Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres.8 The praise of Bacchus," then, the sweet musician sung; Of Bacchus, ever fair and ever young! The jolly god in triumph comes! Sound the trumpets! beat the drums! Flush'd with a purple grace, He shows his honest face. Now give the hautboys10 breath:-He comes! he comes! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain. Bacchus' blessings are a treasure ; Drinking is the soldier's pleasure." 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 master12 saw the madness rise; His13 glowing cheeks, his13 ardent eyes: 8 The music made Alexander for the moment think himself what it had feigned him to be. 9 Bacchus, the God of wine. 10 hautboy, an instrument like a flute. 11 Drinking was fatal to Alexander, at the age of 32. It is the curse of anyone who gives way to it. 12 Timotheus. 13 Alexander. He chose a mournful muse, He sung Darius14 great and good! Fallen fallen! fallen! fallen !— Deserted at his utmost need With downcast look the joyless victor sate, The various turns of chance below; The mighty master15 smiled, to see Softly sweet, in Lydian measures,17 Never ending, still beginning, 14 The king of Persia, whom Alexander had conquered. The following lines describe the end of the unfortunate king. 15 Timotheus. 16 That love was close akin to the Fighting still, and still destroying. Take the good the gods provide thee.” The prince, unable to conceal his pain,' Who caused his care, 19 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! A louder yet, and yet a louder strain! And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder! Has raised up his head, As awaked from the dead: And, amazed, he stares around. 18 The crowd. See the snakes that they rear, How they hiss in their hair, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! 19 Here, his excitement of love. 20 The Furies, three fabled beings, who were armed with snakes and torches, to wreak vengeance when they chose. Behold a ghastly band, Each a torch in his hand: These are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain, And, unburied, remain To the valiant crew !21 Behold! how they toss their torches on high, The princes applaud, with a furious joy; Thais led the way, To light him to his prey! And, like another Helen, fired another Troy. Thus, long ago, Ere heaving bellows learned to blow, And sounding lyre, Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. 21 Nothing was more dreaded by the Greeks than being left unburied. Here the ghosts of the soldiers killed in Alexander's battles, and left unburied by the Persians, call on the Furies to avenge them by burning the Persian temples. 22 The Persians had no gods; they were opposed to idolatry. 23 St. Cecilia, a Roman virgin martyr, who perished for the faith about A.D. 230. 24 The organ.-A legend of the 14th century makes her the patroness of church music. The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, And added length to solemn sounds, With nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown: He raised a mortal to the skies; Addison is chiefly known by his exquisite prose writings in the Tatler and Spectator. He was for some time Secretary of State, and was only 47 when he died. CREATION. THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. Th' unwearied sun, from day to day, Soon as the evening shades prevail, |