ON CHINESE GARDENS. 87 



straight line, twisted in a crooked one, or carried zig-zag by se- 

 veral straight lines, altering their course at certain points. They 

 observe, that there are few objects more strikingly great than a 

 spacious road planted on each side with lofty trees, and stretching 

 in a direct hne beyond the reach of the eye, and that there are 

 few things more variously entertaining, than a winding one, which 

 opening gradually to the sight, discovers at every step a new ar- 

 rangement ; and although in itself, it has not the power of raising 

 violent emotions, yet, by bringing the passenger suddenly or un- 

 expectedly to great and uncommon things, it occasions strong 

 impressions of surprize and astonishment, which are more forcibly 

 felt, as being more opposite to the tranquil pleasure enjoyed in 

 the confined parts of the road ; and, in small compositions, they 

 find crooked directions, exceedingly useful to the planter, who, 

 by winding his walks, may give an idea of great extent, notwith- 

 standing the narorwness of his limits. 



They say, that roads which are composed of repeated straight 

 lines, altering their directions at certain points, have all the ad- 

 vantages both of crooked and straight ones, with other proper- 

 ties, peculiar to themselves. The variety and new arrangement 

 of objects, say they, which present themselves at every change of 

 direction, occupy the mind agreeably: their abrupt appearance oc- 

 casions surprise ; which, when the extent is vast, and the repeti- 

 tions frequent, swells into astonishment and admiration : the incer- 

 titude of the mind where these repetitions will end, and its anxi- 

 ety as the spectator approaches towards the periods, are likewise 

 very strong impressions ; preventing that state of languor into 

 which the mind naturally sinks, by dwelling long on the same 

 objects. 



The straight directions, particularly the zig-zag, are on account 

 of these effects, well adapted to avenues or high roads, which 

 lead to towns, palaces, bridges, or triumphal arches, to castles 

 or prisons for the reception of criminals, to mausoleums ; and 

 all other works of which the intent is to inspire horror, ven?ra- 

 tion or astonishment. To humbler objects, the waving line is a 

 more proper approach, the smallness of their parts renderino- them 

 unfit for a distant inspection ; and as they are trifling in them- 

 selves, they please most when their appearance is unexpected • 

 and from the very point, whence all their little beauties are seen 

 in the highest lustre. 



In disposing the walks of their gardens, the Chinese Aitists 



