Chap. XV.—Of the Voice.

But what account can we give of the voice? Grammarians, indeed, and philosophers, define the voice to be air struck by the breath; from which words111    Verba: as though derived from “verbero,” to strike.   derive their name: which is plainly false. For the voice is not produced outside of the mouth, but within, and therefore that opinion is more probable, that the breath, being compressed, when it has struck against the obstacle presented by the throat, forces out the sound of the voice: as when we send down the breath into an open hemlock stalk, having applied it to the lips, and the breath, reverberating from the hollow of the stalk, and rolled back from the bottom, while it returns112    Dum ad descendentem occursu suo redit. Others read, “Dum descendentem reddit.”   to that descending through meeting with itself, striving for an outlet, produces a sound; and the wind, rebounding by itself, is animated into vocal breath. Now, whether this is true, God, who is the designer, may see. For the voice appears to arise not from the mouth, but from the innermost breast. In fine, even when the mouth is closed, a sound such as is possible is emitted from the nostrils. Moreover, also, the voice is not affected by that greatest breath with which we gasp, but with a light and not compressed breath, as often as we wish. It has not therefore been comprehended in what manner it takes place, or what it is altogether. And do not imagine that I am now falling into the opinion of the Academy, for all things are not incomprehensible. For as it must be confessed that many things are unknown, since God has willed that they should exceed the understanding of man; so, however, it must be acknowledged that there are many which may both be perceived by the senses and comprehended by the reason. But we shall devote an entire treatise to the refutation of the philosophers. Let us therefore finish the course over which we are now running.  

CAPUT XV. De Voce.

De voce autem quam rationem reddere possumus? Grammatici quidem ac philosophi vocem esse definiunt, aerem spiritu verberatum: unde verba sunt nuncupata, quod perspicue falsum est. Non enim vox extra os gignitur, sed intra; et ideo verisimilior est 0062B illa sententia, stipatum spiritum, cum obstantia faucium fuerit illisus, sonum vocis exprimere: veluti cum in patentem cicutam, labroque subjectam demittimus 0063A spiritum, et is cicutae concavo repercussus ac revolutus a fundo, dum ad descendentem occursu suo redit, ad exitum nitens, sonum gignit, et in vocalem spiritum resiliens per se ventus animatur. Quod quidem an verum sit, Deus artifex viderit. Videtur enim non ab ore, sed ab intimo pectore vox oriri. Denique et ore clauso, ex naribus emittitur sonus qualis potest. Praeterea et maximo spiritu, quo anhelamus, vox non efficitur, et levi, et non coarctato spiritu, quoties volumus, efficitur. Non est igitur comprehensum, quemodo fiat, aut quid sit omnino. Nec me nunc in Academiae sententiam delabi putes, quia non omnia sunt incomprehensibilia. Ut enim fatendum est multa nesciri, quae voluit Deus intelligentiam hominis excedere: sic tamen multa esse, quae 0063B possint et sensibus percipi, et ratione comprehendi. Sed erit, nobis contra philosophos integra disputatio. Conficiamus igitur spatium, quod nunc decurrimus.