98 LITERATURE. 



Romance'. — A tale or fictitious history of extraordinary adven- 

 tures. The Euinance differs from tlie Novd, as it treats 

 of great actions and extravagant adventures, soaring beyond 

 the limits of fact and real life. Romances have of late 

 years given way to hisforical novels. 



Rubric. — Any writing or printing in red ink in old books and 

 manuscripts, especially the date or place on the title-page. 



Sad'da. — A work in the Persian tongue, being a summary of 

 the Zendavesta, or sacred books. 



Sat'ire. — A discourse or poem in which wickedness or folly is 

 exposed with severity. It differs from Lampoon and 

 Pasquinade in being general rather than personal. 



Shas'ter. — The name of a book in high estimation among the 

 idolaters of Hindostan, containing all the dogmas of the 

 religion of the Brahmins, and all the ceremonies of their 

 worship. 



Tal'mild. — A collection of Jewish writings. 



Tet'rapla. — The name of a Bible arranged by Origen, in four 

 columns, and consisting of four different versions, viz. : 

 that of the Septuagint, that of Aquila, that of Symmachus, 

 and that of Theodotion. 



Text'-hook.^A book containing the leading principles or most 

 important points of a science or branch of learning, arranged 

 in order for the use of students. 



Trav'esty. — A literary work so translated or imitated as to be 

 rendered ridiculous. 



Treat'ise. — A written composition on a particular subject, in 

 which the principles of it are discussed or explained. A 

 treatise is of an indefinite length ; but it implies more form 

 and method than an essay, and less fulness or copiousness 

 than a system. 



Ve'da. — The technical name of those ancient Sanscrit works on 

 which the first period of the religious belief of the Hindoos 

 is based. 



Vocah'ulary. — A list or collection of the words of a language 

 arranged in alphabetical order and explained. The term 

 is often used in a sense somewhat different from that of 

 dlctionar)/, its signification being restricted to the list of 

 words. 



Vul'gate. — An ancient Latin translation of the Bible, made 

 chiefly by St. Jerome, being the only one which the 

 church of Home acknowledges to be authentic. 



