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SECTION ΧΙΧ.

IN a former Section, there occurred a specimen, (Rom. x. 13-18.) four lines of which, much resemble a logical sorites; the predicate of each preceding line, becoming the subject of the line next in order. In the place referred to, (Sect. VIII. p. 125.) I gave examples of this mode of construction, from the prophetic poetry of the Old Testament: a few additional examples must now be produced, from the books of the New.

μήποτε κατασυρη σε προς τον κριτην
κριτης σε παραδω τω πρακτορι

και ὁ

και

πρακτωρ σε βαλη εις την φυλακην.

Lest he drag thee before the judge;

And the judge hand thee over to the officer;

And the officer cast thee into prison.

εν αυτω ζωη ην

και η ζωή ην το φως των ανθρωπων·

και το φως εν τη σκοτει φαινει·

S. Luke, xii. 58.

και ἡ σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν.

In him life was ;

And the life was the light of men ;

And the light shineth in the darkness;
And the darkness did not comprehend it.

ή θλίψις υπομονην κατεργάζεται

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονη, δοκιμην·

ή δε δοκιμή, ελπιδα

ή δε ελπις ου καταισχύνει.

S. John, i. 4, 5.

Tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, probation ;

And probation, hope,

And hope maketh not ashamed.

Rom. v. 3-5.

ους προεγνω, και προώρισε,

ους δε προωρισε, τουτους και εκαλεσε·
και δυς εκαλεσε, τουτους και εδικαίωσεν
όυς δε εδικαίωσε, τουτους και εδόξασε.

Whom he foreknew, he also fore-ordained,
And whom he fore-ordained, them he also called;
And whom he called, them he also justified;
And whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom. viii. 29, 30. '

ή επιθυμία συλλαβουσα, τίκτει ἁμαρτιαν

ἡ δε ἁμαρτια αποτελεσθείσα, αποκυει θανατον.

Appetite, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin;
And sin, when it is consummated, engendereth death.
S. James, i. 15.

επιχορηγήσατε εν τη πίσει ύμων την αρετην

εν δε τη αρετή, την γνωσιν·
εν δε τη γνωσει, την εγκρατειαν·
εν δε τη εγκράτεια, την ὑπομονην·

εν δε τη ὑπομονη, την ευσηβειαν
εν δε τη ευσέβεια, την φιλαδελφιαν·
εν δε τη φιλαδελφια, την αγαπην.
Add to your faith, virtue ;
And to virtue, knowledge;
And to knowledge, temperance ;
And to temperance, patience;
And to patience, piety ;

And to piety, brotherly kindness ;

And to brotherly kindness, charity.

2 Pet. i. 5-7.

The above examples, I presume, sufficiently illustrate this manner of composition; and, as I

am not desirous to multiply words, I shall not offer any observation upon them. Classical precedents of this style, it might, perhaps, not be difficult to adduce the following elegant trifle is a close approximation :

ἡ γη μελαινα πινει·
πινει δε δενδρε ̓ αυτην
πίνει θαλασσα δ' αυρας·
ὁ δ' ηλιος θαλασσαν·
τον δ' ηλιον σεληνη.

ANACR. Od. 19.

391

SECTION XX.

A LATE eminent Prelate, in a discourse "On the style of S. Luke's gospel," has some valuable observations on three of the select compositions preserved by that evangelist in his first two chapters: the Song of the Virgin Mary; the Song of Zacharias; and the Song of the venerable Symeon. After a slight, but vivid sketch of the manner and character of those productions, this learned writer adds the following just and discriminative paragraph : Thus, then, we have three several poems, for, exclusively of more essential claims to this appellation, vestiges of their original metre sub"sist not only in the Greek, but even in more "modern translations, poems replete with senti"ments, as indeed conversant about objects,

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peculiar to inspired writers, distinguished by "characters suited to the situations which gave "occasion for them, and rising each above the

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preceding in the importance and dignity of the subject. In that of the Virgin, the considera"tions are chiefly personal; in that of Zacharias, "the great object is the salvation of the Jews; "in that of Symeon, it is the light that should lighten the Gentiles,' as well as be the glory "of the people of Israel."" Seven Sermons on Select Subjects by William [Cleaver] Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, p. 221.

The poems thus properly characterised, it is my purpose to place before the reader, accompanied by some illustrative remarks. I shall follow the order of the evangelist; which, as Bishop Cleaver has observed, is a progressive order; the subject gradually rising in importance, dignity, and interest. The song of the Virgin, therefore, is to be the object of our immediate attention.

ΚΑΙ ΕΙΠΕ ΜΑΡΙΑΜ :

μεγαλύνει η ψυχη μου τον Κυριον

και ηγαλλίασε το πνεύμα μου επι τω Θεω τω σωτηρι μου : ότι επέβλεψεν επι την ταπείνωσιν της δουλης άυτου·

ίδου γαρ, απο του νυν μακαριούσι με πασαι άι γενεαι ότι εποίησε μοι μεγαλεια ὁ δυνατος·

και άγιον το ονομα αυτού :

και το έλεος αυτού εις γενεάς γενεών,

τοις φοβουμενοις αυτόν :

εποίησε κρατος εν βραχιονι άυτου·

διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφανους διανοια καρδίας αυτών :

καθειλε δυναςας απο θρωνων

και ύψωσε ταπεινους :

πεινώντας ενέπλησεν αγαθων

και πλουτούντας εξαπέςειλεν κενους : αντελάβετο ισραηλ του παιδος άυτου·

μνήσθηναι ελεους,

(καθώς ελάλησε προς τους πατέρας ήμων)

τω Αβρααμ, και τω σπερματι αυτου εις τον αιώνα.

AND MARY SAID:

My soul doth magnify the Lord;

And my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour:

:

For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden; For behold, from henceforth all generations will call me

blessed ;

For great things hath the Powerful One done for me; And holy is his name: