Ill 



sharp and angular objects of sight, are in- 

 troduced by the most judicious composers, 

 in their accompaniments to the sweetest 

 and most flowing melodies,, in order to 

 relieve the ear from that languor and wea- 

 riness, which long continued smoothness 

 always brings on. But, on the other hand, 

 should a composer from too great a fond- 

 ness for discords and extraneous modula- 

 tions, neglect the flow and smoothness of 

 melody, or should he smother a sweet and 

 simple air beneath a load even of the 

 richest harmony, he would resemble an 

 architect, who from a false notion of the 

 picturesque, should destroy all repose and 

 continuity in his designs, by the number 

 of breaks and projections, or should try to 

 improve some elegant and simple building, 

 by loading it with a profusion of orna- 

 ments. The most beautiful and melodious 

 of all sounds, that of the human voice in 

 its highest perfection, appears to the great- 

 est advantage when there is some degree 

 of sharpness in the instrument which ac- 

 companies it ; as in the harp, the violin, 



