ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

This is fine painting, and without any part of that obfcurity, or affectation of parages, which now and then sticks to Offian. The moral paffages which clofe the above defcription, derive a peculiar merit from their peculiar concifenefs. Offian and the divine writers of the Scripture are éminently happy in their fhort, complete fentences, in which the fenfe is always full, without overflowing.

7 F 2

ESSA Y XVI.

STORY of JOSEPH.

PASSAGE.

HE MADE JOSEPH A COAT OF MANY COLOURSS,

HERE is also another of those sacred

narratives which is not only exquifite in itself, but which has engagad the attention of many admirable pens: yet, furely, while the art of writing, and the powers of the understanding remain, such a story will always furnish new illuftrations; and every man may be able to discover in it, and difplay fresh beauties to charm, and fresh elegancies to recommend. To add, however, any thing to this narrative would be unneceffary, and to recite the whole of it from the Bible, inconfiftent with the limits of my defign: a few general obferva

tions, therefore, will be fufficient. The happiest ftrokes of fimplicity diftinguish the very beginning of the history before us. "Now Ifrael loved Jofeph more than all "his children." But mark the reafon for fuch partiality, "because he was the fon "of his old age." Though the first-born is heir to our fortunes, the laft-born, is, generally, the darling of our contemplation and careffes: to the aged parent they are particularly endearing. But what was the first effect of this endearment? Why, fuch as was fuitable to the child's age, and perfectly pleafing to the notions of his youth his father made him a coat of many colours. Ah, fatal finery! This little decoration created the envy of his brethren

"And when his brethren faw that their "father loved him more than the reft,

they hated him, and could not speak "peaceably unto him." How gradually the quarrel opens! When they first began to envy the poor lad, they did not, all at once, outrageoufly affault him; but the paffion was left to grow, naturally; the

[ocr errors]

fire was permitted to kindle from the first fpark into a general flame. This is true nature. They could not speak peaceably unto him ; i. e. they began to caft reflections, mixed farcafms with their converfation, and filently fneered at him. But how naturally do the dreams increase the fraternal difcontent! nothing in the world could have exceeded this circumftance in point of aggravation. It was, indeed, fuch a ftroke, as, at first, offended the parent, fond as he was: what effect then must it have had upon the brothers? That which before was little more than dif-like, was now abfolute averfion. They faid unto him, "Shalt thou, indeed, reign "over us, or fhalt thou have dominion over "us? And they hated him yet more for "his dreams." Thus prepared for vengeance, they were ready to feize the firit opportunity which might happen. His being fent by his father as a meffenger to his brethren to know how it fared with them and with their flocks, was, alas, but too favourable an occafion for their latent pur

pofes,

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »