a short poem, composed of a number of free and unequal verses, neither confined to the regularity of a sonnet, nor to the point or antithesis of an epigram, but only consisting of some tender and delicate thought, expressed with elegant simplicity. The derivation of the word cannot be determined. The earliest madrigals were those of Lemmo of Pistoia. The composition of madrigals attained a very high degree of excellence in England during the reign of Elizabeth, and are said to be in no way inferior to those of Italy. Orlando Gibbons is the best known among the English madrigal composers; Marenzio and Clari among those of Italy.