De Musica Sacra (Epigr. XXIII)
The Power of Sacred Song
The author contrasts the legendary power of music to move stones with the spiritual power of sacred song to elevate the human soul.
Deucalion, why do you use your powerful hand to turn stones and useless rocks into human form after the floodwaters have receded? Instead, good sir, restore our original forms and lead us back to our stony ancestors, for stones marvel at those who sing, and stones are well-versed in lyres and harps. Tenacious cliffs and flints, stirred by a more powerful song, follow the honey-sweet Orpheus through wild glades and lakes. And as the stones, rough from the harsh mountains, run toward the city, struck by the noble music of Amphion’s lyre, they helped build the walls of Thebes. Such a savage race of men has been found, who strip the temples of sacred choirs, not blushing to surpass even the rocks in hardness. O music, full of a hundred graces, food of the most brilliant spirits, to what do you finally call me, and what glory of yours do you whisper so that I might celebrate it? You, divine one, with your wondrous touch, strip the spirit from the filth of the profane body and place it a thousand times back in heaven; the stars ask, "Who is this new guest?" Moses, stirred by divine fervor, returning joyfully from the drowned enemies, rouses the people to hasten their sacred songs to the Lord.
The Feast of the Psalms
A passionate reflection on the beauty of the Psalms and the spiritual wonder they evoke in the faithful.
What is this? Do you hear the Psalms? Oh, what a feast! Oh, you fragrant balms of the spirit! Scraps of heaven, and tiny droplets fallen from a better world! David—God’s own delight, the great glory of the holy princes—blends these with harps and trumpets as he leads them to the high towers of Zion. The neighboring sea marvels at these sounds, and the Jordan itself stands still in wonder; before them, the Tiber hides its face, and the Eridanus flows away in shame. Do you close your ears, you new, barbaric flock, and hear nothing at all?
The Discord of the World
The author laments the inability of worldly, discordant minds to appreciate the harmony of divine worship.
Are you drowning out the songs just to gain more time to wear yourself out and beat on the pulpit? But why should it seem like a miracle that minds—those drums of public quiet—full of noisy discord, can't stand any harmony at all?
Read the original Latin
Cur efficaci, Deucalion, manu, Post restitutos fluctibus obices, Mutas in humanam figuram Saxa supervacuasque cautes? Quin redde formas, o bone, pristinas, Et nos reducas ad lapides avos: Nam saxa mirantur canentes, Saxa lyras citharasque callent. Rupes tenaces et silices ferunt Potentiori carmine percitas Saltus per incultos lacusque Orphea mellifluum secutas. Et saxa diris hispida montibus Amphionis testitudine nobili Percussa dum currunt ad urbem, Moenia contribuere Thebis. Tantum repertum est trux hominum genus, Qui templa sacris expoliant choris, Non erubescentes vel ipsas Duritia superare cautes. O plena centum musica gratiis, Praeclariorum spirituum cibus, Quo me vocas tandem, tuumque Ut celebrem decus insusurras? Tu Diva miro pollice spiritum Caeno profani corporis exuens Ter millies caelo reponis: Astra rogant, Novus hic quis hospes? Ardore Moses concitus entheo, Mersis revertens laetus ab hostibus Exsuscitat plebem sacratos Ad Dominum properare cantus.
Quid hocce? Psalmos audion'? o dapes! O succulenti balsama spiritus! Ramenta caeli, guttulaeque Deciduae melioris orbis! Quos David, ipsae deliciae Dei, Ingens piorum gloria Principum, Sionis excelsas ad arces Cum citharis lituisque miscet. Miratur aequor finitimum sonos, Et ipse Jordan sistit aquas stupens; Prae quo Tibris vultum recondit, Eridanusque pudore fusus. Tun' obdis aures, grex nove, barbaras, Et nullus audis?
cantibus obstrepens, Ut, quo fatiges verberesque Pulpita, plus spatii lucreris? At cui videri prodigium potest Mentes, quietis tympana publicae, Discordiis plenas sonoris Harmoniam tolerare nullam?
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