Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ...of learning in it, and a very agreeable turn of poetry, which rises in a great measure from its describing the places where they were worshipped, by those beautiful marks of rivers so frequent among the ancient poets. The author had doubtless in this place'Homer's catalogue of ships, and Virgil's list of warriors, in his view. The characters of Moloch and Belial prepare the reader's mind for their respective speeches and behaviour in the second and sixth book. The account of Tharmuuz is finely romantic, and suitable towbatweread among the ancients of the worship which was paid to that idol: Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lehanon allur'd The Syrian damsels to lament his fate, In am'rous dilties all a summer's day; While smooth Adonis from his native rock Run purple to ihe sea, suppos'd with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch E/.ekiel saw; when, by the vision led, His eyes survey'd the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah The reader will pardon me if I insert as a note on this beautiful passage, the account given us by the late ingenious Mr. Maundrell of this ancient piece of worship, and probably the first occasion of such a superstition. 'We came to a fair large river--doubtless the ancient river Adonis, so famous for the idolatrous riles performed herein lamentation of Adonis. We had the fortune to see what may be supposed lo be the occasion of, thai opinion which JUuciau relates concerning this river, viz. That this stream, at certain seasons of theyear, especially about the feast of Adonis, is of a bloody colour; which the heathens looked upon as proceeding from a kind of sympathy in the river for the death of Adonis, who was killed by a wild bo...
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