Notes.
343
L. 20. And shot lyke Cupids in Apollo's bow.
A beautiful line; as much as to say, that the power of these musicians was as great as that of the god of love. It puts me in mind of a fine line in Lee's "Alexander:" Diana's soul, cast in the flesh of Venus. Apollo was the god of music, poetry, and medicine:
The wise of ancient days adored
One power of physic, melody, and song.
Armstrong's Art of Preser. Health.
One power of physic, melody, and song.
Armstrong's Art of Preser. Health.
L. 21.Such learned sweets through every veine did flowe,
Such heaven-like musique tempers noblest rime, &c.
Such heaven-like musique tempers noblest rime, &c.
So Milton,
In service high, and anthems clear,
As may with sweetness thiough mine ear
Dissolve me into extasies,
And bring all heaven before my eyes.—Il Penseroso.
Lap me in soft Lydian airs,
Married to immortal verse,
Such as the yielding soul may pierce.—L'Allegro.
As may with sweetness thiough mine ear
Dissolve me into extasies,
And bring all heaven before my eyes.—Il Penseroso.
Lap me in soft Lydian airs,
Married to immortal verse,
Such as the yielding soul may pierce.—L'Allegro.
L. 40. Soft-pen'd Crashaw. An epithet finely expressive of the genius and style of that tender, mystical, enthusiastic poet.
L. 8. I know a seazon'd verse, &c.
This claim of the poet may very fairly be allowed. He seems to have had a very good notion of what poetry really ought to be. He begins his remarks on poetical composition, by telling us that he hates
those chemick poets' wilts,
Who forge a golden verse of copper bitts,
Because 'tis gilt with shining epithets:
Who forge a golden verse of copper bitts,
Because 'tis gilt with shining epithets:
Which are called by Horace, "Versus inopes rerum nugæque canoræ."
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