1Sort of Embelliſhment as if all you conſulted
in raiſing your Wall, was to ſuſtain the Roof,
not leaving any Space where you can after
wards conveniently or diſtinctly add either the
Dignity of Columns, the Embelliſhment of Sta
tues, the Majeſty of Picture, or the Delicacy
of any Incruſtation. An Error of much the
ſame Nature as this is, the Building with ſo
little Conſideration, that though the ſame Ex
pence might make our Structure beautiful and
graceful, yet we neglect the Pains and Con
trivance of effecting it: For it is undeniable
that there may be in the mere Form or Figure
of a Building, an innate Excellence and Beau
ty, which ſtrikes and delights the Mind, and
is immediately perceived where it is, as much
as it is miſſed where it is not; for, indeed, the
Eye is naturally a Judge and Lover of Beauty
and Gracefulneſs, and is very critical and hard
to pleaſe in it; neither can I give any Account
why it ſhould always happen, that we ſhould
be much more offended at what is wanting,
than ready to commend what is done well;
for ſtill we are continually thinking what fur
ther might be added to make the Object ſtill
more ſplendid, and are naturally diſpleaſed if
any thing is omitted, which the moſt accurate,
ingenious, and diligent Artiſt might poſſibly
have procured: So that indeed we are often at
a Loſs to ſay what it is offends us, unleſs it be
that there is not wherewithal fully to ſatisfy our
immoderate Deſire of Perfection. This being
the true State of the Caſe, we ſhould certainly
endeavour, as much as in us lies, by the great
eſt Study and Care, to make whatever Struc
ture we raiſe as handſome, and as compleatly
adorned as poſſibly, eſpecially if it be ſuch a
one as every body expects to ſee in the utmoſt
Perfection, as, for Inſtance, a publick Structure,
and particularly a ſacred one, which no Man
can bear to ſee naked of Ornament. It is an
other Error to apply the Ornaments peculiar to
a publick Structure, to a private one; or, on
the other Hand, thoſe peculiar to private Edi
fices to one of a publick Nature: Eſpecially if
ſuch Ornaments are any thing petty, or not
durable, as, for Inſtance, to diſh up a publick
Structure with ſlight or paultry Painting; for
every Thing uſed about a publick Edifice ought,
if poſſible, to be eternal. It is another groſs
Error, which we ſee ſome ridiculous People
run into, who e'er they have well begun their
Building, fall to painting it, and decking it with
Statues and other Embelliſhments without
Number; all which are ſure to be ſpoiled and
demoliſhed before the Building is finiſhed.
We ſhould erect our Building naked, and let
it be quite compleated before we begin to
dreſs it with Ornaments, which ſhould always
be our laſt Work, being beſt done at leaſure,
when we can do it without any Impediment,
and can take the Advantage of ſuch Opportu
nities as may offer for that Purpoſe. I would
have the Ornaments which you affix to your
Structure, to be the Work of various Hands,
and thoſe moderate Maſters; but if you can
procure any rare Pieces of greater Excellence
and Perfection, Statues and Pictuaes like thoſe
of a Phidias or a Zeuxis, let them be fixed only
in Places of peculiar Dignity and Honour. I
cannot commend Dejoces the King of Media,
who encompaſſed his City of Ecbatana with
ſeven Walls, and made each of them of diffe
rent Colours, one Purple, another Blue, another
gilt with Silver, and one even with Gold; nor can
I help blaming Caligula, who made his Stable
of Marble, and the Manger of Ivory. All that
Nero built was covered with Gold and enriched
with Gems. Heliogabalus was ſtill more ex
travagantly profuſe, for he paved his Apart
ments with Gold, and grieved that he could
not do it with Amber. Contempt is the beſt
Reward for theſe wild Prodigals who are oſ
tentatious of ſuch Vain-glories, or rather Fol
lies, and who are thus profuſe of the Labours
and Sweat of Mankind, about Things which
are of no Manner of Uſe or Advantage to the
main Structure, nor capable of raiſing the leaſt
Admiration either for Ingenuity or Contrivance.
in raiſing your Wall, was to ſuſtain the Roof,
not leaving any Space where you can after
wards conveniently or diſtinctly add either the
Dignity of Columns, the Embelliſhment of Sta
tues, the Majeſty of Picture, or the Delicacy
of any Incruſtation. An Error of much the
ſame Nature as this is, the Building with ſo
little Conſideration, that though the ſame Ex
pence might make our Structure beautiful and
graceful, yet we neglect the Pains and Con
trivance of effecting it: For it is undeniable
that there may be in the mere Form or Figure
of a Building, an innate Excellence and Beau
ty, which ſtrikes and delights the Mind, and
is immediately perceived where it is, as much
as it is miſſed where it is not; for, indeed, the
Eye is naturally a Judge and Lover of Beauty
and Gracefulneſs, and is very critical and hard
to pleaſe in it; neither can I give any Account
why it ſhould always happen, that we ſhould
be much more offended at what is wanting,
than ready to commend what is done well;
for ſtill we are continually thinking what fur
ther might be added to make the Object ſtill
more ſplendid, and are naturally diſpleaſed if
any thing is omitted, which the moſt accurate,
ingenious, and diligent Artiſt might poſſibly
have procured: So that indeed we are often at
a Loſs to ſay what it is offends us, unleſs it be
that there is not wherewithal fully to ſatisfy our
immoderate Deſire of Perfection. This being
the true State of the Caſe, we ſhould certainly
endeavour, as much as in us lies, by the great
eſt Study and Care, to make whatever Struc
ture we raiſe as handſome, and as compleatly
adorned as poſſibly, eſpecially if it be ſuch a
one as every body expects to ſee in the utmoſt
Perfection, as, for Inſtance, a publick Structure,
and particularly a ſacred one, which no Man
can bear to ſee naked of Ornament. It is an
other Error to apply the Ornaments peculiar to
a publick Structure, to a private one; or, on
the other Hand, thoſe peculiar to private Edi
fices to one of a publick Nature: Eſpecially if
ſuch Ornaments are any thing petty, or not
durable, as, for Inſtance, to diſh up a publick
Structure with ſlight or paultry Painting; for
every Thing uſed about a publick Edifice ought,
if poſſible, to be eternal. It is another groſs
Error, which we ſee ſome ridiculous People
run into, who e'er they have well begun their
Building, fall to painting it, and decking it with
Statues and other Embelliſhments without
Number; all which are ſure to be ſpoiled and
demoliſhed before the Building is finiſhed.
We ſhould erect our Building naked, and let
it be quite compleated before we begin to
dreſs it with Ornaments, which ſhould always
be our laſt Work, being beſt done at leaſure,
when we can do it without any Impediment,
and can take the Advantage of ſuch Opportu
nities as may offer for that Purpoſe. I would
have the Ornaments which you affix to your
Structure, to be the Work of various Hands,
and thoſe moderate Maſters; but if you can
procure any rare Pieces of greater Excellence
and Perfection, Statues and Pictuaes like thoſe
of a Phidias or a Zeuxis, let them be fixed only
in Places of peculiar Dignity and Honour. I
cannot commend Dejoces the King of Media,
who encompaſſed his City of Ecbatana with
ſeven Walls, and made each of them of diffe
rent Colours, one Purple, another Blue, another
gilt with Silver, and one even with Gold; nor can
I help blaming Caligula, who made his Stable
of Marble, and the Manger of Ivory. All that
Nero built was covered with Gold and enriched
with Gems. Heliogabalus was ſtill more ex
travagantly profuſe, for he paved his Apart
ments with Gold, and grieved that he could
not do it with Amber. Contempt is the beſt
Reward for theſe wild Prodigals who are oſ
tentatious of ſuch Vain-glories, or rather Fol
lies, and who are thus profuſe of the Labours
and Sweat of Mankind, about Things which
are of no Manner of Uſe or Advantage to the
main Structure, nor capable of raiſing the leaſt
Admiration either for Ingenuity or Contrivance.
I THEREFORE over and over again adviſe you
to avoid theſe Errors; and before you begin
your Work, thoroughly conſider the whole
Deſign your ſelf, and take the Advice of Men
of Skill upon it; be ſure to have a compleat
Model of the Whole, by which examine every
minute Part of your future Structure eight,
nine, ten Times over, and again, after different
Intermiſſions of Times; till there be not the
leaſt Member from the Foundation to the
Roof of your whole Building, within or without,
great or ſmall, but what you have throughly
and long weighed and conſidered, and deter
mined of what Materials it ſhall be made,
where placed, in what Order and Proportions,
and to what it ſhall anſwer and bear Relation.
to avoid theſe Errors; and before you begin
your Work, thoroughly conſider the whole
Deſign your ſelf, and take the Advice of Men
of Skill upon it; be ſure to have a compleat
Model of the Whole, by which examine every
minute Part of your future Structure eight,
nine, ten Times over, and again, after different
Intermiſſions of Times; till there be not the
leaſt Member from the Foundation to the
Roof of your whole Building, within or without,
great or ſmall, but what you have throughly
and long weighed and conſidered, and deter
mined of what Materials it ſhall be made,
where placed, in what Order and Proportions,
and to what it ſhall anſwer and bear Relation.