A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke

Antony Holborne in commendation

of the Author.

Ornamental drop cap T with decorative floral elements.To whom can you, sweet Muses, more with right
Impart your pains to praise his worthy skill,
Than unto him that takes sole delight,
In your sweet art, therewith the world to fill.
Then turn your tunes to Morley's worthy praise,
And sing of him that sung of you so long:
His name with laud and with due honor raise,
That has made you the matter of his song.
Like Orpheus sitting on a high Thracian hill,
That beasts and mountains to his ditties drew,
So does he draw with his sweet music's skill
Men to attention of his Science true.
Wherein it seems that Orpheus he exceeds,
For he wild beasts, this men with pleasure feeds.

Another by A. B.

Ornamental drop cap VV W with decorative foliage.What former times through self-respecting good
Of deep-hidden Music closely kept unknown,
That in our tongue of all to be understood,
Fully and plainly has our Morley shown.
Whose worthy labors on so sweet a ground,
Great to himself to make thy good the better:
If that thyself do not thyself confound,
Will win him praise and make thee still his debtor.
Buy, read, regard, mark with indifferent eye,
More good for Music elsewhere does not lie.

Another by I. W.

Ornamental drop cap A with decorative scrolling background.A Noise did rise like thunder in my hearing,
When in the East I saw dark clouds appearing:
Where furies sat in Sable mantles couched,
Haughty disdain with cruel envy matching,
Old Momus a figure in Greek mythology representing criticism and mockery and young Zoilus a grammarian known for his harsh criticism of Homer all watching,
How to disgrace what Morley has avouched,
But lo, the day star with his bright beams shining,
Sent forth his aid to music's art refining,
Which gave such light for him whose eyes long hovered,
To find a part where more lay undiscovered,
That all his works with air so sweet perfumed,
Shall live with fame when foes shall be consumed.