CLAY. 343 



present themselves as a garment/ means, that the wicked spoken 

 of in the preceding verse, stand confessed, or exposed to view, like 

 the embroidery of a garment at the approach of light. Or, rather, 

 I think, when this v verse is regarded together with the preceding, 

 the analogy is, that the wicked, and the dark contents of the en- 

 graving, are both cast off, as a garment is cast off, a thing that has 

 fitted and adhered. 



It is the blending of the literal and the figurative meanings to- 

 gether (which is done in all the translations that I have had an op- 

 portunity of consulting), that has somewhat perplexed the passage, 

 and conspired with their ignorance of cylindrical signets, and their 

 non-advertence to the science of astronomy, to perplex also those 

 commentators who have busied themselves in its explication. They 

 have fancied that the seals of the land of Uz could be of no other 

 form than that of the seals which are in modern use. But now 

 that these revolving seals are produced,* I should expect that the 

 clouds of learned conjecture which have obscured the subject would 

 be dispelled, and the meaning of this mysterious passage shine forth 

 like the morning light, in the superb metaphor before us ; for, from 

 the whole passage, when viewed with the signets, results an inter- 

 esting and beautiful similitude between three dissimilar things ; that 

 is to say, between the light of morning beaming on, and passing 

 round, a darkened world, and disclosing its contents ; and that in- 

 tellectual light, emanating from the Deity, which exposes, in their 

 true forms, the dark deeds and moral deformities of the wicked ;f 

 and the operation of impressing one of these ancient cylindrical 

 signets on cl.iy, which bends as the cylinder revolves in delivering 

 its impression, stands around it curved ly as a garment (till you flat- 

 ten it while in a moist state), and renders conspicuous to view the 

 dark contents of the intaglio engraving. 



That there should exist a similar reference to a signet, perhaps to 

 a signet of a similar kind, in another of the most ancient of poems; 

 that the Grecian lyre of Orpheus should respond to the Hebrew 

 harp of the poet of Job is another curious fact, which might serve 

 to confirm (if such confirmation were needed) the justness of the 

 poetical analogy before us. 



* These interesting relics of antiquity are of various dimensions. Speaking generally, 

 they are from three-fourths of an inch in length: and from something less than an inch 

 to three inches in circumference. Their form, as above stated, is cylindrical. Some of 

 them are regular cylinders : due allowance being made for the wear and tear they have 

 undergone : but others are not exactly cylinders, having a small degree of concavity or 

 hollowness in their sides, like a dice box : and all of them are perforated longitudinally. 

 On each of these cylinders are engraved a variety of elaborate devices, in inlaglio. 'In- 

 troduce a metal axis,' says Mr. Landseer, who has given a series of beautifully 1 executed 

 engravings of these precious gems, ' and mount one of these engraved gems upon the prin- 

 ciple of a garden rolling-stone, it becomes at once a seal, easy to use, and copious in iti 

 contents.' 



t The words which in Job immediately follow these, are perfectly homogeneous with 

 the explanation which I here venture to submit. 'For, from the wicked their light if 

 withheld,' clearly means, that Providence discloses the evil deeds of the wicked, by mean* 

 of which their infatuation renders them blind to the approach. The remainder of tb 

 l*th verse is easily understood, and has no reference to these cylinder!. 



