The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-10
POETRY AND PROSE.

In looking over the history Of nations, it is
not the least interesting to view the gradual
rise of literature, and to follow the successive
steps taken in the prosecution of all those
studies which tend to elevate and purify mans
intellectual and moral nature. The onward
march of any people can be traced through
their writings from the rude couplets and I'M
couth rhymes of the aborigines, to the polished
verses and subtle philosophy Of the fully ma
tured nation; first ruled by the passions and
animal nature, then ripening into reflection,
and bringing into play the noble attributes of
the mind. Whilst surveying history in this
light, even on a cursory examination, one can
the language of barbarism, and that prose-wri-
ting is the consequence Of higher degree Of
civilization. The object Of this article is to
present in confirmation Of this few facts,
which, though known to many, may not be un-
acceptable when thus brought together.
The Able Mallet says, Mankind, every
where, essentially the same, have been always
led to poetical composition prior to that of
prose- Passing by the sacred writ, and the
institutions of the Jews, their form of worship
and religious symbols, which certainly go to
prove the prevalence of poetry among them, on
reviewing the history of Egypt the above re-
mark is fully confirmed. The lower classes of
Egyptians we're accustomed to celebrate the
memory of any of their illustrious men in song,
and although nothing is known with certainty
IN ha Of init nd
hieroglyphics, yet many of the compositions
and, as it were, poetical records, which had
circulation among the common people, bore in
ternal evidence of an equal or possibly greater
antiquity than the earliest inscriptions. The
books of Thoth, 1.-THE Egyptian Mercury which,
according to Clemens Alexandriana, were used
in their sacred ceremonies, are another proof
of the great antiquity of poetry among them.
These books were to the Egyptian what the
Eddas were to the lcelander, and it is not too
much to suppose that they were a compilation
by the priests of the remotest traditions and
earliest records of their history.
But, crossing over to Greece, we find no lon
ger room for doubt. Before the introduction
of the art Of writing among the primitive in
habitants Of Hellas, their history and traditions
were preserved in verse, and handed down
orally from one generation to another. Al
though we find no notice of any prose wi
tiers B. c. 500, yetthe origin of the minstrels
who thus immortalized in song the deeds Of
their forefathers is so obscure and remote as to
be entirely lost.
Mr. St. John, in his " Manners and Customs
of Ancient Greece" writes thus:
In what age or province of Greece arose
the first minister OF this poeticai revelation, it
is not now possible to decide. The art of wri-
ting, however, which the Egyptian King re-
garded as the enemy of memory, had not pass.
ed the Egaan. The songs men heard were
waited on the wings Of music from tongue to
tongue, and by degrees the professors Of this
marvellous art, by which the wisdom and glory
of the past we're embalmed in the sweets of
verse, embodied themselves into distinct or
der, called Aoidoi or Singers"
These Aoidoi, who eliminated in Homer, are
not unlike the Jougleurs or Troubadours ofthe
middle ages, though occupying higher station
and having higher aim.
Again, Plutarch tells us that the philoso
pliers anciently delivered their opinions in
verse, as Orpheus, Hesiod, Empedocies, Thalss,
&c. Scion, too, wrote in verse, and till his day
the Greeks wrote only in verse, from which it
resulted, as Sir Isaac Newton says, that I" while
they did SO, there could be no chronology, nor
any other history than such as was mixed with
poetic fancies."
: The first instance Of Greek prose writer
was Cadmus Milssius, who lived B.. G. $40,
though Herodotus, properly speaking, was her