LECTURE XXIII.

OF THE REMAINING ELEGIES OF THE HEBREWS. Many poems of this kind still extant in the writings of the Hebrews.-One 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, 322

:

OF DIDACTIC POETRY.

LECTURE XXIV.

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 bookA new translation of the xxivth chapter of Ecclesiasticus,

OF LYRIC POETRY.
LECTURE XXV.

335

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 magnificentThe 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 cxxxiiid Psalm in English verse,

LECTURE XXVI.

351

THE INTERMEDIATE OR MIXED STYLE OF THE HEBREW ODE. The lyric poetry of the intermediate or mixed style consists of an union of sweetness and sublimity-The ninety-first and eighty-first Psalms explained and critically illustrated-Of the digressions of the Hebrew poets, also of Pindar; not upon the same principle-A criticism upon the seventy-seventh Psalm―The nineteenth Psalm in English verse, 364

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 1th and xxivth PsalmsFrom the greatness of the sentiments and the force of the languageThe Ode of Moses on passing the Red Sea explained and illustratedThe brevity of the Hebrew style-The xxixth Psalm in English verse,

378

LECTURE XXVIII.

THE SUBLIME STYLE OF THE HEBREW ODE.

The sublime Ode, in which all the constituents of sublimity formerly spe.
cified are united-The prophetic Ode of Moses, Deut. xxxii.-The tri-
umphal Ode of Deborah; the Prayer of Habakkuk; the Fate of Tyranny,
being a poetical imitation of the xivth chapter of Isaiah,

OF THE IDYLLIUM OR HYMN.

LECTURE XXIX.

OF THE IDYLLIUM OF THE HEBREWS.

391

Besides those poems which may be strictly termed odes, the general ap-
pellation, which in the Hebrew is equivalent to Canticle or Song, in-
cludes 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 arrange-
ment of the hundred and seventh Psalm explained: also the ixth chap-
ter 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
cxxxixth Psalm in English verse,

OF DRAMATIC POETRY.

LECTURE XXX.

400

THE SONG OF SOLOMON NOT A REGULAR DRAMA.
The Platonic division of Poetry into the narrative, dramatic, and mixed
kinds, of little use; but deserves to be noticed on this occasion, as lead-
ing to an accurate definition of Dramatic Poetry, and clearing up the am-
biguity in which the term has been involved by the moderns-Two spe-
cies 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 nup-
tial 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 ac-
count this poem a regular Drama: it however does not prove, that it
contains a complete plot or fable-Definition of a Dramatic Fable-Noth-
ing 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,

LECTURE XXXI.

411

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 ground-work of this al-
legory explained.-The fastidiousness of those critics reproved, who pre-
tend 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
qually demonstrable from the internal structure of the work itself.-

1

This allegory of the third or mystical species; the subject literally re-
lating 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 He-
brews. The elegance of the topics, descriptions, comparisons of this
Poem: illustrated by examples,

LECTURE XXXII.

OF THE POEM OF JOB.

424

In order to criticise the book of Job with any degree of satisfaction to his
auditors, the critic must explain his own sentiments concerning the work
in general-The book of Job a singular composition, and has little or no
connection with the affairs of the Hebrews-The seat of the history is
Idumæa; and the characters are evidently Idumæan of the family of
Abraham; the author appears to be an Idumæan, who spoke the Hebrew
as his vernacular tongue-Neither Elihu nor Moses, rather Job himself,
or some contemporary-This appears to be the oldest book extant:
founded upon true history, and contains no allegory-Although extreme-
ly obscure, still the general subject and design are sufficiently evident—
A short and general analysis of the whole work; in which the obscurer
passages are brought as little as possible in question-The deductions
from this disquisition-1 The subject of the controversy between Job
and his friends-2. The subject of the whole poem-3. Its end or pur-
pose-All questions not necessarily appertaining to this point to be
avoided,

LECTURE XXXIII.

445

THE POEM OF JOB NOT A PERFECT DRAMA.
The poem of Job commonly accounted dramatic; and thought by many
to be of the same kind with the Greek Tragedy: this opinion examined.
A plot or fable essential to a regular drama; its definition and essential
qualities according to Aristotle-Demonstrated, that the poem of Job
does not contain any plot: its form and design more fully explained-
Compared with the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles; with the Oedipus
Coloneus; and shewn to differ entirely from both in form and manner—
It is nevertheless a most beautiful and perfect performance in its kind :
it approaches very near the form of a perfect drama; and, for regularity
in form and arrangement, justly claims the first place among the poet-
ical compositions of the Hebrews,

LECTURE XXXIV.

469

OF THE MANNERS, SENTIMENTS, AND STYLE OF THE POEM

OF JOB.

Though the poem of Job do not contain a plot or fable, it possesses, nev-
ertheless, some things in common with the perfect drama-MANNERS or
character-The manners of Job; to be distinguished from the passions
or emotions-The opinion of Aristotle, that the character of extreme
virtue is not proper for tragedy, demonstrated to be neither applicable
to Job, nor true with respect to tragedy in general-The design of the
poem-The manners of the three friends: the gradations of passion more
strongly marked in them than the diversity of manners-Elihu-The
expostulation of God himself-SENTIMENTS; expressive of things and
of manners; the latter already noticed; the former consist partly of
passion, partly of description: two examples of the softer passions: ex-
amples of description-The STYLE of this poem uncommonly elegant and
sublime; and the poetic conformation of the sentences extremely cor-
rect-Peroration, recommending the study of Hebrew literature, 481
A brief Confutation of Bishop Hare's System of Hebrew Metre..

499