 | A briefe discourse of the true use of charact'ring the degrees in measurable musicke |  |
To my deare Friend Maister Thomas Ravenscroft, vpon this Worke.
I Prophesie (deare Friend) that thou which giu'stThe Dead deserued Bayes, shalt while thou liu'st
Neuer want Garlands of that Sacred Tree
To Crowne thee in Æternall memorie:
Thou that hast made the dying Coales to Glowe
Of ould Ed. Piers his name; which now shall growe
('Gainst all that enuious or malicious bee)
In high Opinion 'mongst Posteritie;
Nor shall they touch Worth without Reuerence,
In whome once dwelt such perfect Excellence
In Heaun'ly Musicke; I may call it so,
If ould Pythagoras said truely, who
Affirm'd that the Sphæres Cælestiall
Are in their Motion truly Musicall:
And Man, in whome is found a humane Minde,
(Then Whome, (Angells except) who e're could finde
A Nobler Creature) some affirme consisteth
Onely of Harmony, wherein existeth
The Soule of Musicke; and yet (but for Thee)
This Man had dy'd to all mens memorie;
Whose Name (now cleans'd from rust) this Worke of thine
(While there are Times or Men) I doe deuine
Shall keepe Aliue; nor shall thy owne Name die,
But by this Worke liue to Æternitie:
And from it men hereafter shall pull out
Scourges, to lash the base Mechanicke Rout
Of Mercenary Minstrels, who haue made
(To their owne scorne) this Noble Art, a Trade.
| A briefe discourse of the true use of charact'ring the degrees in measurable musicke | |