"The most astonishing joy is to receive from the muses the gift of a whole lyric"

James Broughton's quote, "The most astonishing joy is to receive from the muses the gift of a whole lyric", speaks to the profound and frequently mystical experience of artistic motivation, particularly in the world of poetry and lyricism.

At its core, this quote encapsulates the moment of innovative epiphany when an artist feels as if they've been given a complete and ideal piece of art from some external, magnificent source. The "muses" in this context refer to the mythological figures from Greek mythology who were believed to inspire artists, musicians, and authors. Broughton suggests that the invoice of a "whole lyric" from these muses is not just a delight, but an impressive one, emphasizing the rarity and the marvel of such minutes of pure motivation.

This moment is "impressive" since it transcends the ordinary procedure of creation, where an artist usually labors over their work, honing and improving their craft. Rather, Broughton explains a scenario where the lyric gets here totally formed, as if bestowed by the muses themselves. This can be seen as a metaphor for those inexplicable flashes of insight that artists sometimes experience, when concepts appear to come nearly effortlessly and bring with them a sense of completeness and inevitability.

The idea of receiving a "gift" implies that inspiration is something beyond one's control-- it can not be forced or summoned at will however is something happily provided. This viewpoint can be both humbling and exhilarating for the artist, as it suggests a partnership between human imagination and something larger and more mysterious.

In conclusion, Broughton's quote is an event of those magical moments when imagination flows with ease and grace, when the artist feels like a conduit for something greater than themselves. It reminds us of the unforeseeable and wondrous nature of true inspiration, which can transform the frequently singular act of development into a shared experience with the divine.