instructs very
much; but still greater Advantage may be gain'd from the ill-natur'd
Criticks; for, the more intent they are to discover Defects, the greater
Benefit may be receiv'd from them without any Obligation.

Sec. 27. It is certain, that the Errors corrected by our Enemies are better
cur'd, than those corrected by ourselves; for we are apt to indulge our
Faults, nor can we so easily perceive them.

Sec. 28. He that sings with Applause in one Place only, let him not have
too good an Opinion of himself; let him often change Climates, and then
he will judge better of his Talent.

Sec. 29. To please universally, Reason will tell you, that you must always
sing well; but if Reason does not inform you, Interest will persuade you
to conform to the Taste of that Nation (provided it be not too deprav'd)
which pays you.

Sec. 30. If he that sings well provokes Envy, by singing better he will get
the Victory over it.

Sec. 31. I do not know if a perfect Singer can at the same time be a
perfect Actor; for the Mind being at once divided by two different
Operations, he will probably incline more to one than the other; It
being, however, much more difficult to sing well than to act well, the
Merit of the first is beyond the second. What a Felicity would it be, to
possess both in a perfect Degree![96]

Sec. 32. Having said, a Singer should not copy, I repeat it now with this
Reason; that to copy is the part of a Scholar, that of a Master is to
invent.

Sec. 33. Let it be remembered by the Singer, that copying comes from
Laziness, and that none copy ill but out of Ignorance.

Sec. 34. Where Knowledge with Study makes one a good Singer, Ignorance with
one single Copy makes a thousand bad ones; however, among these there
are none that will acknowledge her for a Teacher.

Sec. 35. If many of the female Singers (for whom I have due Respect) would
be pleased to consider, that by copying a good one, they are become very
bad ones, they would not appear so ridiculous on the Stage for their
Affectation in presuming to sing the _Airs_ of the Person they copy,
with the same Graces. In this great Error, (if it does not proceed from
their Masters) they seem to be governed by Instinct, like the inferior
Creatures, rather than by Reason; for That would shew them, that we may
arrive at Applause by different ways, and past Examples, as well as one
at this present make us sensible, that two Women would not be equally
eminent if the one c