138

MUSIC.

to the science now in use, this, like most other arts, whoseorigin is very remote, is involved in obscurity; and in pro-portion to the astonishment and wonder excited by its un-common powers, in a commensurate ratio does mystery,fable, and obscurity envelope its original. However, alwaysremembering that it was from harmony,

- “ from heavenly harmony, this universal frame began.”

Dryden.

Proceeding, step by step, it had eventually attained inGreece a very early perfection. An author justly entitledto the distinguished station held by all pupils of nature andof the muses, who is peculiarly eminent for what Horacedenominates the verbetn ardetis of just poetical spirit, thusspeaks of the heavenly science:

“ Arise, as in that elder time“ Warm, energetic, chaste, sublime;—

“ Thy wonders in that god-like age“ Fill thy recording sister’s page.—

“ ’Tis said, and I believe the tale,

“ Thy humblest reed could more prevail,

“ Had more of strength, diviner rage“ Than all that charms this laggard age,

“ Ev'n all at once together found,

“ Cacilia’s mingled world of sound.”

Collins's Ode on the Passiom.

It will be, however, remembered, that the poet calculatedas much upon the infant simplicity of nature as upon theuncommon powers of harmony; this consideration will cer-tainly reconcile the apparent extravagance of the thought.

So great were the early powers of verse and harmony,that at one period the votaries to the muses were regardedas persons divinely inspired; they were the priests of man, hislegislators, and his prophets. Insomuch was the pos-sessor of the art, and the art itself, reverenced, that theresponses of the most eminent oracles were received inmeasured verse. Witness the response of the Delphianoracle received by the Athenian deputation, when Greece inquired for her wisest man, as given by \enophon. VideMemorabilia.

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“ Wise is Sophocles, more wise Euripides ,

“ But the wisest of all men is Socrates .”

Music eventually claimed the most unlimited controul overthe afiections of mankind, as could be proved by an intinityof instances; we shall quote one only, from a well-authen-ticated fact, and finely illustrated, in that of Timotheus,from Alexander s Feast of Dryden. To omit the hyper-