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foreground ; and it is clear that one cause 

 of that superiority is the contrast between 

 the colour of stone, and the tints of vegeta- 

 tion. The inferiority of the gravel walk in 

 such a situation proceeds likewise from an- 

 other circumstance : its boundary is not 

 only meager as well as formal, but is inca- 

 pable of receiving any ornament, or of being 

 varied with any effect. The parapet, on 

 the contrary, admits of a great degree of 

 ornament, and also, what is very material, 

 of a mixture of the light and pliant forms 

 of vegetation, witi th<- uniform unbending 

 substance of stone, and the enrichment of 

 the sculptor. Should the solid wall be 

 thought too heavy — a balustrade, without 

 destroying the breadth, gives a play of light 

 and shadow of the most striking kind, which 

 occurs in the works of all the painters : on 

 the top of the coping, urns, vases, flower- 

 pots, &c. of every shape and size find their 

 place; vines, jasmines, and other beautiful 

 and fragrant climbing plants, might add 

 their loose festoons to those imitated in 

 sculpture, twining round and between the 



