Christian Monuments of Wiltshire. 



57 



single row can be derived from a four-cord plait (see " Analysis/' p. 

 236, No. 36) and therefore a double row can be derived from an 

 eight-cord plait. By making pointed ends to the loops forming the 

 knots and " sweetening " the curves of the bands between each 

 knot the appearance of the whole is changed and its development 

 from the plait disguised. Almost all geometrical ornament is capable 

 of conveying several difiPerent impressions to the mind according to 

 the way it is observed by the eye for the time being, and the in- 

 tellectual pleasure which a pattern gives is most probably dependent 

 on the infinite variety of these kaleidoscopic changes. Taking the 

 Knook stone for example, if the attention is concentrated upon the 

 portions of the pattern between each of the points where the bands 

 cross in the centre, it will seem as if the whole was formed of repe- 

 titions of knot D (Fig. 9) ; but if the attention be now directed 



Fig. 9. 



towards the portions lying between the middle points of each of 

 the knots, the pattern will appear to consist entirely of circular 

 curves with two diameters crossing each other diagonally (Fig. 10.) 



Fig. 10. 



Turning to the cross-base (A) at Ramsbury it will be seen that 

 the ornament is produced^ on one face by doubling the pattern on 



