Music's Empire
First
was
the
world
as
one
great
cymbal
made,
Where
jarring
winds
to
infant
Nature
played.
All
music
was
a
solitary
sound,
To
hollow
rocks
and
murm'ring
fountains
bound.
Jubal
first
made
the
wilder
notes
agree;
And
Jubal
tuned
music's
Jubilee;
He
call'd
the
echoes
from
their
sullen
cell,
And
built
the
organ's
city
where
they
dwell.
Each
sought
a
consort
in
that
lovely
place,
And
virgin
trebles
wed
the
manly
bass.
From
whence
the
progeny
of
numbers
new
Into
harmonious
colonies
withdrew.
Some
to
the
lute,
some
to
the
viol
went,
And
others
chose
the
cornet
eloquent,
These
practicing
the
wind,
and
those
the
wire,
To
sing
men's
triumphs,
or
in
Heaven's
choir.
Then
music,
the
mosaic
of
the
air,
Did
of
all
these
a
solemn
noise
prepare;
With
which
she
gain'd
the
empire
of
the
ear,
Including
all
between
the
earth
and
sphere.
Victorious
sounds!
yet
here
your
homage
do
Unto
a
gentler
conqueror
than
you;
Who
though
he
flies
the
music
of
his
praise,
Would
with
you
Heaven's
Hallelujahs
raise.
