Bacon, Francis, Sylva sylvarum : or, a natural history in ten centuries

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7238Natural Hiſtory; made ſtraight, and not obliek, are ever greater at the lower end. It would
be tryed alſo in Pipes, being made far larger at the lower end, or being
made with a Belly towards the lower end, and then iſſuing in to a ſtraight con-
cave again.
There is in St. Jameſes Fields, a Conduit of Brick, unto which joyneth
11140. a low Vault;
and at the end of that, a round Houſe of Stone; and in the
Brick Conduit there is a Window, and in the round Houſe a Slit or Rift of
ſome little breadth;
if you cry out in the Rift, it will make a fearſul roaring
at the Window.
The cauſe is the ſame with the former: For that all Con-
caves that proceed from more narrow to more broad, do amplifie the Sound
at the coming out.
Hawks Bells that have holes in the ſides, give a greater ring, than if the
22141. Pellet did ſtrike upon Braſs in the open Air.
The cauſe is the ſame with
the firſt inſtance of the Trunck:
Namely, for that the Sound, encloſed
with the ſides of the Bell, cometh forth at the holes unſpent and more
ſtrong.
In Drums, the cloſeneſs round about, that preſerveth the Sound
33142. from diſperſing, maketh the noiſe come forth at the Drum-hole, far
more loud and ſtrong, than if you ſhould ſtrike upon the like skin, ex-
tended in the open Air.
The cauſe is the ſame with the two prece-
dent.
Sounds are better heard, and further off in an Evening, or in the Night,
44143. than at the Noon or in the Day.
The cauſe is, for that in the Day, when the
Air is more thin (no doubt) the Sound pierceth better;
but when the Air is
more thick (as in the Night) the Sound ſpendeth and ſpredeth abroad leſs;
and ſo it is a degree of Encloſure. As for the night, it is true alſo, that the
general ſilence helpeth.
There be two kindes of Reflections of Sounds; the one at Diſtance, which
55144. is the Eccho, wherein the original is heard diſtinctly, and the Reflexion
alſo diſtinctly;
of which, we ſhall ſpeak hereafter. The other in Concur-
rence;
when the Sound reflecting (the Reflexion being near at hand) re-
turneth immediately upon the original, and ſo iterateth it not, but am-
plifieth it.
Therefore we ſee, that Muſick upon the Water ſoundeth
more;
and ſo likewiſe, Muſick is better in Chambers Wainſcotted than
Hanged.
The Strings of a Lute, or Viol, or Virginals, do give a far greater Sound,
66145. by reaſon of the Knot, and Board, and Concave underneath, than if there
were nothing but onely the Flat of a Board, without that Hollow and Knot,
to let in the upper Air into the lower.
The cauſe is, the Communication of
the upper Air with the lower, and penning of both ſrom expence or diſper-
ſing.
An Iriſh Harp hath open Air on both ſides of the Strings; and it hath
77146. the Concave or Belly, not a long the Strings, but at the end of the Strings.
It maketh a more reſounding Sound, than a Bandora, Orpharion, or Cittern,
which have like wiſe Wire-ſtrings.
I judge the cauſe to be, ſor that open Air
on both ſides helpeth, ſo that there be a Concave;
which is therefore beſt
placed at the end.
In a Virginal, when the Lid is down, it maketh a more exile Sound than
88147. when the Lid is open.
The cauſe is, for that all ſhutting in of Air, where
there is no competent Vent, dampeth the Sound;
which maintaineth like-
wiſe the former inſtance:
For the Belly of the Lute, or Viol, doth pen the
Air ſomewhat.

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