THE LAMP OF BEAUTY.
90
the chances are soi-iewhat in favor of the accused
But
ah-eady.
has more to say for
it
Lombard ornament
and more
itself,
to the jiurpose
main outhne is one not only of natural crystallisation, but among the very fii'st and commonest of crystalhne forms, being namely, that
the
pnmal
and
tin,
its
condition of the occurreiice of the oxides of iron, copper,
of the sulphurets of iron and lead, of fluor spar, &c.
that those projecting forms in
surface represent the
its
;
and
conditions
of structure wliich effect the change into another relative and equally
common may rest lines as
This
form, the cube.
crystalline
quite enough.
is
We
good a combination of such simple right can be put together, and gracefully fitted for every place in assm-ed
which such
as
it is
lines are necessary.
I would try is that o^our Tudor work, the portcullis. Reticulation is common enough in natural form, and very beautiful but it is either of the most delicate and gauzy texture, or of variously sized meshes and undulating There is no family relation between portcidlis and cobwebs lines. something like it, perhaps, may be found in some or beetles' \s-ings kinds of crocodile armor and on the backs of the Northern divers,
YIII.
The next ornament whose cause ;
;
but always beautifully varied in size of mesh. There is a dignity in the thing itself, if its size were exhibited, and the shade given
through
its
bars
diminution of
but even these merits are taken away in the Tudor
;
it,
on a
set
I believe, to say in
its
solid surface.
defence.
It
It
has not a
sino-le syllable,
another monster, absolutely
is
All that carving on Hemy the and unmitigatedly frightful. Seventh's Chapel simply deforms the stones of it. In the same clause with the portcullis, we may condemn all Its pride and heraldic decoration, so far as beauty is its object. significance
have their proper place,
parts of the building, as over
where
Ijosses of ceihng's, i'.
may be And &c.
legendary
its
presents
may
the fiem--de-hs;
its
fitly
gates
;
plainly read,
occurring in prominent
and allowably as
in
in places
painted wuidows,
sometimes, of course, the forms which
be beautiful, as of animals, or simple symbols hke but, for
the most part, heraldic similitudes and
aiTangements are so professedly and pointedly unnatural, that
wou.d be
invent anvthino^
it
and the use of them as a rei:)eated decoration will utterly destroy both the power and beauty of any building. Common sense and courtesy also forbid difficult to
their repetition.
It is right to
uo-lier
teU those
who
;
enter your doors that