§ 16. Let a sensible Student avoid this Example, and with this Example the Abuses, the Defects, and every other Thing that is mean and common, as well in the Cadences as elsewhere.
§ 17. If, the inventing particular Cadences without injuring the Time, has been one of the worthy Employments of the Ancients (so call'd) let a Student revive the Use of it; endeavouring to imitate them in their Skill of somewhat anticipating the Time; and remember, that Those, who understand the Art of Gracing, do not wait to admire the Beauty of it in a Silence of the Bass.
§ 18. Many and many other Errors are heard in the Cadences that were Antique, and which are now become Modern; they were ridiculous then, and are so now; therefore considering, that to change the Stile is not always to improve it, I may fairly conclude, that what is bad is to be corrected by Study, and not by the Mode.
§ 19. Now let us for a while leave at Rest the Opinions of the aforesaid Ancients, and the supposed Moderns, to take notice what Improvement the Scholar has made, since he is desirous of being heard. Well then, let him attend, before we part with him, to Instructions of more Weight, that he may at least deserve the Name of a good Singer, though he may not arrive at that of an eminent one.
CHAP. IX.
Observations for a Singer.[90]
