A collection of the Odes, written for the Festival of St. Cecilia’s Day, was first formed by Mr. William Henry Husk, Librarian of the Sacred Harmonic Society, and published by Bell and Daldy in 1857, in “_An Account of the Musical Celebrations on St. Cecilia’s Day_. To which is appended a Collection of Odes on St. Cecilia’s Day.” It is unnecessary to enumerate them all here, but as Odes written by Nahum Tate, John Dryden, Thomas Shadwell, Samuel Wesley, Joseph Addison, William Congreve, Alexander Pope, and the burlesque Ode by Bonnell Thornton are included, the volume has considerable literary interest. John Dryden wrote a song for the Festival of November, 1687, but his great Ode, “Alexander’s Feast; or, the Power of Music,” was written and performed in 1697. For this poem it is said Dryden received forty pounds, its success was so great that it was frequently performed at later festivals, and in 1736 “Alexander’s Feast” was set to music by Handel. The poem has been frequently parodied, it will therefore be convenient to give the original Ode, followed by the parodies, or such parts of them as are fit for re-publication, for it must be confessed that some of the earlier imitations are excessively coarse. ALEXANDER’S FEAST. ’Twas at the royal feast, for Persia won, By Philip’s warlike son, Aloft in awful state, The god-like hero sate On his imperial throne. His valiant peers were placed around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: (So should desert in arms be crown’d.) The lovely Thais, by his side, Sate like a blooming eastern bride, In flower of youth, and beauty’s pride. _Chorus._ Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair. Timotheus placed on high, Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers touched the lyre; With trembling notes ascend the sky, And heavenly joys inspire. The Song began from Jove, Who left his blissful seat above Such is the power of mighty love: A dragon’s fiery form belied the god; Sublime on radiant spheres he rode, When he to fair Olympia press’d, And while he sought her snowy Breast, Then round her slender waist he curl’d, And stamp’d an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. The listening crowd admire the lofty sound; “A present deity!” they shout around; “A present deity!” the vaulted roofs rebound. _Chorus._ With ravish’d ears The monarch hears, Assumes the God, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres.