If all other considerations are set aside there still remains the important fact that the hero of the play is a musical personage.

He is to move the powers of hell by his impassioned song.

It would, therefore, be artistically foolish to begin this new species of work with a piece of vocal solo which might rob the invocation of Orpheus of its desired effect.

It is altogether probable that the prologue was spoken, and that the opening dialogue in the scene between the two shepherds was also spoken.

After the lines "Forth from thy wallet take thy pipe and we Will sing awhile beneath the leafy trees; For well my nymph is pleased with melody." there follows a number which the author plainly indicates as lyric, for he calls it a canzona.