ON THE PERPENDICULAR OF SOMERSET. 29 



truly the work of real design and artistic genius, as Cologne 

 or Winchester or St. Ouen's. The graceful arches rise from 

 the tall and slender columns, with just as much eonnexion 

 as Continuous effect requires, just enough distinction to 

 hinder the ascent from being too painfuUy rapid.* Above, 

 the Windows of the clerestory agreeably relieve the recesses 

 of the massive timber roof, and unite it into one whole with 

 the arcades beneath. The roof itself, borne on shafts rising 

 uninterniptedly from the ground, is proclaimed as no 

 botch or afterthought, but an essential portion of the great 

 design ; or eise it rests on the more elaborate support of 

 angels and niches, onee exhibiting the choicest display of 

 the subsidiary arts. The stone vault alone is wanting to 

 rank such pUes with cathedrals and mitred abbeys ; it is, 

 however, represented in the main body by its noblest 

 Substitutes, and its own splendours are reserved for the 

 westem belfiy or the central lantem. Here, supported 

 on its four lofty arms, it forms the crown of the whole 

 edifice ; there, the soaring paneUed arch, the spreading fan 

 tracery beyond, the tall and wide westem window finishing 

 the whole vista, make us feel that the stately towers of 

 Wrington and Axbridge and Kingsbury are but the 

 beacons to guide us to the still higher splendours which are 

 resei^ved for those who shaU tread within the consecrated 

 walls. 



I do not feel that I am drawing an ideal picture, because 

 it is only in a very few instances that it is realized. Of 

 course such magnificence, though less rare than elsewhere, 

 18 still rare, even in Somerset ; but the few first-rate 

 naves (even without counting Redcliffe and Sherborne, 

 as belonging to a higher class of buildings) do really merit 

 almost any amount of commendation which can be bestowed 



* See History of Architeuturc, p. 3H0. 



