( "I )

And on the other hand, the Masks were of use to makethe Actors heard at an immense Distance. This Affairrequires some Explication.

Aulus Gellius (a), who wrote under the Emperor Adri-an , commends the Etymological Derivation Caius Bajfushad given of the Latin Word Persona , signifying a Mask,from the Verb personare, which signifies to resound. Infine, fays he, the AElors whole Head being covered with aMask) the Voice , which mus pass through a very narrowconfined Passage, being thus constrained , made a strongerand distinBer Sound. And indeed, whatever may bethought of this Derivation of the Word Persona ; it ishighly probable that the Ancients would not have beenso fond of Masks, if they had not been of Use to strength-en and extend the Voice of the Actors; if they had notmade a Sort of Echo. But Boetius confirms this Opi-nion (b). For he lays of Masks, Concavitate ipsa majornecesse est emittatursonus.

We cannot doubt but Masks must have some how con-tributed to make the Actors better heard at a distance,since these two Authors wrote of what they daily saw.And my Conjecture about the Matter is, That there wasin the Mouth of the ancient Masks some Incrustationwhich made them have the lame Effect as a Speaking-Trumpet. It is plain from the Masks yet to be seen inancient Manuscripts, on Medals and other antique Monu-

P 2 ments,

(a) Lepide me Hercules, & scite Caius Bajfus in sibris quos de origine voca-bulorum compofuit, unde appellata sit Persona interpretatur, a fersonando enim.

id vocabulum factum esie conjectat. —•-- Quoniam igitur indumentum il-

lud oris clarescere & resonare vocem sacit, ob earn causam Persona dicta est.

Nott. Attic. 1. 5 -c. y.

(b) Boet. Mans. de Perf. cap. pr.