aster Fasch, who belongs to the old pious times, and whose profound
and reverent writings have found so little favour with the frivolous
crowd that his Mass for sixteen voices could not be published for want
of due support. You would do me much injustice, Theodore, if you
supposed that my mind is shut up with reference to the more modern
music. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven have, in very truth, unfolded a new
art, whose germ, perhaps, began to show itself in the middle of the
eighteenth century. It was not the fault of those masters that
frivolity and lack of comprehension prized the treasures already in
existence so lightly that coiners of false money tried to give to their
base metal the semblance of true currency. It is true that nearly in
the same degree in which instrumental music gained in importance, vocal
music became neglected, and that the complete disappearance of the
true old choral music (which the result of sundry ecclesiastical
changes--dissolution of the monasteries, and so forth), kept pace
therewith. Of course it is quite clear that, now, it is not possible to
go back to Palestrina's simplicity and grandeur, but it is still a
question how far our new gains and progress can be brought into use in
churches. The spirit which rules this world drives onward and onward
continually; and although the forms which are lost and gone can never
come back just as they were when they moved in our life-atmosphere,
what is true is everlasting, imperishable, immortal; and a wondrous
spiritual communion gently binds a mysterious band around the past, the
present, and the future. The sublime old masters are still alive, in
the spirit. 'They being dead, yet speak.' Their music has not died away
into silence, although in the roaring, tumultuous strife of the
ungovernable which has broken in upon us, it is difficult to hear it.
May the time of the fulfilling of our hopes be not far off! May a life
of piety, peace, and joy begin, when Music, plying her Seraph-pinions
freely and joyously once more, may enter upon her flight to the life
beyond this, to that world which is her home, and whence comfort and
salvation beam down into the unresting hearts of men."

Cyprian spoke those words with an unction which showed that they came
truly from his heart of hearts. The friends, deeply moved by them, kept
silence for some moments.

Then Sylvester said, "Although I am not a musician as Theodore and
Cyprian are, I can assure you that I