PART III. ARCHITECTURE. 91 



walls and parapets where they can only distract the eye and 

 produce incongruity. Sometimes too they are placed above 

 each other, which is still more absurd, as it implies one roof 

 within another. 



Cornices have been equally misplaced; they indeed first ba- 

 nished the true genius of the Grecian architecture, by being 

 carried across the middle of walls between each story, as may 

 be seen in the Banqueting House. When carried along the 

 whole length of a building, they destroy all breadth and unity 

 of effect, except near the tops of the walls, where the eaves of 

 the roof may be supposed to come. Cornices are excellently 

 adapted for ornaments, or projections over windows : they have 

 an appearance of use, by serving to keep off the rain ; and by 

 increasing the shadow thrown upon the glass they add greatly 

 to variety and intricacy, without destroying unity. Pediments 

 in miniature, placed over windows are allowable, when the 

 number of these small cornices may require a contrast. As the 

 intention of both these pediments and cornices is to defend the 

 window from the rain and produce shade, they cannot with 

 any propriety be introduced under porticos or colonnades ; par- 

 ticularly when these are not higher than one story. When they 

 include two stories, however, it may be allowable to introduce 

 them over the lower windows ; as there they serve one of the 

 purposes for which they are used, viz. the production of shade, 



