University of Virginia Library

In the most iust praise of, Musicke, this praiseworthy Worke, and my deare, vertuous, and right expert friend, the most iudicious Author.

The ten-fold Orbes of Heauen are said to moue
By Musicke; for, they make Harmonious din:
And all the Powres subordinate aboue
Spend Time, nay, spend Æternity therein.
If Musicke then, moue all that All doth moue;
That's not compriz'd in ALL that spights her State:
If not in ALL, it's nought; which who doth loue
is worse then nought, to loue what Heau'n doth hate:
For, NOVGHT is nothing; sith it was not made
By that great WORD, without which made was nought:
Then, if that nought but NOVGHT doe her inuade,
Like God, her goodnesse is surmounting THOVGHT!
But no man is so ill that hath no good;
So, no man in the Abstract can be nought:
Then 'tis no man that hates sweete Musickes moode,
But Some-thing worse then all that can be thought.
A Beast? O no: A Monster? neither. Then
Is it a Deuill? Nothing lesse: for, these
Haue Beings with an Angell, or a Man;
But that exists not, that sweete Notes displease.
FORMES, Essence giue to Man, Beast, Fish, & Fowle;
Then Men WERE not, had they no Soule (their Forme)
But Musickes haters haue no Forme, nor Soule;
So, they (like Sinne) exist but to enorme,
For, had they Soules produc'd in Harmony,
Or rather Are it selfe (some Wise euouch)
They would be ravisht with her Suauity,
And turn'd Cœlestiall with her Heauenly Touch!
But, let them goe as more than mortall Sinne
'Gainst Wisedomes Spirit, not to be forgiuen:
While thou dost wooe the Soules, which thou dost winne
With thy sweet Notes (deere Friend) to mind but Heau'n.
Thy Nature, Manners, and thy Notes doe make
A Three-fold-Cord, to drawe all hearts it gaines:
Thy Musickes Cordes hold Eares and Eyes awake
(Yet lullaby in pleasure) with their Straines.
So, then this latter Musicke (though alone)
'Twixt Fame and Thee doth make an Vnison,
Through which consent, though Deaths clouds thee o're run
Thy glory still shall shine, and cloud the Sun.