Instead, they distrust melody.
Declamation is no longer wanted in operas, and the singers make the works incomprehensible by not articulating the words.

The composers tend along the same lines, for they give no indication or direction of how they want the words spoken.

All this is regrettable and should be reformed.
As you see, I object to the mania for reform and end by suggesting reforms myself.

Well, one must be of one's own time, and there is no escaping the contagion..