A philosophicall discourse, entituled, The anatomie of the minde. Nevvlie made and set forth by T.R.

¶Of Delectation. Chap. 5.

NOwe followeth Delectation,* 1.1 which by the sense of hearing creepes in∣to the mynde, and fylleth the same with much delyght. The Stoikes saye, that Delectatiō is a pleasure which infecteth

the mind by a certaine swéetenesse con∣ceyued by the eare. The fame is geuen to man to good purpose, and profitably (were it not he abused it) as by which we maye recreate the minde, and beare the incommodities of this lyfe, and the bet∣ter goe about our businesse. For by this we expell cares, and after a sort féele no paines in the thinges we take in hande. For certainly, the state of vs is such, as except some recreation, wée had cares would ouercome vs. But to leaue men, which with singing, rithmes, & other in∣struments of Musick are marueylously delighted: are not y^e very Birds by a con∣cent & swéete variety of voyces, are as it were nourished, & man by their melodie greatly delighted? Hath not our most bountiful God in diuine sort, & myracu∣lously indued them with a perfect, & su∣per excellent harmoni••? who is he which heareth the swéete melodie of the Nigh∣tingal,* 1.2 & is not stroken with admiration? especially▪ when he shall consider howe pleasant a voyce is in so small a bodie? what an artificial sound in a naturall, & brute creature? and the same vttred not s••rekingly, but in nomber and good har∣monie.

So that the most learned in olde time, haue thought that this birde hath not onely the art of Musicke by nature perfectly, but also by discipline & practise to attaine to the perfect habite therof di∣ligently: and hereof it commeth, y^e some say, the olde teach the yong, & that theyr singing most effectually telleth & prog∣nosticateth things to come. It is repor∣ted that in Stesechorus mouth,* 1.3 being then a chyld, & in his swadling clowts, a Nightingall sang swéetely, which those who professed the knowledge of inter∣preting the singing of Byrds, sayde: dyd sygnifie that, that chylde Stesechorus should proue a rare and excellent Poet, and so he dyd. But to leaue the illustra∣tion of this matter by examples, espe∣ciallye the thing being so playne, this parte of pleasure, delectation, is a good thing, and maye bée vsed to the profyte, and commoditie of man, if it bée refer∣red to those ends aboue mencioned, that is, to our recreation, when cares trouble vs, to cause vs to beare discommodities of this lyfe patiently, and chéerefully to goe about our businesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Delectation
• * 1.2

  Nightingal.
• * 1.3

  Stesechorus