S?45 



|)nrts, the ground being strewed with- fallen 

 capitals, iVagmcnts of ornaments, au^l 

 niasses of stone. In the further building the 

 two towers might have talieji in unequally, 

 and where the doors and windows had been, 

 wide shattered openings might appear, with 

 bits of mouldings decayed aiyl confused. I 

 am not here supposing, what would be most 

 favourable tomy argument, that all this were 

 to be seen in the crude state of sudden ruin ; 

 I suppose it to be mellowed by time, and 

 adorned, as usual, by the painter, with many 

 circumstances of beauty, mixed with what 

 was abrupt and picturesque. No man can 

 be more ready to acknowledge the charms 

 of buildings in such a state ; yet still I will 

 ask, can the same title suit both states of 

 these buildinfys.'* can that which was design- 

 cd with the most studied attention to the 

 arrangement and harmony of its parts, to 

 the choice and execution of its ornaments, 

 remain equall}^ beautiful, or retain thesame 

 character, when all those circumstances 

 which the architect intended as beauties, 

 are mutilated and defaced ? 



