The Treasury of Musick Containing ayres and dialogues To Sing to the theorbo-lute or basse-viol. Composed |
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To my much Ingenuous Friend Mr. John Playford,
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 | The Treasury of Musick |  |
To my much Ingenuous Friend Mr. John Playford,
upon his late Publication of two Excellent Books for VOCAL MUSICK, VIZ. SELECT AYRES and DIALOGUES, AND, The MUSICAL COMPANION.
Treasurer of Musick, how much we
Do Owe unto thy industrie!
Th'unhappy Science ne'r did sound
In a full Chord, 'till thou hadst bound
Up in one Book, the whole Consent
Of scatter'd Musick's Ornament.
The Choice Composers of our Age
Did each one in a private Page
Whisper unto his Muse, till now
They're made a Publick Quire by you;
Where, like to joyful Birds by th'Spring
Call'd to a pleasant Grove, they sing
Not more their own felicitie,
And Notes, than just Applause to thee.
For why? Musick ('tis true) has been
Dispos'd to Harmony, but when
Were the Musicians so much like
To be a Body Politique?
Their Corporation incompleat
Appear'd, before thou did'st the feat:
The Order of thy Book shall be
The List of their Societie,
And none shall dare t'intrude himself,
But such into their Common-wealth.
Dispers'd Absyrtus's useless Parts
Might be reduc'd with half the Arts
That thou hast exercis'd upon
Thy Musical Companion;
A Piece so choice, so trim, so drest,
Who would not covet such a Guest?
Do Owe unto thy industrie!
Th'unhappy Science ne'r did sound
In a full Chord, 'till thou hadst bound
Up in one Book, the whole Consent
Of scatter'd Musick's Ornament.
The Choice Composers of our Age
Did each one in a private Page
Whisper unto his Muse, till now
They're made a Publick Quire by you;
Where, like to joyful Birds by th'Spring
Call'd to a pleasant Grove, they sing
Not more their own felicitie,
And Notes, than just Applause to thee.
For why? Musick ('tis true) has been
Dispos'd to Harmony, but when
Were the Musicians so much like
To be a Body Politique?
Their Corporation incompleat
Appear'd, before thou did'st the feat:
The Order of thy Book shall be
The List of their Societie,
And none shall dare t'intrude himself,
But such into their Common-wealth.
Dispers'd Absyrtus's useless Parts
Might be reduc'd with half the Arts
That thou hast exercis'd upon
Thy Musical Companion;
A Piece so choice, so trim, so drest,
Who would not covet such a Guest?
Nor let vain Momus Carp and Cry
This Work speaks thee a Plagiary,
For don't we know thy depth, and skill
In Musick? Thou dost change, or fill
What pleaseth not, or where it wants,
And regulate the false Descants.
Thou art as ready to translate,
As to transcribe, thy Book can say't.
Thy Composition too doth raise
Equal Advantage to thy praise,
And though thy bashful Muse holds forth
Too small a taste of her own worth,
It shews enough what thou canst do,
And to thy Commendation too,
That in a thing so rare thou art
Content thy Friends should share a part;
When some like Cæsar so high flown,
Resolve t'have all or none their own.
This Work speaks thee a Plagiary,
For don't we know thy depth, and skill
In Musick? Thou dost change, or fill
What pleaseth not, or where it wants,
And regulate the false Descants.
Thou art as ready to translate,
As to transcribe, thy Book can say't.
Thy Composition too doth raise
Equal Advantage to thy praise,
And though thy bashful Muse holds forth
Too small a taste of her own worth,
It shews enough what thou canst do,
And to thy Commendation too,
That in a thing so rare thou art
Content thy Friends should share a part;
When some like Cæsar so high flown,
Resolve t'have all or none their own.
If pity'd Ign'rance yet should cast
Spite at thy Name, Oh! let him hast
For better Knowledge and Instruction
To Playford's famed Introduction.
If nimble Wits begin to play,
Thou'rt full of Catches too, as they,
And more than they can prove, or sing,
Thy Notes give Life to what they bring.
Th'Ingenuous Lover, when he looks
For Am'rous pastime in thy Books,
He'l Court thy Ayres with all Respect,
Thou countenanc'st none, but are Select.
And when the Virtuosi come,
For that sage Train thou fittest some
Good Entertainment, then set on
Thy Musical Companion.
A Man against the World, what shall
I say? How shall I Playford call?
The Field's too large, Helicon's too scant
To pay a drop to every plant
That sprouteth forth: And then I hear
(Methinks) thy Genius drawing near,
To check my vain attempt, and tell
Thy self does only speak thee well.
I will not therefore Gaul with Baies
Thy tender Brows, nor clog with Praise
Thy fertile Merit, only here
Take leave to pay my thanks, for fear
I tempt thy Native Modesty
To flush into too deep a Dye.
Spite at thy Name, Oh! let him hast
For better Knowledge and Instruction
To Playford's famed Introduction.
If nimble Wits begin to play,
Thou'rt full of Catches too, as they,
And more than they can prove, or sing,
Thy Notes give Life to what they bring.
Th'Ingenuous Lover, when he looks
For Am'rous pastime in thy Books,
He'l Court thy Ayres with all Respect,
Thou countenanc'st none, but are Select.
And when the Virtuosi come,
For that sage Train thou fittest some
Good Entertainment, then set on
Thy Musical Companion.
A Man against the World, what shall
I say? How shall I Playford call?
The Field's too large, Helicon's too scant
To pay a drop to every plant
That sprouteth forth: And then I hear
(Methinks) thy Genius drawing near,
To check my vain attempt, and tell
Thy self does only speak thee well.
I will not therefore Gaul with Baies
Thy tender Brows, nor clog with Praise
Thy fertile Merit, only here
Take leave to pay my thanks, for fear
I tempt thy Native Modesty
To flush into too deep a Dye.
Cha. Pigeon. Soc. Gra. In.
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