STUDY X. 293 



tints extremely agreeable, compounded of the op- 

 pofitions of extremes. For example, of the fécond 

 and fourth colour, that is, of yellow and blue, is 

 formed green, which conftitutes a very beautiful 

 harmony, and which ought, perhaps, to polTefs 

 the fécond rank in beauty, among colours, as it 

 poffeffes the fécond in their generation. Nay, 

 green appears, in the eyes of many perfons, if not 

 the mofl beautiful tint, at leaft the moft lovely, 

 becaufe it is lefs dazzling than red, and more con. 

 genial to the eye *. 



I fiiall 



* It is harmony which renders every thing perceptible, juft 

 as monotony makes every thing to difappear. Not only are 

 colours the harmonic confonances of light : but there is no one 

 coloured body whofe tint Nature does not heighten by the con- 

 trail: of the two extreme generative colours, which are white and 

 black. Every body detaches itfelf by means of light and fliade, 

 the firft of which is a-kin to the white, and the fécond to the 

 black. Every body, accordingly, bears upon it a complete har- 

 mony. 



This is not the efFe<^ of chance. Were we enlightened, for 

 example, by a luminous air, we flïould not perceive the form 

 of bodies; for their outlines, their profiles, and their cavities, 

 would be overfpread with an uniform light, which would caufe 

 their prominent and retreating parts to difappear. With a pro- 

 vidence, therefore, completely adapted to the weaknefs of our 

 vifion, the Author of Nature has made the light to iffue from 

 a fingle point of Heaven : and with an intelligence that equally 

 challenges our admiration. He has given a motion of progreffion 

 to the Sun, who is the fourcc of that light, in order to form, 

 with the fhades, harmonies varying every inftant. He has like- 



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