OF SOUND AND HEARING. 243 



affect it more evenly ; for things foul to sight rather offend 

 by moving of the fancy concerning foul things than of 

 themselves; but in audibles the grating of a saw that 

 is sharpened, and other like sounds, cause an horror; and 

 a discordant note in music is in straightways refused and 

 loathed. 



It is not assured, that there is refraction in sounds, as in 

 beams. But doubtless sounds do rebound: but that is to 

 be ascribed to reflexion. For I do not think, if sounds 

 pass through diverse mediums, as air, cloth, wood, that 

 there be one place of the sound, where it is carried, another 

 where it is heard, which is the property of refraction ; but 

 refraction seems to depend upon action, in right lines, 

 which pertains not to sound. 



But contraction of sound, and its dilatation, according to 

 the disposition of the medium, happens undoubtedly, as in 

 the speaking of puppets, and under water: the sound is 

 contracted within that cell, which abroad is dispersed ; as 

 by mirrors visibles are dilated and contracted. 



A tremulous medium (as smoke in visibles) makes the 

 visible objects also to tremble ; but in sounds nothing such 

 is yet found, unless perchance the rise and fall, by winds. 

 For the trembling in the nightingale-pipe is trembling of 

 the percussion, not of the medium. 



Going from great light into the dark, or out of the dark 

 into light, the sight is some little confused ; but whether 

 the like be after very loud noises, or a great silence, would 

 be inquired. 



OF THE QUICKNESS OF THE GENERATION, AND EXTINC 

 TION OF SOUND, AND THE TIME IN WHICH THEY ARE 

 EFFECTED. 



All sound is exceeding quickly generated, and quickly 

 perishes. But the swiftness of its motion and of its diffe 

 rences, appears a thing not so wonderful. For the motion 

 of the fingers upon a lute, or of the breath in the pipe or 

 flute, are found to be exceedingly swift: and the tongue 



ir* 



itself (no very exquisite organ) goes through as many mo 

 tions as letters; but that sounds should not only be so 

 speedily generated but that they should also, by their 

 momentary force and impression, as it were, suddenly fill 

 so great space, is matter worthy of the highest admiration. 

 For instance, a man in the middle of a field speaking aloud 

 is heard for a quarter of a mile, in a round, and that in 



