250 Contemporary Evohition. 



Thus a concordat may be established between those 

 rival parties the " Goths " and the " Italians," and we shall 

 cease to be " cabined, cribbed, confined " within the narrow 

 limits of the last six centuries. 



If we are right in believing that the Church will, even 

 in this world, attain a majesty and glory such as was but 

 poorly shadowed forth by its mediaeval beauty, it is surely 

 reasonable also to believe that the artistic expression of 

 its spirit has as yet by no means fully blossomed forth, 

 and an undue exaltation of the post-mediaeval art of 

 Italy is surely to be deprecated as strongly as are the 

 exaggerated claims made by some for the style which 

 preceded it. 



Should it one day, by God's permission, whether by 

 war, by natural convulsion, or the violence of demagogic 

 passion, be demolished, there is no need to doubt but 

 that afterwards another S. Peter's would arise as much 

 excelling in majesty and beauty the S. Peter's we see 

 to-day as the S. Peter's of to-day excels the ancient and 

 venerable basilica of Constantine which preceded it. 



H. W. B.'s opponent himself makes * the following 

 remark : " That different ideas of the human mind are 

 expressed by different styles of architecture will hardly 

 be denied by any who have thought upon the subject. 

 If this be granted, then it is difficult to see how any 



* Loc. tit., p. 107. 



