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In the first we suspect some degree of exaggeration, such as we

may also observe among certain masters of the art, not unknown to

us, at the present day. With this natural enthusiasm, which is

felt by a few only, there seems to mingle in Plato a sort of

Pythagorean reverence for numbers and numerical proportion to

which Aristotle is a stranger. Intervals of sound and number are

to him sacred things which have a law of their own, not dependent

on the variations of sense. They rise above sense, and become a

connecting link with the world of ideas. But it is evident that

Plato is describing what to him appears to be also a fact. The

power of a simple and characteristic melody on the impressible

mind of the Greek is more than we can easily appreciate. The

effect of national airs may bear some comparison with it. And,

besides all this, there is a confusion between the harmony of

musical notes and the harmony of soul and body, which is so

potently inspired by them.