Two'instruments of the IjTe species are delineated on a bass-relief of the Assyrian monuments, representing the return of a monarch celebrated by a procession of musicians (Layard, Nineveh and Bab. p. 388 sq.). The
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Ancient Assyrian Lyre.
Ancient Assyrian Lute and Harp, ancient Babylonian instrument is probably that repre- sented in a single instance on the Assj-rian monuments at Khorsabad, dejiicting tliree short -bearded performers on the lyre usliered into the great chamber by two eu- nuchs. " The musicians are clad in a short tunic held fast by a girdle, and their hair is drawn back, and termi- nates above tlie shoulders in a single tow of curls. Thej^ proceed with measiured fttep, singing and twanging their lyres, which are suspended by a broad band passing over the right .shoulder. The instrument itself somewhat re- sembles the Greek IjTe: it has a square body and upright sides, the latter being connected by a cross- tar, to which are fixed strings that seem to have been rather numer- ous, for we can count eight at least, and in tlie part that is corroded away there is room for tliree or four more. Exactly similar instruments are now seen in Nubia and Dongo- la ; and the mode of playing is that the right hand holds a short plectrum to strike the in- tervals, while the left is used to stop and twang the cords (Bonomi's Nineveh, \\ 187).
Harps or guitars are constantly, in the Holy Scrip- tures, instruments of joy. Tliej' are mentioned in very ancient times as musical instruments, used both by Jews and Gentiles, and their emplojTnent in tlie Temple wor- ship frequently occurs. Moses has named their original inventor in Gen. iv, 21, viz. Jubal; and in Gen. xxxi, 27, Laban says to Jacob, " Wliy did you not tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tabret and with harp ?" Even in that very ancient writing, the book of Job (xxi, 12), that patriarch, speak- ing of the prosperity of the wicked, says, " They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ." So, when complaining of his own condition (xxx,31), he saj-s, "My harp also is turned into mourn- ing, and my organ to the voice of them that weep." Isaiah speaks of the harp under the same character, as an instrument of joy (xxiv, 8). Divine subjects used to be brought forward with the accompaniments of tlie harp (Psa. xlix, 5), and the high praises of God were so celebrated (Psa. xxxiii, 2 ; Ixiii, 4 ; Ivii, 8 : see also Psa. Ixxi, 22, 23; xcii, 4, 5, 6; xcviii, 5; cxlvii, 7; cl, 3). That harps are used to celebrate the praises of heroes is well known. Harps, in Solomon's day, were made of the almug-tree, as our translators have it (1 Kings x, 11, 12). They were often gUded, and hence called gold- eyi harps (Rev. v, 8). A harp of eiijht strings is men- tioned (1 Chron. xv, 21), called in our version "harp on the Sheminith." But amongst the Greeks it had, for the most part, seven strings. Josephus (.l»^ vii, 12)
describes a harp of ten strings. The distinct sounds ut- tered by these strings or chords are alludeil to by Paul in 1 Cor. xiv, 7. Its soothing effect was exemplified in calming down the furious spirit of Saul (1 Sam. xvi, 17, 24; xviii, 9; xix, 9). The spirit of prophecy appears to have been excited by instrumental music of this kind (2 Kings iii, 15). Harpers held the instrument in the hand, or placed it on a pillar, or sat down by a river side (Ovid, FasH, ii, 115). Sometimes they suspended them from trees, to which there is an allusion in Psa, cxxxvii, 1, 2. The harp was used in processions and public triumphs, in worship and the offices of religion, and was sometimes accompanied with dancing (Psa. cxlix, 3). They were also used after successful battles (sec 2 Chron. xx, 28 ; 1 Mace, xiii, 51). Isaiah alludes to this custom (xxx, 32). So in the victory of the Lamb (Kev. xiv, 1, 2): "I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps;" the Church in heaven being repre- sented as composing a grand chorus, in celebration of the triumphs of the Redeemer. At solemn feasts, and especially of the nuptial kind, harps were employed. To this the prophet Isaiah alludes (v, 11, 12). The use of harps in worsliip has ah-eady been adverted to, and that the heathen employed them on such occasions ap- pears from Dan. iii, 5, 7, 15. "Harps of God" (Rev. XV, 2) are either a Hebraism to show their excellence, as the addition of Ood often signifies (the most excel- lent things in their kind being in the Scriptiu-es said to be of God), as a prince of (iod (Gen. xxiii, G, in the original), the mountains of God (Psa. xxxvi, 6, in the original), cedars of God (Psa. Ixxx, 11, in the original), anil the like; or else they mean harps given as from God ; or harps of God may be harps used in the service of God, in opposition to harps common and profane (1 Chron. x\i, 42 ; 2 Chron. vii, 6).— Wemyss, s. v.
Harphius, Hexri, a Flemish mystic, was bom at Erp (whence he is sometimes called also Erpius or Er- pen), in Brabant, towards the beginning of the 15th century. He entered the order of St. Francis, in which he soon became distinguished lor his learning, particu- larly in mystical theologv. He attained the highest dignities of the order, and succeeded in restoring the dis- cipline in several convents of gray friars where it had been relaxed. He died at Mechlin Feb. 22, 1478. The Franciscans count him among the blessed, yet Bossuet seems to have considered him only as an enthusiast and visionary. He wrote Le IHrectoi/e des Contenijilatifs (first published in Low Dutch, then in Latin by Blome- ven, luider the title Directorium aiireum Contempt at ivo- rum (Cologne, 1513, 8 vo, Antw. 1513, 12mo) ; there are generally three other works of Ilaqihius pubhshed with it : Tractatus de Effusione Cordis .-—Modus lerjendi rosa- rium Virffinis Marim : — Remedia contra Distractiones. The Directorium aureum was republished with commen- taries and corrections (Paris, without date, r2mo; Co- logne, 1527, 12mo; 1611, 16mo; lG45,fol.; Antwerp, 1536, l-imo; Cologne, 1555, fol.; Rome, 1 585, 4to; Brescia, IGOl, 4to ; translated inter French by INIme. E. B., Paris, 1552, IGmo) •.—Sermones, etc., with Trois Parties de la Peni- tence and Triple A venement de Jesus Christ (these works, written at first in Flemish, were translated into Latui, Nuremberg, 1481, 4to; Spire, 1484, 4to) ■.—Speculum au- reum decern Prrcccptorum Phi, etc. (Mayence, 1474, 4to) :