tenhout, tenhoute, (p. 59.) Why then may not n'oute have been originally ni-oo-te, of the God or Gods, or the Gods the, as in many other cases with a double article, like te-phro-te above; and that this is the real fact seems to be confirmed by the following circumstance-Woidé informs us, that noute takes the article phi before it, but is generally found contracted into the two letters pht, and this even in Scripture. But it is remarkable, that whenever he quotes any passage of Scripture, in which the word noute is writ in letters at full length, it never has any article whatever prefixed to it, not even phi; and this is found true in all the quotations made in his Lexicon from Scripture, while there are only three or four where the above contraction pt is found, but not a single example of phi-noute at length, Does not this practice seem to prove, that noute has either at its beginning or end, or both, some article already adhering to it, which induced the natives not to add Phi, or any other, in writing the noun? For as to what they do in pronunciation does not appear, since Woidé's words only refer to the contraction into pht in writing; but we may form some presumption, that if phi was generally prefixed in pronunciation, it would have been also inserted in writing in some of the above nine cases. That in a language so abounding with articles, the name of God alone should have no article either prefixed or subjoined in writing, at least appears to be very extraordinary, and this even in the translation of the Scriptures in vulgar and daily use: this rather suggests, that no other article is ever in use in the vulgar pronunciation likewise of this word, except it be already either prefixed or subjoined in the word noute itself. It would be worth knowing, whether it be omitted in every other case, when not writ with the contractian pht, in the Coptic translation of Scripture, beside those nine quoted in Woidé's Lexicon; for if phi and pi be actually omitted in all or most other examples of the Coptic translation, we must rationally conclude, that some article is already contained in noute itself, either before or behind it, or both ways, which causes the omission of phi, or pi, in that word when writ at length in Scripture, although in vulgar use the natives may possibly now sometimes add a supernumerary article phi, through an improper habit in pronunciation, just as
in alcoran by ourselves. Hence it seems to follow, that the original radical noun denoting God in n'oo-te, may be nothing more than oo. The same oo for God may be the radical noun in oua, blasphemia, and ouab, sacer; in the former, a may have a negative sense,' and possibly ab in the latter may have a contrary meaning. But however this may be, the noun for God seems at least to be often annexed to the names of cities in Egypt, therefore may be equally so in No-Ammon.
OXFORD PRIZE POEM. Herculaneum.
PER terram antiquâ Ditis caligine mersam
Tendere, et umbrarum sedes penetrare sepultas Fert animus. Quisnam mihi dux Cyllenius altum Pandat iter? quæve inferiæ comitentur euntem, Exsanguesque pio flectant libamine Manes ? Scilicet haud ambage expers specus; undique longå Nocte silet. Simul ipsa sono vestigia terrent Ingressos, tumulique situs deformis obumbrat. Hic terræ ingestæ moles supereminet; illic Indurata diu, atque ambustis cautibus horrens Congeries, qualis ferro Vulcania sordes Effluit ardenti, et calido carbone cohæret. Fama refert, bis ter liquefacto hæc stramina saxo Moutem, et sulphureis superinjecisse ruinis, Atque novas totidem segetes ex ordine fractis Tellurem glebis Italo donâsse colono. Felix ille dies, qui primum illúxit avitis Thesauris, retegens miracula condita rerum. Fervet opus, jussu regum, (quippe id fore seclo Grande putant decus, et volventibus addere nomen Posse aliquod fastis ;) juvenum manus expedit antro Ignavam molem silicum, et tellure reclusa Altius usque viam, si quæ vestigia servent Indicium, peragunt; cumulosque avertere putres Effossis properant specubus, ceu viscera terræ Argento fœta eruerent, aurive metallo.
Nec priùs absistunt, quàm se ferrum imprimat imis Sedibus, in solido crepitans; ibi limite aperto Copia tota loci datur, et spatia urbis habentur Subter humum visenda. Ergò mirantur ubique,
1 Vid. Kotzebue's Travels in Italy.
Sive repercussâ tædarum luce coruscant Stantia signa foro, et bellaces ære quadriga, Sive nitent templi patefacto in limine Divûm Effigies truncæ, penetraliaque obruta servant. Pars tectorum aditus molitur, et atria cæca
Vi penetrat. Multa hic, varius quot postulat usus, Quæque manus inter veterum consuêrat habendo Vita hominum terere, et laribus proponere lautis ; Poculaque, tripodesque, et mensam onerantia vasa. Apparent passim, quales morientis amici Hesternas vestes, monumentaque cara doloris Certo quæque loco pietas intacta tuetur.
Mirantur, pictos ut prætereuntia muros
Lumina dant oculis. Nusquam tam vivida Soli Panditur innumeris suffusa coloribus Iris. Talia lotifero quæ præterlabitur ingens Flumine, primævæ jactat sibi mœnia Nilus Memphidos, aut magni monumenta relicta Canopi. Cur steterint vivo jamdudum florida tinctu Monia, nec faciem mutent semiusta perennem, Causa latet; præsens artem frustrà aspicit ætas. Illic cernere erat, quantus certamine duro Semiferi victor Theseus redit; Attica pubes Quem circum mirata premit. Dux inter ovantes Incedit, mediusque toroso corpore supra est. Funditur ante pedes taurinum sanguine vultum Horridus, hirsutos extendens semifer artus. 3 Parte aliâ Alcides inter cunabula victor Dat vitæ illustris, divinorumque laborum Primitias. Quanto visos terrore refugit Alcmene geminos angues? at regius infans Corripit, impavidè mirans, et colla prehensu Sibila collidit. Simul illi dente retorto Incassum tendunt morsus infligere, donec Multiplices tergorum orbes mors frigida laxat. 4 Illic, lætitia vultum perfusa decorum, Suave rubet, Paridis dono Cytherea triumphans; Hic Bacchi chorus exultans, Fauni, Satyrique, Pampineisque fremunt impulsæ Thyades hastis.
Quò rapior demens? Num mostos carmina Manes Hæc leviora decent? quos nec tellure paternâ Composuere sui, et dixere novissima verba, Nec fletu mulceri animas, nec ritibus ullis
Contigit; at fœdo tumulus premit aggere membra! Quippe oculis passim occurrunt per strata domosque Tristes relliquiæ, servantiaque ossa figuram
'Pitture Antiche d'Ercolano.
Impressam cineri, quales jam morte sub ipsâ Diriguere homines. Aliis pretiosa supellex
Restat capta, fugæ labor et mora; mordicus hærent Compressi exanimes digiti, prædamque retractant. Jamque alius per tecta amens obsessa ligone Vult aperire viam. Vani dat signa laboris Vexatus paries, lapidique impressa cicatrix, Et positum ante pedes scabrâ rubigine ferrum.
Tantane vos adeò gelidi vis cæca timoris, Thessalio veluti correptos membra veneno Perculit, atque fugæ conatibus obstitit ægris? Aut malesanus amor, et cura extrema Penatum Prodidit infaustâ nimium dulcedine captos,
Jam jamque hærentes devoto in limine ?- Verum Non dubiis cladem monstris gravis ira Deorum Præmonuit.
Quoties, seu fœta gementibus Austris,
Seu velut æquoreo tellus percussa tridenti, Attonitas crebro motu tremefecerat arces ? Nec Calabri intereà prærupto culmine montes Cessavere sonum, neque saltibus Umbria densis Horrendum ingeminare; atque increbrescere ponto Subter agens tonitru, tremuit quo sedibus imis Inarime, et Siculo concussæ in littore pinus. Ipsæ sulphurei sacratum littus Aorni Effugêre feræ, tanto tonat omne cavernis Clivosum sonitu nemus, et penetrale Sibyllæ. Illic et, dubiæ sub opaca silentia Lunæ, Auditi longos Manes effundere fletus Per noctem, et tardos ad fata vocare nepotes.
Nec labefacta tamen penitus fiducia cessit, Donec fulmineas montano erumpere nubes Vertice conspiciant, atrâ fuligine densas.
Mox, velut ingenti glomeratus turbine, in altum Ire vapor gravidus rapido impete; desuper illic Pendere, et superas sensim fluitare per auras Diffusus, longum ducens per nubila tractum. Cernere erat, qualis cùm cœlum Erymanthia trunco Pinus adit gracili, et frondoso vertice nutat. Sulphureus crebrescit odor; tum flamina venti Composuere leves; vespertinum silet æther Insolitum, et major monstri se attollit imago.
'Dio Cassius, as quoted in the Preface to Pitture Antiche d Ercolano. 2 Plin. Epist.
Continuo fremitusque maris, terræque tumultus Exoritur, præsaga agitans formidine corda. Nox ruit, horroremque auget feralibus umbris. 'Tum vero rutilâ incepit clarescere flammâ Fumus, et immugire sono crescente Vesevus. Haud secus ac rediviva cohors si ad bella Gigantum Surgeret; altisonisque Deûm confligeret armis Vulsus Athos, Rhodopeque, et jacta Ceraunia cœlo. Hinc subitò vastâ nova lux fornace refulsit, Eripuitque oculis visum, tanta emicat atro Sulphure, et ardenti grando commista favilla, Et contorta frequens solido de viscere rupes Æthereum signat flammis iter; inde ruinam Dat sonitu, et fractis superintonat ædibus ingens, Aut pelago stridens extinguitur; imbre corusco Miseni caput aerium, et Prochyta alta relucent, Et spatia Oceani longinqua.
Terror agit cives; neque, dum discursibus actos Præcipitat variis, patitur sperare salutem. Pars, siqua astiterat convulso in littore cymba Integra, corripiunt alacres, turbamque sequentem Vi reprimunt. Ipsos quò post fortuna tulisset Incertum ;-audiri per opacum visa querentûm Vox moribunda hominum, pelago confusa sonanti. Plurima jam sese portis effudit apertis
Turba amens glomerata; juvatque extrema videntes, Communi fato, patuloque sub ætheris axe Expirâsse animas. Felix, cui dulcia nondum Pignora, nec trepidans conjux, seniove parentes Effracti, aut miserâ deposcens voce relictus Æger opem, dubiis extorquent pectora curis! 2 Sic passim dirà tenebrarum in nocte per agros Certatim ruitur; nec fas confidere tædis,
Tam densi cineresque, et creber pumice nimbus Excutiunt flammam.- Spissas modò dividere umbras, Et faciem exustam monstrare incendia ruris ;
Nunc, rapta ex oculis subito ceu turbine, opaca
Omnia nocte iterum atque altâ caligine volvi.
Adverso multi confligunt pectore, cæcis
Carpere iter tenebris conati, et voce reposcunt
Palantes socios; multos malè prensa fefellit
Dextera, quos subitò turba obruit, aut vorat ingens
Faucibus, et ruptâ sorbet tellure caverna.
Tempore namque illo terram quoque, et ima viarum'
Kotzebue in his Travels describes this as the evening effect of Vesuvius.
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