In commendation of music

1. Where griping grief the heart would wound,
and doleful dumps the mind oppress,
There music with her silver sound
is wont with speed to give redress,
Of troubled mind, for every sore,
sweet music has a salve therefore.

2. In joy it makes our mirth abound,
in grief it cheers our heavy sprites,
The careful head release has found
by music’s pleasant, sweet delights.
Our senses – what should I say more? –
are subject unto music’s lore.

3. The gods by music have their pray –
the soul therein does joy –
For as the Roman poets say,
in seas, whom pirates would destroy,
A dolphin saved from death most sharp,
Arion playing on his harp.

4. A heavenly gift that turns the mind,
like as the stern does rule the ship,
Music whom the gods assigned to comfort man,
whom cares would nip,
Since thou both man and beast doth move,
what wise man then will thee reprove?

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