To the Right Honourable, the Lady LUCY, Countess of BEDFORD.
Excellent Lady! I send unto your Ladyship from the Court of a foreign Prince, this Volume of my Second Labours, as to the worthiest Patroness of Music; which is the noblest of all sciences. For the whole frame of Nature is nothing but Harmony, as well in souls, as [in] bodies. And because I am now removed from your sight, I will speak boldly; that your Ladyship shall be unthankful to Nature herself, if you do not love and defend that Art, by which she hath given you so well tuned a mind!
Your Ladyship hath in yourself, an excellent agreement of many virtues; of which, though I admire all, yet I am bound by my profession, to give especial honour to your knowledge of Music: which, in the judgement of ancient times, was so proper an excellency in women, that the Muses took their name from it; and yet so rare, that the world durst imagine but Nine of them.
I most humbly beseech your Ladyship to receive this work into your favour; and the rather, because it cometh far, to beg it of you.
From Elsinore in Denmark, the first of June, 1600.
Your Ladyship's, in all humble devotion,
John Dowland.
To the Right Noble and Virtuous Lady Lucy, Countess of Bedford, G[eorge]. Eastland.
To J. Dowland's Lute.
L ute! Arise, and charm the air,
U ntil a thousand forms she bear!
C onjure them all, that they repair
I nto the circles of her car;
E ver to dwell in concord there!
B y this, thy tunes may have access
E ven to her spirit, whose flowing treasure
D oth sweetest harmony express;
F illing all ears and hearts with pleasure:
O n earth, observing heavenly measure.
R ight well can she judge and defend them!
D oubt not of that, for she can mend them!
