1671.
----To read lamely or crookedly, and not evenly, smoothly, and
thoroughly, entangles the sense. Nay, the very sound of the voice will
seem to alter the sense of the theme; and though the sense will be there
in despite of the ill voice, or ill reading, yet it will be concealed,
or discovered to its disadvantages. As an ill musician, (or indeed one
that cannot play at all,) instead of playing, puts the fiddle out of
tune, (and causeth a discord,) which, if well played upon, would sound
harmoniously; or if he can play but one tune, plays it on all sorts of
instruments; so, some will read with one tone or sound of voice, though
the passions and numbers are different; and some again, in reading, wind
up their voices to such a passionate screw, that they whine or squeal,
rather than speak or read: others fold up their voices with such
distinctions, that they make that triangular which is four-square; and
that narrow, which should be broad; and that high, which should be low;
and low, that should be high: and some again read so fast, that the
sense is lost in the race. So that writings sound good or bad, as the
readers, and not as their authors are: and, indeed, such advantage a
good or ill reader hath, that those that read well shall give a grace to
a foolish author; and those that read ill, do disgrace a wise and a
witty one. But there are two sorts of readers; the one that reads to
himself, and for his own benefit; the other, to benefit another by
hearing it: in the first, there is required a good judgment, and a ready
understanding: in the other, a good voice and a graceful delivery: so
that a writer must have a double desire; the one, that he may write
well; the other, that he may be read well.
* * * * *
~Aphorisms.~