in what is now Turkey, the Lydian mode in music is associated with carefree happiness--too carefree for some. The Greek philosopher Plato believed that it encouraged "drunkenness, softness, or idleness."So Milton is being deliberately provocative. He claims that this music, far from leading him into triviality or silliness, is in consort with "immortal verse." Whenever the "meeting soul" encounters poetry--pierces its truth "in notes" by turning silent letters on the page into living speech--it goes on an extraordinary journey.
from Christopher Nield: The Epoch Times: The Antidote--Classic Poetry for Modern Life: A Reading of L'Allegro by Milton
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