On RYTHMICAL MEASURES. 57 



ieem, however, to depend alfo, in a confiderable degree, upon 

 natural conftitution. 



I have obferved, that, in an agreeable fucceffion of founds, 

 order and proportion take place in two different ways. Upon 

 the one depends what is called the tone of the feveral founds, 

 or the relation which they bear to one another with refpect to 

 acutenefs and gravity ; upon the other depends what is often 

 called their rythm, cadence or meafure. The latter of thefe is 

 probably the moft important. It feems to be indifpenfably re- 

 quired in every agreeable fucceffion of founds. A feries of 

 notes, proportioned in tone with the utmoft nicety, and ar- 

 ranged with the greateft art, if no meafure or proportional du- 

 ration is obferved in them, will communicate no pleafure, but, 

 on the contrary, will create difguft. On the other hand, a fe- 

 ries of founds juftly proportioned in duration, and artfully dif- 

 pofed, will always give pleafure, although every one of them 

 fhould be exprelfed in the fame tone, and even although they 

 mould be expreffed in different tones, the proportions of which 

 cannot be perceived by the ear. The beating of a drum is 

 agreeable to the ear, and fometimes has a confiderable effect 

 upon the mind. The fyllables which compofe words differ in 

 length according to certain proportions, which may be felt by 

 the ear. Words, therefore, may be arranged in rythm. When 

 this arrangement is made with art, the rythm is agreeable, even 

 when it is expreffed in the tones of fpeech in which no mufical 

 proportion is perceived. Again, though men poffefs, in diffe- 

 rent degrees, the power of feeling the proportional duration of 

 fucceffive founds, and of relifhing an agreeable rythm, there 

 is perhaps no man altogether deftitute of it. On the other 

 hand, mens power of perceiving the mufical relations of founds, 

 and of relifhing an artful combination of them, is much more 

 diverfified. The differences among them in this refpect are 

 wider and more finking. In fome men, that power is fcarcely 

 difcernible, who neverthelefs may be able to judge of rythm 



Vol. II. H with 



