allpoliticalwriting，withVoltaireandWebster。
NearthatsamefieldmustliemanyofthoseessaysincriticismofwhichProfessorDowdenspeaks。Thiswhichweomit，thisliteratureofknowledge，ispowerfulliterature，thoughitsmainpurposeisnottomove，buttoteach。
Weareonlyreducingourfieldsothatwecansurveyit。Forourusesjustnowweshallfindpureliteraturetakingthethreestandardforms:thepoem，theessay，andthestory。ItistheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonthislargefieldofliteraturewhichwearetoobserve。
Justforsafety\'ssake，acceptanothernarrowingofthefield。TheeffectoftheBibleanditsreligiousteaching，onthewriterhimselfisaseparatestudy，andisforthemostpartleftoutofconsideration。ItsoundscorrectwhenMiltonsays:\"HewhowouldnotbefrustrateofhisPowertowritewelloughthimselftobeatruepoem。\"ButthereisMiltonhimselftodealwith；irreproachableinmorals，thereareyettheunhappyyearsofhisyoungwifetotroubleus，andtherewerehisdaughters，whowerenotatpeacewithhim，andwhomaftertheirserviceinhisblindnessheyetstigmatizesinhiswillas\"undutifulchildren。\"Then，ifyouthinkofShelleyorByron，youaretroubledbytheirlives；orevenCarlyle，theverymasteroftheVictorianera——onewouldnotliketoscanhislifeaccordingtothelawsoftruepoetry。
ThenthereisColeridge，fallingapreytoopiumuntil，asyearscame，conscienceandwillseemedtogo。OnlyaveryardentScotwillfeelthathecandefendRobertBurnsatallpoints，andwewouldbestrangeAmericansifwefeltthatEdgarAllenPoewasamodelofpropriety。Thatisalargeandinterestingfield，buttheBibleseemseventogainpowerasabook-makingbookwhenitlaysholdonthebook-makingproclivitiesofmenwhoarenotpreparedtoyieldtoitspersonalpower。Theymaygetawayfromitasreligion；theydonotgetawayfromitasliterature。