RETROSPECTIVE NOTICE OF AMERICAN LITE. RATURE. ARTICLE 2. The Rudiments of Latin Prosody, with a Dissertation on Letters, and the Principles of Harmony, in Poetick and Prosaick Composition, collected from some of the best writers. Boston, printed and sold by Benjamin Mecom, at the new printing-office, near the town house. 1760. 12mo. pp. 72. 'THOUGH knowledge, at the present day, may be more widely diffused, yet it is, at the same time, more superficial than at former periods; and, notwithstanding the late improvements in our Univerity, it is questionable, whether it can at present boast of any scholars, equal to those, who flourised half a century since. The neglect of prosody has been so shameful among us, that scarcely a collegian can read a passage of Latin poetry, without some gross violation of quantity; and the scholars of Connecticut are still more defective, in this respect, than those of Massachusetts. This is a subject well worthy the attention of instructors, as it is impossible to relish the beauties of poetry, or even to discover the harmony of prose, without an accurate knowledge of prosody. Scanning is learnt with much greater facility than parsing, and if boys were habituated, as in the English schools, to make Latin verses, they would acquire a knowledge in this art, which would never forsake them. Those, who have conquered the first difficulties, take great delight in this elegant exercise, and verses have sometimes been produced at a school, which would not have disgraced the Augustan age. This treatise, to which we are desirous of attracting the publick noJames Otis, Esq. a gentlemen highly tice, is from the pen of the late distinguished by genius, eloquence, and learning. Mr. Otis, on leaving the University, devoted three years to the attainment of general information, before he entered on the study of the law. During that period, he read the most celebrated writers in the modern languages, and made himself a complete master of classical literature, by perusing those authors in Greek and Latin, with whom he was not previously acquainted. Application and genius united could not fail of success; and America has produced perhaps no man, who possessed more extensive information than this gentleman. Julius Cæsar, amidst his ambitious projects, wrote a treatise on Rhetorick; and James Otis, in the intervals of forensick occupation, composed this work on prosody. We have read it with considerable attention, and will venture to pronounce it the most clear, and masterly treatise, which we have ever met with on the subject, and earnestly recommend its immediate republication. We shall quote from this very useful work, that part, which treats of the various kinds of verse. 1. "The Hexameter, or Heroick verse, consists of six feet, of which the fifth is regularly a Dactyl, the sixth a Spondee ; the rest Dactyls, or Spondees, as best suits the fancy of the poet, or his subject. A Spondee is sometimes found in the fifth place. A Dactyl is also (though very rarely) to be found, in the sixth place as, At tuba terribilem procul excitat borridă. IL The Pentameter, or Elegiack verse eonsists of five feet, Dactyls, or Spondees, making two Penthemims, each containing tivo feet, and a long syllable: The second Penthemim must have two Dactyls, and a long syllable. The Hexameter, with this, alternately, makes the Elegy, and this, alone, is commonly called the Elegiack. III. The Asclepiade, or Choriambick verse, of which there are several species; as, 1. The Asclepiade, Choriambick, Tetram. Acatalectick, consisting of a Spondee, two Choriamb, and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick. But the common and easier way of measuring, is, after two feet, to make a Casu ra, preceded by a Spondee, and a Dactyl, and followed by two Dactyls. 2. The Choriambick, Glyconick, Tetram. Acat. This hath a Spondee, rarely a Trochee, for the first foot, a Choriamb. for the second, and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick, for the last. 3. The Alcaisk, Choriambick, Pentam. Acat. consisting of a Spondee, three Choriambicks, and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick. IV. The Sapphick, Pentam. Acut. this has a Trocbee, a Spondee, and a Dactyl, then two Trochees, or sometimes a Spon dee for the last. ently for the four first fees, but only Trachees for the three last. 4. The Dactylick, Archiloeb. Dimet. Hypercat. of two Dactyls, and a syllable. 5. The Dactylick, Alcaick, Acat. This has an Iambick Penthemim, and two Dactyls; the first foot may be a Spondee or an Tamb. the second only an Iamb, then a long syllable followed by two Dactyls. 6. The Dactylick, Alcaick, Acat. or Pindarick, of this the two first feet are Daetyls, the two last Trobes. VII. Pherecratian, Heroick Trim. Acat. consists of a Spondee, a Dactyl, and Spondee. VIII. The Aristophanick, Choriamb. Dim. Acat. consists of a Choriambick, for the first foot, and a Bacchick, or an Amphibacsbick, for the second. IX. The Alcaick, Choriamb. Tetram. Acat. is composed of the second Epitrite, two Choriambicks, and a Bacch, or an Amphibacch. X. Iambick Verse, and its species. 1. The Iambick, Trim. Acat. This is a pure lambick. 2. The lamb. Archiloch. Trimet. Acat. The only difference between this and the former, is, that this admits a Spondee in the odd places, and sometimes other feet. 3. The Iambick Archiloch. Dimet. Acat. This consists of four Iambicks, or Spondees in the odd places. 4. The Iambick Archiloch. Dimet. Hypercat. This has four feet; the first and third may be Spondees, the second and fourth regularly lambicks, to which is added a long syllable. 5. The Iambick, Archiloch. Trimet. Cata. having five Iambicks and a long syllable, but will receive Spondees in the odd places. The lambick verse originally consisted of pure Iambicks; and the several species of mixed lambicks, now consist chiefly of Iambicks; though they admit, in the odd places, a Spondee, and sometimes other feet. A Tribrach. is sometimes found in the even places, excepting the last; which ought ever to be an lambick or Pyrrhick. The like exceptions may be found from some other of the definitions, which, to avoid prolixity, are omitted. X. The Trocbaick, Euripidick, Dimet. Catal. The general difference between. the Trochait, and Iambick, is, that in the former the Trochee takes the place of the Iambick. According to this way of mea suring the Trochaick, Euripidick above, has three Trochees and a syllable. Anciently in the Iambick and Trechaick verses, two feet made but one measure, hence we find one of those verses with four feet, called Dimeter, and those of six feet, Trimeter; but the Latins measured the lambick by sing. feet; and called the Dimeter, Quaternarius, the Trimeter, Sena rius. XII. The Adonick verse consists of a Spondee, followed by a Dactyl. XIII. The Ionick minor, Sapphick, Trimet. Acat. is composed of three Minor Ionicks. XIV. The Ionick minor, Sapphick, Acat. Tetramet, consists of four Minor Ionicks. XV. The Archiloch. Elegiambick, or Sap phick, this consists of two Dactyls, and a syllable, followed by four lambicks; but sometimes admits of a Spondee in the odd places. XVI. The Archilochian Trochaick, consisting of an Iambick or a Spondee, for the first foot, then an Iamb. and a syllable, followed by three Trechees, or a Spond. for the last. Some by a different measure, make an Iambick of this. Several other sorts of verse might be added; but the above are sufficient for the present, being all that are commonly used; and, if well understood, will render all others very easy. The dissertation on letters, and the principles of harmony in poetick and prosaick composition, is extremely well written, and contains many judicious remarks. But the subject has been treated, if not more ably, at least more extensively, by so many later writers than Mr. Otis, as to render its republication the less ne cessary. We heartily wish to see this excellent little treatise introduced into our schools and colleges, not only for the signal advantages, which would be derived from the study of it, but because it is the production of our country, and of a man, whom any country might be proud to acknowledge. To this article we take the liberty of subjoining a Biography of James Otis, written by a friend, who has made it a condition that it should be published entire. The celebrated James Otis, of Boston, was the son of the Honourable James Otis of Barnstable, in the State of Massachusetts ; the father was possessed of a vigour of intellect, and an avidity for study, which, without publick education, qualified him for professional pursuit and publick employment, in both which, he was eminent and respectable. The son passed through all the grades of private and academick education, which the country could offer. The generosity of his soul, the frankness of his mind, and the vivacity of his genius led him to be courted in the early stages of his collegiate education, by the gay, dissipated, and expensive scholars of riper years. But he soon found, that this was not the road to happiness, fame, or honour he broke from the entanglement of youthful levity and dissipation, shut himself up in his study, and with indefatigable industry, explored the labyrinths of science, received academick honours, and then retired to the parental roof, where he devoted one year to further pursuits in general information. He then entered himself a student at law with the famous Mr. Gridley, the first lawyer and civilian of his time, and at twenty-one years of age, began the practice of that learned profession at Plymouth. He there remained two years, study still his principal pursuit, when he removed to Boston. ; There his reputation soon became so extensive, that he was constantly employed, and practised with that integrity, openness, and honour, that allured judges, juries, and parties, to acknowledge, that the side he espoused must be successful. In consequence of this celebrity, appli cation was made for his assistance in the most important causes in the neighbouring colonies, and even in Nova Scotia, where he conducted successfully some law cases of magnitude and importance, and his reputation at the bar expanded with his vast talents. The important events, preceding, and leading to, and connected with the American revolution, soon drew him into publick view. Such talents, in the drama of that important scene, must necessarily be drawn into action and possessing the ardent love of liberty, the principles of general happiness, the ideas of independence resulting to every people capable of attending to their own institutions of civil government, Mr. Otis entered warmly by his writings and conversation into the defence of the colonies against the arbitrary and oppressive measures of the parent state. He was early introduced into the Legislature, where he had a most commanding influence by the powers of his eloquence, the keenness of his wit, the force of his arguments, and the resources of his intelligence, which spread light and information on the most intricate subjects. In the various situations, in which he was placed, he so counteracted the agents of ministerial power, and so ably supported the rights of mankind, that it became necessary to the purposes of vindictive oppression to rob the country of this its ablest defender; and such was the degradation of principle, that it was thought expedient to resort to the base measure of assassination, to deprive America of the abilities of this valuable man. A band of desperadoes attacked him in a publick room, put out the lights, and with clubs and sabres extinguished an intellec Vol. V. No. IV. 9 D tual light, never perfectly relumined, and instantly fled, under cover of night, to the only place of safety, which could shield them from the vengeance of an indignant people. A particular and correct detail of this transanction may be seen in the first volume of Mrs. Warren's History of the American Revolution. ous, After this general outline of Mr. Otis's life and character, it may be well to notice some of his publications, which, though not voluminwere appropriate, pointed, pure, classical, and elegant. His Latin prosody, though it may be considered in some views, as a minor performance, yet was novel in its kind, and may exhibit such improvements in language and writings, as would tend to benefit general science. He had nearly completed, if not wholly, a similar work on the Greek language; and it is to be lamented, that this, with many of his manuscripts, which would have been an invaluable legacy to posterity, were destroyed by his own hands in some moments of beclouded reason. Every thing he wrote on the science of government displayed the vast ideas of his capacious mind; he was not in the habit of dilatation; he wrote, not as an author, but as a man, a statesman, a politician, a civilian. His fugitive pieces, published in the Gazettes of the day, evinced his industry and attention to pub. lick pursuits. The Stamp Act originated in 1764, which electrified all the colonial governments, produced his Rights of the Colonies stated and vindicated." This was considered as a masterpiece of composition and argument, which had all the weight and effect that it deserved, and drew upon its author, all the eblo quy and malice, resulting from strong prejudice, and conscious defect of sentiment. Many of his opponents afterwards acknowledged this publication a just criterion of political truth. To take a general survey of Mr. Otis's character is easy: it might be summed up in a few sentences. It was the consummation of integrity and honour, of delicate sentiment, with nobleness of heart, of correct principles, of philosophick taste, and perfect urbanity of manners, of refined feelings, with an indepen. dence of mind, that shrunk not from duty, and on that altar would sacrifice every thing. But few of his co-patriots are now living, those few love, and admire, and reverence his character. The celebrated author of the Farmer's Letters, the late Mr. Dickenson, a man admirable for the purity of his morals, the simplicity of his manners, the consistency of his conduct, the intelligence of his mind, the rectitude of his principles, and the virtues of his heart, has lately borne testimony to the active virtues of Mr. Otis, in a letter to his sister, Mrs. Warren, wherein he says, "My Esteemed Friend, "THY letter, with its inclosures, came to my hands yesterday, for which I return many thanks. "Thy approbation I consider as a real honour, and is greatly endear ed to me by coming from a sister of my very deserving and highly valued friend, James Otis. "Our acquaintance with one another was formed at the first Congress, held at New York in the year 1765; and it soon grew into friendship. "At this distant period, I have a pleasing recollection of his candour, spirit, patriotism and philanthropy. "In a longer continued existence on this earth, than was allotted to him, I have endeavoured, as well as I could, to aid the cause, in which his heart was engaged, by asserting and maintaining the liberties, for which he would have been willing to share in all the distresses of our revolution, and, if necessary, to lay down his life. "It soothes my mind, to bear this pure testimony to departed worth. "May divine goodness graciously bestow on his relations a plentiful portion of consolations. "Thy generous exertions to inform thy fellow citizens, and to present thy country before the world in a justly favourable light, will be, I firmly believe, attended with the desired success. "With every respectful consideration, I am thy sincere friend, "JOHN DICKENSON. "Wilmington, the 25th of the 1st month, 1805." |