An essay towards a natural history of serpentsOwen, Charles
History
An essay towards a natural history of serpents
Owen, Charles
Serpent worship -- Early works to 1800; Serpents -- Early works to 1800; Serpents -- Religious aspects -- Early works to 1800
Footnote 321:
Printed at _Leyden_, in 12_mo._ _A. D._ 1668.
The Air moved by the musical Motion of Instruments, moves the next, and
so onwards (as we see in the circular increasing Motion of the Water,
when a Stone is cast into it) till the like be produced in the Spirits
of the Body, to which the Air is impelled.––Now, adds he, the Commotion
of the Passions depends upon the Spirits, and the viscous Humour of the
_Tarantula_ is a very capable Subject of Sound: Hence the next Air being
moved by a musical Tone suitable to the Patient, the lurking Poison, and
Spirits of a Man are put into a Commotion; by which Agitation, the
Nerves being vellicated, the Spirits vehemently stirred, and Muscles
moved, the Dancing, or something like it, must of necessity ensue, by
which the Cure is performed: For, by vehement Motion the Blood is
heated, the Pores are opened, and the Poison rarified; which can’t be
done by common Sudorificks, because the Medicines can’t reach, or at
least can’t stir those little Particles where the Poison lies, as Motion
by Dancing does.
I shall add here some _Reflections on the Power of Musick, and give
Instances of it in the human Mind, in animal, and inanimate Bodies_.
_MUSICK_ appears to be one of the most antient of Arts, and of all
other, vocal Musick must have been the first kind, and borrowed from the
various natural Strains of Birds[322]; as stringed Instruments were from
Winds whistling in hollow Reeds, and pulsatile Instruments (as Drums and
Cymbals) from the hollow Noise of concave Bodies. This is the
Conjecture.
Footnote 322:
At liquidas avium voces imitarier ore,
Ante fuit multo quam carmina cantu
Concelebrare homines possent aureisque juvare.
_Lucretius._
Musick has ever been in the highest Esteem in all Ages, and among all
People. Nor could Authors express their Opinions of it strongly enough,
but by inculcating, that it was in Heaven, and was one of the principal
Entertainments of the Blessed. The Effects ascribed to Musick by the
Antients, almost amount to Miracles; by means thereof Diseases are said
to have been cured, Unchastity corrected, Seditions quelled, Passions
raised and calmed, and even Madness occasioned.——
Musick has been used as a Sermon of Morality.... _Athenæus_ tells us,
that the Lives and Actions of illustrious Men were written in Verse, and
publickly sung by a _Chorus_, to the Sound of Instruments, which was
found to be the most effectual means to impress Morality, and a right
Sense of Duty on the human Mind[323].
Footnote 323:
_Chambers_’s _Cyclopædia_, vol. ii.
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