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MUSIC'S DUEL.

INTRODUCTION.

Two years ago, some of our readers were first, perhaps, made acquainted (at a Bazaar held here for the same charitable purpose as the present one) with a neglected work of a neglected poet of the seventeenth century, in his translation of that part of Marino's 'Strage degl' Innocenti,' called the Sospetto d'Herode.' Presuming that they were pleased with the poetic language, whatever distaste the subject might create, I will now draw their attention to another translation, or imitation, by the same author, peculiarly adapted to this season of the year, since it treats of the magic powers of that little songstress, so well known to us all," the sweet inhabitant of each glad tree," who, true to her engagement in this northern clime, or fair or foul, or rain or shine, never lets go by the 14th of April, without giving notice of her arrival. Our poet has chosen Strada's beautiful fable of

A

the Lutanist and the Nightingale, which he calls Music's Duel,' for his present subject. He supposes a skilful musician seated on the banks of the Tiber, exercising his art in solitude; when a Nightingale, from the neighbouring tree, enters the lists against him; and thus he begins the tale :

C. F.

MUSIC'S DUEL.

BY RICHARD CRASHAW, 1670.

Now westward Sol had spent the richest beams Of noon's high glory, when, hard by the

streams

Of Tiber, on the scene of a green plat,
Under protection of an oak, there sate
A sweet lutes-master; in whose gentle airs
He lost the day's heat, and his own hot cares.

Close in the covert of the leaves there stood A nightingale, come from the neighbouring wood,

(The sweet inhabitant of each glad tree; Their muse, their syren, harmless syren, she ;) There stood she list'ning, and did entertain The music's soft report, and mold the same

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