Scott\'sboyhoodwasspentinscenesthatremindedhimofthepowertheScripturehad。
Hewasdrilledfromhischildhoodintheknowledgeofitswordsandphrases，andwhilehiswritingasawholeshowsmoreoftheOldTestamentinfluencethanoftheNew，eveninhisstyleheisstronglyunderBibleinfluence。
[1]Morley，LifeofGladstone，vol。iii，p。424。
TheprefacetoGuyManneringtellsusitisbuiltaroundanoldstoryofafatherputtingaladtotestunderguidanceofanancientastrologer，shuttinghimupinabarrenroomtobetemptedbytheEvilOne，leavinghimonlyonesafeguard，aBible，lyingonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom。InhisintroductiontoTheHeartofMidlothian，Scottmakesoneofthetwomenthrownintothewaterbytheoverturnedcoachremindtheotherthatthey\"cannotcomplain，likeCowley，thatGideon\'sfleeceremainsdrywhileallaroundismoist；thisisthereverseofthemiracle。\"AlittlelateraspeakerdescribesnovelsastheDelilahsthatseducewiseandgoodmenfrommoreseriousreading。InthedramaticscenewhenJeanieDeansfacesthewretchedGeorgeStaunton，whohassoshamedthehousehold，sheexclaims:
\"Osir，didtheScripturenevercomeintoyourmind，\'Vengeanceismine，andIwillrepayit?\'\"\"Scripture!\"hesneers，\"whyIhadnotopenedaBibleforfiveyears。\"\"Wae\'sme，sir，\"saidJeanie——\"andaminister\'sson，too!\"
AnthonyFoster，inKenilworth，looksdownonpoorAmy\'sbodyinthevaultintowhichshehasfallen，inresponsetowhatshethoughtwasLeicester\'swhistle，andexclaimstoVarney:
\"Oh，iftherebejudgmentinheaven，thouhastdeservedit，andwillmeetit!Thouhastdestroyedherbymeansofherbestaffections——itistheseethingofthekidinthemother\'smilk!\"
Andwhen，nextmorning，Varneywasfounddeadofthesecretpoisonandwithasneeringsarcasmonhisghastlyface，Scottdismisseshimwiththephrase:\"Thewickedman，saiththeScripture，hathnobondsinhisdeath。\"
HischaractersusefreelythefamiliarBibleeventsandphrases。IntheFortunesofNigel，astoryoftheveryperiodwhenourKingJamesversionwasproduced，HildebroddeclaresthatifhehadhiswayCaptainPeppercullshouldhangashighasHamaneverdid。InKenilworth，whenLeicestergivesVarneyhissignet-
ring，hesays，significantly:\"Whatthoudost，doquickly。\"Ofcourse，Isaac，theJewinIvanhoe，exclaimsfrequentlyinOldTestamentterms。
Hewishesthewheelsofthechariotsofhisenemiesmaybetakenoff，likethoseofthehostofPharoah，thattheymaydriveheavily。HeexpectsthePalmer\'slancetobeaspowerfulastherodofMoses，andsoon。
ScottwaswritingoftheperiodwhenmenstayedthemselveswithScripture，andhismenareallsureofGodandSatanandangelsandjudgmentandalleternalthings。Hisson-in-
lawvouchesfortheoldstorythatwhenSirWalterwasonhisdeath-bedheaskedLockharttoreadhimsomethingfromtheBook，andwhenLockhartasked，\"Whatbook?\"Scottreplied:
\"Whydoyouask?Thereisbutonebook，theBible。\"
AllthisisscantjusticetotheGeorgiangroup；
butitmaygiveahintofwhattheBiblemeantevenatthatperiod，theperiodwhenitsgriponmenwasmostlaxinallthelaterEnglishhistory。
ItisintheVictorianage1840-1900thatthefieldismostbewildering。Itistrue，asFrederickHarrisonsays，that\"thisVictorianagehasnoShakespeareorMilton，noBaconorHume，noFieldingorScott——nosuprememasterinpoetry，philosophy，orromancewhoseworkisincorporatedwiththethoughtoftheworld，whoisdestinedtoformanepoch，toendureforcenturies。\"[1]Thegeniusoftheperiodismorescientificthanliterary，yetwewouldbehelplessifwehadnotalreadyeliminatedfromourdiscussioneverythingbuttheworksandwritersofpureliterature。Theoutputofbookshasbeensotremendousthatitwouldbeimpossibletoanalyzetheinfluenceswhichhavemadethem。
ThereareinthisVictorianperiodatleasttwelvegreatEnglishwriterswhomustbeknown，whoseworkaffectsthecurrentofEnglishliterature。
Manyothernameswouldneedmentioninanyfullhistoryoranyminutestudy；butitisnotharshjudgmenttosaythatthemaincurrentofliteraturewouldbethesamewithoutthem。
Afewoftheselessernameswillcometomind，andinthecallingofthemonerealizestheinfluence，evenonthem，oftheEnglishBible。
AnthonyTrollopewrotesixtyvolumes，thetitlesofmostofwhicharenowpopularlyunknown。
HetoldGeorgeEliotthatitwasnotbrainsthatexplainedhiswritingsomuch，butratherwaxwhichheputintheseatofhischair，whichheldhimdowntohisdailystintofwork。Hecouldboast，anditwasworththeboasting，thathehadneverwrittenalinewhichapurewomancouldnotreadwithoutablush。HiswholeFramleyParsonageseriesaboundsinBiblereferencesandallusions。SoCharlotteBronteisinEnglishliterature，andJaneEyredoesprovewhatshewasmeanttoprove，thatacommonplacepersoncanbemadetheheroineofanovel；
butonallCharlotteBronte\'sworkisthemarkoftherectoryinwhichshegrewup。SoThomasGreyhaslefthis\"Elegy\"andhis\"HymntoAdversity，\"andsomeotherwritingwhichmostofushaveforgottenorneverknew。ThenthereareMariaEdgeworthandJaneAusten。WemayevenrememberthatMacaulaythoughtJaneAustencouldbecomparedwithShakespeare，as，ofcourse，shecanbe，sinceanyonecanbe；butneitherofthesegoodwomenhasstronglyaffectedtheliterarycurrent。Manyotherscouldbenamed，butEnglishliteraturewouldbesubstantiallythesamewithoutthem；
and，thoughallmightshowBiblicalinfluence，theywouldnotillustratewhatwearetryingtodiscover。Sowecome，withoutapologytotheunnamed，tothetwelve，withoutwhomEnglishliteraturewouldbedifferent。Thisisthelistintheorderofthealphabet:MatthewArnold，RobertBrowningMrs。Browningbeinggroupedasonewithhim，Carlyle，Dickens，GeorgeEliot，CharlesKingsley，Macaulay，Ruskin，RobertLouisStevenson，Swinburne，Tennyson，andThackeray。
[1]EarlyVictorianLiterature，p。9
Itisdangeroustomakesuchalist；butitcanbedefended。Literaryhistorywouldnotbethesamewithoutanyoneofthem，unlesspossiblySwinburne，whoseclaimtoplaceisratherbyhisworkascriticthanascreator。
Norisanynameomittedwhoseintroductionwouldchangeliteraryhistory。
BenjaminJowettthoughtArnoldtooflippantonreligiousthingstobearealprophet。Atanyrate，thismuchistrue，thatthebooksinwhichArnolddealtwiththefundamentalsofreligionarehisprofoundestwork。Inhispoetrythebestpieceofthewholeishis\"RugbyChapel。\"
HisReligionandDogmahehimselfcallsan\"essaytowardabetterapprehensionoftheBible。\"
AllthroughheurgesitastheoneBookwhichneedsrecovery。\"AllthatthechurchescansayabouttheimportanceoftheBibleanditsreligionweconcurin。\"ThebookthroughoutisanefforttojustifyhisownfaithintermsoftheBible。Theeffortissometimesamusing，becauseittakessuchalogicalandverbalagilitytogofromonetotheother；butheisalwaysatit。HeisafraidinhissoulthatEnglandwillswingawayfromtheBible。HefearsitmaycomeaboutthroughneglectoftheBibleononehand，orthroughwrongteachingaboutitontheother。Notinhisideasalone，butmarkedlyinhisstyle，ArnoldhasfelttheBiblicalinfluence。
HecameatatimewhentherewasstrongtemptationtofallintocumbrousGermanwaysofspeech。AgainstthatArnoldsetasimplephraseology，andheheldouttheEnglishBibleconstantlyasamodelbywhichthemenofEnglandoughttolearntowrite。HenevergainedthesimplicityoftheoldHebrewsentence，andsometimeshissecondaryclausesfollowoneanothersorapidlythatareaderisconfused；
buthiswordsasawholearesimpleanddirect。
ThereisnoneedofmuchwordonthespelloftheBibleoverRobertBrowningandMrs。
Browning。Itisnotoftenthattwosinging-
birdsmate；butthesetwosanginakeypitchedforthembytheScriptureasmuchasbyanyoneinfluence。ManyoftheirgreatestpoemshavedefiniteBiblicalthemes。InthemandinothersBiblicalallusionsareutterlybewilderingtomenwhodonotknowtheBiblewell。Forfiveyears1841-1846Browning\'spoemsappearedunderthetitleBellsandPomegranates。Scoresofpeoplewonderedthen，andwonderstill，what\"PippaPasses\"and\"ABlotintheScutcheon\"
andtheothershavetodowithsuchatitle。
Theyhaveneverthought，asBrowningdid，oftheborderofthebeautifulrobeofthehighpriestdescribedintheBookofExodus。ThefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning\'s\"Saul\"；butitisonlythestoryofDaviddrivingtheevilspiritfromSaul，sweepingontotheverycomingofChrist。\"TheDeathintheDesert\"isthedeathofJohn，thebeloveddisciple。\"Karshish，theArabPhysician\"tellsinhisownwayoftheraisingofLazarus。Thetextof\"CalibanuponSetebos\"is，\"ThouthoughtestthatIwasaltogethersuchanoneasthyself。\"
Thetextof\"Cleon\"is，\"Ascertainofyourownpoetshavesaid。\"In\"FifineattheFair\"theCureexpoundstheexperienceofJacobandhisstone-pillowwithbetterinsightthansomebetter-
knownexpositorsshow。In\"PippaPasses，\"
whenBluphocks，theEnglishvagabond，isintroduced，Browningseemstojustifyhisappearancebythesinglefoot-note:\"HemakethHissuntoriseontheevilandonthegood，andsendethrainonthejustandontheunjust\"；andMr。
BluphocksshowshimselfamusinglyfamiliarwithBiblefactsandphrases。Mr。Sludge，\"theMedium，\"thinkstheBiblesaysthestarsare\"setforsignswhenweshouldshearsheep，sowcorn，prunetrees，\"anddescribestheskepticinthemagiccircleofspiritual\"investigators\"asthe\"guestwithoutthewedding-garb，thedoubtingThomas。\"SomeonehastakenthetroubletocountfivehundredBiblicalphrasesorallusionsin\"TheRingandtheBook。\"Mrs。Browning\'s\"\'DramaofExile\"isthewoman\'ssideofthefallofAdamandEve。Ruskinthoughther\"AuroraLeigh\"thegreatestpoemthecenturyhadproducedatthattime。ItaboundsinScripturalallusions。Browningcamebyallthisnaturally。RaisedintheChurchbyafatherwho\"delightedtosurroundhimwithbooks，notablyoldandrareBibles，\"andamotherCarlylecalled\"atruetypeofaScottishgentlewoman，\"
withalltheskillintheBiblethatthatimplies，heneverlosthissenseofthemajestyofthemovementofScriptureideasandphrases。
WeneedspendlittletimeindiscussingtheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonThomasCarlyle。
HedoesnotoftenusetheScriptureforhismaintheme；butheisconstantlymakingBiblicalallusions。OnarailwayjourneywhenIwasrereadingCarlyle\'sHistoricalSketches，I
foundadirectBiblicalreferenceforeveryfivepages，andalmostnumberlessallusionsbeside。
The\"EverlastingYea，\"ofwhichhesaysmuch，hegets，asyouatoncerecognize，fromtheScripture。His\"HeroesandHeroWorship\"
isbasedonanideaofheroismwhichhelearnedfromtheBible。HeisanOldTestamentprophetofpresenttimes；and，whilehedegeneratedintoascoldbeforehewasthroughwithit，heyetspokewiththethunderousvoiceofatrueprophet，andmuchofthetimeinthelanguageoftheprophets。SomeonesaidoncethattheonlyrealreverenceCarlyleeverhadwasforthepersonofChrist。Certainlythereisnonoteofsneer，butoftheprofoundestregardfortheteaching，theideasandthehistoryoftheScripture。
ThenameofCharlesDickenssuggestsadifferentatmosphere。HeisaNewTestamentprophet。WhereCarlylehascaughtthespiritofruggedpowerintheOldTestament，DickenshascaughtthesenseofkindlyloveintheNewTestament。Dickens\'sloveforthechild，thefactthathecoulddrawchildrenashecoulddrawnooneelseandmakethemlovable，suggeststhevaluetohimofthosefrequentreferenceswhichhemakestoChristsettingachildinthemidstofthedisciples。Itisnotable，too，howoftenDickensusesthegreatScripturephrasesforhismostdramaticclimaxes。TherearenotinliteraturemanyfinerusesofScripturethanthesceneinBleakHouse，wherethepoorwaifJoeisdying，andwhilehisfriendteacheshimtheLord\'sPrayerheseesthelightcoming。AChristmasseasonwithoutDickens\'sChristmasCarolwouldbeincomplete；butthereagainistheScriptureideapressedforward。
GeorgeEliotsurely，ifanywriter，wasunderthespelloftheScripture。Oneofhercriticscallsherthehistorianofconscience。Allofherheroesandheroinesknowthelashofthelaw。
SheknowsverylittleabouttheNewTestament，onewouldjudge；buttheonethingaboutwhichshehasnodoubtiscertainlythereignofmorallaw。Ifamanwillnotyieldtoitspower，itwillbreakhim。Thereisnosuchthingasbreakingthemorallaw；thereisnothingbutbeingbrokenbyit。HercharactersarealwaysquotingtheBible。Theypreachagreatdeal。ShetellsthatsheherselfwroteDinahMorris\'ssermononthegreenwithtearsinhereyes。Shemeantitall。Whileherownreligiousfaithwasclouded，herfinestcharactersarenevercloudedintheirreligiousfaith，andshegroundstheirfaithquiteinvariablyontheirearlytrainingintheScripture。
ItisaninterestingfactthatGeorgeEliothasnoprincipalstorywhichhasnotinitachurch，andapriestorapreacher，withallthattheyinvolve。
CharlesKingsleyisgroupedhardlyfairlyinthislist，becausehewashimselfapreacher，andnaturallyallhisworkwouldfeelthepoweroftheBook，whichhechieflystudied。ProfessorMassonsaysthat\"thereisnotoneofhisnovelswhichhasnotthepowerofChristianityforitstheme。\"NovoicewasraisedmoreeffectivelyforthebeginningofthenewsocialerainEnglandthanhis。AltonLockeandYeastareepoch-
makingbooksinthelifeofthecommonpeopleofEngland。EvenHypatia，whichissupposedtohavebeenwrittentorepresententirelypagansurroundings，isfullofBiblephrasesandideas。
LordMacaulayhadbeenheldupformanyadayasoneofthemastersofstyle。Suchgreatwritingisnottobetracedtoanyoneinfluence。
ItcouldnothavebeeneasytowriteasMacaulaywrote。ThackeraymayhaveexaggeratedinsayingthatMacaulayreadtwentybookstowriteasentence，andtraveledahundredmilestomakeadescription；butallhiswritingshowsthepoweroftakinginfinitepains。Itbecomesthemoreimportant，therefore，thatMacaulayheldtheBibleinsuchestimateashedid。\"IncallinguponLadyHollandoneday，LordMacaulaywasledtobringtheattentionofhisfairhostesstothefactthattheuseoftheword\'talent\'tomeangiftsorpowersofthemind，aswhenwespeakofmenoftalent，camefromtheuseofthewordinChrist\'sparableofthetalents。InalettertohissisterHannahhedescribestheincident，andsaysthatLadyHollandwasevidentlyignorantoftheparable。\'I
didnottellher，\'headds，\'thoughImighthavedoneso，thatapersonwhoprofessestobeacriticinthedelicaciesoftheEnglishlanguageoughttohavetheBibleathisfingers\'ends。\'\"
ThatMacaulaypractisedhisownpreachingyouwouldquicklyfindbyreferringtohisessays。
TakethreesentencesfromtheEssayonMilton:
\"Theprinciplesoflibertywerethescoffofeverygrowingcourtier，andtheAnathemaMaranathaofeveryfawningdean。IneveryhighplaceworshipwaspaidtoCharlesandJames，BelialandMoloch，andEnglandpropitiatedtheseobsceneandcruelidolswiththebloodofherbestandbrightestchildren。Crimesucceededtocrime，anddisgracetodisgrace，untiltherace，accursedofGodandman，wasasecondtimedrivenforthtowanderonthefaceoftheearthandtobeaby-wordandashakingoftheheadtothenations。\"InthreesentencesherearesixallusionstoScripture。Inthatsameessay，intheparagraphsonthePuritans，theallusionsareamultitude。Theyarenotevenquoted。
Theyaretakenforgranted。InhisEssayonMachiavelli，thoughthesubjectdoesnotsuggestit，hefallsintoScripturalphrasesoverandover。Listentothis，\"AtimewasathandwhenallthesevenvialsoftheApocalypseweretobepouredforthandshakenoutoverthosepleasantcountries\"；orthis，\"AllthecursespronouncedofoldagainstTyreseemedtohavefallenonVenice。Hermerchantsalreadystoodafarofflamentingfortheirgreatcity\"；orthis，\"Intheenergeticlanguageoftheprophet，Machiavelliwasmadforthesightofhiseyeswhichhesaw。\"
AndifMacaulayisbafflingintheabundanceofmaterial，surelyJohnRuskinisworse。Carlyle\'sEnglishstyleranintoexcessofroughness；
Macaulay\'sranintoexcessofbalanceanddelicacy。
JohnRuskin\'scontinuedtobethesmoothest，easieststyleinourEnglishliterature。HealsowasaHebraicspirit，butofthegentlertype。
Mr。ChapmancallshimtheElishatoCarlyle\'s，Elijah，acapitalcomparison。[1]Ruskinisoneofthefewwriterswhohavetolduswhatformedtheirstyle。InthefirstchapterofPraeteritahepaystributetohismother。HehimselfchosetoreadWalterScottandPope\'sHomer；buthesays:\"MymotherforcedmebysteadydailytoiltolearnlongchaptersoftheBiblebyheart，aswellastoreadit，everysyllablealoud，hardnamesandall，fromGenesistotheApocalypseaboutonceayear；andtothatdiscipline——
patient，accurate，andresolute——IowenotonlyaknowledgeoftheBookwhichIfindoccasionallyserviceable，butmuchofmygeneralpoweroftakingpainsandthebestpartofmytasteinliterature。\"HethinksreadingScottmighthaveledtoothernovelsofapoorersort。
ReadingPopemighthaveledtoJohnson\'sorGibbon\'sEnglish；but\"itwasimpossibletowriteentirelysuperficialandformalEnglish\"
whileheknew\"byheartthethirty-
secondofDeuteronomy，thefifteenthofI
Corinthians，theOnehundredandnineteenthPsalm，ortheSermonontheMount。\"InthesecondchapterofPraeteritaheisevenmoreexplicit。\"IhavenextwithdeepergratitudetochroniclewhatIowedtomymotherfortheresolutepersistentlessonswhichsoexercisedmeintheScripture，astomakeeverywordofthemfamiliarinmyearashabitualmusic，yetinthatfamiliarityreverencedastranscendingallthoughtandorderingallconduct。\"Hetellshowhismotherdrilledhim。AssoonashecouldreadshebeganacourseofBibleworkwithhim。
TheyreadalternateversesfromtheGenesistotheRevelation，namesandall。DailyhehadtocommitversesoftheScripture。HehatedtheOnehundredandnineteenthPsalmmost；buthelivedtocherishitmost。InhisoldBiblehefoundthelistoftwenty-sixchapterstaughtbyhismother。
[1]EnglishLiteratureinAccountwithReligion。
NotonlywasRuskinwelltrainedintheBible，buthewasagreatteacherofit。InhisprefacetotheCrownofWildOlivesheanswershiscriticsbysayinghehasusedtheBookforsomefortyyears。\"Myendeavorhasbeenuniformlytomakemenreaditmoredeeplythantheydo；
trustit，notintheirownfavoriteversesonly，butinthesumofitall；treatitnotasafetishoratalismanwhichtheyaretobesavedbydailyrepetitionof，butasaCaptain\'sorder，tobeheldandobeyedattheirperil。\"IntheintroductiontotheSevenLampsofArchitectureheurgesthatweareinnodangeroftoomuchuseoftheBible。
\"Weuseitmostreverentlywhenmosthabitually。\"
ManyofRuskin\'smoststrikingtitlescomestraightoutoftheScripture。CrownofWildOlives，SevenLamps，UntothisLast——allthesearesuggestedbytheBible。
ItisalmostsuperfluoustospeakofRobertLouisStevenson。JohnKelmanhaswrittenawholebookonthereligionofStevenson，anditisavailableforallreaders。HewasraisedbyCummy，hisnurse，whoselibrarywaschieflytheBible，theshortercatechism，andtheLifeofRobertMurrayMcCheyne。Hesaidthatthefifty-eighthchapterofIsaiahwashisspecialchapter，becauseitsorepudiatedcantanddemandedaself-denyingbeneficence。HelovedBunyan\'sPilgrim\'sProgress；but\"theBiblemoststoodhiminhand。\"Everygreatstoryoressayshowsitsinfluence。Hewasnotcriticalwithit；hedidnotunderstandit；hedidnotinterpretitfairly；buthefeltit。HisDr。JekyllandMr。HydeisonlyhiswayofputtingintomodernspeechPaul\'solddistinctionbetweenthetwomenwhoabideineachofus。TheytoldhimheoughtnottoworkinSamoa，andherepliedthathecouldnototherwisebetruetothegreatBookbywhichheandallmenwhomeanttodogreatworkmustlive。OvertheshoulderofourbelovedRobertLouisStevensonyoucanseethegreatcharactersofScripturepressinghimforwardtohisbestwork。
NotsomuchcanbesaidofSwinburne。Therewasastronginfusionofacidinhisnature，whichnoinfluenceentirelydestroyed。Heisapttoliveasaliterarycriticandessayist，thoughhesupposedhimselfchieflyapoet。HisownthoughtofpoetrycanbeseeninhisprotestinbehalfofMeredith。Whenhehadbeenaccusedofwritingonasubjectonwhichhehadnoconvictiontoexpress\"ModernLove\"，Swinburnedeniedthatpoetsoughttopreachanyway。
\"Therearepulpitsenoughforallpreachersofprose，andthebusinessofversewritingishardlytoexpressconvictions。\"YetitisimpossibletoforgetMiltonandhispurposeto\"assertEternalProvidence，andjustifythewaysofGodtomen。\"Naturally，mostpoetsdopreachandpreachwell。Wordsworthdeclaredbewantedtobeconsideredateacherornothing。
Mrs。Browningthoughtthatpoetsweretheonlytruth-tellerslefttoGod。ButSwinburnecouldnothelpalittlepreachingatanyrate。His\"MasqueonQueenBersaba\"isanoldmiracleplayofDavidandNathan。His\"ChristmasAntiphones\"arehardlyChristian，thoughtheyareabundantintheirallusionstoScripture。
ThefirstisaprayerforpeaceandrestinthecomingofthenewdayofthebirthofChrist。
ThesecondisaprotestthatneitherGodnormanhasbefriendedmanasheshould，andthethirdisanassurancethatmenwilldoformanevenifGodwillnot。Now，thatisnotChristian，buttheBiblephrasesareallthroughit。
SowhenhewriteshispoembemoaningPoland，heneedsmustheadit\"Rizpah。\"AtthesametimeitmustbesaidthatSwinburneshowslessoftheinfluenceoftheBibleinhisstyleandinhisspiritthananyotherofourgreatEnglishwriters。
WecomebackagainintotheatmosphereofstrongBibleinfluencewhenwenameAlfredTennyson。WhenByrondied，andthewordcametohisfather\'srectoryatSomersby，youngAlfredTennysonfeltthatthesunhadfallenfromtheheavens。Hewentoutaloneinthefieldsandcarvedinthesandstone，asthoughitwereamonument:\"Byronisdead。\"Thatwasintheearlystageofhispoeticallife。AtfirstCarlylecouldnotabideTennyson。Hecountedhimonlyanechoofthepast，withnosenseforthefuture；butwhenhereadTennyson\'s\"TheRevenge，\"heexclaimed，\"Eh，he\'sgotthegripo\'it\"；andwhenRichardMoncktonMilnesexcusedhimselffornotgettingTennysonapensionbysayinghisconstituentshadnouseforpoetryanyway，Carlylesaid，\"RichardMilnes，inthedayofjudgmentwhenyouareaskedwhyyoudidnotgetthatpension，youmaylaytheblameonyourconstituents，butitwillbeyouwhowillbedamned!\"Dr。HenryvanDykestudiedTennysontobesteffectatjustthispoint。Inhischapteron\"TheBibleinTennyson\"aremanysuchsayingsasthese:\"ItissafetosaythatthereisnootherbookwhichhashadsogreataninfluenceupontheliteratureoftheworldastheBible。Weheartheechoesofitsspeecheverywhere，andthemusicofitsfamiliarphraseshauntsallthefieldandgroveofourfineliterature。AtleastonecauseofhispopularityisthatthereissomuchBibleinTennyson。WecannothelpseeingthatthepoetowesalargedebttotheChristianScriptures，notonlyfortheirformativeinfluenceonhismindandforthepurelyliterarymaterialinthewayofillustrationsandallusionswhichtheyhavegivenhim，butalsoforthecreationofamoralatmosphere，amediumofthoughtandfeelinginwhichhecanspeakfreelyandwithanassuranceofsympathytoaverywidecircleofreaders。\"
IneednotstoptoindicatethegreatpoemsinwhichTennysonhassooftenusedScripture。
Themindrunsquicklytothelittlemaidin\"Guinevere，\"whosesong，\"Late，Late，soLate，\"
isonlyaparaphraseoftheparableofthefoolishvirgins。\"InMemoriam\"cameintotheskepticaleraofEngland，withitsnewchallengetofaith，andstoppedthedriftofyoungmentowardmaterialism。Recallthefineusehemakes，intheheartofit，oftheresurrectionofLazarus，andotherBiblicalscenes。Dr。vanDyke\'s\"fourhundreddirectreferencestotheBible\"donotexhaustthepoems。NoonecangetTennyson\'sstylewithouttheEnglishBible，andnoonecanreadTennysonintelligentlywithoutafairlyaccurateknowledgeoftheBible。
InthisVictoriangroupthelastnameisThackeray\'s。HeisanotherwhosemothertrainedhimintheEnglishBible。ThetitleofVanityFairisfromPilgrim\'sProgress，butthemottoisfromtheScripture；andhewrotehismotherregardingthebook:\"WhatIwantistomakeasetofpeoplelivingwithoutGodintheworldonlythatisacantphrase。\"Itiscertainhismotherdidnotcountitacantphrase，forhelearneditfromtheScripture。ThesubtitleofhisAdventuresofPhilipsaysheistoshowwhorobbedhim，whohelpedhim，andwhopassedhimby。ThackeraygotthoseexpressionsfromtheBible。SomewhereveryearlyinanyofhisworksherevealstheinfluenceofhischildhoodandmanhoodknowledgeoftheEnglishBible。
AllthisabouttheVictoriangroupismeanttobeveryfamiliartoanywhoarefreshfromthereadingofliterature。Theyaregreatnames，andtheyhavedifferencesaswideasthepoles；buttheyhavethisincommon，thattheyhavedrunklightlyordeeplyfromthesamefountain；theyhavedrawnfromitideas，allusions，literarystyle。Eachofthemhasweakenedashehasgottenfartherfromit，andloyaltytoithasstrengthenedanyoneofthem。
TurnnowtotheAmericangroupofwriters。
IfweexcepttheologicalwriterswithJonathanEdwards，HoraceBushnell，HenryWardBeecher，andtheirlike，andpoliticalwriterswithJefferson，Webster，andtheirlike，thelistneednotbealongone。Onlyonewriterinournarrowersenseofliteraturemustbenamedintheearlierday——BenjaminFranklin。IntheperiodbeforetheCivilWarmustbenamedEdgarAllanPoedied1849andWashingtonIrvingdied1859。
TheCivilWargroupisthelargeone，anditsnamesarethoseofthelatergroupaswell。Letthembealphabetical，forconvenience:WilliamCullenBryant，poetandcritic；GeorgeWilliamCurtis，essayistandeditor；Emerson，ournoblestnameinthesphereofpureessayliterature；
Hawthorne，thenovelistofconscience，asSocrateswasitsphilosopher；OliverWendellHolmes，whose\"twochiefhatredswereorthodoxyinreligionandheterodoxyinmedicine\"；
JamesRussellLowell，essayistandpoet，apttolivebyhisessaysratherthanbyhispoetry；
Longfellow，whose\"PsalmofLife\"and\"Hiawatha\"
havelivedthroughasmuchparodyandridiculeasanytwobitsofliteratureextant，andhavelivedbecausetheyarepredestinedtolive；Thoreau，whoseWaldenmayshow，asLowellsaid，howmuchcanbedoneonlittlecapital，butwhichhastherealliterarytangtoit；
andWhittier，whosepoetryissungtheworldaround。
ThatmakesonlytwelvenamesfromFranklintoWhittier。Otherscouldbeincluded；buttheyarenotsogreatasthese。Nooneofthesecouldbetakenoutofourliteraturewithoutaffectingitand，insomedegreeatleast，changingthecurrentofit。ThisisnottoforgetBretHartenorSamuelL。Clemens。Buteachisdependentforhissurvivalonatasteforacertainkindofhumor，notdelicatelikeIrving\'sandHolmes\'s，butstrongandsuddenandabitsharp。Ifweshouldforgetthe\"LuckofRoaringCamp，\"\"TruthfulJames，\"andthe\"HeathenChinee，\"wewouldalsoforgetBretHarte。WearenotapttoforgetTomSawyer，norperhapsTheInnocentsAbroad，butweareforgettingmuchelseofMarkTwain。Whitmanisnotnamed。
Hisclaimsarefamiliar，butinspiteofhisadmirersheseemssochargedwithasensuousegotismthatheisnotapttobeaformativeinfluenceinliteraryhistory。Itisstillinteresting，however，torememberhowfrequentlyherevealshisreadingofScripture。
Fortunately，allthesewritersaresonear，andtheirworkissofamiliar，thatdetailsregardingthemarenotneeded。Twoorthreegeneralwordscanbesaid。Inthefirstplace，observethehighmoraltoneofallthesefirst-gradewriters，and，indeed，oftheotherswhomaybespokenofasinsecondrank。Thereisnotameretriciousorhumiliatingbookinthewholecollection。ThereisnotonebookwhichhaslivedinAmericanliteraturewhichhasthetoneofFielding\'sTomJones。WhetheritisthatthePuritanstraincontinuesinusornot，itistruethattheAmericanliterarypublichasnottakenhappilytostoriesthatwouldbringablushinpublicreading。ProfessorRichardson，ofDartmouth，givessomecluetothereasonofthat。
Hesaysthat\"since1870or1880inAmericatherehasbeenamarkedincreaseofstrengthoftheisticandspiritualbeliefandargumentamongscientificmen，studentsofphilosophy，religious\'radicals，\'andothers。\"HeaddsthatwhilemuchcontemporaryAmericanliteratureandthoughtisoutsidetheacceptedorthodoxlines，yet\"itisnothostiletoChristianity；totheprinciplesofitsFounderitisforthemostpartsincerelyattached。Ontheotherhand，materialismhasscarcelyanyholduponit。\"
Thenfollowsaverynotablesentencewhichissustainedbythefacts:\"NotanAmericanbookofthefirstclasshaseverbeenwrittenbyanatheistordenierofimmortality。\"ThatsentenceneednotoffendanadmirerofWaltWhitman，forhe\"acceptsboththeismandthedoctrineofthefuturelife。\"AmericanthoughthasremainedloyaltothegreatTrinity，God，Freedom，andImmortality。Soitcomesaboutthatwhilethereareanumberofthesewriterswhocouldbeputunderthebanofthestronglyorthodoxinreligion，everyoneofthemshowstheeffectofearlytraininginreligionandintheScripture。[1]
[1]ThisisfullyworkedoutinProfessorRichardson\'sAmericanLiterature，withampleillustrationandargument。
AnotherthingtobesaidisthatAmericahasauniquehistoryamonggreatnationsinthatithasneverbeenaffectedbyanygreatreligiousinfluenceexceptthatwhichhasissuedfromtheScriptures。NoreligionhaseverbeeninfluentialinAmericaexceptChristianity。FormanyyearstherehavebeensporadicandspasmodiceffortstoextendtheinfluenceofBuddhismorotherIndiancults。Theyhaveneverbeensuccessful，becausetheAmericanspiritispractical，andnotmeditative。Wearenotanintrospectivepeople。Wedonotlookwithinourselvesforourreligion。WhatevermoralandreligiousinfluenceourliteratureshowsgetsbackfirstorlasttoourScriptures。ThepointofviewofnaturethatistakenbyourwriterslikeBryantandThoreauisthatoftheNineteenthPsalm。
Moreover，wehavebeenstronglyundertheEnglishinfluence。Irvinginsistedthatweoughttobe，thatwewereayoungnation，thatweoughtfranklytofollowtheleadershipofmoreexperiencedwriters。Longfellowthoughtwehadgonetoofarthatway，andthatourpoets，atleast，oughttobemoreindependent，oughttowriteinthespiritofAmericaandnotoftraditionalpoetry。Whetherweoughttohaveyieldedtoitornot，itistruethatEnglishinfluencehastoldverystronglyuponus，andthewriterswhohaveinfluencedourwritersmosthavebeenthosewhomwehavenamedasbeingthemselvesundertheBibleinfluence。
Weneednotgointodetailaboutthesewriters，thoughtheyaremostattractive。BryantdidforuswhatWordsworthdidforEngland。Hemadenatureseemvocal。\"Thanatopsis\"isnotaChristianpoeminthenarrowsenseoftheword，andyetitcouldhardlyhavebeenwrittenexceptunderChristianinfluence。Hisowngenial，beautifulcharacterwasitselfatributetoChristiancivilization，andhislife，ascriticandessayist，hasleftanimpressionwhichweshallnotsoonlose。ProfessorRichardsonthinksthatthethreeproblematicalcharactersinAmericanliteratureareEmerson，Hawthorne，andPoe。TheshrewdestestimateofPoethathaseverbeengivenusisinLowell\'sFableforCritics:
\"TherecomesPoewithhisravenlikeBarnabyRudge，Three-fifthsofhimgenius，andtwo-fifthssheerfudge，Whohaswrittensomethingsquitethebestoftheirkind，Buttheheartsomehowseemsallsqueezedoutbythemind。\"
Thatsaysitexactly。Poeknewmanyhorriblesituations，buthedidnotknowthewayout；
andofallourAmericanwriterslayingclaimtoplaceinthefirstclassPoeshowsleastinfluenceoftheBible，andapparentlyneedsitmost。
IrvingwasthefirstAmericanwriterwhostoodhighenoughtobeseenacrossthewater。
Thackeray\'smostbeautifulessayisonIrvingandMacaulay，whodiedjustonemonthapart。InithedescribesIrvingasthebestintermediarybetweenthenations，tellingusAmericansthattheEnglisharestillhuman，andassuringtheEnglishthatAmericansarealreadyhuman。
IrvingwastrainedearlyandthoroughlyintheBible。Allhislifehewasanold-fashionedEpiscopalianwithnoconcernfornewreligiousideasandwithnoroughedgesanywhere。
CharlesDudleyWarner，speakingofIrving\'smoralquality，says:\"Icannotbringmyselftoexcludeitfromaliteraryestimate，eveninthefaceofthecurrentgospelofartforart\'ssake。\"[1]
LikeScott，he\"recognizedtheabidingvalueinliteratureofintegrity，sincerity，purity，charity，faith。Thesearebeneficences，andIrving\'sliterature，walkarounditandmeasureitbywhatevercriticalinstrumentsyouwill，isabeneficentliterature。\"
[1]AmericanMenofLettersSeries，WashingtonIrving，p。302。
ThenthereisEmerson，asonofthemanseandonceaministerhimself。Hewas，therefore，perfectlyfamiliarwiththeEnglishBible。Hedidnotacceptitinallitsreligiousteaching。
Indeed，wehaveneverhadamoremarkedindividualistinourAmericanpubliclifethanEmerson。Ateverypointhewassimplyhimself。
Thereisverylittlequotationinhiswriting，verylittlevisibleinfluenceofanyoneelse。
HewasnotafollowerofCarlyle，thoughhewashisfriend。Ifthereisanyprecedentfortheconstructionofhissentences，andevenofhisessays，itistobefoundintheHebrewprophets。
Assomeoneputsit，\"heutteredsayings。\"Inmanyofhisessaysthereisnoparticularreasonwhytheparagraphsshouldrunone，two，three，andnotthree，two，one，ortwo，one，three，orinanyotherorder。ButMr。Emersonwasjusthimself。Itisyettruethat\"hisvaluefortheworldatlargeliesinthefactthatafterallheisincurablyreligious。\"Itistruethathecouldnotseeanyimportanceinforms，orinordinarydeclarationsoffaith。\"Hewouldfightnobattleforprelacy，norfortheWestminsterconfession，norfortheTrinity，butasagainstatheism，pessimism，andmaterialism，hewasanallyofChristianity。\"TheinfluenceoftheBibleonEmersonismoremarkedinhisspiritthaninanythingelse。Onceinawhile，asinthatfamiliaraddressatConcord1873，yourunacrossScripturephrases:\"Shallnottheywhoreceivethelargeststreamsspreadabroadthehealingwaters?\"ThatfigureappearsinliteratureonlyintheBible，andthereareotherslikeitinhiswritings。
AsforLongfellow，heisshotthroughwithScripture。NomanwhodidnotknowScriptureinmorethanapassingwaycouldhavewrittensuchasentenceasthis:\"Therearetimeswhenthegrasshopperisaburden，andthirstywiththeheatoflaborthespiritlongsforthewatersofShiloah，thatgosoftly。\"TherearetwostrikinglybeautifulexpressionsfromScripture。Takeanotherfamiliarsayinginthesameessaywhenhesaystheprospectforpoetryisbrightening，sincebutashorttimeagonotapoet\"movedthewingoropenedthemouthorpeeped。\"Hedidnotrunacrossthatingeneralcurrentwriting。
HegotthatdirectlyfromtheBible。InhispoemsisanamazingamountofreferencetotheBible。Onewouldexpectmuchinthe\"CourtshipofMilesStandish，\"forthatisastoryofthePuritans，andtheyspoke，naturally，intermsoftheBible；yet，ofcourse，theycouldnotdoitinLongfellow\'spoem，ifLongfellowdidnotknowthelanguageoftheBibleverywell。
Onemightnotexpecttofinditsomuchin\"Evangeline，\"butitistherefrombeginningtoend。In\"Acadia，\"thecockcrowed\"Withtheself-sameVoicethatinagesofoldhadstartledthepenitentPeter。\"
And，\"WildwiththewindsofSeptember，Wrestledthetreesoftheforest，asJacobofoldwiththeangel。\"