lyrical poetry - OUDL Home

LYRICALPOETRY.intended to be sung was never consciously abandonedtill the end of the seventeenth century. Dryden andthe young courtiers of the Court of Charles II, thelast Court in England which was a focus and inspirationof literature and music and painting, were the lastinheritors of the tradition which dates from thetroubadours of Provence.It is difficult indeed to think that Donne could havewritten his songs so heavily weighted with thought andcurious learning with the deliberate intention that theyshould be sung. Yet that is still the convention:But when I have done so,Some man his art and voice to showDoth set and sing my pain,And by delighting many frees againGrief which verse did restrain ;and three of his songs are described in the MSS. as"made to certain airs which were made before." Butthese are the lightest, if any can be called light, ofDonne's songs, and even so, one wonders what asinger made of them. Some of us may have triedrewriting the words of an old song and discoveredthat we had presented the singer with impossible concatenationsof consonants. No; song and music wereparting company as they had done long ago in Greeceafter the highest achievement in the wedding of the twoarts had been attained to in the lyrical passages of thedrama. The poet is content with his own music.Heard melodies are sweet but those unheard are sweeter—and the subtler of the poet's effects elude even thebest reciter. They areFelt in the blood, and felt along the heart.12