"Long did dark Ignorance our Isle 'ore-spread, Our Musick and our Poetry lay dead; But the dull Malice of a barbarous age Fell most severe on _David's_ sacred page: To wound his Sense and quench his Heav'n born fire Three vile Translators lewdly did conspire; In holy Doggerel and low chiming Prose The King and Poet they at once depose: Vainly the unrighteous charge he did bemoan, And languish'd in strange numbers, not his own. Nor stopt his Usage here; For what escap'd in Wisdom's ancient Rhimes Was murder'd o're and o're in the Composer's Chimes. What praises _Purcell_ to thy Skill are due, Who hast to Judah's Monarch been so true? By thee he moves our Hearts, by thee he reigns, By thee shakes off the old inglorious Chains, And sees new Honours done to his immortal strains. Not _Italy_, the Mother of each Art, Did e're a juster, happier Son impart. In thy performance we with wonder find _Corelli's_ genius to _Bassani's_ join'd. Sweetness, combined with Majesty, prepares To sing Devotion with inspiring airs. Thus I, unknown, my Gratitude express And conscious Gratitude could do no less. This Tribute from each _British_ Muse is due; The whole Poetic Tribe's obliged to you; For when the Author's scanty Words have fail'd, Thy happier Graces, _Purcell_, have prevail'd! And surely none but you with equal ease, Cou'd add to David, and make D'Urfy please." The above lines were printed in the _Gentleman's Journal_ with an editorial note: "A music book intituled _Harmonia Sacra_ will shortly be printed for Mr. Playford. I need not say anything more to recommend it to you, than that you will find in it many of Mr. _Henry Purcell's_ admirable composures. As they charm all men, they are universally extolled, and even those who know him no otherwise than by his Notes are fond of expressing their sense of his merit. _Mr. Thomas Brown_ is one of those, as you will find by these lines." The lines appeared in the several editions of _Harmonia Sacra_ even as late as 1714, and there is no ground for believing that the poet and musician ever met. Dr. Arne gave a concert at Drury Lane Theatre on the 21st of June, 1768, for which he published a book of the words; and one of the pieces is Purcell's catch, "Jack, thou'rt a toper." To this Arne has appended the following note:-- "The words of this catch are said to be written by Mr. Purcell, wherein, it is obvious, that he meant no elegance with regard to the poetry; but made it intirely subservient to his extream pretty design in the music." The catch, as has been noticed previously, forms a part of the opera _Bonduca_.