 | Familiar letters and poems on several occasions |  |
274
An ODE on MUSICK.
From Pindus Top, where rules the God of Day,
The Bard invokes the Lay;
Aonian Sisters join the Band,
With all your dulcet Songs attend.
And thou Soul-soothing Melody inspire,
The martial Trumpet's hollow Throat;
The deep-mouth'd Organ's solemn Note;
The slow majestic Swell,
The Power of Harmony shall tell,
And the loud Chorus fill the sacred Choir.
The Bard invokes the Lay;
Aonian Sisters join the Band,
With all your dulcet Songs attend.
And thou Soul-soothing Melody inspire,
The martial Trumpet's hollow Throat;
The deep-mouth'd Organ's solemn Note;
The slow majestic Swell,
The Power of Harmony shall tell,
And the loud Chorus fill the sacred Choir.
Air.
Musick charms the Lover's Breast;Musick lulls our Cares to Rest;
Now she's sweetly gay and jolly;
Now she sinks in Melancholy.
275
Recitative.
Harmonious Orpheus strikes his Shell,Oh! listen to the trembling Note;
See, see! he moves the King of Hell,
And hoary Charon quits his Boat.
Air.
The naked Souls that hover round,In Pleasure lose their Pain;
Such is the mighty Power of Sound,
Prometheus drops his Chain.
Recitative.
The Lion's Fury now he tames,And now again his Rage inflames;
Huge Rocks, un-hing'd, around him stood,
And Trees, un-rooted, quit the Wood;
Obedient Rivers as they glide,
His wond'rous Harmony obey'd;
Now gently flow'd with easy Tide,
Or furious trembled in a loud Cascade;
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Chorus.
Creation listens all around,Such is the mighty Power of Sound.
Air.
Amphion next began to play,And gently stole the Heart away
Charming Pleasure,
Sweetest Measure;
Love alarming
Souls disarming,
Gently stole the Heart away.
Recitative.
The Coward Chiefs who sunk with Fear,To find the hostile Troops were near;
The sprightly Trumpet's Sound inspires.
Air.
With noble Ardor now they burn,Quick to the Charge they now return;
Behold the frighted Foe retires.
277
Act II.
The buxom Nymphs, and jolly Swains,
That haunt Britania's verdant Plains;
As sprightly May advances,
That haunt Britania's verdant Plains;
As sprightly May advances,
Air.
Anon the cheary Lass,Trips it briskly o'er the Grass,
And gaily throws around her Glances—
Here the blithsome Shepherds wooing,
There the enamour'd Couple cooing;
Hail her with her rural Dances.
Recitative.
The spreading Oak reclin'd beneath,The gentle Noon-tide Air they breathe;
'Till Phœbus westward drives his Steeds,
And laughing Mirth, and rosy Wine succeed.
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Air.
Soft Violins to jocund Dances call,And as the various Measures sound,
The merry Dancers strike the Ground;
Recitative.
Listen, ah listen to the warbling Flute,Ye feather'd Choir a while be mute;
Hither oh Goddess of the Paphian Grove,
And all ye little Cupids move.
Air.
Venus, Queen of soft Desire,Melt, oh! melt my Charmer's Breast;
Must a faithful Swain expire,
While a faithless Nymph's at rest?
Recitative.
His Vows are heard—no more he pines—The Nymph again to Love inclines—
279
Duet.
While my Charmer thus caressing,Monarch's, I your Power disdain;
Here's the Darling worth possessing,
Sweet Reward for all my Pain.
Recitative.
Be calm as Midnight—fair Cecilia sings,And Musick rises on her softest Wings;
Diffusive Sweetness on her Warble floats,
And the Heart springs dilated with her Notes.
Attention listens, as the thirsty Ear,
Imbibes each Thrill, and yet thirsts on to hear;
See the charm'd Angels by her Accents bound,
Feed on her Notes, and drink the lenient Sound.
Air.
Oh! how sweetly soft her Measure!Full of Harmony and Pleasure;
280
Her rosy Fingers move;
Now rising from the Notes below,
She strikes the Chords above.
Grand Chorus.
Attentive Woods round Orpheus throng,But Angels listen to her Song.
S
| Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | |