i32 State of Archiietfure to the end of 



but being fo natiiralj it is fimply, when un- 

 accompanied by any gracefull ornaments^ 

 mark of a rude age — if attended by mifhap- 

 en and heavy decorations, a certain mark 

 of it. The pointed arch, that peculiar of 

 Gothic archite6lure, was certainly intended 

 as an improvemxnt on the circular, and the 

 men who had not the happinefs of lighting 

 on the fimplicity and proportion of the 

 Greek orders, were however fo lucky as 

 to (trike cut a thoufand graces and efte(5ts, 

 which rendered their buildings magnificent, 

 yet genteel, vafl, yet light, f venerable and 

 "pi6burefque. It is difficult for the nobleft 

 Grecian teii^iple to convey half fo many im- 

 prelTions to the mind, as a cathedral does of 

 the bed Gothic tade — a proof of fkill in 

 the architedls and of addrefs in the priefts 

 who eredled them. The latter exhaufled 

 their knowledge of the paflions in compof- 

 ing edifices whofe pomp, mechanifm, vaults, 

 tombs, painted windows, gloom and per- 

 fpe6lives infuicd fuch fenfations of romantic 

 devotion s and they v/ere happy in finding 

 grtifts capable of executing fuch machinery, 



t For iii^ance, the facade of the cathedral of Rheims. 



One 



