demned  of  Aristotle,  as  not  to  be  brought  in  and  used  among  them,
which  study  for  learning  and  virtue.  Much  music  marreth  men's  man-
ners, saith  Gkilen.  Although  some  men  will  say  that  it  doth  not  so,  but
rather  recreateth  and  maketh  quick  a  man's  mind,  yet  methinks,  by
reason  it  doth,  as  honey  doth  to  a  man's  stomach,  which  at  the  first
receiveth  it  well ;  but  afterward  it  maketh  it  unfit  to  abide  any  strong
nourishing  meat,  or  else  any  wholesome  sharp  and  quick  drink ;  and,
even  so  in  a  manner,  these  instruments  make  a  man's  wit  so  soft  and
smooth,  so  tender  and  quaisy,  that  they  be  less  able  to  brook  strong
and  rough  study.  Wits  be  not  sharpened,  but  rather  made  blunt,  with
such  soft  sweetness,  even  as  good  edges  be  blunted,  which  men  whet
upon  soft  chalk-stones."

These  opinions  require  considerable  limitation.  Music  is  so  high  a
delight  to  such  as  are  really  capable  of  enjoying  it,  that  there  is  some
danger  of  its  incroaching  too  much  upon  the  student's  time;^  and  it  is
frequently  a  passport  to  very  undesirable  company ;  but  if  these  evils  be
avoided,  its  effects  on  the  mind  are  extremely  salutary  and  refreshing.
