[323]. Chambers’s Cyclopædia, vol. ii.
Thus the Pythagoreans made use of Musick to cultivate the Mind, and settle in it a passionate Love of Virtue. Pythagoras instituted a most profitable Correction of Manners by Musick, which, he says, conduces very much to Health; and he made use of it, not only against Diseases of the Mind, but those of the Body. It was the common Custom of the Pythagoreans to soften their Minds with Musick before they went to sleep; and also in the Morning, to excite themselves to the Business of the Day[[324]].
[324]. Plutarch de Osir. & Is.
This Cure of Distempers by Musick sounds odd, but was a celebrated Medicine among the Antients. We have already considered, how those wounded by the Tarantula were healed by Musick; the Evidence of which is too strong to be overturned: That which now lies before me, is, to prove this to be the Practice of Antiquity, which will appear by the following Instances.
I shall begin with Democritus (a Philosopher of the first Rank, and a most diligent Inquirer into the Mysteries of Nature) who taught in his Works, that Musick of Pipes was a Medicine for most Distempers.... Thales of Crete, being sent for by the Lacedemonians to remove the Plague, came, and by the Help of Musick he did so; and he is said to do it by the Command of Apollo, as appears from the Great Chæronean Moralist[[325]]. If any Credit be given to Terpander, it appears he supprest an Insurrection in their Town by the Use of Musick. Ibid.
[325]. Plutarch’s Morals on Musick.
We read of a young Man among others of Tautomenium, whose Passions being inflamed by Musick in the Phrygian Mood, was going to force open a Matron’s House, but his Rage was soon calmed, when the Piper (by Pythagoras’s Advice) changed his Air into the Spondaic Mood; and he went home quietly, which the Philosopher could not make him do by Persuasives. This historical Passage is confirmed by Ammonius, and Cicero, and is thus related, viz.
When as some young Men, being drunk, and irritated by the Musick of Flutes, would have broke into an honest Woman’s House, but upon hearing one playing a Spondaic Air, their outragious Heat was allay’d by the Slowness of the Mood, and Solemness of the Tune....
St. Basil gives another Instance to the same purpose, viz. That Pythagoras meeting with some that came with Musick from a Feast, drunk, requested the Musician to change his Tune; which he did, and playing a Doric Air, they were so brought to themselves, that they threw away their Garlands, and walked home, ashamed of their Folly.
THEOPHRASTUS is said to cure Persons that had been wounded by Serpents, with various kinds of Musick—Probatum est[[326]]. Another Observation of his was, that Diseases were made and mitigated by Musick. Plato forbids Musick and Wine to young Persons, lest one Fire should kindle another[[327]].