- two turtle doves:
- Tor, the turtle or ring-dove, so called by an onomatopœia from its cooing, as in Greek τρυγων, Latin, turtur and English, turtle. It is a species of the dove or pigeon, here called yonah, and in the Syriac yauno, from the verb to oppress, afflict, because of its being particularly defenceless, and exposed to rapine and violence. The dove is a genus of birds too well known to need a particular description; and of which there are several species besides the turtle-dove; as the wood pigeon, tame pigeon, and others. The dove is universally allowed to be one of the most beautiful objects in nature. The brilliancy of her plumage, the splendour of her eye, the innocence of her look, the excellence of her dispositions, and the purity of her manners, have been the theme of admiration and praise in every age. To the snowy whiteness of her wings, and the rich golden hues that adorn her neck, the inspired Psalmist alludes in most elegant strains ("Though¹ ye have lienª° among¹ the pots,ª [yet shall ye be as] the wingsª of a doveª coveredª° with silver,ª and her feathersª with yellowª gold.ª" {Psa 68:13}). The voice of the dove is particularly tender and plaintive, and bears a striking resemblance to the groan of a person in distress; to which the inspired bards frequently allude ("Like a craneª [or] a swallow,ª so¹ did I chatter:ª° I did mournª° as a dove:ª mine eyesª failª° [with looking] upward:ª O LORD,²¹ I am oppressed;ª undertake²°¹ for me." {Isa 38:14} + "We roarª° all¹ like bears,ª and mournª° sore²° like doves:ª we lookª° for judgment,ª but [there is] none;¹ for salvation,ª [but] it is far offª° from¹ us." {Isa 59:11} + "But they that escapeª° of them shall escape,ª and shall be¹ on¹ the mountainsª like dovesª of the valleys,ª all¹ of them mourning,ª° every oneª for his iniquity.ª" {Ezk 7:16}). Her native dwelling is in the caves or hollows of the rock; allusions to which fact also occur in the Sacred Writings ("O my dove,ª [that art] in the cleftsª of the rock,ª in the secretª [places] of the stairs,ª let me seeª°¹ thy countenance,ª let me hearª°¹ thy voice;ª for¹ sweetª [is] thy voice,ª and thy countenanceª [is] comely.ª" {Sgs 2:14} + "O ye that dwellª° in Moab,ª leaveª° the cities,ª and dwellª° in the rock,ª and be¹ like the doveª [that] maketh her nestª° in the sidesª of the hole'sª mouth.ª" {Jer 48:28}). Her manners are as engaging as her form is elegant, and her plumage rich and beautiful. She is the chosen emblem of simplicity, gentleness, chastity, and feminine timidity, and for this reason, as well as from their abounding in the East, they were probably chosen as offerings by Jehovah. "Though¹ ye have lienª° among¹ the pots,ª [yet shall ye be as] the wingsª of a doveª coveredª° with silver,ª and her feathersª with yellowª gold.ª" {Psa 68:13} + "O my dove,ª [that art] in the cleftsª of the rock,ª in the secretª [places] of the stairs,ª let me seeª°¹ thy countenance,ª let me hearª°¹ thy voice;ª for¹ sweetª [is] thy voice,ª and thy countenanceª [is] comely.ª" {Sgs 2:14} + "Like a craneª [or] a swallow,ª so¹ did I chatter:ª° I did mournª° as a dove:ª mine eyesª failª° [with looking] upward:ª O LORD,²¹ I am oppressed;ª undertake²°¹ for me." {Isa 38:14} + "We roarª° all¹ like bears,ª and mournª° sore²° like doves:ª we lookª° for judgment,ª but [there is] none;¹ for salvation,ª [but] it is far offª° from¹ us." {Isa 59:11} + "O ye that dwellª° in Moab,ª leaveª° the cities,ª and dwellª° in the rock,ª and be¹ like the doveª [that] maketh her nestª° in the sidesª of the hole'sª mouth.ª" {Jer 48:28} + "But they that escapeª° of them shall escape,ª and shall be¹ on¹ the mountainsª like dovesª of the valleys,ª all¹ of them mourning,ª° every oneª for his iniquity.ª" {Ezk 7:16}
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