Metrical Psalms and Hymns. Several of the r.salin.s were transliited into Enfjlish metre, during the latter part of tlie reign of Henry YIII, by Sir liiomas "Wyatt, anil printed in 1549. This version, however, is supposed to be lost. It has been thought that a refer- ence to some metrical psalms existed in the 7th section of the 1st Act of Uniformity in the reign of Edward YI, 1549, authorizing the use of the Prayer-book, where it was enacted - that it shall be lawful for all men, as well in churches, chapels, oratories, or other places, to use openly any psalm or prayer taken out of the Bible at any due time; not letting or omitting thereby the ser- vice, or any part thereof, racntioneil in the said book." But this was several years antecedent to the appearance of any regular version. The metrical Psalms, called the " Old' Version," originated with Sternhold, who was groom of the robes to Henry VIII and Edward VI, and was continued by others until 1G41. when the revisers of the Prayer-book declared that '• singing of hymns in metre is no part of the liturgy," and therefore they re- fused to consider them, as not in their commission. See Proctor, On Commun Prayer (see Index) ; Cardwell, Con- ferences, s. v. ; Bates, Christ. A ntiq. s. v. ; Staunton, Ec- cks. Diet. s. V. See l'sAi,Jis,ViiKsiON'.s of.
Metrodorus, a leading Epicurean philosopher, was, according to the best authorities, a native of Lampsacns, although some claim that he was an Athenian. He flourished in the second half of the 3d century B.C. From his earliest connection with this school of philoso- phy until his death, he lived in daily and intimate in- tercourse with Epicurus, absenting himself only six months during the whole period. He is regarded as the founder of that baser and more sensual form of Epi- curean philosophy which many, who sought for " jjleas- ure as the chief good," substituted for the intellectual enjoyment adopted by Epicurus as his ideal good. Ac- cording to Cicero, he made ]-)erfect happiness to consist in having a well-constituted body, and knowing that it would always remain so. One of his sayings, as quoted by AthenaMis, was that "the belly is the foundation of ail philosophy." He claimed that all pertaining to a hap))y life should be tested and measured by this organ. Metrodorus became the favorite disciple of Epicurus, and may justly be ranked second only to him in importance. He" died in 277 B.C., at the age of fifty-three, seven years before the death of his master, who had intended to make him his successor. He left two children, a son and daughter, whom Epicurus protected while he was living, and fur whom he generously provided in his will. ^Metrodorus left to the world some of his thoughts in the tangible form of thirteen volumes, as enumerated by Diogenes. All these have disappeared, except some fragments foinul among the Ilerculanean Papyri; the most important of which is a portion of his treatise Ilfpi Airrcf/TKO', contained in the sixth volume of the Neaixilitan collection. For many years the Epicu- reans kept the 2(11 h of each month as a festal day in honor of their master and of Metrodorus, whose name will ever be linked with that of Epicurus. Another phih)Sopher of like name flourished in C/iios, in Greece, about 400 B.C. He was the author of a Treatise on Nature, which was verv celebrated. See Baylo, I/isl. and Crif. Dirt. s. v. ; Fabricius, Biblioth. Crwca, iii, GOG : Plinv, /Jisl. .\(it. XXXV, 40 ; I'lutarch, Pattlus yKmilius, 32. '(H.W'.T.)
Metrology, the science of determining the relative value of measures, wliether these belong to pecuniary standards or to fixed (piautities of capacity or extenl. Indeed, these three are intimately connected, for coins can only be accurately determined by weight, and the bulk of solids or licpuds is ultimately ascertained by linear measurements in cubic dimensions, or by a given
weight of a certain substance of uniform density. Spe- cific gra,vity, therefore, lies at the b.isis of all quantita- tive admeasurements. In the present article we are, of course, strictly concerned only witli the Biblical, espe- cially Hebrew, weights and measures; but as the value of these has come down to us chiefly in (ircek equiva- lents, it becomes necessary to take the latter also into consideration. '• The Koman measures came from (i recce, the (irecian from Phoenicia, the Phcenician from Babylon. Accordingly each system will throw light on the other, and all may be made to contribute something to the elucidation of the Hebrew weights and measures. This method of viewing the su!)ject, and the satisfactory lessons which have been hence deduced, are to be as- cribed to Bijckh {Metroloi/ischen U ntersurhuntjen, '[^crWn, 1838), who, availing himself of the results ascertained b\' English, French, and German scholars, and of the peculiar facilities afforded by a residence in the midst of the profound and varied erudition of the Prussian capital, has succeeded, by the api)lication of his unwear- ied industry and superior endowments, in showing that the system of weights and measures of Babylon, Egypt, Palestine, Phoenicia. Greece, Sicily, and Italy, formed one great whole, with the most intimate relationships and connections" (Kitto^. To these researches must be added later investigations and comparisons by differ- ent antiquarians as to the value of particular specimens of coins and measures still extant, which sometimes considerabh- modify the conclusions of Bockh.