The gods by Music have their praise ; The life, the soul, therein doth joy :- In seas, whom pirates would destroy, Ev'n as the stern doth rule the ship! To comfort man, whom cares would nip! Percy. * Ovid—from Herodotus. The Delphin editor of Virgil seriously asserts, that this fish has been known to be enticed and tamed by the power of music.--Every one has read Shakspeare's rather too highly-coloured picture, of the heart which “Is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Our great reformer, Luther, expresses his admiration of music in very naive and forcible language. “ Music is one of the most beautiful and glo. rious gifts of God, to which the Evil One is a bitter enemy. By music, many tribulations and evil thoughts are driven away. It is one of the best arts; the notes give life to the text. It expelleth melancholy, as we see in King Saul. Music is the best solace for a sad and sorrowful mind. By means of music the heart is comforted, and settles again to peace. It is said in Virgil, • Tu calamos inflare leves, ego dicere versus.' Play thou the notes, and I will sing the words. Music is one half of discipline, and a schoolmistress that makes men more gentle and meek-more modest and intelligent. Music is a gift of God, and nearly allied to theology. I would not for a great deal be destitute of the small skill in music I have." -LUTHER's Colloquia Mensalia, or, Table Talk. By Dr. AURIFABER. 1569.-Ed. SONNET BY HENRY HOWARD EARL OF SURREY. [About 1540.] From Tuscané came my lady's worthy race, Fair Florence was sometime her ancient seat; The Western Isle, whose pleasant shore doth face Wild Camber's cliffs, did give her lively heat. Fostered she was, with milk of Irish breast : Her sire, an earl; her dame, of prince's blood; From tender years, in Britain she doth rest, With King's child, * where she tasteth costly food. Honsdon did first present her to mine eyn; Bright is her hue, and Geraldine she hight. Hampton me taught to wish her first for mine, And Windsor, alas! doth chase me from her sight. Her beauty of kind, + her virtue from above ; Happy is he that can obtain her love! Ritson. • Maid of honour to the Princess Mary. DESCRIPTION OF SPRING. BY THE SAME. Tue soote Season that bud and bloom forth brings, With green hath clad the hill and eke the vale ; The nightingale, with feathers new she sings ; The turtle to her make + hath told her tale. Summer is come! for every spray now springs : The hart hath hung his old head † on the pale; The fishes fleet & with new repaired scale ; The swift swallow pursueth the flies small; Winter is worn, that was the flower's bale.--And thus I see, among these pleasant things, Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs ! CAMPBELL. Horns. • Sweet. + Mate. When whispering winds that creeping steal, Distil soft passions through the heart; When threats can make A heart-string ache ;- Can scarce deny When unto heavenly joys we fain Whate'er the soul affecteth most; Whose lays, we think, Make stars to wink ;- Will ne'er deny O lull me, lull me, charming Air ! My senses rock with wonders sweet: Grief, who needs fear, That hath an ear?- And slumb’ring die, JAMIESON. THE RED-CROSS KNIGHT.* Blow, Warder! blow thy sounding horn, And thy banner wave on high; And have won the victory! And his banner waved on high : And the feast eat merrily!" Then bright the castle banners shone On every tower on high, For the Christians' victory : On every turret high,- And the feast eat merrily!" The warder he looked from the tower on high, As far as he could see: “ I see a bold Knight! and by his red cross, He comes from the East country." * The preceding Ballads of this Selection may be distinguished by the term, “ Ancient Ballads ;” being supposed to be, generally speaking, and in their original state, not less than two hundred years old. Those that follow, have, for the most part, been written within the last seventy years; and several of them, since the commencement of the present Century. |