Most noble Onesicrates, said he, since you have
engaged us to speak our knowledge concerning the most
venerable excellencies of music, which is most pleasing to
the Gods, I cannot but approve the learning of our master
Lysias, and his great memory in reciting all the inventors
of the ancient music, and those who have written concerning it. But I must needs say, that he has given us this
account, trusting only to what he has found recorded. We
on the other side have not heard of any man that was the
inventor of the benefits of music, but of the God Apollo,
adorned with all manner of virtue. The flute was neither
the invention of Marsyas nor Olympus nor Hyagnis; nor
was the harp Apollo's invention only, but as a God he was
the inventor of all the music both of the flute and harp.
This is manifest from the dances and sacrifices which were
solemnized to Apollo, as Alcaeus and others in their hymns
relate. His statue also placed in the Temple of Delos
holds in his right hand a bow; at his left the Graces stand,
with every one a musical instrument in her hands, one carrying a harp, another a flute, another with a shepherd's
pipe set to her lips. And that this is no conceit of mine
appears from this, that Anticles and Ister have testified the
same in their commentaries upon these things. And the
statue is reported to be so ancient, that the artificers were
said to have lived in the time of Hercules. The youth
also that carries the Tempic laurel into Delphi is accompanied by one playing upon the flute. And the sacred
presents of the Hyperboreans were sent of old to Delos,
attended with flutes, pipes, and harps. Some have thought
that the God himself played upon the flute, as the best of
[p. 114]
lyrics, Alcman, relates. Corinna also asserts that Apollo
was by Minerva taught to pipe. Venerable is therefore
music altogether, as being the invention of the Gods.
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