صفحة 870 من 1391

And, when a man allows music to play upon him and to pour into

his soul through the funnel of his ears those sweet and soft and

melancholy airs of which we were just now speaking, and his whole

life is passed in warbling and the delights of song; in the first

stage of the process the passion or spirit which is in him is

tempered like iron, and made useful, instead of brittle and

useless. But, if he carries on the softening and soothing

process, in the next stage he begins to melt and waste, until he

has wasted away his spirit and cut out the sinews of his soul;

and he becomes a feeble warrior.

Very true.

If the element of spirit is naturally weak in him the change is

speedily accomplished, but if he have a good deal, then the power

of music weakening the spirit renders him excitable;-on the least

provocation he flames up at once, and is speedily extinguished;

instead of having spirit he grows irritable and passionate and is

quite impracticable.

Exactly.