Classic Poem

Tell me, Oh Muse (for thou , or none canst tell)
The mystick pow'ers that in blest Numbers dwell,
Thou their great Nature know'st, nor is it fit
This noblest Gem of thine own Crown t' omit)
Tell me from whence these heav'nly charms arise;
Teach the dull world t' admire what they despise ,
As first a various unform'd Hint we find
Rise in some god-like Poets fertile Mind ,
Till all the parts and words their places take,
And with just marches verse and musick make;
Such was Gods Poem , this Worlds new Essay ;
So wild and rude in its first draught it lay;
Th' ungovern'd parts no Correspondence knew,
An artless war from thwarting Motions grew;
Till they to Number and fixt Rules were brought
By the eternal Minds Poetique Thought .
Water and Air he for the Tenor chose,
Earth made the Base , the Treble Flame arose,
To th' active Moon a quick brisk stroke he gave,
To Saturns string a touch more soft and grave.
The motions Strait , and Round , and Swift , and Slow ,
And Short , and Long , were mixt and woven so,
Did in such artful Figures smoothly fall,
As made this decent measur'd Dance of All .
And this is Musick ; Sounds that charm our ears,
Are but one Dressing that rich Science wears.
Though no man hear 't, though no man it reherse,
Yet will there still be Musick in my Verse .
In this Great World so much of it we see;
The Lesser, Man , is all o'er Harmonie .
Storehouse of all Proportions! single Quire!
Which first Gods Breath did tunefully inspire!
From hence blest Musicks heav'enly charms arise,
From sympathy which Them and Man allies.
Thus they our souls , thus they our Bodies win,
Not by their Force , but Party that 's within.
Thus the strange Cure on our spilt Blood apply'd,
Sympathy to the distant Wound does guide.
Thus when two Brethren strings are set alike,
To move them both , but one of them we strike ,
Thus Davids Lyre did Sauls wild rage controul.
And tun'd the harsh disorders of his Soul .