No man can catch all, or always the best, of what is put for a moment
or two within his reach. Handel took as much and as near the best,
doubtless, as mortal man can take; but he must have had moments and
glimpses which were given to him alone and which he could tell no
man.
ii
I saw the world a great orchestra filled with angels whose
instruments were of gold. And I saw the organ on the top of the axis
round which all should turn, but nothing turned and nothing moved and
the angels stirred not and all was as still as a stone, and I was
myself also, like the rest, as still as a stone.
Then I saw some huge, cloud-like forms nearing, and behold! it was
the Lord bringing two of his children by the hand.
"O Papa!" said one, "isn't it pretty?"
"Yes, my dear," said the Lord, "and if you drop a penny into the box
the figures will work."
Then I saw that what I had taken for the keyboard of the organ was no
keyboard but only a slit, and one of the little Lords dropped a
plaque of metal into it. And then the angels played and the world
turned round and the organ made a noise and the people began killing
one another and the two little Lords clapped their hands and were
delighted.
Handel and Dickens
They buried Dickens in the very next grave, cheek by jowl with
Handel. It does not matter, but it pained me to think that people
who could do this could become Deans of Westminster.
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