( <5^ 2 5 ) 
©ake it out^ that the Mufick of the Antients is far to be jirefcr- 
r'd to that of our Agc> iorafmuch as Speech , hovy powerful 
Ibevcrat this day 5 yet^ when put into a S<>pg prrcndfed Mu- 
ffcal, is not of that efficacy in moving our fenfes, asitwas io 
times of old. For finding out the Caiife of which, he obferves 
chiefly three things in Singingahc: Harmony, the Words, and 
the Rhythm Ml^bpMf 3 the Harmony refpediing the foood^the 
Words requiring a diftiod: enunciatiaon for their clear Ub" 
dcrftanding i and the Rhythm confiftiog in a due and well- 
mc^fured motion of the Song, As for the Hamohy^ he ac- 
knowledges, that the Moderns have largely handled it^ yet 
without cxhaufting the argument. But for the two other part.?, 
he affirmsj that they have either totally negledcd themjOr dif* 
ffCourfed of them bcfides thepurpofe. Which he endeavors to 
prove from hence, that fince all fongs and all harmooy, ho w 
curious foeverj muft prove butaa empty (bund^^ if the%ords 
(uug are not underftood , northe motionsfignifieadt they 
iare not in the modern Mufick^contrary to what was moft care- 
fully obforved in that of the Antients. Where he appeals to 
ExpefiencCj by whicbhc iaithit will be found, that fcarce the 
t^nth part of what is fung by the Mufitians of this age can be 
■ underftood, and that they by makingjcontrary to naturejthoie 
Syllables long that arc fhortjand thofeihorc that are long, and 
often repeating the fame words ten timesj do fo diforder and 
manglethe genuin manner of pronunciation, that they quite 
deftroy the true nature of the fong. Be fides this, he obfervs, 
that we labour under another very great defei^, which isjthat 
we are altogether defticute of theRhythm, the Soul of Songs, 
And this is itjAey^r/zA, which hath induced him, to make out in 
ithis Excreitation both the oature of the Rythm , and its 
wonderful power in moving and raifing the Afteftions : which 
with what fuccefs he hath performed, we leave to the judici- 
ous to determine. 
Mean time, welhali here take notice of divers particulars , 
which Gur Author lays weight upon 5 fuch as are ; 
I. The Invention^Naturej Neccffity, Efficacy and Number 
oi pmical Fef/,which import different times and meafufesjand 
by the means of which Bot oaly the vifible mdtiansoftKe Bo- 
