ed,
that this latter excels in Merit, and more deserves our Praise.

Sec. 20. Whoever studies, let him look for what is most excellent, and let
him look for it wherever it is, without troubling himself whether it be
in the Stile of fifteen or twenty Years ago, or in that of these Days;
for all Ages have their good and bad Productions. It is enough to find
out the best, and profit by them.

Sec. 21. To my irreparable Misfortune, I am old; but were I young, I would
imitate as much as possibly I could the _Cantabile_ of those who are
branded with the opprobrious Name of _Ancients_; and the _Allegro_ of
those who enjoy the delightful Appellation of _Moderns_. Though my Wish
is vain as to myself, it will be of Use to a prudent Scholar, who is
desirous to be expert in both Manners, which is the only way to arrive
at Perfection; but if one was to chuse, I should freely, without Fear of
being tax'd with Partiality, advise him to attach himself to the Taste
of the first.[55]

Sec. 22. Each Manner of Singing hath a different Degree of Eminence; the
Nervous and Strong is distinguished from the Puerile and Weak, as is the
Noble from the Vulgar.

Sec. 23. A Student must not hope for Applause, if he has not an utter
Abhorrence of Ignorance.

Sec. 24. Whoever does not aspire to the first Rank, begins already to give
up the second, and by little and little will rest contented with the
lowest.

Sec. 25. If, out of a particular Indulgence to the sex, so many female
Singers have the Graces set down in Writing, one that studies to become
a good Singer should not follow the Example; whoever accustoms himself
to have Things put in his Mouth, will have no Invention, and becomes a
Slave to his Memory.

Sec. 26. If the Scholar should have any Defects, of the Nose, the Throat,
or of the Ear, let him never sing but when the Master is by, or somebody
that understands the Profession, in order to correct him, otherwise he
will get an ill Habit, past all Remedy.

Sec. 27. When he studies his Lesson at Home, let him sometimes sing before
a Looking-glass, not to be enamoured with his own Person, but to avoid
those convulsive Motions of the Body, or of the Face (for so I call the
Grimaces of an affected Singer) which, when once they have took Footing,
never leave him.

Sec. 28. The best Time for Study is with the rising of the Sun; but those,
who are obliged to study, must employ all their Time which can be spared
from their other necessary