236 



Roman school have introduced them into 

 their pictures^ 3'et they have rarely been 

 employed in the more massy parts of real 

 buildings. But on the other hand, where 

 the principle I mentioned is not alYected, 

 waving lines of every varied and playful 

 form have constantly been made use of, 

 and constitute the chief beauty of some of 

 the most ornamental and highly finished 

 parts. 



Natural objects are chiefly made up of 

 different gradations of wavino; lines ; and 

 straight lines being rare,and proceeding more 

 frequently from design than from accident, 

 have in them an unnatural, or at least an 

 artificial appeai'ance. 'J'he reverse is true 

 with respect to architecture : straight lines 

 "belong to its very essence; and any attempt 

 to avoid them, must in general appear un- 

 natural, or affected. Its curves also are regu- 

 lar and uniform; and those waving lines, and 

 their easy, but perpetually varying devia- 

 tions wj^ch give such a charm to other ob- 

 jects, must chiefiy be confined to the less 



