ALEXANDER's FEAST;

O R,

THE POWER OF MUSIC.

A NODE,

In Honour of St. CECILIA's Day.,

This ode has been more applauded, perhaps, than it has been felt; however, it is a very fine one, and gives its beauties rather at a third, or fourth, than at a firft, perufal.

I.

WAS at the royal feast, for Perfia won,

'TWA

By Philip's warlike fon :

Aloft, in awful ftate,

The godlike hero fate

On his imperial throne:

His valiant peers were plac'd around; Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound, (So fhou'd defert in arms be crown'd :) '

The lovely Thais by his fide,

Sate like a blooming eastern bride,
In flower of youth and beauty's pride.

Happy

Happy, happy, happy pair!

None but the brave,

None but the brave,

None but the brave deserve the fair.'

CHORUS.

Happy, happy, happy pair!

None but the brave,

None but the brave,

None but the brave deferves the fair.

II.

Timotheus plac'd on high

Amid the tuneful quire,

With flying fingers touch'd the lyre :
The trembling notes afcend the sky,
And heav'nly joys infpire.

The fong began from Jove;

Who left his blissful feats above,
(Such is the pow'r of mighty love.)
A dragon's fiery form bely'd the god:
Sublime on radiant fpires he rode,

When he to fair Olympia prefs'd:

And while he fought her fnowy breast: Then, round her flender waist he curl'd,

And stamp'd an image of himself, a sov'reign of the world.

The lift'ning crowd admire the lofty found.

A prefent Deity they fhout around;

A prefent Deity the vaulted roofs rebound:

With ravish'd ears

The monarch hears,
Affumes the god,
Affects to nod,

And seems to shake the spheres.

CHORUS.

With ravish'd ears

The monarch hears,

Affumes the god,

Affects to nod,

And feems to shake the spheres.

III.

The praife of Bacchus then the sweet musician fung;
Of Bacchus, ever fair, and ever young:
The jolly god in triumph comes;
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums;
Flush'd with a purple grace,

He fhews his honest face;

Now gives the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes. Bacchus, ever fair and young,

Drinking joys did firft ordain :

Bacchus' bleffings are a treasure,
Drinking is the foldier's pleasure ;

Rich the treasure,

Sweet the pleasure;

Sweet is pleasure after pain.

VOL. I.

G

CHORUS.

CHORUS.

Bacchus' bleffings are a treasure;
Drinking is the foldier's pleasure;
Rich the treasure,

Sweet the pleasure ;

Sweet is pleasure after pain.

IV.

Sooth'd with the found the king grew vain;
Fought all his battles o'er again;

And thrice he routed all his foes; and thrice he flew the flain.

The master saw the madness rise;
His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes;
And, while he Heav'n and earth defy'd,
Chang'd his hand, and check'd his pride.
He chofe a mournful mufe,

Soft pity to infuse:

He fung Darius, great and good,
By too fevere a fate,

Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen,

Fallen from his high estate,

And welt'ring in his blood:

Deferted at his utmost need,

By thofe his former bounty fed:
On the bare earth expos'd he lies,
With not a friend to close his eyes.

With