The Epistle Dedicatory.

That Compofures of Mufick on Divine Subjects are capable of being the moft Sublime and Entertaining, appear'd by our late Performance; The Reputation whereof was One Occafion of this moft Noble and Honourable Appearance.

But it must be Acknowledg'd that the Greatest Inducement is to Encourage fo Religious an Undertaking, defign'd both for the Honour of Al mighty God and Charity to Men: Tour Bene. ficence being for the Relief of Poor decay'd Gentlemen; and for Erecting a School for Educating of Youths in Religion, Mufick and Accounts; The best means of rendring them Serviceable to their Country.

And to fee the Benevolences effectually ap. ply'd to thofe Charitable Ends and Useful Pur. pofes, fhall be the Perfonal Care of

Your Honours

CAVENDISH WEEDON.

The

The Introductory

POEM

UPON

MUSICK.

Written by Mr. TATE, Poet-Laureeat to His MAJESTY.

V

Ouchfafe a Suppliant Envoy to Admit,

From MUSICK; You, who Mufick's Judges fit.

Before this Awful Court the Conscious Dame

Fear'd to Appear, till first her Herald came ;
Who, with her Guilt, her Grief might Represent,
And, with th' Offender, fhew the Penitent.

Per

Perhaps your gen'rous Patience 'twill Requite, While Her furprizing Story I recite;

A Scene of Wonder, Terror, and Delight.

This Female PRODIGAL (of Heav'nly Birth)
Was Confecrated first to Sacred Mirth ;
And, Only to the Altar's Service bound,
Anthems and Hallelujah's did resound.
There to Celestial Layes her Harp fhe Strung,
Liv'd like an Angel---Like an Angel Sung!
Devotion then did Harmony Inspire,

And Harmony Sublim'd Devotion's Fire.

In This bleft State the Glorious Dam'sel shin'd,
Till Youthfully to Rove She grew Inclin'd,
And thought her Self in Sacred Walls, Confin'd.

Abroad She came; and, with her num'rous Train, Arriv'd at fair Arcadia's flow'ry Plain. Where, for Séraphick Flames, in Myrtle Bow'rs, She Sang of Nymphs and Shepherds fond Amours.

(The

(The Heav'nly Hoft All Pittying, from Above,
Celestial Ardour chang'd to Paft'ral Love!)
Yet, to this humbler Province fall'n, her Skill,
Tho' less Devout, was free from Lewdness ftill.
Not Prostituted yet to Loose Defire,

But Only harmless Paffion did Infpire,

And fann'd with gentle Airs Chaft Hymen's Fire.
To recreate some watchful Shepherd's Care,
With Sonnets of his Kind but Abfent Fair;
And keep ill-treated Lovers from Despair.
To teach the Melancholly Grove to Sing,
And wake the sleeping Beauties of the Spring.

But when feduc'd from harmless Rural Sports, And brought in State to Palaces and Courts; There, like a Princess, honour'd and renown'd She thought (ah! flatter'd Pride) her Wishes Crown'd. Arcadian Cells and Vot'ries she despiz'd, With Grandeaur's dazling Pageantry furpriz'd. Till, with a Courtier's Fortune, from Respect And Envy'd Pomp, Abandon'd to Neglect.

Re

Reduc'd at laft for wretched Hire to Serve,
Or with her poor difcarded Sons to Starve;
Compell'd, like Sion's Captives, to expose
Their Melody to rude infulting Foes.
To Prostitute the Mufick of the Spheres,
In Vileft Service, to Unhallow'd Ears!
Mirth's Vaffals, Bound, when-e'er she pleas'd to fend,
On All her wild Vagaries to Attend

;

To Serenades, Mafques, Banquets, Rev'ling Rage;
Buffoon'ry, Farcé; thofe Witch-Crafts of the Stage,
And dire Diverfions of a Graceless Age.
Nay----Ev'n Beneath Stage-Fooleries fhe fell,
Minion to Fops that Write, and Cannot Spell.
Her skilful Notes, that first-rate Wit require
Rofcommon Energy and Waller's Fire,

Prefs'd to ferve Sparkish Nonsense, and Compose
The thoughtless Madrigals of Lifping Beaus.

Sick with this wretched nauseous Drudg'ry grown, The gen'rous Dame in Spleen forfook the Town.