University of Virginia Library

AN ODE IN PRAISE OF MUSICK.

Perform'd at Stationers-Hall, 1703.

[Begin with a CHORUS.]

I.

Awake, Cœlestial Harmony!
Awake, Cœlestial Harmony!
Turn thy Vocal Sphere around,
Goddess of Melodious Sound.
Let the Trumpet's shrill Voice,
And the Drum's thundring Noise,
Rouze ev'ry dull Mortal from Sorrows profound.
See, See!
The mighty Pow'r of Harmony!
Behold how soon its Charms can chase
Grief and Gloom from ev'ry Face!
How swift its Raptures fly,
And thrill thro' ev'ry Soul, and brighten ev'ry Eye!

II.

Proceed, sweet Charmer of the Ear!
Proceed; and thro' the mellow Flute,
The moving Lyre,
And solitary Lute,
Melting Airs, soft Joys inspire:
Airs for drooping Hope to hear,
Melting as a Lover's Pray'r;
Joys to flatter dull Despair,
And softly sooth the Amorous Fire.

III.

Now let the sprightly Violin
A louder Strain begin;
And now
Let the deep-mouth'd Organ blow,
Swell it high, and sink it low.
Hark!—how the Treble and Bass
In wanton Fuge's each other chace,
And swift Divisions run their airy Race!
Thro' all the travers'd Scale they fly,
In winding Labyrinths of Harmony;
By turns they rise and fall, by turns we live and die.

IV.

Ye Sons of Art once more renew your Strains;
In loftier Verse, and loftier Lays,
Your Voices raise
To MUSICK's Praise!
A Nobler Song remains.
Sing how the Great Creator-God
On Wings of flaming Cherubs rode,
To make a World; and round the Dark Abyss,
Turn'd the Golden Compasses,
The Compasses in Fate's High Storehouse found;
Thus far extend, He said, be this,
O World, thy Measur'd Bound.
Mean while a thousand Harps were play'd on high;
Be this thy Measur'd Bound,
Was echo'd all around:
And now arise, Ye Earth and Seas, and Sky!
A Thousand Voices made Reply,
Arise, Ye Earth and Seas, and Sky!

V.

What can MUSICK's Pow'r controul?
When Nature's sleeping Soul
Perceiv'd th'Enchanting Sound,
It wak'd, and shook off foul Deformity;
The mighty Melody
Nature's secret Chains unbound;
And Earth arose, and Seas, and Sky.
Aloft expanded Spheres were slung,
With Shining Luminaries hung;
A Vast Creation stood display'd,
By Heav'n's Inspiring MUSICK made.

VI.

Divinest Art, whose Fame shall never cease!
Thy Honour'd Voice proclaim'd the Saviour's Birth;
When Heav'n vouchsaf'd to treat with Earth,
MUSICK was Herald of the Peace:
Thy Voice cou'd best the Joyful Tidings tell;
Immortal Mercy! Boundless Love!
A God descending from Above,
To conquer Death and Hell.

VII.

There yet remains an Hour of Fate,
When MUSICK must again its Charms employ;
The Trumpet's Sound
Shall call the Num'rous Nations under Ground.
The Num'rous Nations straight
Appear; and some with Grief, and some with Joy
Their Final Sentence wait.

GRAND CHORUS.

Then other Arts shall pass away:
Proud Architecture shall in Ruins lie,
And Painting fade and die,
Nay Earth, and Heav'n itself, in wasteful Fire decay.
MUSICK alone, and POESY,
Triumphant o'er the Flame, shall see
The World's Last Blaze.
The Tuneful Sisters shall Embrace,
And Praise and Sing, and Sing and Praise,
In never-ceasing Choirs to all Eternity.