139 



tremc delicacy of its tones. The second observation 

 is, that the variety of manner, in which the ancient 

 music was performed, placed it in a rank of dignity 

 superior to ours. Our modes are but of two kinds, 

 the flat and the sharp : whereas the ancient, modified 

 theirs into five, t^e principal of which were the Ionic, 

 the Lydian, the Phrygian, the Doric, MoYic ; each 

 adapted to express and excite different passions ; and 

 by that means, especially, to produce such effects as 

 we have just now taken notice of, not only from the 

 authentic manner in which they have been recorded* 

 but from the very state and condition, in which music 

 at that time was. 



The Co?tclusion. 



1. We have seen in how many truths of the greatest 

 importance, the ancients preced -d the moderns,' or at 

 least pointed out, or prepared the way for their dis- 

 coveries. It appears also, that the latter have not 

 ahvays had the disinterestedness to own, that the for- 

 mor guided them in attaining their ends. And hero 

 it may not be amiss to remark, that those very pbilo. 

 Bophers, whrn their opinions were attacked, or when 

 they dreaded they ir-i^ht b so, recurred to the au 

 thority of those iv.:it men. to put envy and calumny 

 to silence* Doscartcs, Mallrbranche, and some New* 

 toniaiis, are instances of this. 



2. The first of these, at the conclusion of his prin- 

 ciples of philosophy, advertises the reader, that he 

 had advanced nothing, but what had been authorized 

 by Aristotle, Democritus, and many other philoso- 

 phers of antiquity. Mallebranche, observing his sys- 

 tem accused not only of being false, but of being 

 impious, immediately had recourse to the authority of 

 St, Augustin. And some Newtonians, upon seeing that 

 attraction was by many regarded as a mere whim, set 

 about proving, that the ancients owned and taught it; 



