Page:John Dowland - First Book of Airs.djvu/14



OW hard an enterprise it is in this skilfull and curious age to commit our priuate labours to the publike view, mine owne disability, and others hard successe do too wel assure me: and were it not for that loue I beare to the true louers of musicke, I had conceald these my first fruits, which how they wil thriue with your taste I know not, howsoeuer the greater part of them might haue been ripe inough by their age. The Courtly iudgement I hope wil not be seuere against them, being it selfe a party, and those sweet springs of humanity (I meane our two famous Vniversities) wil entertain them for his sake, whome they haue already grac't, and as it were enfranchisd in the ingenuous profession of Musicke, which from my childhood I have euer aymed at, sundry times leaving my natiue country, the better to attain so excellent a science. About sixteene yeres past, I trauelled the chiefest parts of France, a nation furnisht with great variety of Musicke: But lately, being of a more confirmed iudgement, I bent my course toward the famous prouinces of Germany, where I found both excellent masters, and most honorable Patrons of musicke: Namely, those two miracles of this age for vertue and magnificence, Henry Julio Duke of Brunswick, and learned Maritius Lantzgraue of Hessen, of whose princely vertues & fauors towards me I can neuer speake sufficiently. Neither can I forget the kindnes of Alexandro Horologio, aright learned master of musicke, seruant to the royall Prince the Lantzgraue of Hessen, & Gregorio Howet, Lutenist to the magnificent Duke of Brunswick, both whom I name as well for their loue to me, as also for their excellency in their faculties. Thus hauing spent some moneths in Germany, to my great admiration of that worthy country, I past ouer the Alpes into Italy, where I found the Citties furnisht with all good Artes, but especially musicke. What fauour and estimation I had in Venice, Padua, Genoa, Ferrara, Florence, & diuers other places I willingly suppresse, least I should any way seeme partiall in mine owne indeuours. Yet can I not dissemble the great content I found in the proferd amity of the most famous Luca Marenzio, whose sundry letters I receiued from Rome, and one of them, because it is but short, I haue thought good to set downe, not thinking it any disgrace to be proud of the iudgement of so excellent a man.

Not to stand too long vpon my trauels, I will only name that worthy master Giouanni Crochio, Vicemaster of the chappel of S. Marks in Venice, with whome I had familiar conference. And thus what experience I could gather abroad, I am now readie to practise at home, if I may but find encouragement in my first assaies. There have been diuers Lute-lessons of mine lately printed without my knowledge, false and vnperfect, but I purpose shortly my selfe to set forth the choisest of all my Lessons in print, and also an introduction for fingering, with other bookes of Songs, whereof this is the first: and as this Andes fauor with you, so shall I be affected to labor in the rest. Farewell.

Iohn Dowland.