bridge, there was an upper chamber, which being | name aloud, that all the shore rang of it; and thought weak in the roof, it was supported by a that Hylas from within the water answered his pillar of iron of the bigness of one's arm in the master, But, that which is to the present purpose, midst of the chamber; which if you had struck, with so small and exile a voice, as Hercules it would make a little flat noise in the room thought he had been three miles off, when the where it was struck, but it would make a great fountain, indeed, was fast by. bomb in the chamber beneath.

152. The sound which is made by buckets in a well, when they touch upon the water, or when they strike upon the side of the well, or when two buckets dash the one against the other, these sounds are deeper and fuller than if the like percussion were made in the open air. The cause is the penning and enclosure of the air in the concave of the well.

153. Barrels placed in a room under the floor of a chamber make all noises in the same chamber more full and resounding.

So that there be five ways, in general, of majoration of sounds: enclosure simple; enclosure with dilatation; communication; reflection concurrent; and approach to the sensory.

154. For exility of the voice or other sounds; it is certain that the voice doth pass through solid and hard bodies if they be not too thick: and through water, which is likewise a very close body, and such a one as letteth not in air. But then the voice, or other sound, is reduced by such passage to a great weakness or exility. If therefore you stop the holes of a hawk's bell, it will make no ring, but a flat noise or rattle. And so doth the "aëtites" or eagle-stone, which hath a little stone within it.

155. And as for water, it is a certain trial: let a man go into a bath, and take a pail, and turn the bottom upwards, and carry the mouth of it even, down to the level of the water, and so press it down under the water some handful and a half, still keeping it even that it may not tilt on either side, and so the air get out: then let him that is in the bath dive with his head so far under water, as he may put his head into the pail, and there will come as much air bubbling forth as will make room for his head. Then let him speak, and any that shall stand without shall hear his voice plainly; but yet made extreme sharp and exile, like the voice of puppets: but yet the articulate sounds of the words will not be confounded. Note, that it may be much more handsomely done, if the pail be put over the man's head above the water, and then he cower down, and the pail be pressed down with him. Note, that a man must kneel or sit, that he may be lower than the water. A man would think that the Sicilian poet had knowledge of this experiment; for he said, that Hercules's page, Hylas, went with a water-pot to fill it at a pleasant fountain that was near the shore, and that the nymph of the fountain fell in love with the boy, and pulled him under water, keeping him alive; and that Hercules missing his page, called him by his

156. In lutes and instruments of strings, if you stop a string high, whereby it hath less scope to tremble, the sound is more treble, but yet more dead.

157. Take two saucers, and strike the edge of the one against the bottom of the other, within a pail of water; and you shall find, that as you put the saucers lower and lower, the sound groweth more flat; even while part of the saucer is above the water; but that flatness of sound is joined with a harshness of sound; which no doubt is caused by the inequality of the sound which cometh from the part of the saucer under water, and from the part above. But when the saucer is wholly under water, the sound becometh more clear, but far more low, and as if the sound came from afar off.

158. A soft body dampeth the sound much more than a hard; as if a bell hath cloth or silk wrapped about it, it deadeth the sound more than if it were wood. And therefore in clericals the keys are lined; and in colleges they use to line tablemen.

159. Trial was made in a recorder after these several manners. The bottom of it was set against the palm of the hand; stopped with wax round about; set against a damask cushion; thrust into sand; into ashes; into water, half an inch under the water; close to the bottom of a silver basin; and still the tone remained: but the bottom of it was set against a woollen carpet; a lining of plush; a lock of wool, though loosely put in; against snow; and the sound of it was quite deaded, and but breath.

160. Iron hot produceth not so full a sound as when it is cold, for while it is hot, it appeareth to be more soft and less resounding. So likewise warm water, when it falleth, maketh not so full a sound as cold, and I conceive it is softer, and nearer the nature of oil, for it is more slippery, as may be perceived in that it scoureth better.

161. Let there be a recorder made with two fipples, at each end one: the trunk of it of the length of two recorders, and the holes answerable towards each end, and let two play the same lesson upon it as in unison; and let it be noted whether the sound be confounded, or amplified, or dulled. So likewise let a cross be made of two trunks, throughout, hollow, and let two speak, or sing, the one longways, the other traverse; and let two hear at the opposite ends, and note whether the sound be confounded, amplified, or dulled. Which two instances will also give light to the mixture of sounds, whereof we shall speak hereafter.

NATURAL HISTORY.

greater force to the sound. And so you may note,
that enclosures do not only preserve sound, but
also increase and sharpen it.

139. A hunter's horn being greater at one end
than at the other, doth increase the sound more
than if the horn were all of an equal bore. The
cause is, for that the air and sound being first con-
tracted at the lesser end, and afterwards having
more room to spread at the greater end, to dilate
themselves; and in coming out strike more air;
whereby the sound is the greater and baser. And
even hunter's horns, which are sometimes made
straight, and not oblique, are ever greater at the
lower end. It would be tried also in pipes, being
made far larger at the lower end; or being made
with a belly towards the lower end, and then issu-
ing into a straight concave again.

140. There is in St. James's fields a conduit of brick, unto which joineth a low vault; and at the end of that a round house of stone; and in the brick conduit there is a window; and in the round house a slit or rift of some little breadth: if you cry out in the rift, it will make a fearful roaring at the window. The cause is the same with the former; for that all concaves, that proceed from more narrow to more broad, do amplify the sound at the coming out.

141. Hawks' bells, that have holes in the sides, give a greater ring, than if the pellet did strike upon brass in the open air. The cause is the same with the first instance of the trunk; namely, for that the sound enclosed with the sides of the bell cometh forth at the holes unspent and more strong.

142. In drums, the closeness round about, that preserveth the sound from dispersing, maketh the noise come forth at the drum-hole far more loud and strong than if you should strike upon the like skin extended in the open air. The cause is the same with the two precedent.

143. Sounds are better heard, and farther off, in an evening or in the night, than at the noon or in the day. The cause is, for that in the day, when the air is more thin, no doubt, the sound pierceth better; but when the air is more thick, as in the night, the sound spendeth and spreadeth abroad less and so it is a degree of enclosure. As for the night, it is true also that the general silence helpeth.

144. There be two kinds of reflections of sound; the one at distance, which is the echo; wherein the original is heard distinctly, and the reflection also distinctly; of which we shall speak hereafter : the other in concurrence; when the sound reflecting, the reflection being near at hand, returneth immediately upon the original, and so iterateth it not, but amplifieth it. Therefore we see, that music upon the water soundeth more; and so likewise music is better in chambers wainscotted than hanged.

145. The strings of a lute, or viol, or virginals,

CENT. II.

do give a far greater sound, by reason of the knot, and board, and concave underneath, than if there that hollow and knot, to let in the upper air into were nothing but only the flat of a board, without the lower. The cause is the communication of the upper air with the lower, and penning of both from expense or dispersing.

of the strings: and it hath the concave or belly 146. An Irish harp hath open air on both sides not along the strings, but at the end of the strings. It maketh a more resounding sound than a bandora, orpharion, or citter, which have likewise wire strings. I judge the cause to be, for that open air on both sides helpeth, so that there be a concave; which is therefore best placed at the end.

147. In a virginal, when the lid is down, it open. maketh a more exile sound than when the lid is air, where there is no competent vent, dampeth The cause is, for that all shutting in of the sound: which maintaineth likewise the former instance; for the belly of the lute or viol doth pen the air somewhat.

I have heard, the like is in some other places, 148. There is a church at Gloucester, and, as where if you speak against a wall softly, another shall hear your voice better a good way off, than of that place. I suppose there is some vault, or near at hand. Inquire more particularly of the frame hollow, or aisle, behind the wall, and some passage to it towards the farther end of that wall against which you speak; so as the voice of him that speaketh slideth along the wall, and then entereth at some passage, and communicateth with the by the plain wall; but that is too weak to give a air of the hollow; for it is preserved somewhat sound audible, till it hath communicated with the back air.

horn of the bow near your ear, and it will increase
149. Strike upon a bow-string, and lay the
cause is, for that the sensory, by reason of the
the sound, and make a degree of a tone.
close holding, is percussed before the air dispers-
The
eth.
your teeth: but that is a plain delation of the
The like is, if you hold the horn betwixt
sound from the teeth to the instrument of hearing;
for there is a great intercourse between those two
parts; as appeareth by this, that a harsh grating
tune setteth the teeth on edge. The like falleth
temples; but that is but the slide of the sound
out, if the horn of the bow be put upon the
from thence to the ear.

hold the one end to your ear, and strike upon the
150. If you take a rod of iron or brass, and
other, it maketh a far greater sound than the like
stroke upon the rod, made not so contiguous to the
ear. By which, and by some other instances that
have been partly touched, it should appear, that
sounds do not only slide upon the surface of a
smooth body, but do also communicate with the
spirits, that are in the pores of the body.

151. I remember in Trinity College in Cam

bridge, there was an upper chamber, which being | name aloud, that all the shore rang of it; and thought weak in the roof, it was supported by a pillar of iron of the bigness of one's arm in the midst of the chamber; which if you had struck, it would make a little flat noise in the room where it was struck, but it would make a great bomb in the chamber beneath.

NATURAL HISTORY.

greater force to the sound. And so you may note,
that enclosures do not only preserve sound, but
also increase and sharpen it.

139. A hunter's horn being greater at one end
than at the other, doth increase the sound more
than if the horn were all of an equal bore. The
cause is, for that the air and sound being first con-
tracted at the lesser end, and afterwards having
more room to spread at the greater end, to dilate
themselves; and in coming out strike more air;
whereby the sound is the greater and baser. And
even hunter's horns, which are sometimes made
straight, and not oblique, are ever greater at the
lower end. It would be tried also in pipes, being
made far larger at the lower end; or being made
with a belly towards the lower end, and then issu-
ing into a straight concave again.

140. There is in St. James's fields a conduit of brick, unto which joineth a low vault; and at the end of that a round house of stone; and in the brick conduit there is a window; and in the round house a slit or rift of some little breadth: if you cry out in the rift, it will make a fearful roaring at the window. The cause is the same with the former; for that all concaves, that proceed from more narrow to more broad, do amplify the sound at the coming out.

141. Hawks' bells, that have holes in the sides, give a greater ring, than if the pellet did strike upon brass in the open air. The cause is the same with the first instance of the trunk; namely, for that the sound enclosed with the sides of the bell cometh forth at the holes unspent and more strong.

142. In drums, the closeness round about, that preserveth the sound from dispersing, maketh the noise come forth at the drum-hole far more loud and strong than if you should strike upon the like skin extended in the open air. The cause is the same with the two precedent.

143. Sounds are better heard, and farther off, in an evening or in the night, than at the noon or in the day. The cause is, for that in the day, when the air is more thin, no doubt, the sound pierceth better; but when the air is more thick, as in the night, the sound spendeth and spreadeth abroad less and so it is a degree of enclosure. As for the night, it is true also that the general silence helpeth.

144. There be two kinds of reflections of sound; the one at distance, which is the echo; wherein the original is heard distinctly, and the reflection also distinctly; of which we shall speak hereafter: the other in concurrence; when the sound reflecting, the reflection being near at hand, returneth immediately upon the original, and so iterateth it not, but amplifieth it. Therefore we see, that music upon the water soundeth more; and so likewise music is better in chambers wainscotted than hanged.

145. The strings of a lute, or viol, or virginals,

CENT. II.

do give a far greater sound, by reason of the knot, and board, and concave underneath, than if there that hollow and knot, to let in the upper air into were nothing but only the flat of a board, without the lower. The cause is the communication of the upper air with the lower, and penning of both from expense or dispersing.

of the strings: and it hath the concave or belly 146. An Irish harp hath open air on both sides not along the strings, but at the end of the strings. It maketh a more resounding sound than a bandora, orpharion, or citter, which have likewise wire strings. I judge the cause to be, for that open air on both sides helpeth, so that there be a concave; which is therefore best placed at the end.

147. In a virginal, when the lid is down, it open. maketh a more exile sound than when the lid is air, where there is no competent vent, dampeth The cause is, for that all shutting in of the sound: which maintaineth likewise the former instance; for the belly of the lute or viol doth pen the air somewhat.

I have heard, the like is in some other places, 148. There is a church at Gloucester, and, as where if you speak against a wall softly, another shall hear your voice better a good way off, than of that place. I suppose there is some vault, or near at hand. Inquire more particularly of the frame hollow, or aisle, behind the wall, and some passage to it towards the farther end of that wall against which you speak; so as the voice of him that speaketh slideth along the wall, and then entereth at some passage, and communicateth with the by the plain wall; but that is too weak to give a air of the hollow; for it is preserved somewhat sound audible, till it hath communicated with the back air.

horn of the bow near your ear, and it will increase
149. Strike upon a bow-string, and lay the
cause is, for that the sensory, by reason of the
the sound, and make a degree of a tone.
close holding, is percussed before the air dispers-
The
eth.
your teeth: but that is a plain delation of the
The like is, if you hold the horn betwixt
sound from the teeth to the instrument of hearing;
for there is a great intercourse between those two
parts; as appeareth by this, that a harsh grating
tune setteth the teeth on edge. The like falleth
temples; but that is but the slide of the sound
out, if the horn of the bow be put upon the
from thence to the ear.

hold the one end to your ear, and strike upon the
150. If you take a rod of iron or brass, and
other, it maketh a far greater sound than the like
stroke upon the rod, made not so contiguous to the
ear. By which, and by some other instances that
have been partly touched, it should appear,
sounds do not only slide upon the surface of a
smooth body, but do also communicate with the
that
spirits, that are in the pores of the body.

151. I remember in Trinity College in Cam

bridge, there was an upper chamber, which being | name aloud, that all the shore rang of it; and thought weak in the roof, it was supported by a that Hylas from within the water answered his pillar of iron of the bigness of one's arm in the midst of the chamber; which if you had struck, it would make a little flat noise in the room where it was struck, but it would make a great bomb in the chamber beneath.

152. The sound which is made by buckets in a well, when they touch upon the water, or when they strike upon the side of the well, or when two buckets dash the one against the other, these sounds are deeper and fuller than if the like percussion were made in the open air. The cause is the penning and enclosure of the air in the concave of the well.

153. Barrels placed in a room under the floor of a chamber make all noises in the same chamber more full and resounding.

So that there be five ways, in general, of majoration of sounds: enclosure simple; enclosure with dilatation; communication; reflection concurrent; and approach to the sensory.

master, But, that which is to the present purpose, with so small and exile a voice, as Hercules thought he had been three miles off, when the fountain, indeed, was fast by.

156. In lutes and instruments of strings, if you stop a string high, whereby it hath less scope to tremble, the sound is more treble, but yet more dead.

157. Take two saucers, and strike the edge of the one against the bottom of the other, within a pail of water; and you shall find, that as you put the saucers lower and lower, the sound groweth more flat; even while part of the saucer is above the water; but that flatness of sound is joined with a harshness of sound; which no doubt is caused by the inequality of the sound which cometh from the part of the saucer under water, and from the part above. But when the saucer is wholly under water, the sound becometh more clear, but far more low, and as if the sound came from afar off.

158. A soft body dampeth the sound much more than a hard; as if a bell hath cloth or silk wrapped about it, it deadeth the sound more than if it were wood. And therefore in clericals the keys are lined; and in colleges they use to line tablemen.

154. For exility of the voice or other sounds; it is certain that the voice doth pass through solid and hard bodies if they be not too thick: and through water, which is likewise a very close body, and such a one as letteth not in air. But then the voice, or other sound, is reduced by such passage to a great weakness or exility. If therefore you stop the holes of a hawk's bell, it will 159. Trial was made in a recorder after these make no ring, but a flat noise or rattle. And so several manners. The bottom of it was set doth the "aëtites" or eagle-stone, which hath aagainst the palm of the hand; stopped with wax little stone within it. round about; set against a damask cushion; thrust into sand; into ashes; into water, half an inch under the water; close to the bottom of a silver basin; and still the tone remained: but the bottom of it was set against a woollen carpet; a lining of plush; a lock of wool, though loosely put in; against snow; and the sound of it was quite deaded, and but breath.

155. And as for water, it is a certain trial: let a man go into a bath, and take a pail, and turn the bottom upwards, and carry the mouth of it even, down to the level of the water, and so press it down under the water some handful and a half, still keeping it even that it may not tilt on either side, and so the air get out: then let him that is in the bath dive with his head so far under water, as he may put his head into the pail, and there will come as much air bubbling forth as will make room for his head. Then let him speak, and any that shall stand without shall hear his voice plainly; but yet made extreme sharp and exile, like the voice of puppets: but yet the articulate sounds of the words will not be confounded. Note, that it may be much more handsomely done, if the pail be put over the man's head above the water, and then he cower down, and the pail be pressed down with him. Note, that a man must kneel or sit, that he may be lower than the water. A man would think that the Sicilian poet had knowledge of this experiment; for he said, that Hercules's page, Hylas, went with a water-pot to fill it at a pleasant fountain that was near the shore, and that the nymph of the fountain fell in love with the boy, and pulled him under water, keeping him alive; and that Hercules missing his page, called him by his

160. Iron hot produceth not so full a sound as when it is cold, for while it is hot, it appeareth to be more soft and less resounding. So likewise warm water, when it falleth, maketh not so full a sound as cold, and I conceive it is softer, and nearer the nature of oil, for it is more slippery, as may be perceived in that it scoureth better.

161. Let there be a recorder made with two fipples, at each end one: the trunk of it of the length of two recorders, and the holes answerable towards each end, and let two play the same lesson upon it as in unison; and let it be noted whether the sound be confounded, or amplified, or dulled. So likewise let a cross be made of two trunks, throughout, hollow, and let two speak, or sing, the one longways, the other traverse; and let two hear at the opposite ends, and note whether the sound be confounded, amplified, or dulled. Which two instances will also give light to the mixture of sounds, whereof we shall speak hereafter.