Science, in undermining the principal Foundations of it! If
you know not that the _Recitatives_, especially in the vulgar or known
Language, require those Instructions relative to the Force of the Words,
I would advise you to renounce the Name, and Office of _Masters_, to
those who can maintain them; your Scholars will otherwise be made a
Sacrifice to Ignorance, and not knowing how to distinguish the Lively
from the Pathetick, or the Vehement from the Tender, it will be no
wonder if you see them stupid on the Stage, and senseless in a Chamber.
To speak my Mind freely, yours and their Faults are unpardonable; it is
insufferable to be any longer tormented in the Theatres with
_Recitatives_, sung in the Stile of a Choir of _Capuchin_ Friars.

Sec. 12. The reason, however, of not giving more expression to the
_Recitative_, in the manner of those called _Antients_, does not always
proceed from the Incapacity of the Master, or the Negligence of the
Singer, but from the little Knowledge of the _modern_ Composers (we must
except some of Merit) who set it in so unnatural a Taste, that it is not
to be taught, acted or sung. In Justification of the Master and the
Singer let Reason decide. To blame the Composer, the same Reason forbids
me entering into a Matter too high for my low Understanding, and wisely
bids me consider the little Insight I can boast of, barely sufficient
for a Singer, or to write plain Counterpoint. But when I consider I have
undertaken in these Observations, to procure diverse Advantages to
vocal Performers, should I not speak of a Composition, a Subject so
necessary, I should be guilty of a double Fault. My Doubts in this
Perplexity are resolved by the Reflection, that _Recitatives_ have no
Relation to Counterpoint. If That be so, what Professor knows not, that
many theatrical _Recitatives_ would be excellent if they were not
confused one with another; if they could be learned by Heart; if they
were not deficient in respect of adapting the Musick to the Words; if
they did not frighten those who sing them, and hear them, with unnatural
Skips; if they did not offend the Ear and Rules with the worst
Modulations; if they did not disgust a good Taste with a perpetual
Sameness; if, with their cruel Turns and Changes of Keys, they did not
pierce one to the Heart; and, finally, if the Periods were not crippled
by them who know neither Point nor Comma? I am astonished that such as
these do not, for their Improvement, e