The praise of musicke wherein besides the antiquitie, dignitie, delectation, & vse thereof in ciuill matters, is also declared the sober and lawfull vse of the same in the congregation and church of God.

THE DIGNITIE OF MVSICKE PROVED BOTH by the rewardes and practise of many and most excellent men. Chap. 2. (Book 2)

THus hauing stoode vpon the antiquitie and originall of musick being so neerly lin∣ked togither that they could not wel be seuered, it folow∣eth by order that I speake somwhat of her honor. A needlesse treatise, were it not for the affectionat iudgemēts of some men, which making more reckening of the shadowe than the bodie accompt neither vertues nor sciences worthie the taking vp for their own faire faces, vnlesse they come furnished with good & sufficient doweries.

Ipse licet venias Musis comitatus Homere, Si nihil attuleris ibis Homere foras.

Come Homer if thou list & bring the muses crue Yet Homer if thou bring naught els but thē adue.

Notwithstanding to satisfie those which like indifferently well of this science not so much for her owne laudable nature as her profitable accidents, let them knowe that her professors & practisers were not rewar∣ded

heretofore (as they speake in reproch) w^t meate, drink & mony, which they cal fidlers wages, but admitted into the presence and familiaritie of kings, sought vnto by whole cities and countries, & dismissed with rich and honourable rewards. I am sory that I am forced to seeke those kind of arguments, being fitter to quiet the common people thā the learned and wise: who looking into the things themselues, wey thē by themselues, valuing at an higher price the goodnesse where-with they are endowed, than the goods and commodities where-with they are enriched. But to approue musicke vn∣to both those sortes of men, to the vpright & wel minded for her own sake, to the others for the things which they doe most estimate I intend both by variety and trueth of histo∣rie to make manifest declaration in euerie respect of her dignitie.* 1.1 Who was more ac∣cepted of Periander King of Corinth than Arion? of Hieron King of Sicil than Simo∣nides? of Perdicchas than Menalippides? of Alexander the great than Timotheus & Zenophontus who could make him both giue an alarum, and sound retrait at their pleasures? Who in better fauor with Aga∣memnon

than Demodochus to whom hee committed his wife Clitemnestra for the time of his long & vnfortunat voiage? with Themistocles than Exicles whom he made his daily and housholde guest? with M. An∣tonius than Anaxenor to whom he gaue the tribute of four Cities? with Iulius Caesar than Hermogenes? with Nero than Ferio∣nus? with Vespasian than Diodorus? with Galba than Canus? Who more tendered of Aristratus king of Syciō than Thelestus, whom he countenanced being aliue with al kind of preferment, and honoured being dead with a costly monument?* 1.2 Nay the cunning of some hath so farre rebated the edge of most cruel and hard harted tirants, that they haue beene willing, as they say perforce to put vp iniuries and wrongs at their hands. Pyttachus of Mytilen let go scotfree Alcaeus his sworne enimie, not∣withstāding he had both disgraced him and taken armes against him. The like did Phalaris the Agrigentine by Tisias his mortall foe, albeit hee tooke as much plea∣sure in murdering as in banqueting, and had oftē euen with greedines dislodged the soules of many innocents from their harm∣les

bodies. Thus Musick led him farder thā euer humanity could draw him. What need I ad water to the sea,* 1.3 & after al these speak of Terpander in a dangerous tumult of the Lacedemoniās appointed by the oracle & re¦quired by the countrey to appease their vp∣rores? A president so much the more to bee heeded, by how much the iudgement of a whole countrey than of any priuate persō is the rather esteemed. And is Lacedemō sin∣gular in this case? haue not Rome & Greece ioyned hands with her, the former institu∣ting a College of Minstrels, the later by or∣deining that the same men should bee their sages, prophets and musicians? Plenty makes me scant both by restraining me to choice, & by withdrawing me from tedious∣nes: for how easie a thing wer it in such abū∣dāce to tire & weary euen y^e patientest ears? Notwithstanding because I am to cōuince these iudgements which look no farder than the outside, & harkē rather to the honor cōfer¦red otherwise, thā the honesty & goodnes in∣cidēt to the things thēselues, let them ad to the fauour and acceptation of those roiall persons aboue named their practise and in∣dustrie which they haue exercised.

I omit the muses, graces, gods and god∣deses before mentioned. Colworts twise sodde are harmeful, and tales twise tolde vngratefull. This next pageant shall bee filled with Emperours, Kings and Cap∣taines, men both of courage and experience not content to go by hearesay and testimo∣nie of others,* 1.4 but adioining them vnto their owne vse and practise. Nero Emperour of Rome wanne and ware the garland to the great admiration and shouting of the peo∣ple for victorie ouer the harpers. Alexāder the great made a great iewel of Achilles his harp. Choraebus the Lydian prince was as soueraign in musick as in authoritie. Ci∣mon of Athens and Epaminondas of The∣bes no worse musicians than Captaines. Gregorie the great, Bishoppe of Rome en∣ded his life and musicke togither, and the quier at this day is a witnesse of his pains. Yea Socrates himselfe as great a king in wisdome, as they in iurisdiction: whose stay and moderatiō of life let Xantippe his wife and scourge witnes, and let enuie it selfe iudge of his other qualities, being farre stricken in yeares, and hauing in a manner one foote in the graue, yet of an old master

became a young scholer vnto Conus for the attaining of this science. And being charged therew^t as a wantō toy vnfitting to his gray hayres made this apology,* 1.5 It is more shame¦ful in the wain & decrease of our life to be ignorant of any good & cōmendable pro∣perty. Thus he put on musick as the list & vppermost garment, wherwith his wisdom, grauity and age, might bee adorned, & euen the whole race of his life perfited, a garment no dout that is wel worn, & of seemly perso∣nages better worth the wearing thā the sof∣test raimēt in kings housē.* 1.6 You may cloath an Ape in golde, and an Infant in Hercu∣les armour: doth an infant therfore chaunge his age, or an Ape forgoe his nature? or is there lesse price in the gold, or viler estima∣tion of the armour? This is to misuse the right vse of things neither fitting the per∣sons, and farre vnfitting the garments. The deepest dye may be stained, and the best gift abused. The tuning of the voice and strings may turne to the iarre and discord of man∣ners, as well as Rhetoricke may plead vn∣truethes, and Logicke proue impossibili∣ties. So that I maruel the lesse if Dioge∣nes the cynick Philosopher amongest other

his dogtrickes put vp a formal bil of indite∣ment against the musicians in open and or∣dinarie court, for shewing greater skill in concordes and vnisons of their notes, thā v∣nitie and consent of manners: whose sute or action, being in all cases and with all per∣sons a resolute and peremptorie man and li∣tle caring where or how he fastned his teeth so he fastned them, may seeme approueable in respect of those vniust and euer repining plaintiffes which attemper euery thing to their distemperate humor, and in their pro∣ceedings make not reason their aduocate, but either the weaknes, strāgenes, or vndis∣creetnes, of their owne nature. Now if a bleareeied man should giue sentence of the sunne beames, no doubt he would iudge thē to be shut vp into euerlasting cloudes, least at any time they might be offensiue to his sore eies. If a feuersicke palate should be iudge of tasts and relishes, what vnmerciful doome would it award to the holesomest re∣storatiues? Aske the Satire what shall be∣com of the fire for swealing his beard being ouersawcie in embracing it, I warrant you he wil curse Prometheus for euer troubling the earth w^t it. A melancholick man and one

that is fitter to liue in Trophonius his den, than in ciuill societie will trowne vpon mu∣sicke, if for no other cause, yet at the least to shewe him selfe seruiceable to his melan∣cholie. Thus we shall haue the brightest eye of the world euen the sunne pluckt out of heauen, the best meate out of our mouthes, and the necessariest element out of the na∣ture of things, yea all vertues and sciences vtterly raced out, as the occasiōs somtimes (though neuer the causes) of some inconue∣niences, if euery brainsicke, hareblind, and froward man may iudge and determine in those cases.* 1.7 Now then as oft as we shall heare Archidamus or any the like sectarie of his make better accompt of a Cater thā a Singer (mihi bonus cantor, bonus cupediarius) what shall we say of him but that animus e∣rat in patinis: His belly was his idol,* 1.8 & the belly hauing no ears is vnfit to meddle with soundes? If Anteas the Scythiā at the sing∣ing of Ismenias the Thebā for want of bet∣ter gods sware by the wind & his fauchin, he had rather hear the neieng of an horse thā y^e singing of Ismen. let his words as they are indeed so go but for winde, & if his sworde be the best argumēt that he hath to auouch

it let vs wound him againe but with this onely blow, Quis tumidum guttur miretur in alpibus, Who can looke for a white skine in Aethiopia, or an vpright iudgement in Scythia? Albeit besides the vnciuilitie and brutishnes of his countrie, he was no doubt fitter to handle a curriecombe than iudge of singing, who in the midst of his royaltie made boastes that he vsed to rubbe horses heeles. But if Antisthenes shal go a note aboue Anteas & giue this or the like vncha∣ritable censure of Ismenias, as indeed he is reported to haue done,* 1.9 he is a naughtie mā: if he were honest he would neuer be a mu∣siciā, we may say with some indifferent re∣uerence of his philosophers beard & gowne, y^t as he was generally reputed to be Auitus magis quàm eruditus his wit being too head∣strōg for his wisdom,* 1.10 so particularly in this matter he had not sufficiētly learned how to define honestie.* 1.11 For although many good musicians bee as many bad men, yet so farre is it off that musick should be blamed as the cause of such an effect, that rather if they bee otherwise bad men shee weanes and with∣drawes them from their corruption. For warrant hereof the necessitie of the art to be

sette downe in a latter treatise maie yeeld sufficiēt argument: meane while thus much I say, that a precious stone may be set in ledde, and a good qualitie placed in an euill subiect. In which cases wee haue more cause to pittie their vnfortunate houserome, than accuse their vnseemely demeanour. But to lose the bitte a litle farther and to giue thē euen their own asking, musicke, as many other good blessings hath beene made the instrument of many disorders. What need I recite them? other are eagle eied and quick sighted enough to espie thē. I confesse this to be true, but in such sort as glorie be∣comes the fuell & occasion vnto enuy, peace to security, beautie to pride, learning to in∣solencie, good lawes to enormitie, meates and drinkes to surfeting, and finally the fai∣rest gifts an edge & intisement to the foulest faults. Wher notwithstāding the wel natu∣red things themselues are not chargeable w^t those crimes, but the euil disposed persons. If thou canst not moderate & schoole thy self in beholding, plucke out thy eies as De∣mocritus did, if not in hearing stoppe thy eares with waxe as Vlisses his companiōs did, if not in eating lay thy teeth aside as

those Graeae of Scythia did, if not in spea∣king bite off thy tong as Zeno Eleates did. For by as good reason maist thou do the one as the other, seeing the disliking of these and the like good things stands in the immode∣ration & intemperancie of these men which abuse them. Now if it be vnciuil to liue w^t∣out vertue and knowledge, if vnnaturall w^tout meats & drinks, if vnreasonable with∣out eyes, teeth & tongues, although perhaps they haue many vnsufferable consequentes, then blame not the hatchet for the Carpen∣ters fault: but esteeme worthily of good things for their owne natures, & fauorably deale with them for other mens offences.

* 1.12Nowe besides this they that cannot espie an hoale in the musicians coate for their loosenesse & effeminatnes of manners seeke to bring musicke in contempt by reason of their vnskilfulnes. As if the husbandmans reasoning à baculo ad angulum should condēn Logicke, or Tom fooles telling his geese Arythmeticke. There are infantes in all arts, & I grant none so very a babe in mu∣sicke as was Babys. Minerua to begge his pardon for offending therein vsed this frind∣ly intercession to Apollo,* 1.13 abiectior est & in∣faelicius

canit quàm vt dignus sit supplicio. Cast not away chastisement vpon so base and vn∣expert a person. And sure he was worth no∣thing (say I) if he were not worth the puni∣shing. Diogenes was troubled with the like moone calfe, whom as often as he mette him welcomed with this salutation, Salue galle, God speed cock, the other demaunding him why he mistermed him, Quia cantu tuo exci∣tas omnes, Thou diseasest quoth he euery mā w^t thy vnseasonable crowing. And Demost. was plain on the other side w^t an harper of y^e same stāpe, w^t whō he euer cōditioned to tie vp his pipes before he would once set foot w^t in his dores. There are a great many cocks & to vse a domesticall prouerb, a great many asses at the harp who because they haue em∣ploied thēselues at y^e trade dijs tratis,* 1.14 genio{que} sinistro against the hair as they cōmōly speak & euē in despite of Apol. & nature, haue made themselues a by-word & skorne in al places. Our alehouse, vagabōd & beging minstrelsie I defēd not, liberal sciences are for liberall men, whose dexteritie and aptnes of nature hath forwarded their art, & both these being conioyned haue made the men cōmendable & of good report. For thē is the medly good whē art & nature haue met with each other.

But I leaue this reason to be refuted by the weakenes and simplicitie of it selfe. I come to another vaine which hath neede of a litle opening,* 1.15 least the neglecting of it make it in time somwhat more troublesom. I meane those men, who, as if they came of some finer mould, like well inough of mu∣sicke in others, but cannot away with it themselues. They are delighted for exam∣ples sake w^t the wel proportioned pictures of Iupiter, Iuno, and Venus, but yet would not be Phidias, Policlet{us} or Praxiteles. Ex∣amin their reasons they areas rare as black swannes, vnles perchaunce they answere as children and fooles are wont. They will not for their mindes sake. And why not they as well as other men? They are belike of a better broode. Be it so, let them plead their priuilege, but so farre foorth as they seeke not to dishonour things as hono∣rable as themselues. In mechanical artes I beare with them. Tractent fabrilia Fabri. Courser meates may serue siner mouthes. What cardes can they shew to discarde li∣teral sciences? If euery mans wil were a rule in such cases there is no doubt but that some 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the whole corpse and body

of sciēces would quite be extinguished. For euen amongst the nobler sort which stand vppon their gentry, and in consideration on∣ly of their better fortune, condemne better natures than their own, there are manie au∣reae pecudes, goldē sheep such as Iunius Bru∣tus was better clad than taught, which can∣not conceaue the excellencie of good facul∣ties, many monstra hominum strange natu∣red men such as Licinius the emperor was, not so princely borne, as pestilently minded, which call learning the poison & plague of a commonwealth. Howbeit some there are better enclined than these which do it not so much of despite as of daintines, for they are well enough content to take all the pleasure they can by it, & yet take as great pleasure to discontent those that afford it.

In whose fauor notwithstanding I will speak thus much,* 1.16 & my speach is abetted by good authors that both a choice of musicke is to be made, and a moderation therein re∣tained. Minerua as before cast away hir pshawlme 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for very shame. And amongest vs euery one will not blow a bagpipe, that wil finger the Lute or Virgi∣nals. And as in one banquet all viandes,

though all very good, please not alike euery mans diet, so in Musick there are sundrie & delectable sorts, which vnlesse they be orde∣red w^t good discretiō wil not sute al times & persons. The which two things time & per∣sons serue principally to make limitation of that measure which I mentioned before. There is a time of breathing & a time of bu¦sines, a time of mirth & a time of sadnes. If thou be remisse or mery vse for thy recreatiō some kind of melodie. Albeit indeed w^t Mu∣sick no times are amisse. For we know that life is as it were put into the deadst sorows by inflexion & modulation of voice. And they whose heartes euen yearne for very greefe sometimes fall on singing not to seeke com∣fort therein (for the best seeming comfort in such cases is to be comfortles) but rather to set the more on flote that pensiuenes wher∣with they are perplexed. Similitudo parit ami∣citiam saith Boetius, & sorowe findes some∣what in Musick worthie his acquaintance, If not, how chance they haue specified three originals or causes of Musick?* 1.17 the first plea∣sure of which there is no question, the next grief, & the last Enthusiasmū som diuine & he∣uēly inspiratiō. Surely affectiōs dance after

pipes & being thēselues but motions do by a naturall kind of propension apply thēselues to Musick, whose efficacy stāds wholy vpon motiōs. But I returne to my purpose. The chiefe end of Musicke is to delight, howsoe∣uer sorow vseth it somtimes for an aduātage as knowing how forcible & effectual it is to help forward al purposes. Therfore in time of vacācy & remissiō whē there is a mutiny of wars & a calm of other the like troblesom affaires, the place being not molested, the people being not disquieted, thē hath musick euermore had the best audience. For other∣wise if you light vpō Pirrhus & ask him whe∣ther is the better psalmist Pythō or Chari∣sius, he wil answere you Polysperches. And why? In prōptu causa est, a blind mā may hit his staff at this mark, his mind forsooth ran vpō captaines & not musitiōs: bring an harp or other good instrumēt to Lacedemō, they wil cry away w^t it. Nō est Laconicū nugari, Trifling is not our vocatiō. And do we mar∣uel at thē? Pirrhus as if he had bin hūgerster¦ued & stifled in his poor kingdō of Epir{us} had laid a platform in his head of vsurping the whole world. The Lacedemoniās (to speak w^tout exceptiō of sex, age or cōdition) as hard

harted as if they had beene borne of Ada∣māt or nursed vp with Lions milke. I bely them not, their stoicall Apothegs and reso∣lute exploites deliuered vnto vs by faithfull authoritie are plentifull witnesses hereof. But to ende this point, the dignity of Mu∣sicke is great if we do not partially and vn∣equally burthē her with those faults wher∣of shee is guiltlesse, the artificer may offend, mens affections are corrupt, times vnseaso∣nable, places inconuenient, the art it selfe notwithstanding in her owne proper & law∣full vse innocent and harmelesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Alexander ab Alexandro.
• * 1.2

  Musicke mol∣lifieth cruel∣tie.
• * 1.3

  Theat. vitae.
• * 1.4

  The practise of Musicke in great and Noble men.
• * 1.5

  Cael. Rhod.
• * 1.6

  Musicke good in it selfe.
• * 1.7

  Cael. Rhod.
• * 1.8

  Terent.
• * 1.9

  Cael. Rhod.
• * 1.10

  Tullius ad Articum.
• * 1.11

  Musicke not to be blamed for the lewd∣nesse of some Musicians.
• * 1.12

  Musick not to be blamed for some musici∣ans vnskilful∣nesse.
• * 1.13

  Theat.
• * 1.14

  Eras. Persius.
• * 1.15

  Daintie mē.
• * 1.16

  Aristotle.
• * 1.17

  Cael. Rhod.