on earthly English poetry and music:
Gibbon’s madrigal, modeled on that of a madrigal by Orazio Vecchi
“Il Bianc’ e dolce Cigno”
Expressing the polemics between homophobic and polyphonic music
“The Silver Swan,”
The silver swan, who living had no note,
When death approached her silent throat;
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
Thus sung her first and last, and song no more:
Farewell, all joys; O death come close mine eyes;
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.
O that the learned poets of this time,
Who in love-sick line so well can speak,
Would not consume good wit in hateful rhyme,
But with deep care some better subject seek.
For if their music please in earthly things,
How would it sound if strung with heavenly strings?
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