ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC. AN ODE IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA'S DAY. 'Twas at the royal feast, for Persia won Aloft in awful state The god-like hero sate On his imperial throne: His valiant peers were placed around, Sate like a blooming Eastern bride None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair. CHORUS. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair. Timotheus, placed on high Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers touch'd the lyre: The song began from Jove, And while he sought her snowy breast: ALEXANDER'S FEAST. Then round her slender waist he curl'd, 103 And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. The listening crowd admire the lofty sound, A present deity! they shout around: A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound. The monarch hears, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres. CHORUS. With ravish'd ears Assumes the god, And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung, The jolly god in triumph comes; He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath. He comes! he comes! Drinking joys did first ordain; Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. CHORUS. Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, 104 ALEXANDER'S FEAST. Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. Soothed with the sound the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o'er again; And thrice he routed all his foes; and thrice he slew the slain. The master saw the madness rise; Soft pity to infuse: He sung Darius, great and good; And welt'ring in his blood; The various turns of chance below; CHORUS. Revolving in his alter'd soul The various turns of chance below; The mighty master smiled, to see ALEXANDER'S FEAST. Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Who caused his care, And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length, with love and wine at once oppress'd, CHORUS. The prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length, with love and wine at once oppress'd, Now strike the golden lyre again: And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder. Has raised up his head: And amazed, he stares around. Revenge! revenge! Timotheus cries, 105 106 ALEXANDER'S FEAST. See the furies arise ! See the snakes that they rear, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Each a torch in his hand! Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain, Behold how they toss their torches on high, To light him to his prey, And, like another Helen, fired another Troy! CHORUS. And the king seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy; Thais led the way, To light him to his prey, And, like another Helen, fired another Troy ! Thus long ago, Ere heaving bellows learn'd to blow, And sounding lyre, Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. Inventress of the vocal frame; The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, And added length to solemn sounds, With nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before. |