What does Lorenzo's speech from the merchant of Venice' reveal about attitudes towards music in Renaissance England?
Act V?
Lorenzo orders music to celebrate Portia’s homecoming. The attitude being that music has an innate power to change a man’s nature. Music changes how we see characters and allows us a glimpse of their emotions. Music is seen to lighten moods and sweeten dispostions.
The Merchant of Venice
can you be more specific?
yes act V
and I also don't understand this part
The reason is, your spirits are attentive:
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
