George Withers' Emblemes

I Much
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:
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Though Mufickc be of/one abhor' d^
Shc
y
isthe Handmaid of the Lord.
6i
|0 Mttfcke^nd the Mufes,many bcare
hatred j and, to whatsoever ends
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Their Soule-deltghting-Raptttres tuned are,,
Such peevifhdifpofitions, it offends.
Some others, in a Moral/ way, affect
Their pleafing Sirawes (or, for a fenfuall ufe)
But, in GodsWerfhi^ they the famefufpc£ •
(Or, taxc it rather) as a great abufe.
The Firft ofthcfe, are full of Melancholy
;
And, Pitty need, or Comfort, more then blame
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And, foone, may fall into fome dangerous folly ^
VnlefTe they labour, to prevent the fame.
The Lap, are giddie-things, that have befool'd
Their Judgements, with beguiling.Fautafies,
Which (if they be not, by difcretion, fchool'd;
Will plunge them into greater Vanities.
For, Mnficke, is the Handmaid of the L o &. d 3
And, for his Worjhip, was at firft ordayncd
Yea, therewithal (he fitly doth accord j
And, where Devotion thriveth, is retcyned.
Shee, by a nat'rall power, doth helpe to raife,
The maid to God, when joyfull Notes are founded
And, Papons fierce Diftempcratures,alaies ;
When, by grave Tones, the Mtlltdy is bounded,
It, alfo may in Myflickefenfc, imply
What Muj-cke, in our-feives, ought ftill to be
;
And, that our jarring.livcs tocertifie,
Wee fliould in Voice, in Hand, and Heart, agree :
And, fing out, Faiths new-fongs,with full concent,
Vnto the Lams, ten-ftringed Inflrumcnt.
Mark
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