Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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AN IRREGULAR ODE ON MUSIC. |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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AN IRREGULAR ODE ON MUSIC.
I.
Cease, gentle sounds, nor kill me quite,With such excess of sweet delight!
Each trembling note invades my heart,
And thrills through ev'ry vital part;
A soft—a pleasing pain
Pursues my heated blood thro' ev'ry vein;
What—what does the enchantment mean?
Ah! give the charming magic o'er,
My beating heart can bear no more.
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II.
Now wild with fierce desire,My breast is all on fire!
In soften'd raptures, now, I die!
Can empty sound such joys impart!
Can music thus transport the heart,
With melting extasy!
O art divine! exalted blessing!
Each celestial charm expressing!
Kindest gift the Gods bestow!
Sweetest good that mortals know!
III.
When seated in a verdant shade(Like tuneful Thyrsis) Orpheus play'd;
The distant trees forsake the wood,
The list'ning beasts neglect their food,
To hear the heav'nly sound;
The Dryads leave the mountains,
The Naiades quit the fountains,
And in a sprightly chorus dance around.
IV.
To raise the stately walls of ancient Troy,Sweet Phœbus did his tuneful harp employ;
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The moving rocks the sound pursue,
'Till in a large collected mass they grew:
Had Thyrsis liv'd in these remoter days,
His were the chaplet of immortal bays!
Apollo's harp unknown!
The shepherd had remain'd of song
The Deity alone.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |