things

May 05, 2005 00:58

"Struggle for thy part. With all thy art."

Leave a comment

Comments 2

anonymous May 5 2005, 21:12:43 UTC
Nick, you're a believer? (Line 5, below.)

Easter
Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise without delays,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise with him may'st rise,
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more just.

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part with all thy art.
The cross taught all wood to resound his name who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song pleasant and long:
Or since all music is but three parts vied and multiplied,
Oh let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

George Herbert (1593-1633)

Reply

frying_sok May 5 2005, 23:05:19 UTC
Hardly. But damn if that line don't tell it like it should be. The 'believers' and I simply differ on the 'part of what' side of things.

I heard a beautiful rendition of this in a song cycle at a senior recital, and beautiful music is beautiful music despite whatever theistic bent a composer gives it.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up