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grave; to enliven it, numbers are wanting.

VII. But ground, is seldom beautiful or natural without variety, or even without contrast; and the precautions which have been given, extend no further than to prevent variety from degenerating into inconsistency and contrast into contradiction. Within the extremes, nature supplies an inexhaustible fund; and variety thus limited, so far from destroying improves the general effect. Bach distinguished part nakes a separate impression; and all bearing the sane stap, all concurring to the sale end, every one is an additional support to the prevailing idea: that is multiplied; it is extended; it appears in different shapes; it is shown in several lights; and the variety illus rates the relation.

But variety wants not this recommendation; it is always desirable where it can be properly introduced; and it is distinguished from every other. If the scene be mild and quiet, he will place together those which do nɔt differ widely; and he will gradually depart from the similitude. In ruder scenes, the succession will be less regular, and the transitions more sudden. The character of the place must determine the degree of difference between fors which are contiguous. Besides distinctions in the shapes or ground, differences in their situations and their dimensions are s urces of variety. The position will alter the effect, though the figure be the same; and for particular effects, a change only in the distance may be striking. If that be considerable, a succession of similar shapes Sometimes occasions a fine perspective: but the diminution will be loss marked, that is, the effect will be less sengible, if the forms are not nearly alike. We take more notice of one differ once, when there is no other. Sometimes a very disagreeable effect, produced by too close a resemblance of shapes, may be onediod only by an alteration in the size. If a steep descends in a succession of abrupt falls, acarly equal, they have the appearance of steps, and are neither pleasing nor wild; but if they are made to differ in height and length, the objection is removed: and at all times a difference in the dir.ensions will be found to have a greater effect, than in speculation we should be inclined to ascribe to it, and will often disguise a similarity of figure.

VIII. It also contributes, perhaps more than any other circumstance, to the perfection of those lines, which the eye truces along the parts of a piece of ground, when it glances over several together. No variety of form compensates for tho want of it. An undulating line, composed of parts all elegant in themselves, all judiciously contrasted and happily united, but equal the one to the other, is far fro the 1 ne of beauty. A long strait line has no variety at all; and a litle deviation into a curve if there be still a continued uniformity, is but a trifling a endment. Though ground all falling the same way requires every attention to its general tendency, yet the eye must not dart down the whole length i:mediately in one direction, but should be insensibly conducted towards the principal point with some circutty and delay. The channels between hillocks ought never to run in strait, nor even in regularly curved lines; but winding gently a ong them, and constantly varying in form and in dimensions, should gradually find their way. The beauty of a largo hill, especially when seen from below, is frequently impaired by the even con

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