110 NATURAL HISTORY; 



you will think that he were on the open side. So 

 likewise, if a bell or clock be, for example, on the 

 north side of a chamber, and the window of that 

 chamber be upon the south ; he that is in the cham 

 ber will think the sound came from the south. 



204. Sounds, though they spread round, so that 

 there is an orb or spherical area of the sound, yet 

 they move strongest, and go farthest in the fore- 

 lines, from the first local impulsion of the air. And 

 therefore in preaching, you shall hear the preacher s 

 voice better before the pulpit, than behind it, or on 

 the sides, though it stand open. So a harquebuss, or 

 ordnance, will be farther heard forwards from the 

 mouth of the piece, than backwards, or on the sides. 



205. It may be doubted, that sounds do move 

 better downwards than upwards. Pulpits are placed 

 high above the people. And when the ancient gene 

 rals spake to their armies, they had ever a mount of 

 turf cast up, whereupon 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 downwards than up 

 wards. It is a strange thing, that to men standing 

 below on the ground, those that be on the top of 

 Paul s 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 



