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!
To the Courteous Reader.
Gentlemen,
If the consideration of mine own estate, or the true worth of money had prevailed with me above the desire of pleasuring you and shewing my love to my friend, these Second Labours of Master Dowland—whose very name is a large Preface of commendations to the book—had for ever lain hid in darkness, or at the least frozen in a cold and foreign country.
I assure you that both my charge and pains in publishing it, hath exceeded ordinary [ones]: yet thus much I have to assure me of requital, that neither the work is ordinary; nor are your judgements ordinary, to whom I present it! so that I have no reason but to hope for good increase in my labours, especially of your good favours towards me; which of all things I most esteem. Which if I find in this, I mean shortly, GOD willing, to set at liberty for your service, a prisoner taken at Cadiz: who, if he discovers not something, in [the] matter of music, worthy [of] your knowledge; let the reputation of my judgement in music answer [for] it!