It would be superfluous to insist any longer on a minute detail, since the most splendid examples of every beauty and elegance of sentiment, of imagery, and of diction, meet the eye of the attentive reader in every part of the poem. Let it suffice to say, that the dignity of the style is answerable to that of the subject; its force and energy to the greatness of those passions which it describes: and as this production excels all the other remains of the Hebrew poetry in economy and arrangement, so it yields to none in sublimity of style, and in every grace and excellence of composition. Among the principal of these may be accounted the accurate and perfectly poetical conformation of the sentences, which is, indeed, generally most observable in the most ancient of the poetical compositions of the Hebrews. Here, however, as is natural and proper in a poem of so great length and sublimity, the writer's skill is displayed in the proper adjustment of the period, and in the accurate distribution of the members, rather than in the antithesis of words, or in any laboured adaptation of the parallelisms.

HAVING now gone through the several topics of which I purposed to treat in my investigation of the nature of the Hebrew Poetry, it is time that my present undertaking should draw towards a conclusion. If, in the prosecution of my design, I have by my industry been able to accomplish any thing that may be deemed satisfactory, it is but common justice to attribute the greatest part of my success to you, Gentlemen, who have condecended to look with a propitious

In the last line it seems as if we should read 2p, he will not deceive, with the Vulg. and Symmachus. For this correction I am indebted to the learned Richard Grey, who has paid a very critical attention to this poem.

"The true sense is, perhaps, he does it not at intervals, or by fits, i. e. thunders, &c. but continually; which, among others, is the sense of the word in the Arabic dialect. And the exposition of R. L. B. Gershom, he does not defer or delay, agrees very well with this opinion; as well as our common English translation, which is thus far preferable to that of the Vulgate and Symmachus, namely, that it requires no change of the text. This also, in all probability, is the meaning of the Septuagint version, Ovx avjaλdağı aures; though this seems to relate to the hearers, when in reality it should relate to the things heard." H.-Author's Note.

"See whether the verb shemang be ever construed with beth, except in the sense obeying, which does not agree with the context in this place. It seems better, therefore, to construe the verb with kolu, and to render the sentence in this manner-Hear his voice attentively, and with trembling,”—H.

eye upon my endeavours, and to invigorate my application by your attention and partiality. When, indeed, I first meditated this system of instruction, I foresaw, as well from the native sublimity and obscurity of the subject, as from the extreme antiquity of the Hebrew writings, much subtile investigation, much difficult explication, much doubtful assertion, and dangerous error. I foresaw too, and daily experience confirmed my apprehensions, that in this maze of science the vestiges and the documents of the learned would be frequently found but imperfect guides. That my courage did not utterly forsake me in the course of my undertaking, is to be attributed entirely to the favour and encouragement which I received from you. I had the satisfaction to find my plan meet with the approbation of some of the greatest and most eminent characters in the learned world, as being neither inconsistent with the design of this institution, the dignity of this University, nor the profit and utility of the students. I had often the singular pleasure of seeing among my auditors many persons, to whom it would better become me to apply for instruction in this and in every other branch of literature; and the young men for whose benefit this institution was established, I have found ever diligent and constant in their attendance: all which testimonies of your favour, unless I accounted as obligations, I should think either too arrogantly of myself, or too disrespectfully of you. To all of you, therefore, I feel, and shall for ever feel myself obliged: the remembrance of your kindness will, in every vicissitude of my condition, be pleasing to me; nor is there any danger of my suffering that to escape my memory, which I must ever esteem the great ornament of my life.

But to return to a point which is of more importance, and which has indeed been the principal object of all my endeavours-I should now think myself called upon, in the last place, to exhort this assembly of accomplished youths to an assiduous application to these studies, but that I confess I think you rather demand commendation than advice. For the Hebrew language, which was for a series of years in a manner obsolete and neglected, has been lately cultivated by you with such attention and application, and has obtained so respectable a place among the other branches of erudition, that it seems through your means to have recovered, after a tedious exile, all its former dignity and importance. Proceed, therefore, in the same career with the same ardour and suc

cess, and consider it as a work worthy of your utmost exertions to illustrate and cultivate this department of literature. You will find it no less elegant and agreeable than useful and instructive; abounding in information no less curious for its extent and variety, than for its great importance and venerable sanctity; deserving the attention of every liberal mind; essential to all who would be proficients in theology; a branch of literature, in a word, which will confer credit upon yourselves, will be an honour to the University, and an advantage to the Church. I congratulate you, Gentlemen, on having an Instructor, who, from his authority, example, assiduity, and information, will be found in no respect wanting to your profit and accommodation; a gentleman no less eminent for his abilities and profound erudition, than for the candour, urbanity, and gentleness of his manners. He will unfold to you the inexhaustible treasures of oriental literature; he will open to your view an unbounded field of science and of fame. It is sufficient for me to have discovered to you a few of the more delightful retreats of this paradise: and could I flatter myself that my endeavours have been so fortunate as to allure or excite any to these studies, or even to stimulate and keep alive your attention to this department of literature, I should think that I had received the most honourable, the most grateful reward of my labours.

• Dr Thomas Hunt, King's Professor of Hebrew, and Laudian Professor of the Arabic language.

OF

BISHOP HARE'S SYSTEM

OF

HEBREW METRE.

It is well known that an hypothesis was invented by the late Bishop Hare concerning the Hebrew Metres; and the arguments which he had advanced in its favour appeared so conclusive to some persons of great erudition, as to persuade them that the learned Prelate had fortunately revived the knowledge of the true Hebrew versification, after an oblivion of more than two thousand years; and that he had established his opinion by such irresistible proofs, as to place it beyond the utmost efforts of controversy. Whoever, indeed, encounters it in such a manner as only to call in question some particular part, to intimate only an occasional scruple, or to attack but one or two of his arguments, will, doubtless, " attempt in vain* to root out of their minds an opinion which has been so deeply implanted and established by the authority of so great a man; much less will any person obtain credit who shall affirm that he has discovered what was not discovered by the learned Prelate, unless by the strongest arguments he not only overthrows the hypothesis which he rejects, but confirms his own. Avoiding, therefore, every subterfuge, I shall come immediately to the point, and demonstrate by the clearest and most decisive instances, which is the only method of extorting assent from the incredulous, that I have actually discovered the nature and principles of this poetry," and those directly contrary to the system which he has adopted. I shall, on this occasion, make use of the same example that Bishop Hare himself has chosen, which, when properly considered, will, I、 think, sufficiently explain and prove my opinion, and at the same time effectually overturn his hypothesis.

• See Hare's Preface to the Psalms, at the beginning.

From this alphabetic Psalm, which is divided into its proper verses according to the initial letters, and restored to its proper numbers without any violation of the text, without even any change of the Masoretic vowels, (except that, with Bishop Hare, I read javoh), the canons of the Hebrew metre are to be collected and established.

* I. In the first place, then, in the Hebrew poetry the feet are not all dissyllables; for in verse 3. 11. 16.—lím maya— cóach mara―ím be-are Dactyls; in verse 13, 14. marasé,

The following are the principal rules or canons of Bishop Hare:

1. In Hebrew poetry all the feet are two syllables.

2. No regard is paid to the quantity of the syllables.

3. When the number of the syllables is even, the verse is trochaic, placing the accent on the first syllable.

4. If the number of syllables be odd, they are to be accounted iambics, and the accent is to be placed on the second syllable, in order to preserve the rhythm. 5. The periods mostly consist of two verses, often three or four, and sometimes more.

6. The verses of the same period, with few exceptions, are of the same kind. 7. The trochaic verses mostly agree in the number of feet: there are, however, a few exceptions.