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"Why is it that
Poetry has never yet been subjected to that process of Dilution which
has proved so advantageous to her sister-art Music? The Diluter gives
us first a few notes of some well-known Air, then a dozen bars of his
own, then a few more notes of the Air, and so on alternately: thus
saving the listener, if not from all risk of recognising the melody at
all, at least from the too- exciting transports which it might produce
in a more concentrated form. The process is termed "setting" by
Composers, and any one, that has ever experienced the emotion of being
unexpectedly set down in a heap of mortar, will recognise the
truthfulness of this happy phrase.
For truly, just as the genuine Epicure lingers lovingly over a morsel
of supreme Venison - whose every fibre seems to murmur "Excelsior!" -
yet swallows, ere returning to the toothsome dainty, great mouthfuls
of oatmeal-porridge and winkles: and just as the perfect Connoisseur
in Claret permits himself but one delicate sip, and then tosses off a
pint or more of boarding-school beer: so also - |
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