Where Peace defcending bids her olives spring, 430 ODE for MUSIC ON ST. CECILIA'S DAY. D .I. Efcend, ye Nine! defcend and fing; Wake into voice each filent ftring, Let the warbling lute complain : 'Till the roofs all around The fhrill echos rebound : Ode for Mufic.] This is one of the most artful as well as fublime of our Poet's fmaller compofitions. The first ftanza is a defcription of the various tones and measures in mufic. The Second relates their power over the feveral paffions in general. The third, their use in infpiring the Heroic paffions in particular. The fourth, fifth, and fixth, their power over all nature in the fable of Orpheus's expedition to hell; which fubject of illuftration arofe naturally out of the preceding mention of the Argonautic expedition, where Orpheus gives an example of the use of Mufic to inspire the heroic paffions. The feventh and laft concludes in praife of Mufic, and the advantages of the facred above the prophane. While in more lengthen'd notes and flow, Hark! the numbers foft and clear, Now louder, and yet louder rife And fill with spreading founds the skies; And melt away, In a dying, dying fall. II. By Mufic, minds an equal témper know, Or, when the foul is prefs'd with cares, Warriors fhe fires with animated founds; Pours balm into the bleeding lover's wounds: Melancholy lifts her head, Morpheus rouzes from his bed, Sloth unfolds her arms and wakes, Lift'ning Envy drops her fnakes; Inteftine war no more our Paffions wage, IO 15 20 25 30 And giddy Factions hear away away their rage. 35 III. But when our Country's caufe provokes to Arms, How martial mufic ev'ry bofom warms! So |