MUSICA

Thats's a question, Sir. Why, for that reason you might have proposed ma nigh more. I, but I must know first; it's a great controversy. Why, that's as hard. What? I but you're deceived, I rather think 'twas a Bagpipe. Why? marry, first understand this reason, and then I'll show you: You know every Art both draws it's imita cion from Nature, and labours to perfect it, which it does by finding comforts to preserve it: Music then at the first was found out as and antidote against grief: and by this means, when men were grieved, they cried O, and there was one Note: then Hey-ho, there were two Notes more. So, when they laughed, they observed three more by Would, would, ho. These being first joined together, and afterwards variously in termixt, were the first harmony in voice; which being repea ted unto grieved minds, were as it were a pretty deluding of their sorrows; and these by observation were afterwards reduced to instrument— Thus, men perceiving that these notes were con ceiu'd in the belly, and afterwards, (as it were) formed in the passage of the throat, sowed Leather in the form of a Belly, or bag; and with a Reed made a long Neck unto it, and a Windpipe; which when they blue full of wind, and per ceiu'd it gave no found, they cut many holes in the reed to let it out, and then alternately stopping the holes, they found and admirable variety of harmony; and as the holes serve for distinction of notes in a Wind-instrument, so do your frets on a String'd-instrument. Why, on this manner: When Triton came to help the gods in the Wars of the Giants, he wanted a weapon, and finding the shell of a Fish, he did blow in't, which yeel dead a most hideous noise: the Giants thinking it had been some terrible beast, fled away affrighted, and since by a per fecting imitation, men have altered both the matter, and the form of that Instrument. Oh Sir, it's your only medicine of the mind. Where is this Sir? in Creet? I, but I have herd, the Cretians are mighty liars. Indeed these three are much about one value. Pray, Medicus, tell me one thing; you're a Physician; I have herd Geographus relate of a place in his Travels, where the people are healed by Music: is that possible? I, this Cure was by the effusion of blood, but they whom Geographus told of, were healed without any such means. Yes faith, and give a reason of the other three cou ples meeting. Nay Choler, thou'lt fret and chafe now — Nay, I believe he'll give incomparable reasons. Let it be a good one, and it shall be for all the rea sons thou shouldst have given. It is not, and yet we see it? — If it had been, It is not, and yet we hear it, I could have given a reasonable conjecture. Why, I could have thought it to be Fame. Pretty, pretty, pretty. Nay what sullenness is this? Prithee tell. What is it? Good Melancholico, what is't? Pish, why then Good blockhead, what is't? In says I will, if you'll tell this first, and swear you will not be angry with him, for throwing you down. I'll tell you in your ear, Melancholico. Why then if you would know, 'twas Phantastes; that had been at the same merrymaking with me. But you'll forgive him I hope now. Well. Now Melancholico, what is't? Come on then. Why and again. And again. Why thus I do, sweet Melancholico, that art no blockhead. Reverend Polites, necessity has imposed a bade mes sage upon me, though unfit: Astronomia is in a trance, and only the Heavens know whither or no she will again reco ver. (I knew it boded no good luck, that all my Lute strings cracked last night of their own accord.) Yes, I think, by this time. Yes, yes; I'm going for Music. Exit Geogra. Ah: these Courtiers are lycourish-lip'd: but I must go fetch the Music, To ra ding de ding, ding de ding, lan, tan dan dido. Exit Musicam. WElcome, welcome, all of you; i'good faith, I'm even young again, to see such a jolly company of my friends together: but, passion of me! why, Oeconoma? Here, Sir, here. Alas, my Mistress! Astronomia sick? then all the Heaven's awry, and my Music's quite out of tune. Exit Musicam. Help, Astronomia falls. Why men, beasts, furies, what do you mean? O, Phlegmatico! thou'rt welcome; but prithee throw away thy pipe; unless 'twere one could make them dance after it, and so cool their fury. Orpheus, they say, by music held beasts by the ears; let Musicam then hold the beastly furies of you, that are now by the ears. Come, come, for shame, be friends; you shall all be friends before you partly. In-faith here's drink to reconcile these furies, if they will? You have spoke truer then you think, for there is a Piper coming after me, and somebody else; they'll be here anon: well, here's to you all then. She drinks. He drinks. Sanguis and Choler shake hands; are you friends? Cheiromantes, they say, you can tell Fortune's; is it true? Let's know all our Fortune's then. Then fare you well; I can stay no longer. What's that to you? Why, because you speak kindly now, and entreat me, I'll show you. Why, thus: my Mistress had been ill a good while, and because I tended her very carefully; she gave me leave to recreate my self to day; and faith I light on merry come pany, where they used these jinglers: and when they had done, they prayed me to carry them home with this bottle of drink. Enough? now I think on't, there's joust enough, there's six pair. Why, I'll play the maid Marian. Nay, prithee be not sullen, good Melancholico. Why then lay one pair aside. Why, Melancholico? Why, now they have put them on. Come prithee, Cheiromantes, slip off thine again and change with him; Melancholico must have his sullen hu mours. So, now we want nothing but the Tabor we talked of: but it's no matter, since he does not come, wee'll sing, and so make music to our selves. Who can tune the Morrice best? O, The hobby horse rushes on them, and throws them all down. here they are both, here they are both. Prithee dance the morrice quietly with us: up, up, ho, and wee'll dance. They , the over them all a e, Music , and runs away with the Ta bourer. No, I must not tell. In-faith I'll have Dancing at my wedding, what ere comes on't. Truly, I think Geographus to be a liberal Gen tleman, and therefore may not consent unto Astrologiam, when she calls him base, yet I think he has some Crotchets now and then of a Traveller: and for Geometres, I take him for a plain Solid fellow: but in my conceit, in his discourse he's somewhat obtuse, blunt, blunt. Indeed I must confess I have more conceit then judgement: But in my fancy, there's Poeta, Poeta and Me lancholico begin to Enter. has more love in's little finger, then both they in their whole bodies. O sir, I see you keep your old Tenor still: you are always Descanting. Sounding your Harmonious virtues, to a Consort of Ladies. Why, there was my Lady, with Astrologiam, and Arithmeticam. A conceit? Well, I can't stay or else I could say more. Why how now Sir? Faith, Poeta, your man looks as if he would fallen in love with me. Fa, la, la, la, la, solemnizing, la, mi, fa. Alas, it's beyond my remembrance to tell that: only I have herd a certain Philosopher that was in love with Astronomia, bestowed me upon her when I was but a child: but I'm sure she entertains me so well, that I care for no other service now under Heaven, she's a Divine Lady, A Divine Lady, and since my coming thither, she has made rare devices, rare devices to cause Harmony: but I must be gone, I can't stay. Fa, la, la, la, la, solemnizing, la, mi, fa. Exit. I'll remember this faith; where are my Bells, and Wast-coats, and Napkins? Well, now fare you well all. Exit Musicam.