poetry, called didactic, which openly professes the object of imparting instruction; and it differs from the prose essay, not in scope and substance, but in form only. Such are the Georgics of Virgil, which are a treatise on Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Pope's Essay on Criticism; Akenside's Pleasures of the Imagination; Armstrong on Health; and the works of Horace and Vida on the Art of Poetry. 5. The peculiar character of such poetical works, and that in which they differ most from prose essays, is the introduction of numerous episodes in the form of narration, or description, and poetical allusions, and other embellishments, by which the poet engages the fancy, relieves and amuses the reader, and fixes any useful circumstance more deeply in the memory. While he aims to instruct, he conceals the dryness of his subject under the richest poetical painting; and it is in the aptness of his digressions, and the richness of his painting, that he exerts the great force of his genius. 6. In a didactic poem, instruction is seldom given, or truth imparted, without embellishment. While plain prose would say that the labor of the husbandman must begin in the spring, the poet thus paints the scene in a series of charming pictures: "While yet the Spring is young, while earth unbinds Her frozen bosom to the western winds; While mountain snows dissolve against the sun, Ev'n in this early dawning of the year, DRYDEN'S Virgil's Georgics. 7. Instead of telling the farmer that he must bring down the waters from the neighboring hills if he would look for an abundant harvest on the dry plains below, the didactic poet pictures to him a beautiful landscape clothed with verdure, as the result of irrigation. "Mid gasping herbs when fever'd nature dies, Lo! on yon brow whence bubbling springs arise, Down the smooth rock melodious waters glide, 8. It will be seen that didactic poetry, by its charms of versification and numbers, and by the numerous embellishments which it allows, may become a very pleasing vehicle of knowledge, and thus possess many advantages over the didactic prose essay. A caution, however, is to be exercised against it; for as it takes possession of the imagination, it is apt to mislead the judgment, and make us acquiesce in what is said by the poet, without inquiring into its truth. a From the Greek DI-DAS'KEIN, to teach: adapted to instruction. b An EP'I-SODE is a separate incident, story, or other digression, separable from the main subject, but naturally arising from it, and introduced for the purpose of illustration, or to give greater variety to the events related. LESSON XX. PRECEPTIVE PASSAGES. [Under the head of "Negative Commands," instruction is given to the people of Israel in the form of commands, declaring what shall not be done; but laws, precepts, etc., may be either positive or negative. Under the second head we have "Declaratory Precepts, with the reasons on which they are founded following each precept. Under the third head, the "Instructive Advice" of "Pay as You Go" is preceded by the reasons for it; and under the fourth head we have simply the "Instruction" as to what are "Enduring Records."] I. NEGATIVE COMMANDS. (See Rule VI., b.)-Bible. 1. WHEN ye reap the harvest of your land', thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field', neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.` And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard', neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard'; thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger'. 2. Ye shall not steal', neither deal falsely', neither lie one to another'. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely', neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God'. Thou shalt not defraud' thy neighbor', neither rob' him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 3. Thou shalt not curse the deaf', nor put a stumblingblock before the blind', but shalt fear thy God'. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment'; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor', nor honor the person of the mighty': but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor'. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people'; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor'. 4. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart'; thou shalt in any wise rebuke' thy neighbor', and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge', nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people', but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'. 5. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head', and honor the face of the old man', and fear thy God'. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land', ye shall not vex' him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you', and thou shalt love him as thyself'; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 6. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment', in meteyard', in weight', or in measure'. Just balances', just weights', a just ephah', and a just hin shall ye have': I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and my judgments, and do them. II. DECLARATORY PRECEPTS. (See Rule VIII., d.)—Bible. 1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a high mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,— 2. Blessed are the poor in spirit': for theirs' is the kingdom of heaven'. Blessed are they that mourn': for they' shall be comforted'. Blessed are the meek': for they shall inherit the earth'. 3. Blessed are they which do hunger righteousness': for they shall be filled'. and thirst after Blessed are the merciful': for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart' for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers': for they shall be called the children of God. 4. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake': for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 8, c. Blessed are ye when men shall revile' you, and perseall manner of evil against you falseRejoice', and be exceeding glad'; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. cute' you, and shall ly', for my sake'. say * * * * 5. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor', and hate thine enemy'. But I say unto you', Love your enemies'; bless them that curse you'; do good to them that hate you'; and pray for them which despitefully use you', and persecute you'; that ye may be the children of your Father' which is in heaven': for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil' and the good, and sendeth rain on the just' and on the unjust. III. INSTRUCTIVE ADVICE: Pay as You Go. The necessaries of life are few, and industry secures them to every man: it is the elegances of life that empty the purse. The knick-knacks of fashion, the gratification of pride, and the indulgence of luxury, make a man poor. To guard against these, some resolution is necessary; and the resolution, once formed, is much strengthened and guarded by the habit of paying for every article we buy, at the time. If we do so, we shall seldom purchase what our circumstances will not afford. IV. INSTRUCTION: Enduring Records. If we work upon marble', it will perish'; if we work upon brass', time will efface' it; if we rear temples', they will crumble into dust'; but if we work upon our immortal minds-if we imbue them with principles, with the fear of God and love of our fellow-men'-we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten for all eternity'.DANIEL WEBSTER. LESSON XXI. HASTE NOT-REST NOT. From the German of Goethe (geh'tā). [JOHN WOLF-GANG VON GOETHE, an accomplished German scholar, and a prolific writer in both prose and poetry,-born in 1749; died in 1832. This is a lesson of instructive advice, drawn from the motto "Haste Not-Rest Not."] 1. "WITHOUT haste! without rest!" Bind the motto to thy breast! Bear it with thee as a spell; Storm or sunshine, guard it well! Heed not flowers that round thee bloom, Bear it onward to the tomb ! 2. Haste not-let no thoughtless deed 3. Rest not! life is sweeping by, When these forms have passed away. 4. Haste not! rest not! calmly wait, Haste not-rest not-conflicts past,- D |