ted at with a Finger? In my Time their own Knowledge shewed it
them. Eternal Shame to him who first introduced these foreign
Puerilities into our Nation, renowned for teaching others the greater
part of the polite Arts; particularly, that of Singing! Oh, how great a
Weakness in those that follow the Example! Oh, injurious Insult to your
Modern Singers, who submit to Instructions fit for Children! Let us
imitate the Foreigners in those Things only, wherein they excel.[30]

CHAP. III.

_Of the Shake._

We meet with two most powerful Obstacles informing the _Shake_. The
first embarrasses the Master; for, to this Hour there is no infallible
Rule found to teach it: And the second affects the Scholar, because
Nature imparts the _Shake_ but to few. The Impatience of the Master
joins with the Despair of the Learner, so that they decline farther
Trouble about it. But in this the Master is blameable, in not doing his
Duty, by leaving the Scholar in Ignorance. One must strive against
Difficulties with Patience to overcome them.

Sec. 2. Whether the _Shake_ be necessary in Singing, ask the Professors of
the first Rank, who know better than any others how often they have been
indebted to it; for, upon any Absence of Mind, they would have betrayed
to the Publick the Sterility of their Art, without the prompt Assistance
of the _Shake_.

Sec. 3. Whoever has a fine _Shake_, tho' wanting in every other Grace,
always enjoys the Advantage of conducting himself without giving
Distaste to the End or Cadence, where for the most part it is very
essential; and who wants it, or has it imperfectly, will never be a
great Singer, let his Knowledge be ever so great.

Sec. 4. The _Shake_ then, being of such Consequence, let the Master, by the
Means of verbal Instructions, and Examples vocal and instrumental,
strive that the Scholar may attain one that is equal, distinctly mark'd,
easy, and moderately quick, which are its most beautiful
Qualifications.

Sec. 5. In case the Master should not know how many sorts of _Shakes_ there
are, I shall acquaint him, that the Ingenuity of the Professors hath
found so many Ways, distinguishing them with different Names, that one
may say there are eight Species of them.[31]

Sec. 6. The first is the _Shake Major_, from the violent Motion of two
neighbouring Sounds at the Distance of a _Tone_, one of which may be
called Principal, because it keeps with greater Force the Place of the
Note which requi