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No one blames the architect for cutting 

 stone into forms, of which there are no 

 prototypes in nature: he does not imitate 

 the rude irregular shapes of the rock or 

 quarry whence he takes his materials : he 

 considers that highly-finished symmetrical 

 buildings decorated with artificial orna- 

 ments, are congenial to polished artificial 

 man; just as huts, dens, and caverns are 

 to the wild savage, whether man or beast. 

 In the same manner an architect-statuary, 

 a Bernini, never could have thought of in- 

 quiring what were the precise forms of na- 

 tural spouts of water ; he knew that water 

 forced into the air, must necessarily as- 

 sume a great variety of beautiful forms, 

 which, added to its own native clearness 

 and brilliancy, would admirably accord 

 with the forms and the colour of his statues, 

 with the decorations of architecture, and 

 with every object round it; he knew that 

 he should preserve, and in some points in- 

 crease all its characteristic beauties; its 

 transparency, its lively motion, its delicious 

 freshness, its enchanting sound; and add 



