261 



when large cracks and breaches appear, that 

 species of architectural grandeur, which is 

 derived from one of its greatest sources — 

 sohdity, is diminished in proportion. It is 

 long, however, before the picturesque pre- 

 vails over that original grandeur : from the 

 first approaches of decay, they are indeed 

 in some degree mixed and combined with 

 each other ; but the ruins of Agrigentum 

 and Selinus will testif}^ that though beauty 

 in buildings may be destroyed by time and 

 .decay, grandeur resists their power; and 

 by a singular agreement, these most solid 

 bodies, resemble what Milton says of imma- 

 terial substance, and 



Cannot but by annihilating die. 



The chaste and noble style of Grecian 

 architecture, does not admit of a number of 

 sudden breaks and variations of form, or of 

 enrichments over a large part of the surface; 

 it therefore never displays a marked pictu- 

 resque character, till in ruin. But Gothic 

 buildings are full of breaks and divisions, and 

 the parts highly and profusely enriched : 



