(_a_) The Oriental Epos
[(_α_) Epos of Hindoos and Persians. The sense of the unity
of the One Substance
(_β_) Contrast between Hindoo and Persian Epos. The Ramajana
and Maha-Bharata
(_γ_) Hebrew Epic poetry]
(_b_) Epic poetry of Greece and Rome
[(_α_) Essential unity of Iliad and Odyssey. The _ne plus
ultra_ of attainment. The cyclic poets
(_β_) Roman Epos cannot compare in quality with the Greek
prototype]
(_c_) The Romantic Epos.
[The poems of Ossian. The Edda. National character of epic
poems of Middle Ages. "The Cid." The peculiar nature of
Dante's "Divine Comedy." The poems relating to Charlemagne,
King Arthur, etc. The revolt against Chivalry in Ariosto and
Cervantes. The "Lysiad" of Camoens. Milton's "Paradise Lost"
and Klopstock's "Messias"]