University of Virginia Library

To the Reader.

Of thee good frend: thus muche I craue,
These few requestes I say:
No browes to bende: but first withsaue,
To iudge by like assay.
And if ye spie: as much ye may,
where strayd amisse I haue:
To mend where I: went out of way,
with art more sad and graue.
But reade it round: and hacke it not,
as iumblyng short with long:
Expresse them sound: and racke them not,
as learners vse among.
Accent in place: your voyce as needth,
note number, poynte, and time:
Both lyfe and grace: good reading breedth,
flat verse it reysth sublime.
Obserue the trayne: the ceasure marke,
To rest with note in close:
Rythmedogrell playne: as dogs do barke,
ye make it els to lose.
Reade oft inough: well spell the lyne,
less iarr to heare by vse:
If verse be rough: no fault is myne,
if ye the eare abuse.


But princepall thing: your lute to tune,
that hart may sing in corde:
Your voyce and string: so fine to prune,
to loue and serue the Lorde.
Syng Psalmes and hymnes: and songes on hye,
To God your selues among:
But sing in hart: make melodye,
To God geue thankes in song.
Paule. Ephe. 5. Col. 3.
Jf sad ye be: and beare the crosse,
In faith pray ye contrite:
If glad ye be: and feele no losse,
Sing Psalmes of thankes aright.
Iames. V.
In Lute and Harpe: reioyce to sing,
Syng Psalmes in decachorde:
Of all the earth: sith God is Kyng,
Syng wisely feare the Lorde.
Dauid. Psalme. 33. 47. 68.
The fathers olde: both sought and found,
Sweete musikes moodes full fine:
The Scripture songes: they did expound,
Their hartes were all deuine.
Iesus Syrach. 44.
VVho knowledge loueth: teach him thy lore,
No musike hinder thou:
Where hearyng wanth: spare wordes the more,
And modestie allow.
Iesus Syrach. 32.