University of Virginia Library

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To my worthy Friend that incomparable Musitian Dr JOHN WILSON on his Book of Songs of three Parts

Why should I loade with barren praise
A head so often wreath'd with Bayes:
Or make the greedy Reader looke
For something good besides the Book?
These dirty lines the rest will soyle.
And hardly serve to be their foyle,
Yet since the Author will impart
Unto the gaping world his Art;
I'le let it know what it ne're thought,
What can't be learned may be bought;
Least men inestimable call
It still and so not buy't at all.
Thus o're faire Structures of't we set
A Bill, this House is to be Let:
Some too perhaps who yet ne're knew
Great WILSON what we owe to you;
When they shall on the Title page.
See Ballads first come on the Stage.
Will thinke, because the word so grosse is.
These songs are fit for Market Crosses:
I'le tell'um they're authentick grown,
And Rimers now put Poets downe.
And yet I will the Muses call,
Apollo, and the Poets all,
And bid them tell me if they e're
Had better Offrings then are here,
Call any Nobler (if they durst)
Since they frequented Hibla first:

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Some humane, More divine; the odds
Is this, men made some, More the Gods.
Thus in a day serene and cleare,
Some sullen clouds fixt here and there
Make angry Phebus mend his ray
And add more luster to the day.
Thus in fayre nights the Heavens are
Not set with one continued starre,
But here and there a patch of night
Doth recompence the rest with light.
Now could the trembling aire convey
These sounds where Troys foundations lay;
Each scatterd stone would shew his head,
Though long in ruines buryed;
And being ravisht leap to take
The station which it did forsake:
And thou (Brave WILSON) with thy hand
Amphion like shouldst charming stand;
So should each higher note have powre
For to erect a lofty Towre
And when a deeper tone should sound,
To sinck a Cellar vnder ground;
Then might I question which would tell
Lowder thy Fame, Quart pot or Bell.