8955Century III.
it meliorateth the ſound.
For (no dobut) there would be a differing ſound
in a Trumpet or Pipe of Wood, and again, in a Trumpet or Pipe oſ Braſs.
It were good to try Recorders and Hunters Horns of Braß, what the ſound
would be.
in a Trumpet or Pipe of Wood, and again, in a Trumpet or Pipe oſ Braſs.
It were good to try Recorders and Hunters Horns of Braß, what the ſound
would be.
Sounds are meliorated by the Intenſion of the Senſe, where the common
11235 Senſe is collected moſt to the particular Senſe of Hearing, and the Sight ſuſ-
pended: And therefore Sounds are ſweeter, as well as greater, in the Night
than in the Day; and I ſuppoſe, they are ſweeter to blinde men, than to
others: And it is manifeſt, that between ſleeping and waking, (when all the
Senſes are bound and ſuſpended) Muſick is far ſweeter than when one is fully
waking.
11235 Senſe is collected moſt to the particular Senſe of Hearing, and the Sight ſuſ-
pended: And therefore Sounds are ſweeter, as well as greater, in the Night
than in the Day; and I ſuppoſe, they are ſweeter to blinde men, than to
others: And it is manifeſt, that between ſleeping and waking, (when all the
Senſes are bound and ſuſpended) Muſick is far ſweeter than when one is fully
waking.
IT is a thing ſtrange in Nature, when it is attentively conſidered, How
22236. Children and ſome Birds learn to imitate Speech. They take no mark at
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Imitation of
Sounds. all of the Motion of the Mouth of him that ſpeaketh, for Birds are as well
taught in the dark, as by light. The ſounds of Speech are very curious and
exquiſite; ſo one would think it were a Leſſon hard to learn. It is true,
that it is done with time, and by little and little, and with many eſſays and
proffers: But all this diſchargeth not the wonder. It would make a Man
think (though this, which we ſhall ſay, may ſeem exceeding ſtrange) that
there is ſome tranſmiſſion of Spirits, and that the Spirit of the Teacher put
in motion, ſhould work with the Spirits of the Learner, a prediſpoſition to
offer to imitate, and ſo to perfect the imitation by degrees. But touching
Operations by Tranſmiſſions of Spirits (which is one of the higheſt ſecrets in
Nature) we ſhall ſpeak in due place, chiefly when we come to inquire of
Imagination. But as for Imitation, it is certain, That there is in Men, and
other Creatures, a prediſpoſition to imitate. We ſee how ready Apes and
Monkies are to imitate all motions of Man: And in the catching of Dot-
trels, we ſee how the fooliſh Bird playeth the Ape in geſtures: And no Man
(in effect) doth accompany with others, but he learneth (ere he is aware)
ſome Geſture, or Voice, or Faſhion of the other.
22236. Children and ſome Birds learn to imitate Speech. They take no mark at
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Imitation of
Sounds. all of the Motion of the Mouth of him that ſpeaketh, for Birds are as well
taught in the dark, as by light. The ſounds of Speech are very curious and
exquiſite; ſo one would think it were a Leſſon hard to learn. It is true,
that it is done with time, and by little and little, and with many eſſays and
proffers: But all this diſchargeth not the wonder. It would make a Man
think (though this, which we ſhall ſay, may ſeem exceeding ſtrange) that
there is ſome tranſmiſſion of Spirits, and that the Spirit of the Teacher put
in motion, ſhould work with the Spirits of the Learner, a prediſpoſition to
offer to imitate, and ſo to perfect the imitation by degrees. But touching
Operations by Tranſmiſſions of Spirits (which is one of the higheſt ſecrets in
Nature) we ſhall ſpeak in due place, chiefly when we come to inquire of
Imagination. But as for Imitation, it is certain, That there is in Men, and
other Creatures, a prediſpoſition to imitate. We ſee how ready Apes and
Monkies are to imitate all motions of Man: And in the catching of Dot-
trels, we ſee how the fooliſh Bird playeth the Ape in geſtures: And no Man
(in effect) doth accompany with others, but he learneth (ere he is aware)
ſome Geſture, or Voice, or Faſhion of the other.
In Imitation of Sounds, that Man ſhould be the Teacher, is no part of the
44237. matter: For Birds will learn one of another, and there is no reward by feed-
ing, or the like, given them for the imitation: And beſides, you ſhall have
Parrets that will not onely imitate Voices, but Laughing, Knocking, Squeak-
ing of a Door upon the Hinges, or of a Cart wheel, and (in effect) any other
noiſe they hear.
44237. matter: For Birds will learn one of another, and there is no reward by feed-
ing, or the like, given them for the imitation: And beſides, you ſhall have
Parrets that will not onely imitate Voices, but Laughing, Knocking, Squeak-
ing of a Door upon the Hinges, or of a Cart wheel, and (in effect) any other
noiſe they hear.
No Beaſt can imitate the Speech of Man, but Birds onely:
For the Ape
55238. it ſelf, that is ſo ready to imitate other wiſe, attaineth not any degree of imi-
tation of Speech. It is true, that I have known a Dog, that if one howled
in his ear, he would fall a howling a great while. What ſhould be the aptneſs
of Birds, in compariſon of Beaſts, to imitate the Speech of Man, may be fur-
ther inquired. We ſee that Beaſts have thoſe parts, which they count the
Inſtruments of Speech, (as Lips, Teeth, & c.) liker unto Man than Birds. As for
the Neck, by which the Throat paſſeth, we ſee many Beaſts have it for the
length, as much as Birds. What better gorge or attire Birds have, may be
further inquired. The Birds that are known to be ſpeakers, are Parrets, Pyes,
Jays, Daws, and Ravens: Of which, Parrets have an adunck Bill, but the
reſt not.
55238. it ſelf, that is ſo ready to imitate other wiſe, attaineth not any degree of imi-
tation of Speech. It is true, that I have known a Dog, that if one howled
in his ear, he would fall a howling a great while. What ſhould be the aptneſs
of Birds, in compariſon of Beaſts, to imitate the Speech of Man, may be fur-
ther inquired. We ſee that Beaſts have thoſe parts, which they count the
Inſtruments of Speech, (as Lips, Teeth, & c.) liker unto Man than Birds. As for
the Neck, by which the Throat paſſeth, we ſee many Beaſts have it for the
length, as much as Birds. What better gorge or attire Birds have, may be
further inquired. The Birds that are known to be ſpeakers, are Parrets, Pyes,
Jays, Daws, and Ravens: Of which, Parrets have an adunck Bill, but the
reſt not.
But I conceive, that the aptneſs of Birds is not ſo much in the confor-
66239.mity of the Organs of Speech, as in their Attention. For Speech muſt come
by Hearing and Learning; and Birds give more heed, and mark
66239.mity of the Organs of Speech, as in their Attention. For Speech muſt come
by Hearing and Learning; and Birds give more heed, and mark