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regarding the poetry and the prose works of the same nation, as 

 having a closer connection than the poetry of one nation has with 

 that of another. In the minor subdivisions of this subject, we shall 

 group together works of a similar character, though written by differ- 

 ent authors ; since the names of the latter have already been given in 

 chronological order, in the department of Biography : and their pro- 

 ductions will be mentioned collectively in the Bibliographical appendix 

 to this work. 



We proceed to offer an outline of Callography, under the four 

 branches of Euclassic, Oriental, European, and American. 



CHAPTER I. 



EUCLASSIC CALLOGRAPHY. 



IN the branch of Euclassic Callography, we include the study of 

 all the poetical and lighter prose works of the ancient Greeks and 

 Romans ; with all similar works, written prior to modern times, in 

 the Greek and Latin languages. The poetical books of the Hebrew 

 Scriptures, and perhaps some fragments of other oriental poetry, 

 are more ancient than that included in the present branch : but their 

 connection with the later oriental literature, extending down to the 

 present time, induces us to preserve in this department the order 

 adopted in the preceding; by assigning the first place to Euclassic, 

 or Grecian and Roman literature. It should here be remarked, that 

 as the earliest inhabitants of Greece and Italy were in a savage or 

 barbarous state, the first dawn of polite literature as well as of science, 

 came to them from the east, with the colonies which migrated thither, 

 especially from Phoenicia and Egypt. Hence the influence exerted 

 by the eastern mythology on that of Greece and Rome ; and a similar 

 influence might doubtless be traced through all the arts, had their 

 earlier traditions and records been preserved. 



1. Grecian Callography, consists chiefly of Poetry ; with some 

 Fables and Tales, and Oratorical and miscellaneous productions. As 

 the great fountain of European callographics, it deserves particular 

 attention, aside from its intrinsic merit; and it may safely be said 

 that in original and fertile genius, in beauty and sublimity, the Gre- 

 cian writers have never yet been surpassed. 



Among the Greeks, Poetry appeared much sooner than prose ; 

 perhaps because it was more easily remembered, in an age when 

 writing was difficult : and the first poets were also musicians. 

 Their earliest poetry was lyric and sacred, and appears to have 

 originated in Thrace. The Greeks regarded Linus as the inventor of 

 melody, and the first favorite of the Muses. Orpheus and Musoeus, 

 it is said, were his pupils ; and wrote dithyrambs, or songs in honor 

 of Bacchus ; of which there remain only some fragments, of doubtful 

 authenticity. Paeans, were originally hymns to Apollo, but after- 

 wards addressed to other gods. The oracles of the ancient Sibyls, 

 or prophetesses, may also be classed among the early sacred poetry 



