( *4 ) 



Though the Chinefe artifts have nature for their ^e- 

 neral model, yet are they not fo attached to her as to 

 exclude all appearance of art ; on the contrary, they think 

 it, on many occafions, neceilary to make an oftentatious 

 fhew of their labour. Nature, fay they, affords us but 

 few materials to work with. Plants, ground and water, 

 are her only productions : and though both the forms 

 and arrangements of thefe may be varied to an incredible 

 degree, yet have they but few ftriking varieties, the reft 

 being of the nature of changes rung upon bells, which, 

 though in reality different, ftill produce the fame uniform 

 kind of jingling; the variation being too minute to be, 

 cafily perceived. 



Art m.uft therefore fupply the fcantinefs of nature ; and 

 not only be employed to produce variety, but alfo no- 

 velty and effect: for the fimple arrangements of nature 

 are met with in every common field, to a certain degree 

 of perfection; and are therefore too familiar to excite any 

 ftrong fenfations in the mind of tfre beholder, or to pro- 

 duce any uncommon degree of pleafure. 



It 



