A poetic DESCANT UPON A Private music-meeting.  

MUSE! Rise, and plume thy Feet, and let's converse  
This Mor'n together: Let's rehearse  
Last Evening's Sweets; and run one Heat in full-speed verse.   

Prank not thyself in Metaphors; but pound  
Thy ranging Tropes, that they may sound  
Nothing but what our Paradise did then surround.   

Throned first parthenian-heaven-bred Beauties were,  
Near crystal casements Eastern Sphere;  
Who, like to VENUS, sparkled, yet more chaste than fair.   

'Mongst which, one radiant Star so largely shone,  
She seemed a CONSTELLATION;  
Her Front 'bove lily-white, Cheek 'bove Rose-red, full blown.   

Yet be not Planet-struck, like some that gaze  
Too eagerly on beauty's blaze;  
There's none like Thine, Dear MUSE! theirs are but meteor-rays.   

Suitors to Idols offer idle Suits,  
Which hold their Presence more recruits  
Their broken Hopes, than Viols, Pedals, Organs, Lutes.   

But, whist! The Masculine sweet Planets met,  
Their Instruments in tune have set,  
And now begin to ransack music's Cabinet.   

SOL! Thou pure Fountain of this Streaming noise!  
Patron of Sweetness! Soul of joys!  
How were we ravished with thy Viol's warbling Voice!   

Thy Nectar-dropping Joints so played their part,  
They forced the Fibers of our heart  
To dance: Thy Bow's swift-lightning made the Leero start.   

Thou didst even saw the grumbling Catlines still,  
And torturedest the Base, until  
His roaring Diapasons did the whole Room fill.   

LUNA the Pedal richly did adorn;  
If twixt the Cedar and the Thorn  
There's aught harmonious, 'twas from this sweet Fir-tree born.   

As Philomel, Night's-Minstrel, jugg's her tides  
Of rolling melody; she rides  
On Surges down to th' Deep; and, when she list's, up glides.   

JOVE Cataracts of Liquid Gold did power,  
More precious than his Danaë's shower:  
From Pedal-drops to Organ-deluge swelled the Stour.   

MARS twanged a Violin (his fierce Drums for fight  
Turned to brisk Almans) with what spr'ite  
His Treble shrilled forth Marches, which he strained to the height!   

His active Bow, armed with a warlike Tone,  
Rallied his Troops of Strings, as one,  
Which volleys gave i' th' chase of swift Division.   

So the Pelean Youth was vanquished still  
By his renowned Musician's Skill,  
Which could disarm, and arm the conqueror at will.   

Last, Mercury with ravishing Strains fell on,  
Whose Violin seemed the chemic-stone,  
For every melting Touch was pure Projection.   

Chaired midst the Spheres of music's heaven, I hear,  
I gaze; charmed all to eye and Ear;  
Both which, with Objects too intens, even martyred were.   

Th' Excess of Fairs, distilled through Sweets, did woo  
My wavering Soul, mazed what to do,  
Or to quit eyes for Ears, or Ears for eyes forgo.   

Giddy i' th' change which Sex to crown with praise;  
Time swore he never was with lays  
More sweetly spent; nor beauty ever beamed such rays.   

twixt these Extremes mine eyes and Ears did stray,  
And sure it was no time to pray,  
The DEITIES themselves then being All at play.   

The ful-thronged Room its ruin quite defies:  
Nor Fairs, nor Airs are pond'rous; Skies  
Do scorn to shrink, though piled with Stars and Harmonies.   

Form, beauty, Sweetness, All did here conspire,  
Combined in one Celestial choir,  
To charm the enthusiastic Soul with Enthean Fire:   

These buoy up care-sunk Thoughts; Their Power endues  
A Castril brain with Eagle-Muse:  
When SAINTS would highest soar, They music pinions use.   

music! thy medicines can our Griefs allay,  
And reinspire our lumpish clay:  
MUSE! Thou transcendest; Thou without Instruments canst play.   
Blandulis longum Vale CANTILENIS. E. BENEVOLUS. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Novemb: