ORIENTAL. 280 



It is a wide field of research, which has hitherto been very imperfectly 

 investigated, but is attracting increased attention. The literature of 

 the orientals is surprizingly extensive, when it is considered that the 

 greater part of it is preserved in manuscript: but of many of its 

 valuable works few copies exist ; and but a small portion has 

 yet been translated into the European tongues. While there are 

 strong resemblances between these works and those of European 

 writers, there are also striking differences ; such as to excite much 

 interest in the study and comparison, in those who once commence 

 it. Much of the oriental poetry relates to history, mythology, geo- 

 graphy, and politics ; and is important in illustrating the knowledge 

 of these subjects possessed by the oriental nations. Their romantic 

 and imaginative poetry is very rich ; sometimes delicate and natural,, 

 but often gorgeous and bombastic. 



Ancient Egypt, we believe, has left no poems or romances o 

 record ; though some of its hieroglyphics are doubtless highly poetical. 

 The ancient Hebrew poetry is chiefly, if not solely, comprised in the 

 Sacred Scriptures ; and its study belongs therefore to the department 

 of Theology. It is remarkable that the Mohamedan nations gene- 

 rally, though rich in imaginative writings, have no dramatic poetry ; 

 owing, perhaps, to their peculiar social institutions. The literature 

 of the East, so far as it is known to us, is principally confined to 

 the Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Sanscrit, and Chinese languages ; the 

 callographic writings in which, we proceed to notice, in the order 

 here named. 



1. Arabian Callography, belongs mostly to the middle ages; 

 and may be regarded as filling the chasm which exists between the 

 literature of ancient, and that of modern Europe. At a time when 

 learning was almost eradicated from Christendom, it flourished at 

 Cordova and Bagdad, then the great seats of Mohamedan power. 

 The caliphs Haroon al Rasheed, Al Mamun, Al Mansur, and Motas- 

 sem were among its patrons, and, as early as the ninth century of our 

 era, the Arabians had translated the writings of Euclid, Diophantus, 

 Hippocrates, Galen, Theophrastus, Aristotle, Pliny, and others ; 

 some of which have been preserved to us through their means. 



Arabian poetry, dates back to an earlier period than the origin of 

 the Mohamedan religion. In the fairs held at Mecca and Okadh, 

 about A. D. 500, poetical contests took place, and the prize poems 

 were hung up in the caaba or temple, written in letters of gold. 

 Seven of these, collectively called the Moallacat, (Moallakath, or 

 hung up), have become particularly celebrated. Their authors were 

 Amralkeis, Tharafah, Toheir, Lebid, Antara, Amru (Ben Kalthun), 

 and Hareth, called the Arabian Pleiades ; who sang of religion, 

 patriotism, love, and revenge, in highly impassioned strains. These 

 poems are preserved in the Greater Hamasah or Anthology, a select 

 collection of poems, compiled by Abu Temam, A. D. 830 ; and also 

 in the Lesser Hamasah, compiled by Bochteri, in 880. Among the 

 Arabians., Turks, and Persians, a gazelle, or casside, is a poem, the 

 alternate lines of which rhyme together throughout the piece ; and a 

 choice collection of poems, they call a divan. 



The elegies of Motenabbi, are noted for their tenderness: and. 

 37 2B 



