434 On the Beautiful in the Grecian Statues. 
have had a considerable influence on the feature 
and form. The influence of the mind»on»the 
feature, where the soul speaks in all its energies 
and character and dominant affections, is acknow- 
tedged by all; but it is not equally considered te 
what degree the mind, cherished from infancy in 
all that generous freedom, whith is the gift of its 
author, may determine the form, and rear itup 
in the grace’ and -elegance and: beauty which 
answers to the best intention of nature. The 
easy, flowing dress of the Greeks corresponded 
with this freedom of mind; whatever nature 
designed, she freely operated ; no restraint forced 
her into awkward, ill-proportioned and ungrace+ 
ful deviations; and what freedom of mind, ease 
of dress, salubrity of climate, and simplicity of 
diet and manners, left unfinished, their gymnastic 
exercises compleated, In medern Europe every 
thing almost is adverse to the production and 
-preservation of beautiful form ; mind is not so 
pure and unadulterated; modes of life are not so 
equal, nor so conformed to simple elegance; the 
form of the great mass of the community is as | 
much injured by excess of labour, depression of 
mind, and exposure to unequal climate, with 
scantiness of food, or irregular supplies of it, 
and not of a simple and salabrious kind, as the 
form of the higher ranks is impaired by excess 
of food, equaliy insalubrious; exclusion from air 
