8450Natural Hiſtory;
Generals ſpake to their Armies, they had ever a Mount of Turff caſt up,
where upon they ſtood. But this may be imputed to the ſtops and obſtacles
which the voice meeteth with, when one ſpeaketh upon the level. But
there ſeemeth to be more in it; for it may be, that Spiritual Species, both of
things viſible, and Sounds, do move better down wards than up wards. It is
a ſtrange thing, that to Men ſtanding below on the ground, thoſe that be on
the top of Pauls, ſeem much leſs than they are, and cannot be known: But
to Men above thoſe below, ſeem nothing ſo much leſſened, and may be
known; yet it is true, That all things to them above, ſeem alſo ſomewhat
contracted and better collected into figure; as Knots in Gardens ſhew beſt
from an upper Window or Tarras.
where upon they ſtood. But this may be imputed to the ſtops and obſtacles
which the voice meeteth with, when one ſpeaketh upon the level. But
there ſeemeth to be more in it; for it may be, that Spiritual Species, both of
things viſible, and Sounds, do move better down wards than up wards. It is
a ſtrange thing, that to Men ſtanding below on the ground, thoſe that be on
the top of Pauls, ſeem much leſs than they are, and cannot be known: But
to Men above thoſe below, ſeem nothing ſo much leſſened, and may be
known; yet it is true, That all things to them above, ſeem alſo ſomewhat
contracted and better collected into figure; as Knots in Gardens ſhew beſt
from an upper Window or Tarras.
But to make an exact tryal of it, let a Man ſtand in a Chamber.
not
11206. much above the Ground, and ſpeak out at the Window thorow a Trunck, to
one ſtanding on the Ground as ſoftly as he can, the other laying his Ear cloſe
to the Trunck: Then Via verſa, let the other ſpeak below keeping the ſame
proportion of ſoftneſs; and let him in the Chamber lay his Ear to the Trunck.
And this may be the apteſt means to make a Judgment, whether Sounds
deſcend or aſcend better.
11206. much above the Ground, and ſpeak out at the Window thorow a Trunck, to
one ſtanding on the Ground as ſoftly as he can, the other laying his Ear cloſe
to the Trunck: Then Via verſa, let the other ſpeak below keeping the ſame
proportion of ſoftneſs; and let him in the Chamber lay his Ear to the Trunck.
And this may be the apteſt means to make a Judgment, whether Sounds
deſcend or aſcend better.
AFter that Sound is created (which is in a moment) we finde it continueth
22207. ſome ſmall time, melting by little and little. In this there is a wonder-
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Lacting and
Periſhing of
Sounds; and
touching the
time they re-
quire to the
Generation or
Delation. ful error amongſt Men, who take this to be a continuance of the firſt Sound;
whereas (in truth) it is a Renovation, and not a Continuance: For the Body
percufſed, hath by reaſon of the Percuſſion, a Tripidation wrought in the mi-
nute parts, and ſo reneweth the Percuſſion of the Air. This appeareth
manifeſtly, becauſe that the Melting ſound of a Bell, or of a ſtring ſtrucken,
which is thought to be a Continuance, ceaſeth as ſoon as the Bell or ſtring are
touched. As in a Virginal, as ſoon as ever the Jack falleth, and toucheth the
ſtring, the ſound ceaſeth; and in a Bell, after you have chimed upon it, if you
touch the Bell, the ſound ceaſeth. And in this you muſt diſtinguiſh, that there
are two Trepidations, The one Manifeſt and Local; as of the Bell, when it
is Penſile; the other Secret, of the Minute parts, ſuch as is deſcribed in the
ninth Inſtance. But it is true, that the Local helpeth the Secret greatly. We
ſee like wiſe, that in Pipes, and other Wind Inſtruments, the ſound laſteth no
longer than the breath bloweth. It is true, that in Organs there is a confuſed
murmur for a while, after you have played, but that is but while the Bellows
are in falling.
22207. ſome ſmall time, melting by little and little. In this there is a wonder-
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Lacting and
Periſhing of
Sounds; and
touching the
time they re-
quire to the
Generation or
Delation. ful error amongſt Men, who take this to be a continuance of the firſt Sound;
whereas (in truth) it is a Renovation, and not a Continuance: For the Body
percufſed, hath by reaſon of the Percuſſion, a Tripidation wrought in the mi-
nute parts, and ſo reneweth the Percuſſion of the Air. This appeareth
manifeſtly, becauſe that the Melting ſound of a Bell, or of a ſtring ſtrucken,
which is thought to be a Continuance, ceaſeth as ſoon as the Bell or ſtring are
touched. As in a Virginal, as ſoon as ever the Jack falleth, and toucheth the
ſtring, the ſound ceaſeth; and in a Bell, after you have chimed upon it, if you
touch the Bell, the ſound ceaſeth. And in this you muſt diſtinguiſh, that there
are two Trepidations, The one Manifeſt and Local; as of the Bell, when it
is Penſile; the other Secret, of the Minute parts, ſuch as is deſcribed in the
ninth Inſtance. But it is true, that the Local helpeth the Secret greatly. We
ſee like wiſe, that in Pipes, and other Wind Inſtruments, the ſound laſteth no
longer than the breath bloweth. It is true, that in Organs there is a confuſed
murmur for a while, after you have played, but that is but while the Bellows
are in falling.
It is certain, that in the noiſe of great Ordnance, where many are ſhot
44208. off together, the ſound will be carried (at the leaſt) twenty miles upon the
Land, and much further upon the Water, but then it will come to the Ear;
not in the inſtant of the ſhooting off, but it will come an hour, or more later:
This muſt needs be a Continuance of the firſt Sound; for there is no Trepi-
dation which ſhould renew it. And the touching of the Ordnance would
not extinguiſh the ſound the ſooner: So that in great Sounds, the Continu-
ance is more than Momentany.
44208. off together, the ſound will be carried (at the leaſt) twenty miles upon the
Land, and much further upon the Water, but then it will come to the Ear;
not in the inſtant of the ſhooting off, but it will come an hour, or more later:
This muſt needs be a Continuance of the firſt Sound; for there is no Trepi-
dation which ſhould renew it. And the touching of the Ordnance would
not extinguiſh the ſound the ſooner: So that in great Sounds, the Continu-
ance is more than Momentany.
To try exactly the time wherein Sound is delated, Let a Man ſtand in a
55209. Steeple, and have with him a Taper, and let ſome Veil be put before the
Taper, and let another Man ſtand in the Field a mile off; then let him in the
Steeple ſtrike the Bell, and in the ſame inſtant withdraw the Veil, and ſo let
him in the Field tell by his Pulſe, what diſtance of time there is between the
Light ſeen, and the Sound heard: For it is certain, That the Delation
55209. Steeple, and have with him a Taper, and let ſome Veil be put before the
Taper, and let another Man ſtand in the Field a mile off; then let him in the
Steeple ſtrike the Bell, and in the ſame inſtant withdraw the Veil, and ſo let
him in the Field tell by his Pulſe, what diſtance of time there is between the
Light ſeen, and the Sound heard: For it is certain, That the Delation
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