HEBREW POETRY. 413 



of Herodotus, and most true to nature ; a point on which the 

 unanimous testimony of modern travellers may be received 

 as conclusive, owing to the inconsiderable changes effected in. 

 the course of ages in the manners and habits of a nomadic- 

 people. Their lyrical poetry is more adorned, and developes a 

 rich and animated conception of the life of nature. It might 

 almost be said that one single psalm (the 104th) represents 

 the image of the whole Cosmos: u Who coverest thyself 

 with light as with a garment : who stretchest out the heavens 

 like a curtain : Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the 

 waters : who maketh the clouds his chariot : who w r alketh upon, 

 the wings of the wind : Who laid the foundations of the earth 

 that it should not be removed for ever. He sendeth the 

 springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give 

 drink to every beast of the field : the wild asses quench their 

 thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their 

 habitation, which sing among the branches. He causeth the 

 grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: 

 that lie may bring forth food out of the earth ; And wine that 

 maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, 

 and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the 

 Lord arc full of sap ; the cedars of Lebanon which he hath 

 planted ; Where the birds make their nests : as for the stork, 

 the fir-trees are her house." " The great and wide sea" is 

 then described, "wherein are things creeping innumerable, 

 both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is 

 that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein." The 

 description of the heavenly bodies renders this picture of 

 nature complete: *' He appointed the moon for seasons: 

 the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, 

 and it is night : wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep 

 forth. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their 

 meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves 

 together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth 

 unto his work and to his labour unto the evening." 



We are astonished to find in a lyrical poem of such a limited 

 compass, the whole universe the heavens and the earth 

 sketched with a few bold touches. The calm and toilsome 

 labour of man, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the 

 same, when his daily work is done, is here contrasted with 

 the moving life of the elements of nature. This contrast and 



