You me not with that fair face what is Dryden saying in the poem?

The line "Why me not with that fair face" comes from John Dryden's poem "A Song for St. Cecilia's Day, 1687".

The poem is a celebration of music and its power to move the soul. In this particular line, the speaker is acknowledging the beauty of a loved one's face. However, the full context of the poem reveals that the speaker is primarily focused on the power of music, not on romantic love.

Here's the full stanza where the line appears:

> **"From harmony, from heavenly harmony,

> This universal frame began:

> From harmony to harmony

> Through all the compass of the notes it ran.

> The diapason closing full in man.

> Why me not with that fair face,

> Whose every feature, every grace,

> But sings and dances to the eyes?"**

The speaker is describing how music is the fundamental force that shapes the universe and how it manifests in all things, including the beauty of a person's face. The line "Why me not with that fair face" is more about the speaker's awe at the beauty of the face, rather than a direct expression of romantic desire. The line emphasizes how the beauty is akin to music, a harmony that sings and dances to the eyes.

Essentially, the speaker is saying that even the beauty of the loved one's face is a form of music, a harmony that inspires and moves the soul. The poem ultimately celebrates the power of music to elevate and inspire, transcending the limitations of earthly love.

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