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. Never fear, my good friend, replied the colonel. Depend upon it, you are in no danger. Well! if you think so, said Philip, I will go to David Williams, and put my wife under a course of serenades directly: It may perhaps please the Lord, that they shall do her neither good nor harm. So saying, Philip left the room, and Wilson went to superintend his workmen in the hall. * * * * * I here close the third book and first volume of my history, and, availing myself of the licence I have assumed in the two preceding books, I stop progress to look back upon what hitherto has been done: no mighty matter I confess; yet it has put me to the labour of turning over many a crabbed antiquated author to furnish out materials for these pages; and to what purpose? Wiser perhaps I had been to have followed the example of those easy gentlemen, who write without any pains what you read without any profit.