16 



drums, are displeasing ; as the over loud overpower the au- 

 ditory organs, the over low act upon them too feebly, the 

 over acute strain them,* and the over grave or deep difficultly 

 excite -corresponding motions: yet the sound of" trumpets, 

 when properly varied, and that of drums, when exactly 

 measured, are very agreeable. 



35. Two or more sounds that produce agitations in the au- 

 ditory nerves, that do not interrupt each other, but so strictly 

 coalesce as to produce a 3d sound, whether heard jointly or 

 in succession, are highly agreeable ; such are consonants and 

 concords, but those that disturb and interrupt the action of 

 each other on the auditory organs, are called dissonants and 

 discords ; some of these however, when properly managed, 

 produce a ])Ieasing effect, and perhaps all, when introduced 

 on proper occasions. 



3lj. Some n)en have their organs of hearino- so unfortu- 

 nately constructed, as to receive no impression corresponding 

 with the 3d sound, and consequently no perception of har- 

 mony ; these are commonly said to have no ear for music : 

 most of them however, I believe, receive pleasure from the 

 variety and measure of successive sounds, particular!}' when 

 they excite alacrity. 



37. Petrarch relates, he met with a man who was more 

 pleased with the croaking of frogs, than with the dulcet 

 strains of the niglitingale. 



38. IMusic 



• These Dr. Burney calls cork-cutting notes. Hist. Mus. vol. 4. p. 481. 



