Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... III. The Tetrastich The tetrastich is formed from the distich, and consists generally of pairs balanced over against one another, but sometimes of three lines against one; rarely there is a steady march of thought to the end. The oracle respecting Jacob and Esau1 is an example of balanced pairs: Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples will separate themselves from thy bowels; And people will prevail over people, And the elder will serve the younger. The pairs are synonymous within themselves, but progressive with reference to one another. The blessing of Ephraim by Jacob is an example of antithetical pairs: He also will become a people, And he also will grow great; But yet the younger will become greater, And his seed abundance of nations.1 The song of the well is an interesting and beautiful example of a more involved kind of parallelism, where the second and third lines constitute a synonymous pair; while at the same time, as a pair, they are progressive to the first line, and are followed by a fourth line progressive to themselves: Spring up well! Sing to it 1 Well that princes have dug; The nobles of the people have bored, With sceptre, with their staves.8 The dirge of David over Abner presents a similar specimen, where, however, the first and fourth lines are synonymous with one another, as well as the second and third lines: Was Abner to die as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, And thy feet were not put in fetters: As one falling before the children of wickedness, thou didst fall.4 A fine example of a tetrastich, progressive throughout, is found Gen. 2d2*. 2 Gen. 4819. The measures of the last two lines are spoiled by the later prosaic insertion of "HH, "SO, and, T, T, none of which are needed for the sense. 8 Nu....
