198 



degree, from the genuine character and ef- 

 fect of beauty.* 



No one can doubt that youth is the sea- 

 son of beauty : it is then that the lines are 

 most flowing, the frame most delicate ; that 

 the skin has its most perfect smoothness and 

 clearness ; and every part that gradual va- 

 riation, which, at a more advanced period, 

 gives way to stronger marked lines and an- 

 gular forms, and ends in wrinkles and de- 

 cay : the same holds good in all animals, 

 and not less in the vegetable world. On this 

 last point, Mr. Burke has touched more 

 slightly ; and therefore I shall dwell some- 

 what longer upon it, as I think it will tend 

 to illustrate the whole subject. 



Almost all trees, except the pointed tribe 



# The following passage shews the opinion of the an- 

 cients on this subject. " Diligentia ac decor in Polycleto, 

 w cui quanquam a plerisque tribuatur palma, tamen, ne ni- 

 ** hil detrahatur, deesse pondus putant. Nam ut humana; 

 u forma; decorem addiderit supra verum, ita non explevisse 

 " deorum authot itatem videtur. Quin aetatem quoque 

 " graviorem videtur refugisse, nihil ausus praster leves ge- 

 * nas." Quint. Inst, lib. xii cap. 10. 



