two eunuches, so tall, that Sir T. Harvey said well
that he believes they do grow large by being gelt
as our oxen do, and one woman very well dressed and
handsome enough, but would not be kissed, as Mr. Killigrew,
who brought the company in, did acquaint us.
They sent two harpsicons before; and by and by, after
tuning them, they begun; and, I confess, very good
musique they made; that is, the composition exceeding
good, but yet not at all more pleasing to me than what
I have heard in English by Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke,
and others. Nor do I dote on the eunuches; they
sing, indeed, pretty high, and have a mellow kind of
sound, but yet I have been as well satisfied with
several women’s voices and men also, as Crispe
of the Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that
which distinguishes all is this, that in singing,
the words are to be considered, and how they are fitted
with notes, and then the common accent of the country
is to be known and understood by the hearer, or he
will never be a good judge of the vocal musique of
another country. So that I was not taken with
this at all, neither understanding the first, nor by
practice reconciled to the latter, so that their motions,
and risings and fallings, though it may be pleasing
to an Italian, or one that understands the tongue,
yet to me it did not, but do from my heart believe
that I could set words in English, and make musique
of them more agreeable to any Englishman’s eare
(the most judicious) than any Italian musique set for
the voice, and performed before the same man, unless
he be acquainted with the Italian accent of speech.
The composition as to the musique part was exceeding
good, and their justness in keeping time by practice
much before any that we have, unless it be a good
band of practised fiddlers. So away, here being
Captain Cocke, who is stole away, leaving them at it,
in his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce’s, where I
took up my wife, and there I find Mrs. Pierce’s
little girl is my Valentine, she having drawn me; which
I was not sorry for, it easing me of something more
that I must have given to others. But here I
do first observe the fashion of drawing of mottos
as well as names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife,
did draw also a motto, and this girl drew another
for me. What mine was I have forgot; but my
wife’s was, “Most virtuous and most fair;”
which, as it may be used, or an anagram made upon
each name, might be very pretty. Thence with
Cocke and my wife, set him at home, and then we home.
To the office, and there did a little business, troubled
that I have so much been hindered by matters of pleasure
from my business, but I shall recover it I hope in
a little time. So home and to supper, not at
all smitten with the musique to-night, which I did
expect should have been so extraordinary, Tom Killigrew
crying it up, and so all the world, above all things
in the world, and so to bed. One wonder I observed
to-day, that there was no musique in the morning to
call up our new-married people, which is very mean,
methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and
bitch.