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The Works in Verse and Prose

(including hitherto unpublished Mss.) of Sir John Davies: for the first time collected and edited: With memorial-introductions and notes: By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In three volumes

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IV. Canzonet.

A HYMNE IN PRAISE OF MUSICKE.

Praise, pleasure, profite, is that threefold band,
Which ties mens minds more fast then Gordion's knots:

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Each one some drawes, all three none can withstand,
Of force conioynd, conquest is hardly got.
Then Musicke may of hearts a monarch be,
Wherein prayse, pleasure, profite so agree.
Praise-worthy Musicke is, for God it praiseth,
And pleasant, for brute beasts therein delight;
Great profit from it flowes, for why it raiseth
The mind ouerwhelmed with rude passions might:
When against reason passions fond rebell,
Musicke doth that confirme, and those expell.
If Musicke did not merit endlesse praise,
Would heauenly Spheares delight in siluer round?
If ioyous pleasure were not in sweet layes
Would they in Court and Country so abound?
And profitable needes we must that call,
Which pleasure linkt with praise, doth bring to all.
Heroicke minds with praises most incited,
Seeke praise in Musicke and therein excell:
God, man, beasts, birds, with Musicke are delighted,

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And pleasant t'is which pleaseth all so well:
No greater profit is then self-content,
And this will Musicke bring, and care preuent.
When antique Poets Musick's praises tell,
They say it beasts did please, and stones did moue:
To proue more dull then stones, then beasts more fell
Those men which pleasing Musicke did not loue,
They fain'd, it cities built, and States defended,
To show the profite great on it depended.
Sweet birds (poor men's Musitians) neuer slake
To sing sweet Musicke's praises day and night:
The dying Swans in Musicke pleasure take,
To shew that it the dying can delight:
In sicknesse, health, peace, warre, we do it need
Which proues sweet Musick's profit doth exceed.
But I by niggard praising do dispraise,
Praise-worthy Musicke in my worthlesse rime:
Ne can the pleasing profit of sweet laies,
Any saue learned Muses well define,
Yet all by these rude lines may clearely see,
Praise, pleasure, profite in sweet Musicke be.