CENTURY II. 71 



109. In harmony, if there be not a discord to 

 the base, it doth not disturb the harmony, though 

 there be a discord to the higher parts; so 

 the discord be not of the two that are odious ; 

 and therefore the ordinary consent of four parts 

 consisteth of an eighth, a fifth, and a third to 

 the base ; but that fifth is a fourth to the treble, 

 and the third is a sixth. And the cause is, for that 

 the base striking more air, doth overcome and drown 

 the treble, unless the discord be very odious ; and 

 so hideth a small imperfection. For we see, that 

 in one of the lower strings of a lute, there soundeth 

 not the sound of the treble, nor any mixt sound, but 

 only the sound of the base. 



110. We have no music of quarter-notes ; and it 

 may be they are not capable of harmony ; for we see 

 the half notes themselves do but interpose some 

 times. Nevertheless we have some slides or relishes 

 of the voice or strings, as it were continued without 

 notes, from one tone to another, rising or falling, 

 which are delightful. 



111. The causes of that which is pleasing or 

 ingrate to the hearing, may receive light by that 

 which is pleasing or ingrate to the sight. There be 

 two things pleasing to the sight, leaving pictures 

 and shapes aside, which are but secondary objects ; 

 and please or displease but in memory ; these two 

 are colours and order. The pleasing of colour sym- 

 bolizeth with the pleasing of any single tone to the 

 ear ; but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with 



