296 REPETITION AND IMITATION! SECT. XXII. 2. 



and therefore this pleafurable fenfation mu'ft be ow- 

 ing to the repetition of the divifioris of the founds at 

 terrain intervals of time, or mufical bars. Whe- 

 ther thefe times or bars are diftinguifhed by a paufe, 

 or by an emphafis or accent, certain it is, that this 

 diftindlion is perpetually repeated ; othervvife the ear 

 could not determine inftantly, whether the fuccef- 

 fions of found were in common or in triple time. In 

 common time there is a divifion between every two 

 crotchets, or other notes of equivalent time ; though 

 the bar in written mufic is put after every fourth 

 crotchet, or notes equivalent in time ; i'n triple time 

 the divifion or bar is after every three crotchets, or 

 notes equivalent ; fo that in common time the repe- 

 tition recurs more frequently than in triple time., 

 The grave or heroic verfes of the Greek nd Latin 

 'poets are written in common time ; the French he- 

 toic verfes, and Mr. Anftie's humorous verfes in his 

 Bath Guide, are Written in the fame time as the 

 Greek and Latin verfes, but are one bar fhortef. 

 The Englifh grave or heroic verfes are meafured by 

 triple time, as Mr. Pope's tranfiation of Homer. 



But befides thefe little circles of mufical lime, 

 there are the greater returning periods, and the ftill 

 more diftant chorufes, which like the rhimes at the 

 ends of verfes, owe their beauty to repetition; that 

 is, to the facility and diftin&nefs with which we per- 

 ceive founds, which we expect to perceive, or have 

 perceived before; or in the language of this work, 

 to the greater eafe and energy with which our organ 

 is excited by the combined fenforial powers of aflb- 

 ciation and irritation, than by the latter fingly, 



A certain uniformity or repetition of parts enters 

 the very compofition of harmony. Thus two o&aves 

 neare'l to each other in the fcale commence their 

 vibrations together after every fecond vibration of 

 the higher one. And where the firft, third, and 

 fifth compofe a chord, the vibrations concur or coin- 

 cide 



