The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-11-18

In his autograph, among manuscript
collection Of Italian music, have hitherto
been hidden treasures. He sets his own
cantatas, the melody Of which, as we'll as
the poetry, is superior to that of the age
which gave them birth, aud they inspire
as much pleasure as surprise. 1t is hard
to understand how an Imagination accus.
toned to depict scenes of terrific grandeur
and ferocious gloom, could possibly soften
and melt to such exquisite breathipgs OF
tender sentiment, as are emb ,died in bis
profession accessories, music and poetry.
The prismatic splcndor of his genius is
marvellous. How very felicitous is this
sweet moroccan from his pen:
''If Time, penurious of his treasure,
Shall steal the gold from that bright hair,
Poor, but contented, still with pleasure,
shall behold the whiten -ss there
Nay, love the simple silver more
Than eer priced the richer ore"
Leonardo da Vinci, the famous artist,
was another musician, painter He aston
ished the Mlanese less by his pencil than
by his performances on the Tyre, curious
new instrument, chiefly Of silver, fashion
ed by his own hand. The envy of the
musicians of Milan was awakened, (alas,
that passion so baneful should gain access
into the bosums Of tho votaries of the
tuneful art y and they challenged him to
public contest, where, to use the words
of historian, he not only vauquished
them, ... -.
"On the ten-stringed instrument
And on the psaltery,"
but likewise compelled them to acknowl-
edge that the eloquence of his converse
ton, aud the originality of his extempora-
neous poetry, were alike unrivaled. Like
Lord Bacon, who, when engaged in pro-
found thought caused music to he per
formed in his hearing, and Milton, who
caught magnificent rays Of inspiration from
the solemn pealings of his organ, Da Vim
CT, when painting his most sublime works,
always desired to be listening to music
Addison asserts that "Music raises noble
sentiments, aud fills the mind with greet
conceptions"
Gainsborougb, the distinguished land
scape pa inter-, but for pre-anchorage in his
own art, and a lack of concentration of
purpose, might have become an admirable
musician; but he could never be long
enough. constant to one instrument to
master its peculiarities. Upon his melo-
dious whims he squ4udered q fortune,
purchasing Instrument after instrument
without regard to cost, aud abandoning
one so soon as another struck his volatile
fancy.
Gemiani, the musician, was of precise
ly similar calible to his confrere Of the
brush. lie was passionate lover Of
painting, on It's account pcrpetually play
ing himself into pecunary difficult ties
He would decorate his walls with the
most expensive pictures, and after feast
ing his eyes on them for season be COM
PEELED to sacrifice them to still the vulgar
exigencles of corporal needs.
But it would lie a vain task to ATTEMPT
to onumerate instances of the remarkable
synlpathles existing between the par'i.
sans Of the fine arts. The same principle
"a predominant delight in spiritual beau
ty and purity, alike governs them and
although, like the hues of the rainbow,
their various liu's may be diverse aud va
nable in color and shade, yet being COL
lected and embraced beneath one grand
arch, their union is indissoluble.
"Music my hewitchng pen
Shall enchant the souls of men,
Aria, fugue, and strange sonata,
Opera, and gay cantata,
Through my brain,
In linked train,
Hank | hear them winding go;
Now, with halt-hushed whisper stealing,
Now in ful-voced accent pealing,
Ringing loud, and murmuriug low,
Scarcely can | now refrain,
Whilst these blessed notes remain,
From pouring forth one undying angel
strain"
These descriptive lines are from po-
EN- entitled 1.-The Stethscope," and are
designed to breathe forth the enthusiastic
longings of youth dying of consumption
They picture in vivid language the aspira-
tion Of every true child of geuius-the ar
dent struggles of the embryo soul to burst
its terreue prison and revel in the blue
empyrean, where, from its d'zzling height
it may pour out in exultant song the
stratus OF joy that throng for utterance.
Each element seeks its source; water
PUSHES to mingIe with water-dust crum-
bles to native dust-air hasteus to iucor
p"rate with air-Gre asct nds to the lumi-
nary of light so dos the fire OF the &C.
lestial soul dart upward to God its life
1t scorns NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. d li:ul-
ties--sgars above boundares-and with a
flame of triumph, pierces far, far beyond
the Confines Of earth, and the limits OF
rth-born Creatures Thus does tue in
spired spiri ascend, and fually, crowned
with fadeless laurels, and waving a con.
qneror's PALM, takes its stand close beside
tn, Tree of Lii, in Ellen,