150 POETRY. 



forth iu the most resplendent manner. The beautiful 

 imagery, the bold and dignified language, cannot but 

 most forcibly affect the most indifferent reader. As 

 Poetry was first employed by the Hebrews in praise and 

 thanksgiving to the true God, so it was first employed by 

 the Heathens in praise and adoration of their divinities ; 

 and, next to the Bible, the Greek Poets present the most 

 beautiful and sublime language imaginable. The histories 

 of most nations have been preserved in Poetry. Har- 

 monious and sonorous language, with highly metaphorical 

 terms in measured lines, ending in similar sounds or 

 alternating with each other in sense, were easily com- 

 mitted to memory and retained ; and as these were ac- 

 companied by a tune on some instrument, it became an 

 agreeable amusement thus to celebrate any interesting 

 event. In this manner was handed down to posterity, 

 from father to son, any thing of consequence, the memory 

 of which it might be deemed desirable to preserve. Many 

 an ancient tale has thus descended among the Irish, even 

 to the present day, the recital of which forms a source of 

 amusement during their long and tedious winter evenings. 

 f A very particular object of Poetry was to give a tone 

 to the morals of society. The Epic Poem instructed 

 under the allegory of some heroic action. The aim of 

 Tragedy was to inspire a horror for guilt and a love of 

 virtue ; and of Comedy, to ridicule vice and folly. The 

 Ode celebrated the exploits of eminent men, in order 

 to inspire others to imitate them ; while the Elegy was 

 calculated to call up feelings of tenderness and regret at 

 the loss of a friend or companion. 



As each of the different kinds of Poetry is comprehen- 

 sively explained in the " Rhetorical Speaker," it is not 

 deemed necessary to give a more particular explanation 

 here. 



