To the Most Reverend Father in Christ:

Glarean sends many greetings.

A large decorative woodcut initial 'T' depicts a robed figure, possibly a scholar or biblical figure, seated within an architectural frame decorated with Renaissance foliate motifs.

Timotheus of Miletus, a most famous author of the musical art, most Reverend FATHER, is recorded by Athenaeus in his 14th book (citing Artemon) as having been rebuked by the Spartans The text uses "Lacedaemonians," the formal name for the inhabitants of the city-state of Sparta. as a corruptor of ancient and primitive music, because he used a system that had more strings than the magadis The magadis was an ancient Greek stringed instrument; here it refers to the traditional limit of strings allowed in strict Spartan society.. Furthermore, the Sainted Severinus Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 477–524 AD), whose "Fundamentals of Music" was the standard textbook for a millennium. asserts in his preface to music that Timotheus was even expelled from Laconia because he added one string to the customary ones and made music more effeminate. Boethius reports in Greek words the decree PsephismaA formal proposal or decree passed by an assembly. made concerning him, which stated: for this reason the Spartans were angry with Timotheus of Miletus, because by rendering music "manifold" original: multiplicem he obstructed the minds of the boys he had received to be educated, and hindered them from the modesty of virtue. This is what Boethius says of Timotheus from the Greek sources.

If these things are as the authors worthy of trust have handed down, what do I think will become of me? I, who to the eight modes original: Modos of musical song, celebrated among all people for so many centuries, now add four more, and from an eight-stringed system original: Octochordo make a twelve-stringed one original: dodecachordum. I seem to accuse all antiquity of ignorance and condemn it for negligence; furthermore, two modes rejected by all the ancients, hissed off the stage, relegated to exile, and as if dead, I now—if it pleases the Gods, as the proverb goes—recall, restore to their former rights original: postliminio recipiam; a legal term for restoring rights to someone returning from exile or captivity., and resuscitate into life. Truly, I would be worthy of being hissed at, cast out, and driven away not just from one Laconia, but from the entire world where rational men dwell. Unless I clear myself of these harsh objections and grave accusations, and show the reader that the matter is different than how I am accused, what remains but that I, defeated, yield original: uictus dem manus; literally "give my hands," an idiom for surrendering. and pay the penalty for my audacity?

But indeed, most worshipful Father, since no one was ever condemned before a fair judge without his case being heard, I shall bid all those who wish me well and do not want a defendant to succumb to his cause to have good hope. For I will easily refute the arguments of the opposing side, if I first speak concerning that Spartan decree. Indeed, Athenaeus says in that same place I mentioned that Timotheus, when...