472 MUSIC OF THE SPHERES. 



heavenly bodies, the music of the spheres* is the 

 finest conception of all antiquity, and is said to 

 have led Kepler to the most important discovery 

 ever made in astronomy ; viz. that the times in 

 which the planets perform their revolutions are 

 as the cubes of their distance from the sun. 

 Nor is it unworthy of notice, that as the velocity 

 of the planets is in proportion to the heating 

 power of the sun, so the velocity with which 



* The earliest mention of this celestial harmony is found in 

 the Book of Job, where it is said that when the work of creation 

 was finished, " the morning stars sang together;" and *it has 

 been consecrated by the noblest poets of modern times. 



" Look how the floor of heaven 



Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold : 



There's not the smallest orb 'mong all which thou behold'st, 



But in its motion like an angel sings, 



Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubim," &c. 



SHAKESPEARE. 



It is also grandly expressed in the following lines from an Ode 

 of Milton on the Nativity : 



" Ring out, ye crystal spheres, 

 And let your silver chime 

 Move in melodious time, 

 And let the base of heaven's deep organ blow ; 

 And with your ninefold harmony, 

 Make up full concert to the angelic symphony." 



A still more philosophical account of this great music is con- 

 tained in the opening chorus of Faustus, by Goethe ; who refers 

 it to the fountain of all harmony : 



" The sun his ancient hymn of wonder 

 Is pouring out to kindred spheres, 

 And still pursues with march of thunder 

 His preappointed course of years," &c 



