But here
we must, perforce, content ourselves with mere suggestion; for this
topic is of a character which would lead us too far. We have already
spoken of Music as one of the moods of poetical development. It is
in Music, perhaps, that the soul most nearly attains that end upon
which we have commented- the creation of supernal beauty. It may be,
indeed, that this august aim is here even partially or imperfectly
attained, in fact. The elements of that beauty which is felt in sound,
may be the mutual or common heritage of Earth and Heaven. In the
soul's struggles at combination it is thus not impossible that a
harp may strike notes not unfamiliar to the angels. And in this view
the wonder may well be less that all attempts at defining the
character or sentiment of the deeper musical impressions have been
found absolutely futile. Contenting ourselves, therefore, with the
firm conviction that music (in its modifications of rhythm and
rhyme) is of so vast a moment in Poesy as never to be neglected by him
who is truly poetical- is of so mighty a force in furthering the great
aim intended that he is mad who rejects its assistance- content with
this idea we shall not pause to maintain its absolute essentiality,
for the mere sake of rounding a definition. We will but add, at this
point, that the highest possible development of the Poetical Sentiment
is to be found in the union of song with music, in its popular
sense.
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