OF SOUND AND HEARING. 237 



than near: so as something should seem to happen to 

 hearing about sound, like as happeneth to sight about 

 visible species, that some removal from the organ of the 

 sense furthereth the perception of the sense. But in 

 that opinion may be twofold error. First, because in the 

 act of sight there be, perhaps, beams required from the 

 object to the pupil, which there cannot be where the object 

 toucheth the pupil, which between the hearing and the 

 sound is not required. But much rather, because to seeing 

 is light, needed. But an object touching the pupil inter 

 cepts the light; whereas nothing of this kind befalls to 

 hearing. And in the second place, because to sight there 

 needeth not always a medium : forasmuch as, in the re 

 moving of cataracts of the eyes, the little silver needle 

 wherewith the cataracts are removed, even when it moveth 

 upon the pupil within the coat of the eye, is excellently 

 seen. 



In objects of sight, if the eye be placed in the dark, and 

 the object in the light, it shall do well; but if the object 

 be placed in the dark, and the eye in the light, you shall 

 not see. So if a thin veil or net work be cast over the 

 eyes, the object is well seen; if upon the object, it con 

 founds sight. And albeit, that perhaps neither of these 

 agreeth to sound and hearing, yet may they advertise us 

 that trials be made, whether the ear set against the hollow 

 trunk, if the sound be made at a distance in the air at 

 large, or conversely, the sound be produced at the hollow 

 trunk, the ear being placed at a distance in the air at 

 large, favour more the perception of the sense. 



OF THE VARIETY OF THE BODIES WHICH YIELD SOUND; 

 AND THE INSTRUMENTS; AND OF THE SPECIES OF 

 SOUNDS WHICH OCCUR. 



The kinds of sounds appear to receive such a division : 

 loud, soft, sharp or treble, base ; musical, unmusical ; inte 

 rior or whispering, exterior or sounding; simple, com 

 pounded, original, reflected ; so as they are divisions six. 



The stronger the first pulsation shall be, and the dilation 

 the more free, and without let, the greater is the sound 



fiven : the weaker the percussion, and more disturbed the 

 ilation, the less. 



Treble sounds are carried as far, and perchance farther 

 than, base. Let this be better inquired. 



