Alexander's Feast ; MacFlecknoe ; and St. Cecilia's Day

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Charles E. Merrill Company, 1883 - 30 pages

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Page 27 - 1. FROM harmony, from heav'nly harmony This universal frame began. When Nature underneath a heap Of jarring atoms lay, And cou'd not heave her head, 5 The tuneful voice was heard from high : Arise, ye more than dead. Then cold and hot and moist and dry In order to their stations leap, And Musick's pow'r
Page 13 - Cou'd swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. At last divine Cecilia came, Inventress of the vocal frame ; The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, Enlarg'd the former narrow bounds, 135 And added length to solemn sounds, With Nature's mother.wit, and arts unknown before. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown : He
Page 12 - Give the vengeance due To the valiant crew. Behold how they toss their torches on high, How they point to the Persian abodes, And glitt'ring temples of their hostile gods. 120 The princes applaud with a furious joy; And the king seyz'da flambeau with zeal to destroy; Thais led the way, To light him to his prey, And, like another Hellen,
Page 9 - Of Bacchus ever fair, and ever young. The jolly god in triumph comes; 40' Sound the trumpets, beat the drums ; Flush'd with a purple grace He shews his honest face; Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes. Bacchus, ever fair and young,
Page 10 - check'd his pride. He chose a mournful Muse, Soft pity to infuse ; 60 He sung Darius great and good, By too severe a fate Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen. Fallen from his high estate, And weltring in his blood.
Page 13 - And added length to solemn sounds, With Nature's mother.wit, and arts unknown before. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown : He rais'da mortal to the skies : 140 She drew an angel down.
Page 23 - Thou art my blood, where Jonson has no part " What share have we in nature or in art ? Where did his wit on learning fix a brand And rail at arts he did not understand ? When made he love in Prince Nicander's vein 170 Or swept the dust in Psyche's humble strain
Page 27 - 10 From harmony, from heav'nly harmony This universal frame began ; From harmony to harmony Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in Man. 15
Page 29 - The soft complaining flute In dying notes discovers The woes of hopeless lovers, ' . 35 Whose dirge is whisper'd by the warbling lute. v. Sharp violins proclaim Their jealous pangs and desperation, Fury, frantick indignation, Depth of pains and height of passion,
Page 10 - Deserted at his utmost need By those his former bounty fed, On the bare earth expos'd he lyes, With not a friend to close his eyes. With downcast looks the joyless victor sate, 70

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