governable impetuosity of his mind ;— of that mind which so truly spoke when he said, Danger has been to me a play-mate. It is evident, then, that we must not expect to find by any means so traceable an evidence of the influence of the English translation of the Bible upon the works of the authors of these times, as has been shewn, we hope satisfactorily, to have been exercised upon their predecessors -but that there has been an influence, and even a great influence, exerted, may we think, be demonstrated; though, at the same time, it must be confessed, that the more the nation advances in refinement and civilization, the more that true and simple sublimity which pervades the Bible-that unaffected dignity with which even the pagan Longinus was, so much struck-becomes out of place. In the poems of Thomson, there are a few passages for which he was, probably, in some measure, indebted to the Bible Translation— the pretty episode in his Autumn of "Palemon and Lavinia," is imitated from that of "Boaz and Ruth," and it cannot be said to surpass the F beautiful and affecting original. In his Spring he has And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud on our plains descend. Also, a little after,— And still the gracious clouds Dropp'd fatness down. Both which passages are taken from the "clouds dropping fatness.”—Psalms. The expression "to take their pastime," is taken from Ps. civ. 26; as also is "And the Leviathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime* therein." Also, in his Winter, there occurs,— Till nature's King, who oft Amid tempestuous darkness dwells alone, And on the wings of the careering winds Which is taken from Ps. civ.-" And walketh on the wings of the wind." In the writings of Young, many expressions may be found indebted for the idea or manner of expression to Scripture. • See version of Psalms in the Prayer book, in the common Bible version, "to take their pastime," is rendered, "to play." In his paraphrase of the Book of Job,* one of his earlier works, there occurs, Where did'st thou dwell at nature's early birth? Who on its surface did extend the line? Its form determine, and its bulk confine? When the bright morning stars in concert sung, And heav'n's high arch with loud Hosannahs rung. (See Job xxxviii. 4, 5, 6, 7.)—" Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who hath laid the foundations thereof? or who hath stretched the line upon it? When the morning stars sung together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy." Also, in the same poem,— Hath the cleft centre open'd wide to thee? taken from "Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?" Or, "hast thou seen the • I am aware that it may appear absurd to make a quotation from "A Paraphrase of the book of Job," for the purpose of proving that this book has exercised an influence upon that paraphrase: but still the very circumstance of this poet having chosen this work in preference to others, for the subject of a paraphrase, is sufficient to prove that, in his opinion, it was a work of great poetical talent; and, as such, its translation into English must have had a very beneficial influence upon our literature. doors of the shadow of death ?"-Job, chap. xxxviii. Again, Where dwells the light? in what refulgent dome? And where has darkness made her dismal home? See, "Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof?"-Ch. xxxviii. 19. And, Survey the warlike horse; did'st thou invest (See Job, xxxix. 19, 24.)—“ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? . . . He paweth in the valley, and rejoices in his strength, and goeth forth to meet the armed men." In the "Night Thoughts," traces of biblical influence are not so traceable, but it is probable that they exist, though not any so marked as those we have cited. The lines in Akenside's "Pleasures of the Imagination" (The soul) pursues the flying storm, Rides on the vollied lightnings through the heav'ns, Are, perhaps, a little indebted to the passages in the Psalms, of the "Lord riding upon the winds," "coming up in a whirlwind," &c. The passage in the Psalms before quoted, "And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly," &c., was clearly in the mind of Gray, when, in the progress of poesy, he wrote those admirable lines on Milton, Nor second he, that rode sublime, He pass'd the flaming bounds of space and time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze, Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw, &c. (See Ezekiel i. 26, and x. 1. The same poet also has, With arms sublime that float upon the air; in which he probably had in view the continuation of the same passage in the Psalms. |