(Vol. v., p. 175.)
The letter at Vol. v., p. 175. of "N. & Q.," reminds me of a passage in
a _Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles_, by the Rev. W. G. Humphry,
B.D., which it may not be uninteresting to cite, in connexion with what
your correspondent says of St. Paul's practice of quoting the writings
of heathen authors.
It will be the ground also of an obvious query as to the source from
which the quotation, if such it be, was borrowed by the Apostle.
In commenting upon v. 17. of chap. xiv., οὐρανόθεν, &c., he
says:
"Both the language and the rhythm of this passage lead to the
conjecture (which does not appear to have been proposed before)
that it is a fragment from some lyric poem. Possibly the quotation
is not exact, but even without alteration it may be broken into
four lyric measures, thus:
"Οὐρανό|θεν ἡ|μῖν ὑ|ετοὺς
δίδους καὶ καιροὺς | καρποφόρους,
ἐμπι|πλῶν τρο|φῆς καὶ |
εὐφροσύνης | τὰς κα|ρδίας.
"1. Iambic; 2. Dochmaic and Choriamb.; 3. Trochaic; 4. Choriamb.
and Iambic."
Mr. Humphry has some remarks on St. Paul's quotations at v. 28. of chap.
xvii.