Poetry and Music
“If music and sweet poetry agree
As they must needs, the sister and the brother”,
Then in our poems music should be found,
And in our music should be poetry.
The one is inextricably enwound
Within the very being of the other,
And to divide them is to take from each
Some quintessential aspect of its nature;
So rendering defective by that breach
The finest quality of its best feature.
That’s not pure music which lacks in each phrase
The influence of true poetic sense;
Nor’s that great poetry which gives offence
By reason of its want of music’s grace.
