m the Ear to that which pleases. I'd have a Student
know, that by the abovementioned Imitations, and by the Idea of good
Compositions, the Taste in Time becomes Art, and Art Nature.

Sec. 16. Let him learn to accompany himself, if he is ambitious of singing
well. The Harpsichord is a great Incitement to Study, and by it we
continually improve in our Knowledge. The evident Advantage arising to
the Singer from that lovely Instrument, makes it superfluous to say
more on that Head. Moreover, it often happens to one who cannot play,
that without the Help of another he cannot be heard, and is thereby to
his Shame obliged to deny the Commands of those whom it would be to his
Advantage to obey.

Sec. 17. Till a Singer pleases himself, it is certain he cannot please
others. Therefore consider, if some Professors of no small Skill have
not this Pleasure for want of sufficient Application, what must the
Scholar do? Study,--and study again, and not be satisfied.

Sec. 18. I am almost of Opinion, that all Study and Endeavours to sing are
infallibly vain, if not accompanied with some little Knowledge of
Counterpoint. One, who knows how to compose, can account for what he
does, and he, who has not the same Light, works in the Dark, not knowing
how to sing without committing Errors. The most famous _Ancients_ know
the intrinsick Value of this Precept from the Effects. And a good
Scholar ought to imitate them, without considering whether this Lesson
be according to the _Mode_ or not For though, in these Days, one now and
then hears admirable Performances, proceeding from a natural Taste, yet
they are all done by Chance; but where that Taste is wanting, if they
are not execrable, at least they will be very bad: For Fortune not being
always at their Command, they cannot be sure to agree, neither with Time
nor Harmony. This Knowledge, although requisite, I would not however
advise a Scholar to give himself up to an intense Application, it being
certain, I should teach him the readiest way to lose his Voice, but I
exhort him only to learn the principal Rules, that he may not be quite
in the Dark.[54]

Sec. 19. To study much, and preserve a Voice in its full Beauty, are two
Things almost incompatible; there is between them such a sort of Amity,
as cannot last without being prejudicial to the one or the other.
However, if one reflects, that Perfection in a Voice is a Gift of
Nature, and in Art a painful Acquisition, it will indeed be allow