A Collection of Emblemes Ancient and Moderne: Quickened VVith Metricall Illvstrations, both Morall and Divine: And disposed into Lotteries, That Instruction, and Good Counsell, may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation. By George Wither |
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 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
65
Illvstr. III.
[To Musicke, and the Muses, many beare]
Though Musicke be of some abhor'd,
She, is the Handmaid of the Lord.
She, is the Handmaid of the Lord.
To
Musicke, and the Muses, many beare
Much hatred; and, to whatsoever ends
Their Soule-delighting-Raptures tuned are,
Such peevish dispositions, it offends.
Some others, in a Morall way, affect
Their pleasing Straines (or, for a sensuall use)
But, in Gods Worship, they the same suspect;
(Or, taxe it rather) as a great abuse.
The First of these, are full of Melancholy;
And, Pitty need, or Comfort, more then blame;
And, soone, may fall into some dangerous folly,
Vnlesse they labour, to prevent the same.
The Last, are giddie-things, that have befool'd
Their Iudgements, with beguiling-Fantasies,
Which (if they be not, by discretion, school'd)
Will plunge them into greater Vanities.
Much hatred; and, to whatsoever ends
Their Soule-delighting-Raptures tuned are,
Such peevish dispositions, it offends.
Some others, in a Morall way, affect
Their pleasing Straines (or, for a sensuall use)
But, in Gods Worship, they the same suspect;
(Or, taxe it rather) as a great abuse.
The First of these, are full of Melancholy;
And, Pitty need, or Comfort, more then blame;
And, soone, may fall into some dangerous folly,
Vnlesse they labour, to prevent the same.
The Last, are giddie-things, that have befool'd
Their Iudgements, with beguiling-Fantasies,
Which (if they be not, by discretion, school'd)
Will plunge them into greater Vanities.
For, Musicke, is the Handmaid of the Lord,
And, for his Worship, was at first ordayned:
Yea, therewithall she fitly doth accord;
And, where Devotion thriveth, is reteyned.
Shee, by a nat'rall power, doth helpe to raise,
The mind to God, when joyfull Notes are sounded:
And, Passions fierce Distemperatures, alaies;
When, by grave Tones, the Mellody is bounded.
It, also may in Mysticke-sense, imply
What Musicke, in our-selves, ought still to be;
And, that our jarring-lives to certifie,
Wee should in Voice, in Hand, and Heart, agree:
And, sing out, Faiths new-songs, with full concent,
Vnto the Lawes, ten-stringed Instrument.
And, for his Worship, was at first ordayned:
Yea, therewithall she fitly doth accord;
And, where Devotion thriveth, is reteyned.
Shee, by a nat'rall power, doth helpe to raise,
The mind to God, when joyfull Notes are sounded:
And, Passions fierce Distemperatures, alaies;
When, by grave Tones, the Mellody is bounded.
It, also may in Mysticke-sense, imply
What Musicke, in our-selves, ought still to be;
And, that our jarring-lives to certifie,
Wee should in Voice, in Hand, and Heart, agree:
And, sing out, Faiths new-songs, with full concent,
Vnto the Lawes, ten-stringed Instrument.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |