MUSIC. 279 



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

 passage will most readily explain : — 



" Prsehatebat porro vocibus humanis, instrumentisque 

 harmonicis, musicam iUam avium'«: non quod alia quoque 

 non delectaretur ; sed quod ex musica tmnana relinqueretur 

 in animo continens quaedam, attentionemque et somnum con- 

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

 tationes illae sonorum et consonantiarum,euntque, redeuntque 

 per phantasiam : — cum nihil tale relinqui possit ex modula- 

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

 non possunt periade iatemam facultatem commovere." — 

 GrASSENDirs, in Vita, PevresMi. — "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 

 equaEy excite the internal faculty." 



This curious quotation strikes me much by so well repre- 

 senting my own case, and by describing what I 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 stiU. 

 teaze my imagination, and recur irresistibly to my recollec- 

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

 more serious matters. 



