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TOC
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is there in this world not subject to
change? And shall we expect music to
be permanent above all things, which so
much depends on imagination and feel-
ing.
There are particular periods, that one
would perhaps wish to stop at, if it were
possible; but as that cannot be, let us
comply with necessity, in good humour,
and with a good grace. Poetry, paint
ing, and sculpture have had their rise
and declension: have sunk into barba-
rism; have emerged from it in succeed-
ing ages, and mounted to a certain de-
gree of perfection, from which they
have gradually and insensible sunk again to the
lowest state of depravity; and yet these
arts have a standard in the remains of
antiquity, which music cannot boast.
There are classics in poetry, sculpture,
and architecture, which every modern
strives to imitate; and he is thought
most to excel, who comes nearest to those
models.
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