IV
SERENADES AND 'MUSIC'
The history of Serenades is as ancient as that of Songs. In the middle
of the 15th century, Sebastian Brant, a lawyer, wrote in Dutch his
'Stultifera Navis,' or 'Ship of Fools,' a severe satire on things in
general, and popular amusements in particular. The book was afterwards
translated into Latin, and thence into English. Here are some of the
verses that treat of Serenades in the year 1450.
'The furies fearful, sprong of the floudes of hell,
Bereft _these vagabonds_ in their minds, so
That by no meane can they abide ne dwell
Within their houses, but out they nede must go;
More wildly wandring then either bucke or doe.
Some with their _harpes_, another with their _lute_,
Another with his _bagpipe_, or a foolishe _flute_.
'Then measure they their _songes_ of melody
_Before the doores of their lemman deare_;
Howling with their foolishe songe and cry,
So that their lemman may their great folly heare:
'But yet moreover these fooles are so unwise,
That _in cold winter_ they use the same madness.
When all the houses are lade with snowe and yse,
O madmen amased, unstable, and witless!
What pleasure take you in this your foolishness?
What joy have ye to wander thus by night,
Save that _ill doers alway hate the light_?'
Another verse explains that not only the foolish young men of _low_
birth were given to this practice, but also--
'States themselves therein abuse,'
'With _some yonge fooles of the spiritualtie_:
The foolish _pipe_ without all gravitie
Doth eche degree call to his frantic game:
The darkness of night expelleth feare of shame.
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