Book 14
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And while some were discussing music in this manner, and others of the guests saying different things every day, but all praising the pastime, Masurius, who excelled in everything, and was a man of universal wisdom, (for as an interpreter of the laws he was inferior to no one, and he was always devoting some of his attention to music, for indeed he was able himself to play on some musical instruments,) said, —My good friends, Eupolis the comic poet says— And music is a deep and subtle science, And always finding out some novelty For those who 're capable of comprehending it; on which account Anaxilas, in his Hyacinthus, says— For, by the gods I swear, music, like Libya, Brings forth each year some novel prodigy; for, my dear fellows, Music, as the Harp-player of Theophilus says, is a great and lasting treasure to all who have learnt it and know anything about it; for it ameliorates the disposition, and softens those who are passionate and quarrelsome in their tempers. Accordingly, Clinias the Pythagorean, as Chamæleon of Pontus relates, who was a most unimpeachable man both in his actual conduct and also in his disposition, if ever it happened to him to get out of temper or indignant at anything, would take up his lyre and play upon it. And when people asked him the reason of this conduct, he used to say, 'I am pacifying myself.' And so, too, the Achilles of Homer was mollified by the music of the harp, which is all that Homer allots to him out of the spoils of Eetion,See Iliad, ix. 186. τὸν δ’ εὗρον φρένα τερπόμενον φόρμιγγι λιγείῃ, καλῇ, δαιδαλέῃ, ἐπὶ δ’ ἀργύρεος ζύγος ἦεν τὴν ἄρετ’ ἐξ ἐνάρων πτόλιν ʼηετίωνος ὀλέσσας τῇ ὅγε θυμὸν ἔτερπεν, ἄειδε δ’ ἄρα κλέα ἀνδρῶν. Which is translated by Pope:— Amused at ease the godlike man they found, Pleased with the solemn harp's harmonious sound, (The well-wrought harp from conquer'd Thebæ came, Of polish'd silver was its costly frame,) With this he soothes his angry soul, and sings Th' immortal deeds of heroes and of kings.—Iliad, ix. 245. as being able to check his fiery temper. And he is the only hero in the whole Iliad who indulges in this music.
