are so ingenious and good-natured, as to prize, and value, such singular and choice endowments, as I have here made mention of in so absolute and compleat a subject."

MY MISTRESS OR MRS. MACE.

THOMAS MACE.

There is no prettier story in the history of Music than this; and what a loving, loveable, happy creature must he have been who could thus in his old age have related it!

CHAPTER CXCV.

ANOTHER LESSON WITH THE STORY AND MANNER OF

ITS PRODUCTION.

Ουδείς έρεί ποθ, ως υπόβλητον λόγον,
έλεξας, αλλά της σαυτό φρενός.

SOPHOCLES.

MASTER Mace has another lesson which he calls Hab-Nab; it “has neither fugue, nor very good form,” he says, yet a humour, although none of the best;" and his “ story of the manner and occasion of Hab-Nab's production,” affords a remarkable counterpart to that of his favourite lesson. “ View every bar in it," he says,

and

you will find not any one Bar like another, nor any affinity in the least kind betwixt strain and strain, yet the Air pleaseth some sort of people well enough; but for my own part, I never was pleased with it; yet because some liked it, I retained it. Nor can I tell how it came to pass that I thus - made it, only I very well remember, the time, manner, and occasion of its production, (which was on a sudden,) without the least premeditation, or study, and merely accidentally; and, as we use to say, ex tempore, in the tuning of a lute.

“ And the occasion, I conceive, might possibly contribute something towards it, which

was this.

“I had, at that very instant, when I made it, an agitation in hand, viz. The stringing up, and tuning of a Lute, for a person of an ununiform, and in harmonical disposition, (as to Music,) yet in herself well proportioned, comely, and handsome enough, and ingenious for other things, but to Music very unapt, and learned it only to please her friends, who had a great desire she should be brought to it, if possible, but never could, to the least good purpose; so that at the last we both grew weary; for there is no striving against such a stream.

“ I say, this occasion possibly might be the cause of this so inartificial a piece, in regard that that person, at that time, was the chief object of my mind and thoughts. I call it inartificial, because the chief observation (as to good performance,) is wholly wanting. Yet it is true Music, and has such a form and humour, as may pass, and give content to many. Yet I shall never advise any to make things thus by hab-nab,* without any design, as And therefore I give it that name.

was this.

* Hab-Nab is a good old English word, derived from the Anglo-Saxon. Skinner is correct enough. Temerè, sine con. silio ab AS. Habban Habere, Nabban, non Habere, addito. scilicet na, non, cum apostropho.” Will-nill, i. e. Will ye, or will ye not, is a parallel form. Every one will recollect the lines of Hudibras, (Part ii. Canto iii.)

With that he circles draws, and squares,
With cyphers, astral characters :
Then looks 'em o'er to understand 'em

Although set down, hab nab, at random.
Dr. Grey illustrates the expression from Don Quixote,
“Let every man," says Sancho Pancha, “ take care what he
talks or how he writes of other men, and not set down at ran-
dom, hab-nab, higgledy-piggledy, what comes into his noddle.".
Part ii. c. iii.

On referring to the original it will be seen that the Translator

1

“ There are abundance of such things to be met with, and from the hands of some, who fain would pass for good composers; yet most of them may be traced, and upon examination, their things found only to be snaps and catches; which they,—having been long conversant in Music, and can command an Instrument, through great and long practice, some of them very well, -have taken here and there (hab-nab,) from several airs and things of other men's works, and put them handsomely together, which then pass for their own compositions.

“ Yet I say, it is no affront, offence, or injury, to any Master, for another to take his Fugue, or Point to work upon, nor dishonour for any Artist so to do, provided he shew by his Workmanship, a different Discourse, Form, or Humour. But it is rather a credit and a repute for him so to do; for by his works he shall be known. It being observable, That great Master Composers may all along be as