STUDY XIII. 



279 



In order to decorate this temple externally, with 

 a becoming dignity, no ornament would be necef- 

 fary, except thofe of Nature. The firft rays of 

 the rifing, and the laft of the fetting Sun, would 

 gild it's cupola, towering above the forefts : in 

 the day-time, the fires of the South, and by night, 

 the luftre of the Moon, would trace it's majeftic 

 fliadow on the fpreading down : the Seine would 

 repeat the rejflexes of it in it's flowing ftream. In 

 vain would the tempefh rage around it's enormous 

 vault ; and when the hand of Time fliould have 

 bronzed it with mofs, the oaks of the Country 

 (hould ifTue from it's antique cornices, and the 

 eagles of Heaven, hovering round and round, 

 would refort thither to build their nells, 



Neither talents, nor birth, nor gold, fhould con- 

 ftitute a title for claiming the honour of a monu- 

 ment in this patriotic and holy ground. But it 

 will be afked, Who is to judge, and to decide, the 

 merits of the perfons whofe aQies are to be there 

 depofited ? The King alone (liould have the power 

 of decifion, and the People the privilege of report- 

 ins: the caufe. It fhould not be fufîicient for a ci- 

 tizen, in order to his obtaining this kind of diftinc- 

 tion, that he had cultivated a new plant in a hot- 

 houfc, or even in his garden ; but it fhould be requi- 

 fite to have it naturalized in the open field, and the 

 fruit of it carried for fale to the j^'ublic market. It 



T 4 o^SK^ 



