246 



It may be objected, that, according to 

 what I have said in a former part upon the 

 principle of insensible transitions,"* a build* 

 ing in ruin, is often more strictly beautiful 

 than it was when entire, as the 1 ines must 

 then have been more distinct a nd hard ; 

 for it is clear that the ivy, shrubs and ve- 

 getation, which usually accompany old 

 ruins, render their lines more soft and melt- 

 ing into each other. This is an objection 

 which ought to be fairly met, and fully an- 

 swered ; for the principle applies univer- 

 sally. But whence does this softness, whence 

 do these insensible transitions arise ? from 

 vegetation ; and there cannot be any com- 

 parison between vegetation, and brick or 

 stone, in point of softness of effect. The 

 comparison ought to be made between en- 

 tire buildings, and buildings when broken 

 and shattered; the other circumstances are 

 hardly less foreign to a building, than the 

 foliage of an over-hanging tree which might 

 happen to grow near it. It is true that there 



f Essay on Artificial Water, p. 116. 



