Have
such conceptions been ever before expressed? Their version of the 15th
psalm is more to be esteemed for its pithiness than its poetry. Even
Sternhold, the leaden Sternhold, kindles, in a single instance, with the
sublimity of his original, and expresses the majesty of God descending
on the earth, in terms not unworthy of the subject.
[Illustration: page225]
The Latin versions of this passage by Buchanan and by Johnston, are but
mediocres. But the Greek of Duport is worthy of quotation.
The best collection of these psalms is that of the Octagonian dissenters
of Liverpool, in their printed form of prayer; but they are not always
the best versions. Indeed, bad is the best of the English versions; not
a ray of poetical genius having ever been employed on them. And how much
depends on this, may be seen by comparing Brady and Tate's 15th psalm
with Blacklock's _Justum et tenacem propositi virum_ of Horace, quoted
in Hume's History, Car. 2. ch. 66. A translation of David in this style,
or in that of Pompei's Cleanthes, might give us some idea of the merit
of the original. The character, too, of the poetry of these hymns is
singular to us; written in monostichs, each divided into strophe
and antistrophe, the sentiment of the first member responded with
amplification or antithesis in the second.
On the subject of the Postscript of yours of August the 16th and of Mrs.
Adams's letter, I am silent.
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