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 SVAVITIE OF MVSICKE. CHAP. III.

ALthough both the Authors of this most diuine science, and antiquitie therof, and e∣stimation which it hath had in times past, may sufficiēt∣ly credit the same: yet I doe not desire any mā hardly affectioned in this point, to be moued by this treatise, vnlesse

both the sweetenesse and necessity, and ope∣ration of it, be declared to be such, as neither ought carelesly, or cā worthily be neglected. For as in those things which are both plea∣sant and profitable, that which is profitable ought most earnestly to be followed: so the pleasure which is ioyned with the commo∣dity, is not to be contemned. Wherefore, seeing that poetrie, which is but a part of Musicke, as Plutarch doth testifie, hath this commendation of Horace,

Aut prodesse volunt, aut delectare Poetae, Aut simul & iucunda, & idonea dicere vitae.

Poets of pleasure, or of profit great, Or else of both most decently intreate.

we may safely pronounce of the whole, that it hath both delectation to allure, and profit to perswade men to those thinges, where∣with mans life is beautified and adorned. I will first therefore speake of the sweetenes and delectation of Musick: and afterwards of the vse and necessity thereof. Concerning the pleasure and delight, I will first shew it by that affinity and congruity which Mu∣sicke hath with the nature of liuing crea∣tures: Secondly by the effectes and opera∣tion, which it worketh in the hearers.

Touching the first: as the testimony of Mu∣saeus in Aristotle: Res suauisima cantus est mortalibus, singing is a most pleasant thing to men: & daily experience doeth proue vn∣to vs, that not only men but all other liuing creatures, are delighted with the sweet har∣mony & concent of Musicke: so if there were no other thing els, yet that proper fiction of the Grāmarians, might fully satisfie any mā in this point. Sonus, say they, the king of Harmony had two sonnes. The one of them was called Concentus, the other Accen∣tus: of Grammatica he begat Accentus, but Concentus was borne vnto him of the nymphe Musica. Whom when their father perceiued to be both equal in the gifts of the minde, and that neither was inferior to o∣ther in any kind of knowledge, and himself now well striken in yeares to waxe euery day neerer and neerer to his death: hee fell into a serious cogitation with himself, whe∣ther of them two, hee should leaue his suc∣cessour in his kingdome: and therefore hee began more narrowly to marke the maners and behauiours of them both: nowe Accen∣tus was the elder of the two: and hee was graue and eloquent, but austere, and there∣fore

lesse beloued of the people: But Con∣centus was verie merrie, pleasaunt, a∣miable, louelie, curteous, acceptable vnto all menne, and cleane contrarie to the disposition of his brother, thinking it more glorious to bee beloued than fea∣red. Whereby hee did not only get the loue and liking of all his Subiectes, but also putte his Father into a greater doubt which of them hee shoulde institute in∣heritour of his Scepter. Therefore ap∣pointing a solemne meeting, hee asked the Counsell of the Nobles and Prin∣ces of his Lande, as Musitians, Po∣ettes, Oratours, Philosophers and Di∣uines: and in conclusion their consulta∣tion had this issue, that neyther shoulde be preferred before other, but both should equally inherite their Fathers Scepter and Dominions. Whereof I gather (o∣mitting all other circumstaunces) that as Accentus which is Grammar ought not to be disinherited, because of the neces∣sitie therof in speech: so Concentus which is Musicke, coulde not but bee esteemed as woorthie of preheminence, for his plea∣sure and delectation. And for as much

as that was the iudgemēt and determinatiō both of Musicians, Poets, Orators, Philoso∣phers, both Moral & Natural, and Diuines: so much the more is to be ascribed to the sweetnesse of Musicke, as these Profes∣sours are of better iudgement than other men. But I will not ground the commen∣dation of that on fictions and conceipts: which neither in it self needeth the colour & shadowes of imaginations, being aboue all conceiptes: nor in the pleasure thereof any externall ornament: being sweeter than canne be counterfeited by fictions, or ex∣pressed by fantasies. Wherefore leauing these, I will as neerely as I can, declare the reason of that delight which Musicke yeeldeth. And this first is euident, that Mu∣sicke whether it be in the voyce only as So∣crates thought, or both in the voyce and mo∣tion of the body as Aristoxenus supposed: or as Theophrastus was of opinion not only in the voyce and motion of the body, but also in the agitation of the minde: hath a certaine diuine influence into the soules of men, whereby our cogitations and thoughts (say Epicurus what he will) are brought into a celestiall acknowledging of their natures.

For as the Platonicks & Pythagoriās think al 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of mē, are at the recordatiō of that celestial Musicke, whereof they were parta∣kers in heauen, before they entred into their bodies so wōderfuly delighted, that no mā cā be found so harde harted which is not excee∣dingly alured with the sweetnes therof. And therfore some of the antiēt Philosophers at∣tribute this to an hiddē diuine vertue, which they suppose naturally to be ingenerated in our minds, & for this cause some other of thē as Herophilus & Aristoxenus which was also a Musician, thought that the soule was nothing else, but a Musical motiō, caused of the nature & figure of the whole body, gathe∣ring thereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 necessary conclusion, that wheras things that are of like natures, haue mutual & easy action & passiō betweene thē∣selues, it must needs be, that Musical cōcent being like that Harmonical motion which he calleth the soule, doth most wonderfullie allure, & as it were rauish our senses & cogi∣tatiōs. But this which I haue said may seem peraduenture to be too profoundly handled: I will therefore confirme it by naturall ex∣perience & examples. And first generally (as I said before) there is neither man, nor any

other liuing creature exempt from the par∣ticipation of the pleasure of Musicke.

As for man let vs begin with him euen from his cradell, and so take a view of his whole life: and we shall see, that euen euerie particular actiō of his, is seasoned with this delight: first in his infancy, whiles he is yet wholy destitute of the vse of reason, wee see that the child is stilled, and allured to sleepe, with the sweete songes and lullabyes of his Nurse: although the griefe of his tender limmes be such, as is able to breede impa∣tience in a stronger body. And for this cause is it, that children are so delighted and allu∣red with rattels and bels, and such like toies as make a sound. Now as strength & iudge∣ment increase in man, so Musicke pleaseth and delighteth him more and more: so that whether he be noble or ignoble, yet the same delight of minde groweth to perfection to∣gither with the body. And therfore Aristotle in his Politiques, coūselleth that childrē be instructed in musick, especially if they be of noble parētage: not so much for the profit & cōmodity therof, as because it is agreable to nature being in it selfe both liberal & honest: for in al matters to propose profit as the only

end, is neither y^e part of a liberal nature nor of a gētlemālike dispositiō. Again in base & in ignoble persons, the very senses & spirits are wōderfully inflamed, w^t the rural songs of Phillis & Amaryllis: insomuch that euen the ploughmā & cartar, are by the instinct of their harmonicall soules cōpelled to frame their breath into a whistle, thereby not only pleasing thēselues, but also diminishing the tediousnes of their labors. And therefore most naturall is that which Virgil vseth in describing of a good housewife.

longum cantu solata laborem Arguto coniux percurrit pectine telas.

The huswifes spinning makes her labour long Seeme light with singing of some merrie song.

as also that other spokē of y^e pruner of trees:

Alta subrupe canit frondator ad auras.

The lopper singing from the craggy rocke The bowes & leaues beats down with many a knocke.

and that of the sheepeheards:

Cur non Mopse (boni quoniā conuenimus ambo Tu calamos inflare leues, ego dicere versus) Hic corilis inter mixtas consedimus vlmos?

Mopsus my friend, seeing our skill is great Thine for the tune, mine for the pleasant rime. In th'hasell bower why take we not our seate, In mirth and singing there to spend the time?

And hence it is, that wayfaring men, solace thēselues with songs, & ease the wearisom∣nes of their iourney, cōsidering that Musick as a pleasant cōpanion, is vnto thē in steed of a wagō on the way. And hence it is, that manual labourers, and Mechanicall artifi∣cers of all sorts, keepe such a chaunting and singing in their shoppes, the Tailor on his bulk, the Shomaker at his last, the Mason at his wal, the shipboy at his oare, the Tin∣ker at his pan, & the Tylor on the house top. And therefore wel saith Quintilian, that e∣uery troublesom & laborious occupation, v∣seth Musick for a solace & recreatiō: wherof that perhaps may be the cause, which Gy∣raldus noteth. The symphony & concent of Musicke (saith he) agreeth with the interior parts & affections of the soule. For as there are three partes or faculties of mans soule, the first and worthiest the part reasonable, which is euer chiefe, & neuer in subiectiō to the other, the second irascible, which, as it is ruled of the former, so ruleth the latter, and the last cōcupiscible, which euer obeieth, & neuer ruleth: so if we cōpare the symphony of Musicke, with these powers of the soule, we shal find great conueniencie and affinity

between them. For looke what proportion is betweene the parts reasonable, & irasci∣ble, such is there in Musicke between that string which is called hypate, & that which is termed Mese, causing the melody called di∣atessaron: and looke what proportion is be∣tween the parts of irascible & cōcupiscible, such is there between Mese & Nete making that sound which is named Diapente: so that as those three partes of the soule consenting in one, make an absolute and perfect action: so of these three in Musicke, is caused a pleasant and delectable Diapason. And ther∣fore no maruell if according to the mixture of these sounds diuerse men be diuersely af∣fected, with seuerall Musicke: insomuch, that almost euery peculiar nation and peo∣ple, be in their wars delighted with proper instrumentes: as in former times, the Cre∣tenses with the harpe, the Lacones with Cornets, the Amazones with Flutes, the Cibarites with Shalmes, the Lydi∣ans with Whistles & Pipes, the Latines with trompettes, the Getes with the Cy∣theron and Flute: so in these later daies, and more nice times of the world, al nations with compound and mixt Musick, and with

sundrie kinds of instrumentes, as Cornets, Wayts, Shagboyts, Trūpets, Drūb & fife.

Neither do I here so attribute this de∣lectation vnto man, as denying it to other creatures, for I am verily persuaded, that the plowmā & cartar of whō I spake before do not so much please thēselues w^t their whi¦stling, as they are delightsom to their oxē & horses. Again the warhorse is so inflamed w^t the soūd of the trūpet, that he cannot keepe his stāding, but maketh an open way to his rider, through the midst of his thickest eni∣mies. And here may it please the reader for his recreatiō, to call to mind one speciall hi∣story of the Sibarits: whose horses were not only delighted with Musick, but also taught to dāce to the instrumēt: insomuch that one of their musitiōs at a certaine time, hauing some discurtesy & iniury offred him took oc∣casiō to forsake his coūtry, & fled to the Cro∣toniats, which were enimies to the Sibarits, forasmuch as not long before that time the Sibarits had giuē thē the ouerthrow in bat∣tle. This tibicē, or plaier on the shalm, com∣ming amōg the crotoniats, made his speech vnto thē to this purpose & effect, that if they could afford him credit, he wold work such

a deuice, as they shold easily obtain the con∣quest of the Sibarits horsmē. Credit was gi∣uē vnto his tale, & he ordained captain of the war, instructed all the fluters & shalmers of the Crotoniates, what note they shold play, and how they should addresse themselues a∣gainst their enimies. Now the Sibarites on the other side being insolent, & hauing taken hart a grace & courage vnto them by reason of their former victory, prepare thēselues to meete their enimies in the field. Wherefore the Shalmers of whome I spake before ha∣uing receiued a watchworde of the Cap∣taine, on a suddaine sounded their Flutes and Shalmes. The horses of the Sibarites hearing their country Musicke, wherunto they had beene accustomed, reared them∣selues on their hinder feete, cast their ri∣ders, and as they were wont to daunce at home, so now they did it in the skirmish, and by this policy, the Crotoniats wan the vic∣tory of the Sibarits. Wherby may be gathe∣red not onely how pernicious clandestine treason is to a cōmonwealth, but also what strange & incredible delight musick impres∣seth euen in these dumbe and vnreasonable creatures. So mules are wōderfully alured

with the sound of bels: & sheepe follow their sheepeheards whistle. And it is recorded al∣so, that the Hart and other wilde beastes are by sweete and pleasant notes drawen into the toiles and gins of the huntesman. AElianus in his varia historia testifieth, that Pythocaris a musition playing vpon his Cornet, mitigated the fierce and raue∣nous nature of wolues, and that the mares of Libia and Oliphantes of India woulde followe the sound of Organes and diuers other instruments. Now as these terrestri∣all beasts haue their peculiar and proper de∣lightes, so aquaticall creatures also liuing in another element, offer themselues volun∣tarily to the sound of Musicke: so, as Marti∣anus recordeth, certaine fishes in the poole of Alexandria are with the noice of instru∣ments inticed to the bankes side, offering themselues to mens handes, so long as the melody endureth. Wonderfull are those thinges, which in good authors are related of the dolphin: but for our purpose, none so fit, as that of Arion: whose excellent skill in Musicke, giueth testimony aswell against the sauage and barbarous cruelty of those vnnaturall shipmen, which sought to take

away his life: as to the gentle and kinde nature of the dolphin, which is both a louer of men, and an earnest follower of musicke. Arion seeing no way to escape the furie of his cruel enemies, tooke his Citterne in his hand, and to his instrument sang his last song, where-with not only the dol∣phines flocked in multitudes about the ship readie to receiue him on their backes, but euen the sea that rude and barbarous ele∣ment, being before roughe and tempestu∣ous, seemed to allay his choler, waxing calme on a sodaine, as if it had beene to giue Arion quiet passage through the waues.

There is also a third kinde of liuing cre∣atures, which by the Philosophers are cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they liue both on the land & in the waters. Of these, I wil only name the Swanne, which bird is therefore saide to bee vnder the patronage of Apollo, not only for that shee is allured with the sweet notes and mellodious concent of musicke, following them which plaie vppon instru∣ments on the water: but more especially because she seemeth to haue som diuination from him, whereby she foreseing what good is in death, by a naturall instinct, finisheth

her life with singing and with ioy.

Sic vbi fata vocant vdis abiectis in herbis, Ad vada Maeandri concinit albus olor:

When death the swanne assaies, Laid prostrate on the ground, Her song doth make Maeanders bankes her dolors to resounde.

As for those other creatures which liue in the aire, I do not think that the fouler could euer haue made such spoil & hauock of them, beeing so far out of his reach & iurisdiction, had not nature told him, that they aboue all creatures vnder the heauēs, are as most de∣lited, so soonest intangled & allured with his songs. Wherfore when thou seest, each foul in his kind, the Linet, the Nightingale & the Lark, to mount aloft, & sing their notes vnto the skies, shewe thy selfe docill in these two thinges, first in acknowledging the delight which both thou takest in thē, & they in mu∣sick: & secondly learn by their exāple, what thy duty is & ought to be in grateful singing of psalms and songs to him that made thee.

Lastly, y^t I may not omit those which the heathnish poets & wise mē counted inferior indeed to the gods: but better thā men (how worthily I will not heere stand to debate)

euen they testifie also of thē, y^t they take infi∣nite pleasure in musik. As whē Silenus sang his song of the beginning of the world vnto Chronis, Mnasilus & Aegle y^t faire nimphe.

Tū vero in numerū Faunos Satyros{que} videres Ludere, tū regidas motare cacumina quercus.

Then mightst thou see the Faunes and satyres daunces lead, The Cypresse trees to shake, and sturdie okes their head.

So when Pan & Apollo stroue whether of them was the better Musitian.

Deseruere sui nimphae vineta Timoli, Deseruere suas nimphae pactolides vndas.

When Pan for lawrell branche in song with faire Apollo stroue, Pactolus nimphes forsook their stream and Tmolus nimphes their groue.

Homer is not afraid to ascēd a litle high∣er, shewing that euē the gods & Iupiter him∣self are content to giue a patiēt eare to musi¦cal concent: & therupon in that banquet of y^e gods where Vulcan plaid the skinker, hee maketh Apollo & the Muses singing a song.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Thus they in banquetting consumde the day: Nor faire nor mirth was wanting to their will While faire Apollo on his harpe did play, The Muses answering with aequal skil.

Pithagoras and his sectatours, thought that the world did not consist without mu∣sical proportion and concent. And therefore both he & the best philosophers ascribe vnto euery Celestiall sphere, one Goddesse or Muse, which is the gouernes & ruler therof: & because there are eight of those spheres, the seuen planets, and the eight which is called the firmament, therefore they made 8. peculiar Muses, attributing to Luna the muse Clio: to Mercurius, Euterpe: to Ve∣nus, Thalia: to Sol, Melpomene: to Mars, Terpsichore: to Iupiter, Erato: to Saturne, Polymnia, to the firmamēt or coelum stella∣tum, Vrania; and because of eight particular soundes or voices, keeping due proporti∣on and time, must needes arise an harmo∣ny or concent, which is made by them all, therefore that sound which al these make is

called Calliope. And hence is that plea∣sant harmony of the celestial globes caused, which Pythagoras so much speaketh of. If then both Gods and men, and vnreasona∣ble creatures of what kind soeuer, be allu∣red and mitigated with musicke, we may safely conclude that this proceedeth from that hidden vertue, which is between our soules and musicke: and be bold with Pin∣darus to affirme, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Al those things that Iupiter doth not loue, do only contemne the songs of the Muses.

Notes

• Arist. 8. Polit.
• Onito parch{us} in princ.{us} lib. 3. suae musicae.
• Cic. Tusc. quaest.
• Man natural∣ly delighted with musicke.
• Arist. Polit. 8. cap. 3.
• 1. Geor.
• Eclog. 1.
• Eclog. 5.
• Comes facū∣dus estpro ve∣hiculo in via.
• 1 Beasts deligh∣ted with Mu∣sicke.
• Polyd. Virgil.
• Horses deligh¦ted with Mu∣sicke.
• Policianus Miscellaniorū 15.
• Sybaritarum mollicies prou.
• 2 Fishes de∣lighted with Musicke. Plutarch in conuiuio 7. Sap. Herodotus in Clio. Cic. Tusc. 1. Ouid. 2. Fast.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• 4 Birds deligh∣ted with mu∣sicke.
• Semidei.
• Iliad. ••.