“Therefore I would give this as a caveat, or caution, to any, who do attempt to exercise their fancies in such matters of Invention, that they observe times, and seasons, and never force themselves to anything, when they perceive an indisposition; but wait for a fitter, and more hopeful season, for what comes most compleatly, comes most familiarly, naturally, and easily, without pumping for, as we use to say.
“Strive therefore to be in a good, cheerful, and pleasant humour always when you would compose or invent, and then, such will your productions be; or, to say better, chuse for your time of Study, and Invention, if you may, that time wherein you are so disposed, as I have declared. And doubtless, as it is in the study and productions of Music, so must it needs be in all other studies, where the use and exercise of fancy is requirable.
“I will therefore, take a little more pains than ordinary, to give such directions, as you shall no ways wrong, or injure my Mistress, but do her all the right you can, according to her true deserts.
“First, therefore, observe to play soft, and loud, as you see it marked quite through the Lesson.
“Secondly, use that Grace, which I call the Sting, where you see it set, and the Spinger after it.
“And then, in the last four strains, observe the Slides, and Slurs, and you cannot fail to know my Mistress's Humour, provided you keep true time, which you must be extremely careful to do in all lessons: FOR TIME IS THE ONE HALF OF MUSIC.
“And now, I hope I shall not be very hard put to it, to obtain my pardon for all this trouble I have thus put you to, in the exercise of your patience; especially from those, who are so ingenious and good-natured, as to prize, and value, such singular and choice endowments, as I have here made mention of in so absolute and compleat a subject.”
MY MISTRESS OR MRS. MACE.
THOMAS MACE.