Classic Poem

Ere on old Shinar's plain the fortress rose,
Rear'd by those giants who durst heav'n oppose,
An universal language mankind us'd,
Till daring crimes brought accents more confus'd;
Discord and jar for punishment were hurl'd
On hearts and tongues of the rebellious world.

The primar speech with notes harmonious clear,
(Transporting thought!) gave pleasure to the ear:
Then music in its full perfection shin'd,
When man to man melodious spoke his mind.

As when a richly-fraughted fleet is lost
In rolling deeps, far from the ebbing coast,
Down many fathoms of the liquid mass,
The artist dives in ark of oak or brass;
Snatches some ingots of Peruvian ore,
And with his prize rejoicing makes the shore:
Oft this attempt is made, and much they find;
They swell in wealth, tho' much is left behind.

Amphion's sons, with minds elate and bright,
Thus plunge th' unbounded ocean of delight,
And daily gain new stores of pleasing sounds,
To glad the earth, fixing to spleen its bounds;
While vocal tubes and consort strings engage
To speak the dialect of the golden age.
Then you, whose symphony of souls proclaim
Your kin to heav'n, add to your country's fame,
And shew that music may have as good fate
In Albion's glens, as Umbria's green retreat;
And with Correlli's soft Italian song
Mix “Cowdenknows,” and “Winter nights are
“long:”
Nor should the martial “Pibrough” be despis'd;
Own'd and refin'd by you, these shall the more be
priz'd.

Each ravish'd ear extols your heav'nly art,
Which soothes our care, and elevates the heart;
Whilst hoarser sounds the martial ardours move,
And liquid notes invite to shades and love.

Hail! safe restorer of distemper'd minds,
That with delight the raging passions binds;
Extatic concord, only banish'd hell,
Most perfect where the perfect beings dwell.
Long may our youth attend thy charming rites,
Long may they relish thy transported sweets.