appear obscure, there is no reason why these passages should not be understood by all in a much fuller light.
The following lines, though not in a play, are so full of musical similes that it may be useful to take them at once.
Lucrece, line 1124.
"My restless discord loves no stops nor rests;
A woful hostess brooks not merry guests.
Relish your nimble notes to pleasing ears;
Distress like dumps, when time is kept with tears."
(Then to the nightingale)—
"Come, Philomel, that sing'st of ravishment,
Make thy sad grove in my dishevell'd hair:
As the dank earth weeps at thy languishment,
So I at each sad strain will strain a tear,
And with deep groans the diapason bear;
For burden wise I'll hum on Tarquin still,
While thou on Tereus descant'st better skill.
"And while against a thorn thou bear'st thy part,
To keep thy sharp woes waking, …
These means, as frets upon an instrument,
Shall tune our heart-strings to true languishment."
Here Lucrece tells the birds to cease their joyous notes, and calls on the nightingale to sing the song
