And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Ver. 4. And the doors shall be shut in the streets.] The ears shall grow deaf, the hearing weak, which hearing is caused by two bones within the inside of the ear, whereof one stands still and the other moves, like the two stones of a mill.
And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird.] Being awakened by every small noise; and this proceeds not from the quickness of the hearing, but from the badness of sleeping. For as Jerome speaketh, Frigescente iam sanguine, &c. : a The blood now growing cold, and the moisture being dried up, by which matters sleep should be nourished. The old man awakeneth with a little sound, and at midnight, when the cock croweth, he riseth speedily, b being not able often to turn his members in his bed. Thus he. Cocks crowing, saith another, unto old men is the scholar's bell, that calls them to think of the things that are in God's book every morning.
And all the daughters of music shall be brought low.] Old men, as they cannot sing tunably, but creak or scream (whence Homer compares them to grasshoppers, propter raucam vocem, for their unpleasant voice), so they can take no delight in the melodious notes of others, as old Barzillai confesseth; 2Sa 19:35 they discern not the harmony or distinction of sounds, neither are affected with music. c They must therefore labour to become temples of the Holy Ghost (in whose temple there never wants music), and sing psalms "with grace in their hearts," for, Non vex, sed votum; non musica chordula, nen cor; non clamans, non amans, psallit in aure Dei.
a Jerome, on this verse.
b Aλεκτωρ dicitur, quia nos a lecto exsuscitat.
c Nam quae cantante voluptas? - Juvenal.