after expending all his poison, found himself totally overwhelmed by the superior power of his antagonist, who might properly be called the strength of the world. The wife of the serpent, and his children, (for, all the gods, superior and inferior, of India, are married) now came to the water side, and entreated Creeshna to release him, acknowledging that they knew the Saviour of the world to have been born in Gokul; and that he, who is under his foot, whether as a friend or an enemy, has, by that circumstance, secured his liberation. They plead the serpent's malignant disposition and constitution to have been given him by Creeshna himself; and, among other apologies, observe, that, in consequence of this event, the name of Kalli-Naga will subsist to the end of the world, since each of his heads has been honoured with a touch of Creeshna's foot. Creeshna at length took pity on the serpent's wife and children, and said to him, "begone quickly into the abyss; this place is not proper for thee; thy name shall remain during all the period of time; and Devatas and men shall henceforth remember thee without dismay." So the serpent, with his wife and children, went into the abyss; and all that water which had been infected by his poison, became pure and wholesome.* Creeshna, and beat him backwards; but he, recovering himself, squeezed the serpent's head to that degree, that, not knowing what to do, be twisted himself about his body but Creeshna gradually increased the bulk of his body, in such a manner, that the serpent, ready to burst by being so enormously distended, was forced to let go his hold, being ready to drop down dead for want of strength." It may here be observed that the representations of Creeshna trampling on the serpent, and encircled in its folds (see the plate) are considered of such importance in India, that no Veeshnuvite of distinction is without these images in his house, in gold, silver, or copper. * Maurice's Hist. of Hindostan, vol. 2. pp. 335-337. 3 vols, 4to. Lond. 1795. Biblical Anecdote. THE first printed edition of the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures, was executed by Abraham Ben Chaim, at Soncino, in Italy, in 1488, in two vols. folio; ornamented with initial letters and words, from engravings in wood. It is at present of such extreme rarity, that only nine copies of it are known to be in existence. One of these is in the Library of Exeter College, Oxford. At the end of the Pentateuch there is a long Hebrew subscription, indicating the name of the editor, the place where it was printed, and the date of the edition. This very scarce volume consists, according to Masch, of 373 (but Brunet says 380) folios, printed with points and accents, and also with signatures and catch-words. The initial letters of each book are larger than the others, and are ornamented. Dr. Kennicott states, that there are not fewer than twelve thousand verbal differences between this edition and that of Vander Hooght, his assertion is questioned by Masch. The researches of Biblical critics have not succeeded in ascertaining what manuscripts were used for this Hebrew Bible. Butler says, it is printed very incorrectly.* Poetry. THE DEATH OF AHAB. And a certain man drew a bow, at a venture, and smote the King of Israel between the joints of the barness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even. 1 Kings, xxii. 34 35. "STILL in the rear let Judah's monarch stay, * Horne's Introduc. vol. 2. p. 119. Butler's Horæ Biblicæ, vol. 1. p. 112 "Conceal'd, unknown, I lift the dreadful spear, 'Twas said, 'twas done,-and Ahab dares for once In vain disguised to battle didst thou go, At random darted from the Syrian's bow! O'er half the field was heard the twanging string,- Borne from the danger still the monarch stood, Sunk in the west, his glorious journey done; Biblical Ellustrations. OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES. Common Version. 1 COR. ix. 24-27. New Translation. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Do ye not know, that they who run in the stadium, run, indeed, all, but one only receiveth the prize? So run that ye may lay hold on the prize. Now every one who contendeth is temperate in all things: they indeed, that they may receive a fading crown, but we one that does not fade. I therefore, so run, (005 ux adnλws) as not out of view. So I box, as not beating the air. But I bruise my body, and lead it captive, lest perhaps (unpužas) having proclaimed to others, I myself should be one not approved. We have been induced to give, by the side of the common version of this passage, a literal translation by Dr. Macknight, which is truly agonistical, and therefore points out in a more striking manner the allusions to the Grecian games which are kept in view throughout the passage. The Apostle, writing to the Corinthians, in whose territory the Isthmian, one of the four sacred games, was celebrated, selected, with the greatest propriety, images taken from those games, to convey with effect to their minds the nature of those duties which devolved upon them, as persons engaged in the Christian race. The most splendid and renowned solemnities, which ancient history has transmitted to us, were the Olympic Games. Historians, orators, and poets abound with references to them, and their sublimest imagery is borrowed from these celebrated exercises. These games were celebrated every fifth year by an VOL. I. infinite concourse of people from almost all parts of the world. They were celebrated with the greatest pomp and magnificence: hecatombs of victims were slain in honour of the immortal gods: and Elis was a scene of universal festivity and joy. We find that the most formidable and opulent sovereigns of those times were competitors for the Olympic crown. We see the kings of Macedon, the tyrants of Sicily, the princes of Asia Minor, and at last the lords of Imperial Rome, and emperors of the world, incited by a love of glory, the last infirmity of noble minds, enter their names among the candidates, and contend for the envied palm;-judging their felicity completed, and the career of all human greatness and glory happily terminated, if they could but interweave the Olympic garland with the laurels they had purchased in fields of blood.* 1. The various games which the Romans celebrated in their capital and in the principal cities and towns of Italy, with such splendour, ostentation, and expence, seem to have been instituted in imitation of the Grecians; though these were greatly inferior in points of real merit and intrinsic glory; for though the Romans had their gymnastic exercises of the stadium and the chariot race, yet the mutual slaughter of such numbers of gladiators, the combats with lions, bears, and tigers, though congenial to the ferocious habits and brutality of these people,— for no public entertainment could be made agreeable without these scenes, must present spectacles to the last degree shocking to humanity; for every crown, here won, was dipped in blood, |