CHAPTER III.

ELOQUENCE AND ORATORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Elements and Characteristics of Eloquence-Illustrations of Eloquence-Earliest Example of Eloquence in the Old Testament-Judah as an Orator-Aaron as an Orator-Other Examples from the Old Testament-Eloquence of Hushai, the Archite.

FROM the review already taken of the Hebrew poets and poetry, it is easy and natural to pass to a kindred topic, and one too that is sufficiently ample for a separate illustration, viz.:"The Eloquence and Orators of the Old Testament." Rich and attractive as we have found this venerable book in the domain of poesy, it will be found not less so, when we come to survey its prose writings, and point out the examples of that soulsubduing eloquence, by which these men of old, spoke to their fellow-men, sometimes as they were impelled by their own genius, sometimes as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and in one case, as never man spake."

Our field of vision, though lying in the same book, will be wholly changed. An entirely different class of personages will now stand before us. Although the highest models of eloquence are to be found distributed alike through the Old Testament and the New, still the orators of the Bible are not its poets. And it serves to illustrate most strikingly the vast variety of material in this book, that, of all the men who have

been mentioned in the last chapter, or may be mentioned in this, only one, and truly speaking, not even that one, wears the double character of bard and orator. We propose to consider

the orators of the Old Testament and of the New, successively : but as the subject is one of special interest, let us first examine a little into the nature of eloquence in general.

1. ELEMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ELOQUENCE.

It is not an easy matter to give a satisfactory analysis of eloquence. Dim indeed, and shadowy is the line which divides it from good classic prose on the one side, and from poetry on the other. Yet there is a line. All true poetry, whether of the beautiful or the sublime, is in some sense, eloquent : and all eloquence of a high order, is tinged with a coloring of poetry: because eloquence not less than poetry, is the language of human nature when excited—the language of strong emotions and of a vivid imagination. Still eloquence and poetry are not the same, and must be distinguished.

Regarded simply as an art, the distinction is broad enough, as indicated by the etymology of the terms, poet and orator: the one expressing thought and feeling, by means of words arranged, or, if you please, manufactured into a definite, regular order, called verse or rhythm, and the other expressing thought and feeling by words, studied or unstudied, poured forth from the mouth, without regard to metre or the harmony of numbers. As mere artists, therefore, the poet is a maker of words, mostly written words; the orator, a speaker of words mostly unwritten; but both alike conveying thought and feeling to others. The hand, with its proper writing materials, might be regarded as the visible emblem of the one :

and the mouth, with its appropriate aids of tone, look and gesture, as the symbol of the other.

But mere art is the least important element, either of poetry or eloquence. All verse, however regular its numbers, is not poetry: nor is all oratory, however sonorous and ornate, eloquent. There must be something else: there must be a living spirit in the words—a sort of divinity stirring within the numbers or the speech, before we can say, that this is poetry, or that is eloquence. We may have the shibboleth of poetic diction, and the glow of poetic images, as well as the harmony of sweet sounds, where there is no true spirit of poesy. So also there may be the spirit of real poetry, where there is no form of verse: as in Ossian, or in our translation of the Bible, or in the original Hebrew itself, and as there would be in Milton or any other great poet, whose verse might be turned into prose, without, at all, ceasing to breathe the true spirit of poetry.

And precisely so is it with the orator. A man may open his mouth and speak all day: and in all his words there may be no eloquence, either of thought, feeling, or imagination--not one glowing image, not one thrilling thought, not one soul-stirring appeal. And yet another man, with a certain earnestness and enthusiasm, shall arise and present the same arguments, though in different words; or, if you please, the very same words, though in a different manner, and in him all will be eloquent-there will be eloquence in every accent, look and gesture: and he will so electrify the audience, that they shall not know these words and arguments are the same.

What constitutes the difference? As all men are not orators, nor all oratory eloquence, by what process, and at what point, does simple speech lay aside its dullness and undergo that wonderful transformation which entitles it to be called eloquent? It is hard to tell. There is perhaps nothing more

difficult to bring within the compass of a complete definition than the nature of true eloquence. We shall not attempt it. There are some things which must be felt in order to be appreciated. We should hardly attempt to define for others, the form and features, the look and lineaments of an angel, even if we had seen one. So, to those who have not witnessed for themselves the exhibitions of real eloquence all descriptions would be useless. But no man needs a logical definition to ascertain what eloquence is, or to know when he hears a true orator. For it is of the very nature of this inspiration to carry its own credentials along with it, and by the living voice to cleave a way for itself directly to the heart. Let it suffice then, to point out and to illustrate by examples, the different species of eloquence, leaving the nature of the thing itself to the taste, judgment, and opportunities of each individual.

The object of the orator, whether at the bar, or on the forum, in the pulpit or the lecture-room, in all judicial, deliberative, religious and popular assemblies, is to convince, instruct, please, persuade, or excite his audience, as the case may be; sometimes the one and sometimes the other, and it may be all. Now, the power by which he does this, most effectively, is what we call eloquence. But that power partakes of different elements in different cases, and manifests itself in several different ways in different orators. And these diversities give rise to different orders or species of eloquence. It seems to us, from such examination as we have been able to make, that these several elements aud characteristics of eloquence, may all be reduced to the four following—each distinct enough to give rise to a peculiar species, and all, at the same time, comprehensive enough to cover every style and order of true eloquence : The first is the clement of superior knowledge and intellectual

power in the orator-the eloquence of pure reason and argument. Its chief characteristic is strong, clear, original thought, forcibly expressed. We may denominate it the eloquence of the Intellect, as distinguished from each of the other orders.

The second is that element of power in the orator which springs from a refined taste, a vivid imagination, and great command of language, It deals much in analogies and illustrations. It has a high appreciation of the sublime and beautiful. It is characterized by classic diction and brilliant imagery. It may be called the eloquence of Taste and Imagination.

The third element is that of earnestness, enthusiasm and deep emotion in the speaker. All its utterances come fresh from the fountains of feeling in the soul All its words are oracles and commands. The orator appears like one inspired—one born to command by the very energy of his will and intensity of his convictions. This may be called the eloquence of Sympathy and the Passions.

The fourth is the element of graceful delivery, including everything that pertains to the person, manner, tone, look and gesture of the speaker. It is that power which can supply the place of the other three; and often, as on the stage, makes things that are not, appear as though they were. This may be called the eloquence of Action and the Voice: of which Garrick may be taken as the highest type.

II.-ILLUSTRATIONS OF ELOQUENCE.

Now it is manifest that all the greatest orators of ancient and modern times have possessed these four elements of

power, and

exhibited these several varieties of eloquence. And their suc