i-48 CATENATION SECT. XVII. 2. 5. 



aftrefs who fuceeded Mrs. Arne in the performance of the 

 celebrated Padlock, rehearfe the mufical parts at her harpfichord 

 under the eye of her matter with great taite and accuracy ; 

 though I obferved her countenance full of emotion, which I 

 could not account for ; at laft (he fuddenly burft into tears ; for 

 {he had all this time been eying a beloved canary bird, fuffer- 

 ing great agonies, which at that inftant fell dead from its perch." 



5. At the fame time many other catenated circles of action 

 are going on in the perfon of our fair mufician, as well as the 

 motions of her fingers, fuch as the vital motions, refpiration, the 

 movements of her eyes and eyelids, and of the intricate mufcles 

 of vocality, according with the fifth preceding article. 



6. If by any ftrong impreffion on the mind of our fair rnufi- 

 cian (he fhould be interrupted for a very inconfiderable time, fhe 

 can ftill continue her performance, according to the fixth article. 



7. If however this interruption be greater, though the chain 

 of aclions be not diflevered, it proceeds confufedly, and our 

 young performer continues indeed to play, but in a hurry with- 

 out accuracy and elegance, till fhe begins the tune again, accord- 

 ing to the feventh of the preceding articles. 



8. But if this interruption be ftill greater, the circle of ac- 

 tions becomes entirely diflevered, and fhe finds herfelf immedi- 

 ately under the neceflity to begin over again to recover the loft 

 catenation, according to the eighth preceding article. 



9 Or in trying to recover it fhe will fing fome diflbnant notes, 

 or ftrike fome improper keys, according to the ninth preceding 

 article. 



10. A very remarkable thing attends this breach of catena- 

 tion, if the performer has forgotten fome word of her fong, the 

 more energy of mind fhe ufes about it, the more diftant is fhe 

 from regaining it j and artfully employs her mind in part on 

 fome other object, or endeavours to dull its perceptions, contin- 

 uing to repeat as it were inconfcioufly, the former part of the 

 long, that fhe remembers, in hopes to regain the loft connexion. 



For if the activity of the mind itfelf be more energetic, or 

 taket its attention more, than the conne&ing word, which is 

 wanted ; it will not perceive the flighter link of this loft wordj 

 as who liftens to a feeble found, mult be very filent and mo- 

 tionlefs 9 fo that in this cafe the very vigour of the mind itfelf 

 feems to prevent it from regaining the Jolt catenation, as well as 

 the too great exertion in endeavouring to regain it, according to 

 the tenth preceding article- 



We frequently experience, when we are doubtful about the 

 fpelling of a word, that the greater voluntary exertion we ufe, 

 that is, ihe more imenfdy we think about it, the further are we 



from, 



