The colonel had attended.
I am glad of it, said Philip, for I was a little absent now and then, and have not carried much of it away. But do you believe all those wonderful things, that he has told us, about music?
I perfectly believe that your father has told nothing about music, but what he has vouchers for, though I don’t know where to look for them.
Nor I neither, Heaven knows, said Philip, for I have no taste for music, nor can distinguish between one tune and another, except as it is either loud or soft: if it is the first, it deafens and distracts me; if the latter, it puts me to sleep. I don’t suppose it is in the art of man to teach me to sing or play a single tune, though it were to save my life.
That won’t quite decide the question however, my good friend; for music certainly can charm others, though it has no charms for you. What I have seen and witnessed I believe; what I am told I pause upon. Martial music will animate martial men, and not them only, but the horses also, which they ride to battle: hounds are sensible to the shouts of the hunter, and the whole race of dogs to the voices of their masters: birds can be taught tunes, though you and I cannot, and there are doubtless great and extraordinary powers in musical sounds, though perhaps all that is said of those powers may not be exactly as it is stated.
I should suppose not; for if I was to believe that David Williams with his harp could cure my melancholy dame of her megrims, don’t you think I ought in conscience to make the trial?
I think at least, friend Philip, that the trial would do her no harm; for if she did not like to hear his music, she could easily put a stop to it.
But suppose, colonel, that she should like to hear it; and suppose also for a moment it should have the same effect upon her as Apollo’s harp had upon Plato’s mother, whereabouts should I be with a whole nursery of harp-begotten brats to provide for, conscious at the same time that I had not touched a single string of the instrument?
That would be rather hard upon you I confess.
Lord love you, colonel, even worse things than that might come to pass. I am very comfortable as I am, but who can tell what a few merry jigs upon the harp may do? They might be the ruin of my peace for ever.