The Works of John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected |
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ODE on the Death of Henry Purcell.
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 | The Works of John Sheffield |  |
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ODE on the Death of Henry Purcell.
Set to Musick.
Good Angels snatch'd him eagerly on high;Joyful they flew, singing and soaring thro' the Sky,
Teaching his new-fledg'd Soul to fly;
While we, alas! lamenting lie.
He went musing all along,
Composing new their heav'nly Song.
A while his skilful Notes loud Hallelujahs drown'd;
But soon they ceas'd their own, to catch his pleasing Sound.
David himself improv'd the Harmony,
David in sacred Story so renown'd
No less for Musick, than for Poetry!
186
Crown'd with Applause surpassing all Desert!
A Man just after God's own Heart!
If human Cares are lawful to the Blest,
Already settled in eternal Rest;
Needs must he wish that Purcell only might
Have liv'd to set what he vouchsaf'd to write;
For, sure, the noble Thirst of Fame
With the frail Body never dies;
But with the Soul ascends the Skies
From whence at first it came.
'Tis sure no little Proof we have
That Part of us survives the Grave,
And in our Fame below still bears a Share:
Why is the Future else so much our Care,
Ev'n in our latest Moment of Despair?
And Death despis'd for Fame by all the Wise and Brave?
Oh, all ye blest harmonious Choir!
Who Pow'r Almighty only love, and only that admire!
187
On this sad Isle perplex'd,
And ever, ever vex'd
With anxious Care of Trifles, Wealth, and Pow'r.
In our rough Minds due Reverence infuse
For sweet melodious Sounds, and each harmonious Muse.
Musick exalts Man's Nature, and inspires
High elevated Thoughts, or gentle, kind Desires.
| The Works of John Sheffield | |