J 64 A NATURAL HISTORY 



'THE Antients having related wonderful Things done by Mufick 

 in their days, by which Difeafes were fufpended, the Sick re/iored . . , 

 / Jhall make a port Inquiry into the Reafons of it. Tho' the Re- 

 port be Jlrange, and in fome degree hyperbolical, yet jbme Account 

 may be given of the furprizi?Jg EfeBs of Mifick, and is attempted 

 by the learned Dr. Willis, ( among others ; ) a Hint of which I 

 {hall add here, to what was obferved before upon the Subject. 



REASONS (or rather Conjectures) for Medicinal Cures 



by MUSICK. 



I. nr^ HAT Mufick, if not new, was in thofe Days a rare 

 A thing, which the Vulgar, on whom 'tis reported to 

 have mighty Eifedls, had fcarce heard any before, and on whom 

 a little Mufick will do great Feats, as we now find a Bag-pipe at 

 a Morris-Dance. 



II. A N T I E N T Mufick was much more fimple and plain than 

 ours now, having only one fingle Voice or Inftrument apart, 

 which to a rude Ear is much more taking, than compound Mu- 

 fick ; the former not exceeding their Capacity, whereas a Concert 

 of Mufick confounds them quite, and 'tis by no means diftin- 

 guifliable by them, fo as to affedl them with the Harmony of its 

 Parts. 



III. Mus icK, with the Antients, was of a much larger Ex- 

 tent than what we now call by that Name ; for Poetry, and 

 Dancing or graceful M ition, were then counted part of Mufick, 

 when it had arrived to fome degree of Perfection : And wifc fee 

 that Verje alone, if in good A^.^afure and -moving Words, fung by 

 an agreeable Voice, with foft inftrumental Mufick, will work 

 flrangely on the Ear, and move all Afitdlions fuitable to the Tune 

 and Ditty . , . efpecially if attended With proper Geflures arid Ani- 

 ons Thus fuitable Ailing on the Stage, gives great Life to 



the Words *. 



If 



* Lowthorfs ^bridg. tqI. i. p. (Ji8. 



