Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-01

in which i. is already involved. AZ length,
completely baffled, and with the haii-fedeeo
wish in hi. hear. that Horace had been Killed
by the tree, and that Livy had never been oorn'
he proceeds 10 the next. The ease win "hlch
he masters that, restores TO him his good ma
ture and his courage; his eye beams win siaa'
ness, and hope lights up his coun'eh'"ce.-
Thus he goes on, conquering wha' Is conquer
able, and reatng where he Is ioi'eo o",y .''
the purpose Of renewing the attack IN d aine'
emf wav. till he arrives at the end Of his lesson,
the goal 10 which his present efforts are direct
ed. Every sentence throws light upon others
with which i, is connected; and there are ma
nv passages from which it is scarcely possible
for one who is ye, sub n,agistro to elicit any
meaning whatever, but by an attentive and la
borious comparison Of them with the passag
es which precede and follow them in immedi-
diate connection. ApP!rised OF ths ny MS
teacher, he now casts his eye rapidly over me
lesson a second time, TO see what hsht may DC
shed on the obscure parts al 1t by 'hose "hich
are more clearly understood. he approaches
| the frs, Of lhese, and by the clear o'aze winch
has been lighted up around It, he pefcelVes al
a glance, that what had before apo Led 10 MS
clouded vision nought bu; chaotic mass, Is
really combination of elements beautifully
and tremendously adapted to each other, oy
the hand of an intelligent and skiltul master
| The others, perhaps, may cost MIN more Id
bour, but perseverance, will level mountains
and when, as he is Just ready to give up IN de-
spair, The meaning Of the last obscure passage
bursts, like a stream Of radiance, on his view,
then it is that he needs no aid from imaSina-
| ton 10 comprehend the full measure OF Archi-
medes' Joy, when, as he was engaged IN bahing'
the solution Of the kings problem In IeIatlon
10 the adulterated crown accidentally crossed
his mind, and he ran naked into the streets, cry
Jog out, in phrenzy OF delight, "Eure6a
Eureka - This process IS repeated at every
lesson; and in this way the learner goes on I'D
his work, gathering fresh courage and vIgour
from every successive trial, till at last the lie
MUS OF the author he has been studying, be it
distinguished for sub,e,y, sarcasm, elegance,
wit or sublimity, stands up before his mental
vision, in distinct ano vivid relief, like the tul
orted moon in a cloudless night. Now who
does not see that in such exercises the aiten =
ZION is severely ,asked and that The student
who would be distinguished for his profound
and elegant scholarship, must labour, and tug
and sweat, in the prosecution OF his aims -
The man who should call labour IKE this mere
play, would scarcely hesitate 10 say that boy
might take Noun; Alias on his shoulders, and
laugh at the lighness Of his burden. And this
mower over the attention, this habit Of bending
all the energies Of he mind to The investigation
of The subirci before il, if the observation
have quoted from Dr.. Reid be just, is genius i;
l-genius Of a practical kind, and which, II 1t
do mol inherit all the enchanted qualities OF the
hsre 81 Rsiaee AE'A e sa"irs will SUI enable
influence over his fellow men.
g. II teaches The mind 10 discriminate NTH nicely
and eracfness Few mental acquisitions are of
greater value to a man in public life, than tina,
acuteness of discrimination which enables him
10 perceive clearly and at once, as well the
slightest shades of difference between two ana
logous thoughts, as those broader distinctions
which are obvious o the dullest iDtellects TO
philosophical Investigations and close reason
ing of every kind, II is absolutely indispensable;
and believe it will generally be admitted, that
the man who has enough nicely OF disce:nmen
% comprehend Aristotle's logic, and enough
clearness Of thought 10 give distinct sutline
Of it, will, on that very account, be better qua.
lifted to Judge of the diagnostics of disease, to
advocate the rights Of humanity, or 10 give
luminous and satisfactory exposition o! diff.
cult passage in the Epis,e to the Hebrews
That this subtety is sometimes abused by
sceplica philosophers, who employ it 10 be
wilder the mind and confound all Just reason
ings by an endless multiplication Of disinc,
tons without differences, is no argument, as
some have imagined, against its utility. 1t
goes rather 10 establish it; for how can their
sophis,ry be detected, and its effects counter
acted, but by men who are able 10 ana yze j.,
and expose its fallacy If, therefore, il can be
shown ,ha: the study of the languages on the
old system is fitted TO give this nice di'crimi
nation to the mind, new argument, of no in
! considerable force, will have been furnished IN
| supper of it. We will, then, proceed to an ex,
animation Of it, with view TO hr cislon Of
III question Let it be borne in mind that the |
grea, secret in translating is 10 resdefinto Eng
lish the full and precise meaning Of the origi
nal Now, to accomplish this object, The
learner will often find il necessary TO institute
careful end fine analyses Of The terms he meets
with in the authors whose works he may be
reading. Introduced, as he is to the literature
OF nations whose habits Of though, and feeling
differed SO widely from his own, it will be uI-