ferred to the taste of his friends, Lord Burlington and Dr. Arbuthnot, and recognized their high appreciation of the genius of Handel, he was himself insensible to the power of Music. The consequence is that, while there is something elevated in the opening of the Ode, which is in the more didactic vein, of which he was a master, the general effect is cold and uninspiring. Dryden treats the subject historically, and so keeps it always within touch of human action and passion; Pope on the other hand, by illustrating it with merely mythological examples, removes it from the sphere of human interest, and gives it an air of unreality. The Ode as prepared for music is as follows: By the streams that ever flow, By those happy souls that dwell Restore, restore Eurydice to life, Oh take the husband, or return the wife! He sung, and Hell consented Stern Proserpine relented, TWO CHORUSES TO THE TRAGEDY OF "BRUTUS." 1 CHORUS OF ATHENIANS. STROPHE I. YE shades, where sacred truth is sought; In vain your guiltless laurels stood War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades, ANTISTROPHE I. Oh heav'n born sisters! source of art! Altered from Shakespear by the Duke of Buckingham, at whose desire these two Choruses were composed to supply as many wanting in his play. They were set many years afterwards by the famous Bononcini, and performed at Buckingham-house. -POPE. Two plays of the Duke of Buckingham, called "Julius Cæsar and "Brutus," altered from Shakespeare's "Julius Cæsar," were pub lished in 1722, after the Duke's death. They were designed on a classical model, with musical choruses to be sung between the acts. 10 2 The propriety of these lines arises from hence, that Brutus, one of the heroes of this play, was of the old Academy; and Cassius, the other, was an Epicurean; but, this had not been enough to justify the poet's choice, had not Plato's system of Divinity, and Epicurus's system of Morals, been the most rational amongst the various sects of Greek philosophy.—WARBURTON. I cannot be persuaded that Pope thought of Brutus and Cassius as being followers of different sects of philosophy.-WARTON. To what new clime, what distant sky, Say, will ye bless the bleak Atlantic shore? STROPHE II. When Athens sinks by fates unjust, 'Till some new Tyrant lifts his purple hand, ANTISTROPHE II. Ye Gods! what justice rules the ball? In ev'ry age, in ev'ry state! Still, when the lust of tyrant power succeeds, CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS. SEMICHORUS. OH Tyrant Love! hast thou possest The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous breast? And Arts but soften us to feel thy flame. Loye, soft intruder, enters here, But ent'ring learns to be sincere. Marcus with blushes owns he loves, Why, Virtue, dost thou blame desire,' 10 The Gods and Brutus bend to love: Brutus for absent Portia sighs, And sterner Cassius melts at Junia's eyes. A vapour fed from wild desire, But Hymen's kinder flames unite; Chaste as cold Cynthia's virgin light, SEMICHORUS. Oh source of ev'ry social tie, United wish, and mutual joy! 25 What various joys on one attend, As son, as father, brother, husband, friend? While thousand grateful thoughts arise; In allusion to that famous conceit of Guarini, 30 What tender passions take their turns, What home-felt raptures move? His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns, With rev'rence, hope, and love. CHORUS. Hence guilty joys, distastes, surmises, Fires that scorch, yet dare not shine! Sacred Hymen! these are thine. |