FOOTNOTES:
[1] When Arts and Sciences were retrieving from the Barbarism in which they were buried, Musick chiefly took its Rise in Flanders, and the Composers of Musick of that Nation were dispersed all over Europe, to the Improvement of others. In Italy there arose from that School, among several others, P. Alis. Palestrina, a Genius so extraordinary, that he is looked upon as the Raphael among the Musicians. He lived in Pope Leo the Tenth's Time; and no Musick, that we know of, is performed at the Pope's Chapel, to this Day, but of his Composition, except the famous Miserere of Allegri, who liv'd a little time after Palestrina.
[2] Our Author seems to be a little too partial in Favour of the Singer, all momentary Productions being the same; though it must be allowed, that by reason of the Expression of the Words, any Error in Singing will be more capital, than if the same were committed on an Instrument.
[3] The Author directs this for the Instruction of a Soprano, or a treble Voice, because Youth possesses that Voice mostly, and that is the Age when they should begin to study Musick. It may not be amiss to mention, that the Soprano is most apt to perform the Things required by your Author, and that every different Scale of Voice has something peculiarly relative to its Kind as its own Property; for a Soprano has generally most Volubility, and becomes it best; and also equally the Pathetick. The Contr'Alto more of the Pathetick than the Volubility; the Tenor less of the Pathetick, but more of the Volubility than the Contr'Alto, though not so much as the Soprano. The Bass, in general more pompous than any, but should not be so boisterous as now too often practised.
[4] By this section, and mostly throughout the Work, one sees, the Author calculated this Treatise chiefly for the Advantage of Professors of Musick; but, notwithstanding, it appears in several Places, that his Intention is, that all Lovers of Musick should also be the better for it.
[5] The Explanation of Sic vos non vobis, &c., for the Satisfaction of those who do not perfectly remember it.
Virgil having composed a Distich, containing the Praise of Augustus, and a Compliment on his good Fortune, fix'd it on the Palace Gate, without any Name subscrib'd. Augustus, making strict Enquiry after the Author, and Virgil's Modesty not suffering him to own the Verses, one Bathillus, a Poet of a mean Reputation, owned himself the Author, and received Honour and Reward from the Emperor. Virgil, somewhat scandalized at this Accident, fixed an Hemistich in these Words (Sic vos non vobis) four times repeated under the other, where he had placed the former Verses. The Emperor was as diligent to have these Hemistichs filled up, but no-body appearing to do it, at length Virgil supplied them thus:
Hos ego Versiculos feci, tulit alter Honores;
Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves.
Sic vos non vobis vellera fertis oves.
Sic vos non vobis mellificatis apes.
Sic vos non vobis fertis aratra boves.
i.e. These Verses I made, but another has taken the Applause of them.
So ye Birds build not your Nests
For yourselves.
So ye Sheep bear not your Wool
For yourselves.
So ye Bees make not your Honey
For yourselves.
So ye Oxen submit to the Plow
Not for yourselves.