Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

The CHARACTERS of the ancient mufic may be feen, as in many other authors, fo in the Paleographia Graca of Montfaucon,

Thus, Sir, I have ventured, I know not how, to add a few thoughts to yours, upon the subject of mufic; and to offer them to the lovers of this art; who, finding me here in good company, may perhaps shew some favour to the Appendix, for the fake of the Ejay.

Horace, Epift. II. ii. 141. grows very serious, and fays,

Nimirum fapere eft abje&is utile nugis, Et tempeftivum pueris concedere ludum ; Ac non verba fequi fidibus modulanda Latinis; Sed vera numerofque modofque edifcere vitæ. That is, "After all, it is proper to leave these amusements to young people, who may trifle with a better grace; and, instead of being always occupied in compofing fongs and tunes, and in adapting founds and words to each other, to study Moral Modulations, and the art of keeping our actions confonant to the dictates of reafon."

It is very true: there is no harmony fo charming as that of a well-ordered life, moving in concert with the facred laws of virtue. Human nature, indeed, cannot hope to arrive at this perfection. The inftrument will fometimes be out of tune; difallowances

3

allowances alfo and diffonances will be fprinkled up and down; But they ought foon to give place to concords, and to regularity, till the whole be clofed in a juft and agreeable cadence, and leave behind it a fweet and a lafting remembrance. With this wholefome advice to all profeffors, and to all lovers of mufic,-not forgetting myfelf, amongst the latter,I close my epiftle; to which I would also fet my Name, if that were neceffary. But your Effay, to speak without a compliment, ftands not in need of my feeble aid and recommendation; and the Name of your humble fervant, which would be of fo little ufe to you, and is of fo little confequence, may as well flumber in filence and obfcurity. I am, &c.

POST SCRIPT.

AT the end of the Oxford edition of Aratus, &c. there are fome learned obfervations on the Ancient Mufic, by Chilmead; and a few fragments of ancient tunes to fome Greek odes and hymns, reduced to our modern notation.,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

LETTER II.

FROM BISHOP SHERLOCK.

REVEREND SIR,

Fulham, Oct. 13 1760

THIS letter fhould have waited upon you long fince, and it would then have appeared as a letter of Thanks for the great favour done me by the prefent of the Life and Doctrines of Erafmus; but it had lain by me fo long, that it has changed its form, and now appears as an Excufe. And to prepare the way for the better reception of this apology, I will tell you what the truth of the matter is. When I received the first part, and found it was printed for Whifton, I was in doubt whether it came from the Printer, or from the Author; which two cafes require a different treatment. The Author would expect nothing but thanks; the Bookfeller might probably expect to be paid. What further delay there was in this affair, is to be attributed to my ill health, and to Mr. Whifton's frequent avocations in the country.

But Sir, that this fault may go no further, I defire you to accept my fincere acknowledgments for the acceptable prefent of the account of Erafmus, and for the diftinction fhewed me upon this occafion. I am, Sir,

Your affectionate Brother,

and very humble Servant, THOMAS LONDON.

LETTER III.

To

BISHOP

SHERLOCK.

MY LORD,

You are very courteous and condescending to give yourself the trouble of sending me your written thanks, for a finall acknowledgement of respect and gratitude which I made to you. I could not poffibly forget your Lordship, who is one of thofe very few amongst my fuperiors, to whom I have obligations. Befides; Erafmus waited upon you, to pay, in fome meafure, the debt of an Author to an Author; for I had received the four volumes of your Difcourfes, which I have perused attentively, and twice over. More than this concerning them it becomes not a perfon in my fituation to say to a perfon in yours; But it becomes me to return you my thanks for that, and for other favours; and to acknowledge myself

My Lord,

Your's, &c.

J. JORTIN,

LETTER

« VorigeDoorgaan »