CLINIAS, THE PYTHAGOREAN.
“This philosopher was a person very different, both in his life and manners, from other men. If it chanced at any time that he was inflamed with anger, he would take his harp, play upon, and sing to it; saying, as often as he was asked the cause of his so doing, ‘That by this means he found himself reduced to the temper of his former mildness.’”
Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times.
THE SPARTAN POET TYRTŒUS.
Tyrtœus, the Spartan poet, having first rehearsed his verses, and afterwards made them to be sung with flutes, well tuned together, he so stirred and inflamed the courage of the soldiers thereby, that, whereas, they had before been overcome in divers conflicts, being then transported with the fury of the Muses, they remained conquerors, and cut in pieces the whole army of the Messinians.
THE RAGE OF THE EMPEROR THEODOSIUS SUBDUED BY MUSIC.
At such time as the tyrant Eugenius raised that perilous war in the East, and that money grew short with the Emperor Theodosius, he determined to raise subsidies, and to gather, from all parts, more than before he had ever done: the citizens of Antioch bore this exaction with so ill a will, that, after they had uttered many outrageous words against the Emperor, they pulled down his statues, and those also of the Empress, his wife. A while after, when the heat of their fury was past, they began to repent themselves of their folly, and considered into what danger they had cast themselves and their city. Then did they curse their rashness, confess their fault, implore the goodness of God, and that with tears, “That it would please him to calm the Emperor’s heart.” These supplications and prayers were solemnly sung with sorrowful tunes, and lamenting voices. Their bishop, Flavianus, employed himself valiantly, in this needful time, in behalf of the city, made a journey to Theodosius, and did his utmost to appease him: but finding himself rejected, and knowing that the Emperor was devising some grievous punishment; and, on the other side, not having the boldness to speak again, and yet much troubled in his thoughts because of his people, there came this device into his head. At such time as the Emperor sat at meat, certain young boys were wont to sing musically unto him. Flavianus wrought so, that he obtained of those that had the charge of the boys, that they would suffer them to sing the supplications and prayers of the city of Antioch. Theodosius, listening to that grave music, was so moved with it, and so touched with compassion, that having the cup in his hand, he, with his warm tears, watered the wine that was in it, and forgetting all his conceived displeasure against the Antiochians, freely pardoned them and their city.
THE BISHOP OF ORLEANS RESTORED FROM PRISON BY MUSIC.
The sons of Ludovicus I. then Emperor, had conspired against him, and amongst divers of the bishops that were confederate with them, was Theodulphus, Bishop of Orleans, whom the Emperor clapped up in prison in Anjou. In this place, the Emperor kept his Easter, and was present at the procession on Palm Sunday, in imitation and honour of Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. All the pomp was passing by the place where Theodolphus was under restraint; the Bishop, in sight of that solemnity, had prepared a most elegant hymn in honour of that procession; and, as the Emperor passed by, opening his casement, with a clear and musical voice he sung it, so as to be heard of the multitude that passed by: the Emperor enquired, “What voice that was, and who that sung?” It was told him, “The captive Bishop of Orleans.” The Emperor diligently attending both the purport of the verses and the sweetness of the voice, was therewith so delighted, that he restored the prisoner forthwith to his liberty.