EUCLASSIC. regarding the poetry and the prose works of the same nation, as We proceed to offer an outline of Callography, under the four branches of Euclassic, Oriental, European, and American. CHAPTER I. EUCLASSIC CALLOGRAPHY. In the branch of Euclassic Callography, we include the study of all the poetical and lighter prose works of the ancient Greeks and Romans; with all similar works, written prior to modern times, in the Greek and Latin languages. The poetical books of the Hebrew Scriptures, and perhaps some fragments of other oriental poetry, are more ancient than that included in the present branch: but their connection with the later oriental literature, extending down to the present time, induces us to preserve in this department the order adopted in the preceding; by assigning the first place to Euclassic, It should here be remarked, that or Grecian and Roman literature. as the earliest inhabitants of Greece and Italy were in a savage or barbarous state, the first dawn of polite literature as well as of science, came to them from the east, with the colonies which migrated thither, especially from Phoenicia and Egypt. Hence the influence exerted by the eastern mythology on that of Greece and Rome; and a similar influence might doubtless be traced through all the arts, had their earlier traditions and records been preserved. § 1. Grecian Callography, consists chiefly of Poetry; with some Fables and Tales, and Oratorical and miscellaneous productions. As the great fountain of European callographics, it deserves particular attention, aside from its intrinsic merit; and it may safely be said that in original and fertile genius, in beauty and sublimity, the Grecian writers have never yet been surpassed. Among the Greeks, Poetry appeared much sooner than prose; perhaps because it was more easily remembered, in an age when writing was difficult: and the first poets were also musicians. Their earliest poetry was lyric and sacred, and appears to have originated in Thrace. The Greeks regarded Linus as the inventor of melody, and the first favorite of the Muses. Orpheus and Musæus, it is said, were his pupils; and wrote dithyrambs, or songs in honor of Bacchus; of which there remain only some fragments, of doubtful authenticity. Paans, were originally hymns to Apollo, but afterwards addressed to other gods. The oracles of the ancient Sibyls, or prophetesses, may also be classed among the early sacred poetry of the Greeks. To the sacred poets, succeeded the rhapsodists, or minstrels; who rehearsed the genealogy of the gods, the origin of the world, and the exploits of demigods and heroes; but their rhapsodies were all eventually eclipsed by the compositions of Hesiod and Homer. The principal epic poems of the Greeks, are the Iliad and the Odyssey, both attributed to Homer, who is styled the father of epic poetry. There seems but little doubt that these works were essentially composed by him; though many scholars suppose that they were not committed to writing till the times of Solon, or later. The subject of the Iliad, is the wrath of Achilles against Agamemnon; the misfortunes of the Greeks, on the withdrawal of the former; and their success, in the conquest and destruction of Troy, on his return. The Odyssey, describes the wanderings of Ulysses, after the fall of Troy; with his dangers and sufferings, till his safe return and recstablishment in his kingdom, the isle of Ithaca. These works differ so much in subject and style, that some writers have attributed them, piecemeal, to various rhapsodists, collectively styled the Homeridæ, of whom Homer is admitted to have been the chief. The Batrachomyomachy, or battle of the frogs and mice, a mock heroic poem, attributed to Homer, was, doubtless, the work of a later age. The Theogony of Hesiod has been classed as an epic poem; treating of the origin and acts of the gods of Grecian fable. The Argonautics, of Apollonius Rhodius, relating to the Argonautic Expedition, is a work of some merit. The Perseid, Thebaid, and other epic poems of note, are lost: but the Dionysiacs of Nonnus, and the Paralipomena of Calaber, written in a later age, are preserved; though of minor importance. The cyclic poets, were imitators of Homer, of inferior note. Grecian lyric poetry, was written in a great variety of metres, many of which were named from their inventors. Of the odes of Sappho, two only have been preserved, remarkable for their warm and tender feeling; one of them being a hymn to Venus. Many odes of Anacreon, have been preserved, most of them in praise of love, wine, and social pleasures. Pindar, sang, in more lofty strains, the praises of the victors, in the great public games of Greece; and many of his odes are still extant. The odes of Archilochus, Aleman, Alcæus, and others, have almost entirely perished. The poems called scolia, were songs for social and festive occasions. Callinus, of Ephesus, is said to have written the first poem in elegiac measure, which was properly a lyric; but Mimnermus, and Simonides, are regarded as the first elegiac poets, properly so called. Of Grecian pastoral poetry, the invention of which was attributed to Daphnis, the idyls of Theocritus, are the most important remains. The most beautiful of the idyls of Moschus, is the Seizure of Europa; and the principal one of Bion, is the Funeral Song in honor of Adonis. Of Grecian didactic poetry, the earliest specimen is the Works and Days of Hesiod; the first book of which consists principally of moral precepts, and the second of rules of husbandry; concluding with a repetition of precepts on the conduct of life. The term gnomic poetry, has been applied to collections of moral precepts or favored the revolution, was put to death in 1811; and his coadjutor, Morelos, was shot in 1815. General Xavier Mina, another patriot, was shot in 1817. Augustin Iturbide, sometime emperor of Mexico, was shot in 1824. The successive presidents of Mexico, have been, Fernandez Guadaloupe Victoria, (or Vittoria), in 1825; Vincente Guerrero, in 1829; Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, in 1833; and Anastasio Bustamente, in 1837. Among other political characters in Mexico, we would simply name Nicholas Bravo, the first vice president, and Negrete, and Pedrazas. In Central America, the succession of presidents, has been, Manuel José Arce, in 1825; and Francisco Morazan, in 1830; who has since been re-elected. Among other statesmen of Central America, are, Beltranena, Barrundia, Prado, Salazar, and Virgil, all of whom have held the office of vice president, in the succession above named. (p. 238.) Inez de la Cruz, was a Mexican nun, and poet of the 18th century. The monarchs of Brazil, since it became a distinct kingdom, are, John VI. of Portugal, in 1815; Don Pedro I., the first independent emperor, in 1822; and Pedro II., in 1831. Among the statesmen of Brazil, are the brothers Andrade; also Bonifacio, Ribeiro, Campos, Da Gama, Mello, and others. Among the Brazilian commanders, were admiral Lord Cochrane, now the Scotch earl of Dundonald; and generals Lima, and Brandt. The minister, Conde da Barca, is named as a patron of science. Manoel Ayres de Cazal, is a Brazilian historian; and we may mention as Brazilian poets, Claude Manoel da Costa, (or Corta); Andre Nunes de Silva; and Antonio Diniz da Cruz e Silva, who flourished in 1807. Ojeda and Nicuessa, to whom New Grenada was first granted, flourished in 1508. Pedro Arias de Avila, and Quesada and Benalcazar were their successors in the conquest of this region. General Francisco Miranda, of Caraccas, who first attempted to liberate his country from the Spanish dominion, died in prison, in 1814, at Cadiz, in Spain. General Simon Bolivar, the first president of the temporary republic of Colombia, died in 1830. General Francisco de Paula Santander, its first vice president, was elected, in 1832, president of New Grenada, but died in 1840; and Joachim Mosquera, elected president of Colombia in 1830, has since been vice president of New Grenada; of which latter republic José Ignacio de Marquez became president in 1836. Among other patriots of New Grenada, we would name Urdanata, General Caicedo, and General Sucre, the victor at Pichincha, and Ayachuco, who was assassinated in 1830. General José Antonio Paez was elected president of Venezuela, in 1831; Dr. Vargas, in 1835; and General Paez was re-elected in 1839. Navarreto was its first president. Vincente Rocafuerte succeeded General Flores, we believe in 1838, as president of Equador, or Equator. Of Peruvian Biography, Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru, was assassinated at Lima, in 1541; Diego Almagro, his associate, having been put to death in 1537, by Ferdinand Pizarro, brother of Francisco. General José de San Martin, the liberator of Peru, was declared its first president, or protector,. in 1821; and General José La Mar, elected president in 1822, was superseded by Bolivar; but re-elected in 1827. He was deposed by La Fuente; and General Gamarra succeeded as president in 1829; but he was succeeded by Obregoso, in 1833. General Sucre, of Venezuela, was elected president of Bolivia, or upper Peru, in 1826: General Velasco succeeded him, in 1828; General Blanco, elected soon after, was assassinated in 1829; and General Santa Cruz was elected president in 1829; as we have already mentioned in the preceding department. (p. 240). Among the royalist generals, opposed to the revolution in Peru, were La Serna, Valdez, Canterac, Rodil, and Olaneta. Torretagle first joined the republicans, but afterwards united with the Spanish forces. Of Chili, Pedro de Valdivia, the first conqueror, was defeated by the Araucanians, in 1553; Joseph Manto was the governor in 1742; and Antonio Gonzago, in 1770. Rodriguez and the three Carreras, were murdered, at the instigation of San Martin, in or about 1817. Bernardo O'Higgins became the first supreme director, in 1817: General Ramon Freire succeeded him in 1823; and Admiral Manuel Blanco, in 1826. Don José Maria Benevente was elected president in 1827; and General Joaquin Prieto, in 1831. The successive vice presidents have been Pinto, in 1827; Vicuña, in 1829; and Portales, in 1831, who was assassinated in 1838. Of La Plata, or Buenos Ayres, Pedro de Mendoza, the first colonizer, flourished in 1553. Since the revolution in La Plata, the successive heads of the government have been, Liniers, the Frenchman, in 1810; Cisneros, in 1811, superseded the same year by a triumvirate; Pozadas, in 1814, as supreme director; Pueyrredon, in 1816; Rondeau, in 1819; Rivadavia, in 1826; Dorrego, in Buenos Ayres, in 1827, who was shot, and superseded by General Lavalle, head of the federalists or Unitarios, in 1828; General Juan José Viamont, in 1829; General Juan Manuel de Rosas, in the same year; General Quiroga, in 1830; General Ramon de Balcarce, in 1833; General Viamont, again in 1834; and General Rosas, again in 1835. General Fructuoso Ribeira, (or Rivera), was elected president of Uruguay, in 1833; General Oribe, in 1835; and the former was re-elected in 1836. EUCLASSIC. wars of Pompey and Cæsar: the Argonautica, of Valerius Flaccus, describes the Argonautic expedition: the Punica, of Silius Italicus, treats of the second Punic war: and the Thebaid and Achilleid of Statius, relate respectively to the contest of the Theban brothers, Eteocles and Polynices; and the adventures of Achilles, before the Trojan war. The Gigantomachy, of Claudian, and the Antoniad, of Gordian, belong to a later age; and the Christiad, is a modern Latin poem, written by Mark Jerome Vida, who died in 1566. Roman lyric poetry, seems to have commenced with Catullus, who wrote a few odes; but the odes of Horace, amatory, convivial, moral, and political, rank, in grace and spirit, second only to those The Silva, of Statius, contains two odes of of the Grecian Pindar. merit; subsequent to which the only lyrics of note were the hymns of the Christians, commencing with those of Hilarius and Prudentius. The chief elegies, of the Romans, are those of Catullus, Gallus, Tibullus, and Propertius; most of which have been preserved. The Tristia, of Ovid, belong to this class. Of Roman pastoral poetry, the Bucolics of Virgil, chiefly eclogues, are very beautiful, though mostly imitations; as are also the later eclogues of Calpurnius. The idyls of Ausonius and Claudian, are not of a pastoral character. The earliest Roman didactic poems, were probably those of Ennius, entitled Phagetica, on diet and eatables; and Epicarmus, a translation, concerning the nature of things. The poem of Lucretius, On the Nature of Things, is a digest of the Epicurean philosophy; and the Georgics, of Virgil, is a beautiful didactic poem relating chiefly to agriculture. Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Fasti, are chiefly mythological, derived from Greek books now lost; and Horace's Art of Poetry, may be hence they are more valuable. mentioned in this class, as a superior production. The poem entitled Etna, is attributed by some to Cornelius Severus; but by others to Lucilius Junior. There are also poems by Atacinus, on geography, and navigation; by Columella, on gardening; by Palladius, on grafting; by Maurus, on grammar; and by Vida, in later times, on the art of poetry. Of Roman satires, the earliest were those of Ennius and Pacuvius, chiefly of a comic character. Lucilius introduced a more grave and severe style; but the satires of Horace are considered superior. The Menippean satires of Varro, and Petronius, and the more caustic ones of Persius and Juvenal, exhibit in a strong light the vices of declining Rome. The epigrams of Martial surpass those of Catullus, and have much point and spirit; but they are too often tainted with licentiousness. The earliest dramatic performances in Rome, were those of the Tuscan Histriones; who sang and danced to the music of the flute. The Attelane Fables, were a rude kind of comedy or farce, so named from Atella, a city of the Osci; hence also named Oscan plays. Regular dramatic pieces were first exhibited in Rome, about 240 B. C., by Livius Andronicus; who is regarded as the founder of Roman tragedy. Tragedies were also written by Ennius, Pacuvius, Attius and Nævius; but they are chiefly borrowed from the Greek. The best Roman tragedies, including Medea, and The Tro |