Mirsia 279 



days after a concert is over. What I mean, tlie following 

 passage will most readily explain : — 



" Praehabebat porro vocibus bumanis, instrumentisque 

 harmonicis, musicam illam avium : non quod alia quoque 

 non delectaretur ; sed quod ex musica bumana relinqueretur 

 in animo continens qusedam, attentionemque et somnum con- 

 turbans agitatio : dum ascensus, exscensus, tenores, ac mu- 

 tationes illse sonorum et consonantiarum,euntque, redeuntque 

 per pbantasiam : — cum nihil tale relinqui possit ex modiila- 

 tionibus avium, quae, quod non sunt perinde a nobis imitabiles, 

 non possunt perinde internam facultatem commovere." — 

 G-asse:n^dus, in Vita PeiresJcii. — "He preferred, also, the 

 music of birds to vocal and instrumental harmony ; not that 

 he did not take pleasure in any other, but because there was 

 left in the mind some constant agitation, disturbing the 

 sleep and the attention, whilst the several variations of sound 

 and concord go and return through the imagination, when 

 no such effect can be produced by the modulation of birds, 

 because, as they are not equally imitable by us, they cannot 

 equally excite the internal faculty." 



This curious quotation strikes me much by so well repre- 

 senting my own case, and by describing what 1 have so often 

 felt, but never could so well express. When I hear fine 

 music, I am haunted with passages therefrom night and day; 

 and especially at first waking, which, by their importunity, 

 give more uneasiness than pleasure: elegant lessons still 

 teaze my imagination, and recur irresistibly to my recollec- 

 tion at seasons, and even when I am desirous of thinking of 

 more serious matters. 



