Herrick speaks to Music as if it were a goddess, a “queen of heaven” whose spell can calm our cares and even silence the turmoil of hell. He marvels at its power to tame wild beasts and fierce storms with nothing more than gentle lullabies. The mood is one of awe and longing—the speaker yearns for this heavenly music to descend from the “chiming spheres” of the cosmos and touch human souls, not just our ears. It’s a plea for music to work its deepest magic, bringing peace and rapture to our inner lives. The images are cosmic yet intimate: the stillness in hell, the tamed tigers, the soul-melting lullabies. Herrick believes music is a bridge between the divine and the human, capable of quieting our inner storms. The verse creates a hushed, enchanted atmosphere, as if we’re listening to the very spell being cast.
TO MUSIC: A SONG — Summary
Music, thou queen of heaven, care-charming spell, That strik'st a stillness into hell; Thou that tam'st tigers, and fierce storms, that rise, With thy soul-melting lullabies; Fall down, down, down, from those thy chiming spheres To charm our souls, as thou enchant'st our ears.