216 CREEK AND ROMAN CLASSICS. 



o-ruous, on tlie other. The uifltience of such -i taste does not extend to 

 the mind only, but to the whole character of man. It watches over him 

 like a faithful guardian, and silently and unobserved whispers to him, 

 '' This is the path, walk thou in it. " The influence of a liberal educa- 

 tion accompanies us on our whole journey through life, and never cea- 

 ses to strew and ornament our path with the choicest flowers. 



When we read the glowing examples of friendship, patriotism and 

 philanthropy, expressed in the most beautiful and touching language 

 by the ancient classics, our hearts become soft and tender, and we feel 

 that we should be warmer friends, purer patriots, and withal, better 

 men. We are prepared to say with Cicero, " Haec studia adolcscen- 

 liani alunt, scneclutem oblecla/il, secundas res ornant^ adversis perfu^ 

 gium ac solatium prcchent^ delectant domi^ non impedlunt foris, 2}crnoc- 

 tanl nolisciim^ vc.regrinantur^ rustic aiiLur.'''' 



J. J. R. 



GREEK AND ROMAN CLASSICS. 



If any man would be satisfied that an extensive use may be made of 

 the Greek and Roman Classics in the illustration of Biblical the'mes, he 

 has only to take up a translation of any of the best writers. We say 

 a translation, for no man, who knows anything of the originals, needs 

 any argument on this subject — and by the exercise of a very moderate 

 share of the power of association, he will find his conceptions of 

 the Sacred Scriptures rendered more vivid, his imagination excited, and 

 his heart kindled. I go ta my Library — I take dou'n at random a vol- 

 ume from my shelf of translations. I open it, and find it to be M.s- 

 chylus — and the tragedy, The Prometheus Vinctits. The passage in 

 Genesis — '■^ Tubal- Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass or iron,'''' 

 is suggested by these lines in regard to Prometheus, 



"The radiant pridp, the firing flame, that lends 

 Its aid to every art, he stole and bore 

 The gift to mortals. " 



I can recall the greatly more splendid description of .lob, beginning 

 " There is a path 2chich no foirl knoiceth, and vjhich the vuUurcs eye hath 

 not seen,'''' when 1 read in the Prometheas of 



" Those pathless wilds 

 Where human footstep never marked the ground. " 



When David calls upon every object in earth and heaven, " Praise 

 Hinij ye heavens of heavens — ye dragons and all deeps, fire and hail., 

 snoiD and vapor : stormy wind fulfilling his word,'''' he exhibits a spe- 

 cies of sifljlimity to which this is similar, 



" Ethereal air, and ye swift-winged winds. 

 Ye rivers springing from fresh founts, ye waves 

 That o'er the interminable ocean wreath 

 • Your crisped smiles, thou all-producing earth 

 And thee bright sun, I call, whose flaming orb 

 Vinw -• \\\p: wi'lo world beneath. " 



