Webster, Daniel (1782-1852) to Harriette Story Paige
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01946.28 Author/Creator: Webster, Daniel (1782-1852) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 March 1844 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 25.2 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Describes a service he attended the previous evening to his sister-in-law. Discusses the form used in the book of Habakkuk, stating that the "passages ... present ... a remarkable instance of the Hebrew form of Poetic composition." Quotes 3 Habakkuk, verses 17 and 18. Suggests Harriette read Bishop Lowth's writings on Hebrew Poetry, which for Webster "opened ... quite a new view of the beauties of the prophetical & practical parts of the Old Testament." Signed and docketed on the back by Paige.
Bishop Robert Lowth was noted for writing biographies and publications on language and grammar in the eighteenth century.
Mar: 27. 44
My Dear Harriette
The passages which were used last evening from [Halakhah] are only beautiful & striking, both in sentiment & imagery, but they present, also, a remarkable instance of the Hebrew form of Poetic composition.
This composition is often in lines, or sentences, with alterations, or repetitions, producing something like [illegible] as; two, or three, or more ideas being placed together, & expressed in a sort of stanza.
The 17 & 18 verses of the III Ch: of Halakhah may be thus presented:
"Altho' the fig tree shall not blossom,
"Neither shall fruit be in the vines;
"The labor of the Olive shall fail,
"And the fields shall yield no meat;
"The flock shall be cut off from the fold,
"And there shall be no herd in the stalls; [2] yet
"Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord,
"I will joy in the God of my Salvation.
If you have not read Bishop Lowths [Protections] on Hebrew Poetry, let me commend its [perusal] to you. It opened to me, some years ago, quite a new view of the beauties of the prophetical & practical parts of the Old Testament.
Yours most affectionately
Daniel Webster
Mrs Paige
[Docket]
Mr. Webster left the
Enclosed, [struck: if a Monday Mn'g] [inserted: for me],
having written
it previous to his very
early departure in the
morning, before I was
down - referring to
passages in Scripture
read the (Sunday)
evening preceding
H.S. Paige
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