IV
Serenades and 'Music'
The history of Serenades is as ancient as that of Songs. In the middle of the T5th 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:
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