STUDY XII, 37 



A fîne flyle of Architecture always produces 

 beautiful ruins. The plans of Art, in this cafe, 

 form an alliance with the majefty of thofe of Na- 

 ture. I know no obje6t which prefents a more im- 

 pofingafped than the antique and W€ll-conftruâ:ed 

 towers, which our Anceftors reared on the fummit 

 of mountains, to difcover their enemies from afar, 

 and out of the coping of which now (lioot out tall 

 trees, with their tops waving majeftieally in the 

 wind. I have feen others, the parapets and battle- 

 ments of which, murderous in former times, were 

 embellilhed with the lilach in flower, whofe (hades, 

 of a bright and tender violet hue, formed enchant- 

 ing oppofitions with the cavernous and embrowned 

 ftone-vvork of the tower. 



The intereft of a ruin is greatly heightened, when 

 fome moral fentiment is blended with it ; for ex- 

 ample, v.fhcn thofc degraded towers are confidered 

 ashavingbecn formerly the refidence of rapine. Such 

 has been, in the Pais de Caux, an ancient fortifica- 

 tion, called the caflle of Lillebonne. The lofty 

 walls, which form it's precinâ;, are ruinous at the 

 angles, and fo overgrown with ivy, that there are 

 very few fpots where the layers of the ftones are 

 perceptible. From the middle of the courts, into 

 which 1 believe it mufb have bzsn no eafy matter 

 to penetrate, arife lofty towers with battlements, 

 out of the fummit of which fpring up great trees, 

 D 3 appearing 



