY; AND OF THE
LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH.

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The nature and origin of the Hebrew Elegy traced into the solemn expressions of grief exhibited in their funeral ceremonies-The office and function of professed mourners: the dirges which were sung by them were short, metrical, and sententious; many of the lamentations which are extant in the Prophets were composed in imitation of them-The whole of the Lamentations of Jeremiah constructed upon the same principle-The general conduct and form of that poem; the nature of the verse; the subject and the style, 245

LECTURE XXIII.

OF THE REMAINING ELEGIES OF THE HEBREWS.

Many Poems of this kind still extant in the writings of the HebrewsOne collection of Elegies or Lamentations appears to be lost-Elegies in Ezekiel-Many passages in Job may be accounted Elegiac-About a seventh part of the book of Psalms consists of Elegies-A perfect specimen of elegiac poetry from the Psalms-The Lamentation of David over Saul and Jonathan explained: attempted in English verse,

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OF THE PROVERBS, OR DIDACTIC POETRY OF THE HEBREWS.

The ancient mode of instructing by Parables or Proverbs-The Proverbs of Solomon: that work consists of two parts; the first, which extends to the ninth chapter inclusive, truly poetical, and most elegant in its kind: the remainder of the book consists of detached maxims-The principal characteristics of a Parable or Proverb; brevity (which naturally involves in it some degree of obscurity) and elegance-Ecclesiastes : the argument, disposition, and style of that work—All the alphabetical Psalms of this kind, as well as some others-The Wisdom of the Son of Sirach written originally in Hebrew, in imitation of the Proverbs of Solomon-The fidelity of the Greek translator; and the great elegance of the work in general-The Wisdom of Solomon written originally in Greek, and in imitation of the Proverbs; the style and economy of that book-A new translation of the 24th chapter of Ecclesiasticus,

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OF LYRIC POETRY.

LECTURE XXV.

OF THE HEBREW ODE IN GENERAL; AND FIRST OF THAT CLASS, THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF WHICH ARE SWEETNESS AND ELEGANCE.

Lyric Poetry originated from the most jocund and pleasing affections of
the human mind-The most ancient species of Poetry, and almost coeval
with human nature itself-Particularly cultivated by the Hebrews-
The manner, introduced by David, of singing their Odes highly magni-
ficent-The general character of this species of Poetry: its principal
distinctions-The first character of the Ode, sweetness-What passions
and affections it is intended to express: examples from the Psalms-
The 133d Psalm in English verse, ............

LECTURE XXVI.

THE INTERMEDIATE OR MIXED STYLE OF THE HEBREW ode.

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The Lyric Poetry of the intermediate or mixed style consists of an union of sweetness and sublimity-The 91st and 81st Psalms explained and critically illustrated-Of the digressions of the Hebrew Poets, also of Pindar; not upon the same principle-A criticism upon the 77th Psalm -The 19th Psalm in English verse,

LECTURE XXVII.

OF THE SUBLIME STYLE OF THE HEBREW ODE.

The third species of the Hebrew Ode, the characteristic of which is Sublimity-This sublimity results from three sources: From the general form and arrangement of the Poem, exemplified in the 50th and 24th Psalms; from the greatness of the sentiments, and the force of the language-The Ode of Moses on passing the Red Sea explained and illustrated-The brevity of the Hebrew style-The 29th Psalm in English verse, w

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LECTURE XXVIII.

THE SUBLIME STYLE OF THE HEBREW ODE.

The Sublime Ode, in which all the constituents of sublimity formerly specified are united-The prophetic Ode of Moses, Deut. xxxii.-The triumphal Ode of Deborah; the Prayer of Habakkuk; the Fate of Tyranny, being a poetical imitation of the 14th chapter of Isaiah,......... 309

OF THE IDYLLIUM OR HYMN.

LECTURE XXIX.

OF THE IDYLLIUM OF THE HEBREWS.

Besides those Poems which may be strictly termed Odes, the general appellation, which in the Hebrew is equivalent to Canticle or Song, includes another species, called by the Greeks the Idyllium-The reason of this name, and the definition of the poem to which it is appropriated

-The historical Psalms in general belong properly to this class-The intercalary stanza, and the nature of it-The elegant plan and arrangement of the 107th Psalm explained; also the 9th chapter of Isaiah, ver. 8. to chap. x. ver. 4.-This passage a perfect specimen of the Idyllium: other examples of the Idyllium no less perfect as to style and form-The Hymn of Cleanthes the stoic commended-The 139th Psalm in English verse, ---

OF DRAMATIC POETRY.

LECTURE XXX.

THE SONG OF SOLOMON NOT A REGULAR DRAMA.

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The Platonic division of Poetry into the narrative, dramatic, and mixed kinds, of little use; but deserves to be noticed on this occasion, as leading to an accurate definition of Dramatic Poetry, and clearing up the ambiguity in which the term has been involved by the moderns-Two species pointed out: the lesser, which possesses only the form of dialogue, without the personal intervention of the Poet; and the greater, which contains a plot or fable-There are extant some instances of the former in the writings of the Hebrews; but none of their productions seem to have the least title to the latter character, two perhaps excepted; the Song of Solomon, and the Book of Job-Inquiry, whether the Song of Solomon contain a complete plot or fable-It is an Epithalamium: the characters which are represented in it: the Poem founded upon the nuptial rites of the Hebrews-The opinion of Bossuet cited and explained; namely, that this Poem is a representation of the seven days of festival which succeeded the marriage, and consequently consists of seven parts or divisions-This opinion the most favourable of all to those who account this Poem a regular Drama: it however does not prove that it contains a complete plot or fable-Definition of the dramatic fable -Nothing like it in the Song of Solomon: it is therefore not a perfect Drama, but is of the lesser class of Dramatic Poems-The chorus of Virgins bears a great analogy to the chorus of the Greek Tragedies; but could not serve as a model for them,r

LECTURE XXXI.

OF THE SUBJECT AND STYLE OF SOLOMON'S SONG.

The question debated, Whether the Song of Solomon is to be taken in a literal or allegorical sense; the allegorical sense defended upon the grounds of the Parabolic Style-The nature and groundwork of this allegory explained-The fastidiousness of those critics reproved, who pretend to take offence at the freedom of some of those images which are found in the Sacred Writings: the nature of those images explained -The allegorical interpretation confirmed by analogical arguments: not equally demonstrable from the internal structure of the work itself— This allegory of the third or mystical species; the subject literally relating to the nuptials of Solomon-Two cautions to be observed by commentators-The style of the Poem pastoral; the characters are represented as pastoral: how agreeable this to the manners of the HebrewsThe elegance of the topics, descriptions, comparisons of this Poem; illustrated by examples,...

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