Page 59
Chapter 11. Of loude singing, and in what degree it commeth to be one of the exercises.
IT were to much to wishe, that Musick were the most healthy exercise, as it is the most pleasaunt profession, bycause either to much delite would drowne men in it alone, or to much cloying would cause it be quite contemned. Wherfore as it may not diminish other of their due, by occupying to much roome, so by change after other, and distance in it selfe, it con∣tinueth in her owne credit. For both varietie refresheth, and di∣stance reneweth, where still the same dulles, and continuance wearies. As Musick is compounde of number, melodie, and harmonie, it hath nothing to do with gymnastick and exercise, but serueth in that sense either for delite & pleasure, and exer∣ciseth desire: or in some respectes concerneth the manering and training vp of youth in matter of knowledge, as I said be∣fore. Whervnto I was induced not onely by argument, and na∣ture of the thing,* 1.1 but by great authorities of Plato, and Philo, of Aristotle and Galene, and whom not? out of all antiquitie, which both allow of the thing in nature, and admit it in polli∣cie, into the best common weales, as a great worker of much good. But for as much as singing vseth the voice for her meane, and the voice instrumentes for her vtteraunce, and medleth with all sortes, and degrees in sounde base, meane, and triple, which in deliuerie do labour, and trauell the pipes, it is recei∣ued among exercises of health, though it be not so forcible, nor can pearce so farre, as loude speaking doth, which doth not much care for any fine concent, so it vtter strongly, and straine within compasse: wheras Musick to the cōtrary standes not much vpon straining or fullnesse of the voice, so it be deli∣cate and fine in concent.* 1.2 And yet in Aristotles opinion, it both exerciseth, and preserueth the naturall strength bycause it stan∣deth vpon an ordinate, and degreed motion of the voice. We finde in our owne experiēce, that it sturreth the voice, spreadeth the instrumentes therof, and craueth a cleare passage, as it also lightneth the laborer, and encreaseth his courage, in carying of burdens. It was vsed in the olde time Physicklike, to stay