Eurydice the woods, 115 Eurydice the rocks, and hollow mountains rung. VII. And antedate the bliss above. Th’immortal pow'rs incline their ear; Borne on the swelling notes our souls aspire, While solemn airs improve the sacred fire ; And Angels lean from heav'n to hear. 130 Of Orpheus now no more let Poets tell, To bright Cecilia greater power is giv'n; His numbers rais'd a shade from hell, Hers lift the soul to heav'n. TWO CHORUSS TO THE STROPHE I. Where heav'nly vifions Plato fir’d, Unspotted long with human blood. REMARKS, THESE two Chorus's were composed to enrich a very poor Play ; but they had the ulual effect of ill-adjusted Ornaments, only to make its meanne's the more confpicuous, * Altered from Shakespear by the Duke of Buckingham, at whose desire these two Chorus's were compoted to lupply as many, wanting in his play. They were fet many years afterwards by the famous Bononcini, and performed at Buckinghamhouse. P. VER. 3. Wbere heavenly Visions Plato fir'd, And Epicurus, lay inspir'd!] The propriety of these lines arises from hence, that Brutus, one of the Heroes of this Play, was of the Old Academy; and Caffius, 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 Philofophy. ANTISTROPHE I. Forsaken, friendless, fraye bye STROPHE And Athens riting rear the price RE 14 ARKS. Ver. 12. Moral tr uth AND p.pin for He has expreffe i himself better had he said, “ Moral truth in myftic furg! In the Antistrophe he turns from Philliy to Mythalagy; and Mythology is nothing but moral truih in mistic fing. 25 ANTISTROPHE II. In ev'ry age, in ev'ry state! 30 CHORUS of Youths and Virginsä SEMICHORUS. The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous breast? 5 Which Nature has imprest? CHORUS 10 REM A R K S. Ver. 9. Why Virtue, etc.) In allusion to that famous conceit of Gúarini, “ Se il peccare è sì dolce, etc. Vol. 1, |