ODE for MUSIC ON D ESCEND, ye Nine! defcend and fing; Wake into voice each filent ftring,. In a fadly pleafing ftrain Let the warbling lute complain : The fhrill echoes rebound: While in more lengthen'd notes and flow, Now louder, and yet louder rife, And fill with spreading founds the skies; Exulting in triumph now fwell the bold notes, In broken air, trembling, the wild mufic floats; 'Till, by degrees, remote and small, The ftrains decay, And melt away, In a dying, dying fall. By Mufic, minds an equal temper know, Nor fwell too high, nor fink too low,, 5 15 20 If in the breast tumultuous joys arife, Mufic her foft, affuafive voice applies;" 25 Or, when the foul is prefs'd with cares, Warriors fhe fires with animated founds; Pours balm into the bleeding lover's wounds; Morpheus roufes from his bed, Sloth unfolds her arms and wakes, III. But when our Country's caufe provokes to Arms, So when the first bold veffel dar'd the feas, High on the ftern the Thracian rais'd his ftrain, IV. But when thro' all th' infernal bounds, Love, ftrong as Death, the Poets led- 30 35 40 50 But hark! he ftrikes the golden lyre; See, fhady forms advance! Thy ftone, O Sifyphus, ftands ftill, And the pale spectres dance! The Furies fink upon their iron beds, 65 By thofe happy fouls who dwell Or Amaranthine bow'rs; Restore, restore Eurydice to life : He fung, and hell confented To hear the Poet's prayer; And gave him back the fair. 71 |