Samuel Taylor Coleridge — Music

Hence, soul-dissolving Harmony        &nbspThat lead'st th' oblivious soul astray— Though thou sphere-descended be—        &nbspHence away!— Thou mightier Goddess, thou demand'st my lay,        &nbspBorn when earth was seiz'd with cholic; Or as more sapient sages say,        &nbspWhat time the Legion diabolic        &nbsp       &nbspCompell'd their beings to enshrine        &nbsp       &nbspIn bodies vile of herded swine,        &nbsp       &nbspPrecipitate adown the steep        &nbsp       &nbspWith hideous rout were plunging in the deep, And hog and devil mingling grunt and yell        &nbspSeiz'd on the ear with horrible obtrusion;— Then if aright old legendaries tell,        &nbspWert thou begot by Discord on Confusion! What though no name's sonorous power Was given thee at thy natal hour!— Yet oft I feel thy sacred might, While concords wing their distant flight.        &nbspSuch Power inspires thy holy son        &nbsp       &nbspSable clerk of Tiverton! And oft where Otter sports his stream, I hear thy banded offspring scream. Thou Goddess! thou inspir'st each throat; 'Tis thou who pour'st the scritch-owl note! Transported hear'st thy children all Scrape and blow and squeak and squall; And while old Otter's steeple rings, Clappest hoarse thy raven wings!