'Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music' by John Dryden
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'Twas at the royal feast for Persia won
By Philip's warlike son—
Aloft in awful state
The godlike hero sate
On his imperial throne;
His valiant peers were placed around,
Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound
(So should desert in arms be crowned);
The lovely Thais by his side
Sate like a blooming eastern bride
In flower of youth and beauty's pride:—
Happy, happy, happy pair!
None but the brave
None but the brave
None but the brave deserves the fair!
Timotheus placed on high
Amid the tuneful quire
With flying fingers touched the lyre;
The trembling notes ascend the sky
And heavenly joys inspire.
The song began from Jove
Who left his blissful seats above—
Such is the power of mighty love!
A dragon's fiery form belied the god
Sublime on radiant spires he rode
When he to fair Olympia prest,
And while he sought her snowy breast,
Then round her slender waist he curled,
And stamped an image of himself, a sovereign of the world.
- The listening crowd admire the lofty sound!
A present deity! they shout around:
A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound!
With ravished ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.
The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung,
Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young:
The jolly god in triumph comes!
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums!
Flushed with a purple grace
He shows his honest face:
Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes!
Bacchus, ever fair and young,
Drinking joys did first ordain;
Bacchus' blessings are a treasure,
Drinking is the soldier's pleasure:
Rich the treasure,
Sweet the pleasure,
Sweet is pleasure after pain.
Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain;
Fought all his battles o'er again,
And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.
The master saw the madness rise,
His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes;
And while he Heaven and Earth defied
Changed his hand and checked his pride.
He chose a mournful Muse
Soft pity to infuse:
He sung Darius great and good,
By too severe a fate
Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen,
Fallen from his high estate,
And weltering in his blood;
Deserted, at his utmost need,
By those his former bounty fed;
On the bare earth exposed he lies
With not a friend to close his eyes.
- With downcast looks the joyless victor sate,
Revolving in his altered soul
The various turns of Chance below;
And now and then a sigh he stole,
And tears began to flow.
The mighty master smiled to see
That love was in the next degree;
'Twas but a kindred-sound to move,
For pity melts the mind to love.
Softly sweet, in Lydian measures
Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures.
War, he sung, is toil and trouble,
Honour but an empty bubble;
Never ending, still beginning,
Fighting still, and still destroying;
If the world be worth thy winning,
Think, O think, it worth enjoying:
Lovely Thais sits beside thee,
Take the good the gods provide thee!
- The many rend the skies with loud applause;
So Love was crowned, but Music won the cause.
The prince, unable to conceal his pain,
Gazed on the fair
Who caused his care,
And sighed and looked, sighed and looked,
Sighed and looked, and sighed again:
At length with love and wine at once opprest
The vanquished victor sunk upon her breast.
Now strike the golden lyre again:
A louder yet, and yet a louder strain!
Break his bands of sleep asunder
And rouse him like a rattling peal of thunder.
Hark, hark! the horrid sound
Has raised up his head:
As awaked from the dead
And amazed he stares around.
Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries,
See the Furies arisel
See the snakes that they rear
How they hiss in their hair,
And the sparkles that flash from their eyes!
Behold a ghastly band,
Each a torch in his hand!
Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain
And unburied remain
Inglorious on the plain:
Give the vengeance due
To the valiant crew!
Behold how they toss their torches on high,
How they point to the Persian abodes
And glittering temples of their hostile gods.
- The princes applaud with a furious joy:
And the King seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy;
Thais led the way
To light him to his prey,
And like another Helen, fired another Troy!
- Thus, long ago,
Ere heaving bellows learned to blow,
While organs yet were mute,
Timotheus, to his breathing flute
And sounding lyre,
Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.
At last divine Cecilia came,
Inventress of the vocal frame;
The sweet enthusiast from her sacred store
Enlarged the former narrow bounds,
And added length to solemn sounds,
With Nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before.
- Let old Timotheus yield the prize
Or both divide the crown;
He raised a mortal to the skies;
She drew an angel down!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music by John Dryden
Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music is a classic poem written by John Dryden in 1697. This poem is a celebration of music's power to move people's hearts and minds. It tells the story of a banquet held by Alexander the Great after his victory over the Persians. The poem is divided into three parts, each containing a different mood and theme.
Part I
The first part of the poem sets the scene for the banquet. It describes the decorations, the food, and the guests. Dryden's language is rich and vivid, painting a picture of a sumptuous feast fit for a king. The poem describes the arrival of Timotheus, a famous musician, who is to provide the entertainment for the evening.
Dryden's use of language in this section is particularly striking. He uses long, flowing sentences to create a sense of grandeur and majesty. The descriptions are so vivid that you can almost smell the food and hear the music. It's clear that Dryden is setting the stage for something truly spectacular.
Part II
The second part of the poem is where the real magic happens. Timotheus begins to play his lyre, and the guests are immediately entranced. The poem describes how the music affects each person differently, depending on their personality and temperament. Some are moved to tears, while others are filled with joy and excitement.
What's particularly interesting about this section is the way in which Dryden describes the power of music. He portrays it as almost supernatural, capable of changing people's emotions and even their personalities. This is a theme that has been explored in literature for centuries, and Dryden handles it with great skill.
Part III
The final part of the poem is a tribute to Alexander himself. Timotheus begins to play a song about the king's victories, and the guests are once again swept up in the music. The poem describes how Alexander himself is moved by the music, and how it inspires him to greatness.
This section is particularly powerful because it shows the transformative power of music. It's not just about entertaining people; it's about inspiring them to be better, to do better. And in the context of the poem, it's about inspiring a great leader to lead his people to victory.
Interpretation
Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music is a poem that explores the power of music to move people's hearts and minds. It's also a celebration of human achievement, particularly in the context of war and conquest. Dryden uses vivid language to create a sense of grandeur and majesty, which is a fitting tribute to the subject matter.
What's particularly interesting about this poem is the way in which Dryden portrays music as almost supernatural. He shows how it can change people's emotions and even their personalities. This is a theme that has been explored in literature for centuries, and Dryden handles it with great skill.
In addition to this, the poem also explores the relationship between music and leadership. Alexander is portrayed as a great leader who is inspired to greatness by the music of Timotheus. This is a powerful message about the transformative power of music, and its ability to inspire people to achieve great things.
Overall, Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music is a timeless poem that celebrates the power of music to move people's hearts and minds. It's a fitting tribute to human achievement, and a reminder of the transformative power of great music.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music is a classic poem written by John Dryden in 1697. The poem is a celebration of music's power to move and inspire people, and it tells the story of a banquet held by Alexander the Great after his victory over the Persians. The poem is a masterpiece of English literature, and it has been praised for its vivid imagery, its musicality, and its emotional depth.
The poem is divided into two parts, and it begins with a description of the banquet. Dryden sets the scene by describing the opulence of the banquet hall, the beauty of the decorations, and the splendor of the guests. He then introduces the main character of the poem, Timotheus, the court musician who is tasked with entertaining the guests.
Timotheus begins to play his lyre, and the guests are immediately captivated by the beauty of his music. Dryden describes the effect of the music on the guests in vivid detail, using powerful imagery to convey the emotions that the music evokes. He writes, "The listening crowd admire the lofty sound, / A present deity, they shout around; / A present deity, the vaulted roofs rebound."
As Timotheus continues to play, he changes the mood of the music, shifting from a gentle, soothing melody to a more intense and passionate one. Dryden describes the effect of this change on the guests, writing, "With ravished ears / The monarch hears, / Assumes the god, / Affects to nod, / And seems to shake the spheres."
The poem then takes a darker turn, as Timotheus begins to sing a song about the fall of the Persian king, Darius. The music becomes more violent and chaotic, and the guests become increasingly agitated. Dryden writes, "The king grew vain / Fought all his battles o'er again, / And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain."
The poem reaches its climax as Timotheus sings a song about Alexander's victory over the Persians. The music becomes triumphant and joyful, and the guests are filled with a sense of awe and wonder. Dryden writes, "The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung, / Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young: / The jolly god in triumph comes; / Sound the trumpets, beat the drums; / Flushed with a purple grace / He shows his honest face."
The poem ends with a reflection on the power of music to move and inspire people. Dryden writes, "Music can noble hints impart, / Engender fury, kindle love; / With unsuspected eloquence can move, / And manage all the man with secret art."
Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music is a masterpiece of English literature, and it is a testament to the enduring power of music to move and inspire people. Dryden's vivid imagery, musicality, and emotional depth make this poem a timeless classic, and it continues to be celebrated and studied by scholars and readers alike.
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