They have Muſick. It’s the ſame with Muſick as with Geometry, it’s every where immutably the ſame, and always will be ſo. For all Harmony conſiſts in Concord, and Concord is all the World over fix’d according to the ſame invariable Meaſure and Proportion. So that in all Nations the Difference and Diſtance of Notes is the ſame, whether they be in a continued gradual Progreſſion, or the Voice makes skips over one to the next. Nay very credible Authors report, that there’s a ſort of Bird in America, that can plainly ſing in order ſix muſical Notes: Whence it follows, that the Laws of Muſick are unchangeably fix’d by Nature, and therefore the ſame Reaſon holds for their Muſick, as we e’en now ſhewed for their Geometry. For why, ſuppoſing other [[87]]Nations and Creatures, endued with Reaſon and Senſe as well as we, ſhould not they reap the Pleaſures ariſing from theſe Senſes as well as we too? I don’t know what Effect this Argument, from the immutable Nature of theſe Arts, may have upon the Minds of others; I think it no inconſiderable or contemptible one, but of as great Strength as that which I made uſe of above to prove that the Planetary Inhabitants had the Senſe of Seeing.
But if they take delight in Harmony, there is no doubt but that they have invented Muſical Inſtruments. For they could ſcarce help lighting upon ſome or other by chance; the Sound of a tight String, the Noiſe of the Winds, or the whiſtling of Reeds, might have given them the hint. From theſe ſmall Beginnings they perhaps, as well as we, have advanced by degrees to the Uſe of the Lute, Harp, Flute, and many ſtring’d Inſtruments. But altho’ the Tones are certain and determinate, yet we find among different Nations a quite different manner and rule for Singing; as [[88]]formerly among the Dorians, Phrygians, and Lydians, and in our Time among the French, Italians, and Perſians. In like manner it may ſo happen, that the Muſick of the Inhabitants of the Planets may widely differ from all theſe, and yet be very good. But why we ſhould look upon their Muſick to be worſe than ours, there’s no reaſon can be given; neither can we well preſume that they want the Uſe of Halſ-Notes and Quarter-Notes, ſeeing the Invention of Halſ-Notes is ſo obvious, and the Uſe of them ſo agreeable to Nature. Nay, to go a Step farther, what if they ſhould excel us in the Theory and practick part of Muſick, and outdo us in Conſorts of vocal and inſtrumental Muſick, ſo artificially compos’d, that they ſhew their Skill by the Mixtures of Diſcords and Concords? and of this laſt ſort ’tis very likely the 5th and 3d are in uſe with them.
This is a very bold Aſſertion, but it may be true for ought we know, and the Inhabitants of the Planets may poſſibly have a greater inſight into the Theory of Muſick than has yet been [[89]]diſcover’d among us. For if you ask any of our Muſicians, why two or more perfect Fifths cannot be uſed regularly in Compoſition; ſome ſay ’tis to avoid that Sweetneſs and Luſhiouſneſs which ariſes from the Repetition of this pleaſing Chord. Others ſay, this muſt be avoided for the ſake of that Variety of Chords that are requiſite to make a good Compoſition; and theſe Reaſons are brought by Cartes and others. But an Inhabitant of Jupiter or Venus will perhaps give you a better Reaſon for this, viz. becauſe when you paſs from one perfect Fifth to another, there is ſuch a Change made as immediately alters your Key, you are got into a new Key before the Ear is prepared for it, and the more perfect Chords you uſe of the ſame kind in Conſecution, by ſo much the more you offend the Ear by theſe abrupt Changes.
Again, one of theſe Inhabitants perhaps can ſhow how it comes about, that in a Song of one or more Parts, the Key cannot be kept ſo well in the ſame agreeable Tenour, unleſs the intermediate Cloſes and Intervals be ſo temper’d, [[90]]as to vary from their uſual Proportions, and thereby to bear a little this way or that, in order to regulate the Scale. And why this Temperature is beſt in the Syſtem of the Strings, when out of the Fifth the fourth Part of a Comma is uſually cut off; This ſame thing I have formerly ſhew’d at large.
But for the regulating the Tone of the Voice (as I before hinted) that may admit of a more eaſy proof, and we ſhall give you an Eſſay of it, ſince I have mentioned a thing that is not mere Imagination only: I ſay therefore, if any Perſon ſtrike thoſe Sounds which the Muſicians diſtinguiſh by theſe Letters, C, F, D, G, C, by theſe agreeable Intervals, altogether perfect, interchangeable, aſcending and deſcending with the Voice: Now this latter ſound C will be one Comma, or very ſmall portion lower than the firſt ſounding of C. Becauſe of theſe perfect Intervals, which are as 4 to 3, 5 to 6, 4 to 3, 2 to 3, an account is made in ſuch a Proportion, as 160 to 162. that is, as 80 to 81, which is what they call a Comma. So that if the ſame Sound [[91]]ſhould be repeated nine times, the Voice would fall near the Matter a greater Tone, whoſe proportion is as 8 to 9. But this the Senſe of the Ears by no means endures, but remembers the firſt Tone, and returns to it again. Therefore we are compell’d to uſe an occult Temperament, and to ſing theſe imperfect Intervals, from doing which leſs Offence ariſes. And for the moſt part, all Singing wants this Temperament, as may be collected by the aforeſaid Computations. And theſe things we have offer’d to thoſe that have ſome Knowledge in Geometry.
We have ſpoke of theſe Arts and Inventions, which it is very probable the Inhabitants of the Planets partake of in common with us, beſides which it ſeems requiſite to take in many other Things that ſerve either for the Uſe or Pleaſure of their Lives. But what theſe Things are we ſhall the better account for, by laying before us many of thoſe Things which are found among us. I have before mention’d the Variety of Animals and Vegetables, which very much differ from each other, [[92]]among which there are ſome that differ but little; and I have ſaid, that there are no leſs differences in theſe Things in the Planetary Worlds.
I ſhall now take a ſhort view of the Benefits we receive both from thoſe Herbs and Animals, and ſee whether we may not with very good reaſon conclude that the Planetary Inhabitants reap as great and as many from thoſe that their Countries afford them.
And here it may be worth our while to take a Review of the Variety and Multitude of our Riches. For Trees and Herbs do not only ſerve us for Food, they in their delicious Fruits, theſe in their Seeds, Leaves and Roots; but Herbs moreover furniſh us with Phyſick, and Trees with Timber for our Houſes and Ships. Flax, by the means of thoſe two uſeful Arts of Spinning and Weaving, affords us Clothing. Of Hemp or Matweed we twiſt our ſelves Thread and ſmall Ropes, the former of which we employ in Sails and Nets, the latter in making larger Ropes for Maſts and Anchors. With the ſweet Smells and [[93]]The Advantages we reap from Herbs and Animals. beauteous Colours of Flowers we feaſt our Senſes: and even thoſe of them, that offend our Noſtrils, or are miſchievous to our Bodies, are ſeldom without excellent Uſes: or were made perhaps by Nature as a Foil to ſet off, and make us the more value the Good by comparing them with theſe. What vaſt Advantages and Profit do we reap from the Animals? The Sheep give us Clothing, and the Cows afford us Milk: and both of them their Fleſh for our Suſtenance. Aſſes, Camels, and Horſes do, what if we wanted them we muſt do our ſelves, carry our Burdens; and the laſt of them we make uſe of, either themſelves to carry us, or in our Coaches to draw us. In which we have ſo excellent, ſo uſeful an Invention of Wheels, that I can’t ſuppoſe the Planets to enjoy Society and all its Conſequences, and be without them. Whether they are Pythagoreans there, or feed upon Fleſh as we do, I dare not affirm any Thing. Tho’ it ſeems to be allowed Men to feed upon whatſoever may afford them Nouriſhment, either on Land, or in [[94]]Water, upon Herbs, and Pomes, Milk, Eggs, Honey, Fiſh, and no leſs upon the Fleſh of many Birds and Beaſts. But it is a ſurpriſing thing! that a rational Creature ſhould live upon the Ruin and Deſtruction of ſuch a number of other his Fellow-Creatures! And yet it does not ſeem at all unnatural, ſince not only he, but even Lions, Wolves, and other ravenous Beaſts, prey upon Flocks of other harmleſs Things, and make mere Fodder of them; as Eagles do of Pidgeons and Hares; and large Fiſh of the helpleſs little ones. We have different ſorts of Dogs for Hunting, and what our own Legs cannot, that their Noſe and Legs can help us to. But the Uſe and Profit of Herbs and Animals are not the only Things they are good for, but they raiſe our Delight and Admiration when we conſider their various Forms and Natures, and enquire into all their different ways of Generation: Things ſo infinitely multifarious, and ſo delightfully amazing, that the Books of natural Philoſophers are deſervedly filled with their Encomiums. For even in the [[95]]very Inſects, who can but admire the ſix-corner’d Cells of the Bees, or the artificial Web of a Spider, or the fine Bag of a Silk-worm, which laſt affords us, with the Help of incredible Induſtry, even Shiploads of ſoft delicate Clothing. This is a ſhort Summary of thoſe many profitable Advantages the animal and herbal World ſerve us with.
But this is not all. The Bowels of the Earth likewiſe contribute much to Man’s Happineſs. For what Art and Cunning does he employ in finding, in digging, in trying Metals, and in melting, refining, and tempering them? And from Metals. What Skill and Nicety in beating, drawing or diſſolving Gold, ſo as with inconſiderable Changes to make every Thing he pleaſes put on that noble Luſtre? Of how many and admirable Uſes is Iron? and how ignorant in all Mechanical Knowledge were thoſe Nations that were not acquainted with it, ſo as to have no other Arms but Bows, Clubs, and Spears, made of Wood. There’s one Thing indeed we have, which it’s a Queſtion whether it has [[96]]done more harm or good, and that is Gun-powder made of Nitre and Brimſtone. At firſt indeed it ſeem’d as if we had got a more ſecure Defenſe than former Ages againſt all Aſſaults, and could eaſily guard our Towns, by the wonderful Strength of that Invention, againſt all hoſtile Invaſions: but now we find it has rather encouraged them, and at the ſame time been no ſmall Occaſion of the Decay of Valour, by rendring it and Strength almoſt uſeleſs in War. Had the Grecian Emperor who ſaid, Virtue was ruin’d only when Slings and Rams firſt came into uſe, liv’d in our Days, he might well have complain’d; eſpecially of Bombs, againſt which neither Art nor Nature is of ſufficient Proof: but which lays every Thing, Caſtles and Towers, be they never ſo ſtrong, even with the Ground. If for nothing elſe, yet upon this one account, I think we had better have been without the Diſcovery. Yet, when we were talking of our Diſcoveries, it was not to be paſs’d over, for the Planets too may have their miſchievous as well as uſeful Inventions. [[97]]
We are happier in the Uſes for which the Air and Water ſerves us; both of which helps us in our Navigation, and furniſhes us with a Strength ſufficient, without any Labour of our own, to turn round our Mills and Engines; Things which are of uſe to us in ſo many different Employments. For with them we grind our Corn, and ſqueeze out our Oil; with them we cut Wood, and mill Cloth, and with them we beat our Stuff for Paper. An incomparable Invention! Where the naſtieſt uſeleſs Scraps of Linen are made to produce fine white Sheets. To theſe we may add the late diſcovery of Printing, which not only preſerves from Death Arts and Knowledge, but makes them much eaſier to be attained than before. Nor muſt we forget the Arts of Engraving and Painting, which from mean Beginnings have improved to that Excellence, that nothing that ever ſprung from the Wit of Man can claim Pre-eminence to them. Nor is the way of melting and blowing Glaſſes, and of poliſhing and ſpreading Quick-ſilver [[98]]over Looking-Glaſſes, unworthy of being mentioned, nor above all, the admirable uſes that Glaſſes have been put to in natural Knowledge, ſince the Invention of the Teleſcope and Microſcope. And no leſs nice and fine is the Art of making Clocks, ſome of which are ſo ſmall as to be no weight to the Bearer; and others ſo exact as to meaſure out the Time in as ſmall Portions as any one can deſire: the Improvement of both which the World owes to my [1]Inventions.